K20d or K7??

Hi all,

Im thinking of upgrading to the K20d or K7, but I cant decide what to go for.
Do I go for a s/h K20d or a new K7. What would the benefits be??
OR
Should I continue with the K10d

Your thoughts please.


Many thanks
Graham

the first benefit would be a lot of change out of £800.00 for a k7

James

I've had all three cameras.

Just a few of the K-7 advantages over K20D that I like:

Electronic "spirit level".
Video.
Larger and more contrasty rear LCD.
Live View button.
Faster continuous shooting.
Sensor shift (saves slightly re-framing when using a tripod).
More reliable metering.

If these things don't interest you, or if money is tight, then get a K20D. It's a useful step up from the K10D in terms of image resolution and features, including Live View and AF adjustment for individual lenses.

Disappointments/annoyances with the K-7 (compared to K20D):

No better image quality (that I have noticed yet).
Lock on the Mode button.
AF/MF switch more fiddly.
AF performance/accuracy not very much better.

I would add to Pete's pluses for the K-7,

K20D build is great but the K-7 is better , magnesium alloy body with stainless steel chassis.

Much better live view implementation, great for macro work. Sadly the K20D's live view is crippled to the point that I disabled it (when I had a K20D).

100% view finder, much more useful for shot composition.

Lighter and better handling (IMHO).

Improved menu system.

Better sensor cleaning, ultrasonic vibration of the low pass filter very similar to the Oly system.

Autofocus illuminator for low light operation.

In built HDR feature which can be very useful (Jpeg output).

Automatic lens correction for all DA lenses (Jpeg only).

The price of the K7 seems to be coming down whereas the K20 as it is no longer in production is getting more expensive if you can find one (assuming you are looking for a new one). On this ground then the K7 has to be the way to go. The one thing the K20 has going for it is the chunky feel. If you need this, the K7 is going to feel a bit scrawny.

I cannot comment on the K7 as I do not own one but the upgrade to the K20D was worth it for the lens adjustments alone. The only other feature I have used extensively is the single shutter button press to take all 5 bracketed exposures. I also just had one photo printed at A2 and the K20D's image size coped with that admirably.

I would ask what you feel you need more, the various improvements in the K20/K7 over the K10, or some new glass? The K10 is a fine camera and I rarely notice that I have changed to a new model! As much as I would like a K7, I would rather get the DA* 300 first

HTH, K.

Graham,

Kris has a point there. I have also stuck with a K10, and got some better glass to go with it instead of upgrading the body. While I don't have the other two bodies to compare, there's enough info out there to indicate that each has its quirks and limitations - just like the K10. Arguably, glass may be a more critical limiting factor than the body / sensor, but YMMV.

I moved from the K10 to the K-7 seven recently, and don't regret the move. The improved viewfinder, better digital screen and lens correction are worth it alone. One very useful function is the ability to zoom in when using live view, I'm not sure if the K20 has this option. The main gripes I have have mostly been mentioned by Pete (iceblinker) but I would add:

badly designed position of the SD card, it is quite hard to remove.
flimsy rubber covers for the usb * mic sockets.
spirit level function is very useful, however it does not turn off when in manual mode, causing great fun with the spirit level.
different battery to the K10

These are only minor gripes though, I just wish they had managed to reduce the noise more on this model.

Graham

It was the same for me, but I think that is because the K20D is physically almost identical to the K10D, and we get used to the new features so well that we forget the K10D didn't have them too. The extra resolution helps as well if you sometimes crop a lot.

I've had my K20 since the beginning of November, its now been used on a couple of quite big shoots taking a couple of hundred shots in each one (bring back film, I say!).

The biggest changes, and ones that I have enjoyed, have largely been ergonomic ones and it is very useful for me to have the 'X' and 'User' settings but you have all of that on the K10.

I didn't buy a K7 because I felt that for the price difference I could probably buy a better video camera but I was tempted. The K20 is one of the nicest Pentax I have owned.

Will the K20 or K7 give you significantly better pictures? Take a look at my 'Camera Comparison' thread. You might be better spending your money on lenses.

For me, cameras like the K7 and indeed K20 are akin to owning a Ferrari or Bentley so it's clearly a hypothetical question.

I suppose, if money was no object, I should prefer a K7: it's clearly a more "modern" design. Whether I should use all of the features is a moot point (I've yet to get anywhere near the limits of my K 100 D: it constantly surprises me with its image quality and ability to cope with any situation I throw at it.)

The review in What Digital Camera described the K7 as "the best DSLR Pentax has produced" and concluded with "Overall the K7 is a great camera...", suggesting it is clearly a better camera than the K20. Whether it's twice as good, of course, is another matter. It compared quite well to the new Canon in Amateur Photographer's comparison last week, although the much more expensive 7D came out on top.

Unless the K7 offered significant improvement in image quality and/or handling I'd get the K20 and spend the £X00.00 saved on some lenses. Probably old lenses!

However, the improved live-view would be great for all the macro stuff I do...

Decisions, decisions... a nice problem to have, after all!

Best wishes,

Andrew

I'd just like to put in one good word for the K10D - CCD sensor! OK, that's two words, but the point is that I've yet to see the K10/K200/K-m sensor bettered at base ISO, so if you shoot all the time at 100 (and don't need the extra speed / facilities) then stick with what you have.

Yep indeed... that's one thing that keeps me with the K10D although the K7 feels good in your hands though and it handles quite well

I wished they make the SDK firmware for the older models including the K10D so that we can have a play with that and maybe copy over some options like the AF adjustments of the K20D.

The K-7 is smaller than the k20d and not as aerodynamic (IMHO)
I can't justify the price change for a up grade that doesn't feel right in the hand.

James

edit (plus I don't like the idea of a video and a dslr but that's just me)

The K-7 feels good in the hand to me now I'm used to it. I wasn't sure at first, but now I don't even think about it.