K20D versus Nikon D300

I started to post this in the classified section in response to a post by TTK, but JR pointed out that it was the wrong place to do so. TTK was pointing out some additional virtues of the D300.

I'd love to see a demonstration of the alleged better image quality. The demo should use the same nice SMC Takumar on both cameras, shooting RAW, and then post-processing in Silkypix.

I'd also like to see a demo using the D300 with the best lens in Nikon's arsenal versus the K20D with the 31mm Ltd.

High ISO noise. Useful, no doubt, for some, but like most people, I seldom shoot above 400 ISO. 800 at the most.

In what way is the build quality "better"? A friend has a D300, and I wouldn't say the build quality was better (or worse). It's not as well sealed against water and dust.

Considering it costs more than twice as much, I would find it very difficult to justify a D300 over a K20D unless I were a sports photographer, when the AF and continuous shooting would obviously be very useful.

G

It's unlikely that anyone could deliver on that George.

I have two friends who have the D300 and both are somewhat unhappy. They don't work as well as they expected and are far too bulky and heavy and very over-complex.

I have had a very close look at the D300 and I don't see in what way it is better made than a K20D.

From what I have been told, the D200 is possibly a better camera than the D300.

Is a Nikon lens on both also good? link

Btw it's funny to see the K20D had the colour of the figure right and the D300 not

Thanks.

Trouble is, it's another terrible test.

I want to see a test with the same lens (even a Nikkor, if it's good), and all settings chosen to give the best image. Use RAW and post-process in the same software so as to produce the best result of which the camera is capable.

Some dope saying he's tired and forgot to do this, that, or the other just isn't any good.

But it does make my point that most such tests are comletely useless!

G

That would be hard George also I don't want to see how someones PP skills are and find it irrelevant for comparing cameras.
So both shot in RAW and converted to jpg with default program settings would be better.

I'm not surprised. It's a Pentax, after all. Beside, quite often, I find Nikon cameras are overrated. They are good cameras, but they're not the Holy Grail.

I take your point, but RAW always needs PP. It's part of the process. We are trying to see what the camera is capable of producing at the final stage.

G

Well okay but to are so much variables and how things might turn out.
And how can you be sure you did the best thing with a photo and are they still comparable then?
I find it hard to say which one is better.

Even when looking in this forum the K20D has a different sensor then many of the other cameras (K10D, K200D and KM have the same sensor)
I wouldn't be able to pick the K20D out of the bunch maybe some can but not me though.

George, I will be going over to Nikon in the very near future, just have a couple of large jobs to get out of the way first, so for the sake of my work I will stick with Pentax until then.

I am not going to go into the ins and outs with you about why I am going over to Nikon as I don't want to get into an arguement with anyone, my business is my business and I will do what it takes to keep it going.
Sorry if this sounds aggressive but from what I have read in your comments about other PU's changing from Pentax to other systems, well it seems that you are out for an argument.

I will say that I have been increasingly unhappy with certain aspects of the K20 for quite a while, the AF being a major one. It is slow and has a hard time focusing on moving objects especially things that are coming towards the camera. I have always blamed this on AF in general and thought that camera manufacturers had a long way to go. This was until I had a play with Nikon's D3, D700 and D300. I am not bringing Canon into this as I purposefully didn't try Canon out as I personally don't like them. These are for personal reasons and I am not attacking the make or users in any way.
The D3 was probably the best digital camera I have ever laid my hands on, period. The D700 was amazing and feature packed, this is not the important issue here. The D300 felt solid especially with the grip. It was larger than the K20 but it felt lighter. It was highly responsive to the touch and the AF was second to none. The build quality, I feel is better than the K20. I have no worries that it isn't weather sealed. SLR's weren't weather sealed so why should I worry about that now. I will continue to use my camera sleeve when it's wet, no problems!

I wanted the K-7 to be like the D300. I had high expectations for it, as did others on the site. On paper it disappointed me, first big problem for me was the HD video...biggest let down for me, second hiccup was the size. Ok, there are some ofyou out there who will think this reason is pathetic, but I like a good sized camera, something that feels good in my hand. Finding out that the K7 was the smallest in it's class annoyed me.

Again there are other reasons which I am not going into, I know what I have written here will get ripped to bits and people will say that the reasons I have given are stupid, I don't really give 2 hoots about that. All I know and all that should matter is that I am unhappy with Pentax and it's time for a change.

So many people are changing systems all over so why are you making a big thing about this????

Funnily enough, the D3X is widely known as the best camera on the market at the moment, even Canon agree to this!

I don't disagree with that. At the price it is selling for, it certainly needs to be more than an empty shell. The point is that price for price, you'd have a hard time finding a better camera than Pentax. As for you going over to Nikon, I don't have any problems with that. You don't take a one pound hammer to drive a ten inch nail. There are different tools for different jobs, and you know your needs better than me. For the kind of work I do, the K20D and K-7 are very good. Would a Nikon D3X do a better job? More than likely. Would I have any money left in my pocket after paying that camera and financing the jobs I'm doing? Not so sure. You have to put everything in it's proper context. I have a very interesting part time job with my cameras, and I never had a customer complain about the quality of the pictures. About the photographer? We won't get into that. Let's just say that we're all human. And good luck with your next set up.

I think Hasselblad is better though but can be wrong, I'm sure there are even better ones.

The mid range cameras of Nikon, currently the D90 and up are very good but there budget cameras surely aren't the best in their range.
Didn't play with the D5000 though.

Also about you comment before that, I know you've made your choice but beside that I don't think you will find the K7 + grip to be smaller then the K20D + grip. Really try it before you say that it feels small.

Ok I agree with that statement but you didn't actually say that in your original post

I think you will find that we are talking about DX & FX formats here and not Medium Formats!
No I didn't even look at the D5000 or the D90 as they are not in the same range of camera for me. Plus they both have HD movie which I am not interested in.
There are others that will like the D90 and D5000 but they are of no interest to me, that is why I went for the more pro spec range.

Didn't see the edited version before I answered to the unedited one.

For the majority of people on here, amateurs, semi pros or pros who use Pentax and who are eagerly awaiting to buy the K-7, it will be their ideal camera. I am in no way having a go at anyone.
I have said in a few threads, that I used to own a Nikon kit. I sold it before I went pro. Now a good few years on, I wish to return to Nikon. I will do it over a period of time so there will be a time where I have both Nikon and Pentax and I do hope that I will still be welcome here.

Thanks Yves for the wish of good luck, I greatly appreciate this