K7 to buy or not to buy ????

Treat yourself to some DA* lenses instead, I would reccomend the 16-50DA* for starters, it balances beautifully with the K20D body, especially with the grip.

Personally I think it would be a good step up from the K10D .. if I had a K20D I don't think I would be in such a hurry.

Or a 50-135 DA*....
IMO cameras are becoming like all other electronic gear: a new model every year and a feeling that we need to upgrade. On the other hand lenses are longer term investments.

Steve, I've replied to your PM, defecting is a strong word
Actually as I said in my message I hold Pentax in high regard although the pull of another brands zooms has become a little too strong to resist

I find any lens hard to resist

Cameras though ... who needs them.

I just got a mental picture of Mike-P attachng a plethora of different brand lenses to the front of a shoe box come pinhole camera, explaining to onlookers "ah this is the Hush Puppies Mk2, with the right adaptor it will take every lens ever made.......err, I mean my collection"

I am a bit like that, I just love new (to me) lenes............

Excellent

With all due respect to Mike, the lord and master of lens collections

From all the comments, I think I will stay with the K20d for now,

And here's me planning to get in K7 in May, (treating myself on Birthday).
After reading this 'I used to be indecisive, now Im not sure'

Thanks for the extra confusion guys, lol.

I think? Im listening to Jon and Huw at the moment...........

Paul

Onlookers? .. I don't let other people look at my collection.
Their mine .. all mine I tell you.

Well they are the ones with the K-7 after all ... well in Huws case maybe not anymore because hes defective.

Sorry .. I think that should be defected.

OK here's where I am at the moment.

I've sat looking at a few ebay auctions for K20D, good examples , the ones you want go for about £450. These are 12 month old 2nd hand cameras.

2nd hand K-7s go for over £600 without lenses which will cost you another £50 or so. 6+ month use etc etc.

Its at the point of buying the camera I have changed my mind.

For £150 more I can get a brand new shop bought K-7 with lens from SRS (£799 currently !!!!!!). Full consumer rights, zero shutter actuations, full 2 year warranty with a WR lens, not my old 18-55.

I have decided to stretch to the brand new K-7. Payday on Thursday, K-7 Friday. Play days over easter.

This is from a zero base. If you already have a K20D you at least have something in your hands to start from. You have most of the features of the k-7. I'd stick on the K20d and wait for the next K camera.

(by the way there will never be FF Pentax in my opinion as somebody pointed out Pentax see 645 as professional range. APC-C is perfect for 97% of users, 1% can buy 645, 2% can go hang. K-7 is as good as Pentax DSLR will ever be. Have the other brands ever had a successful medium format? So they see their FF as the pinnacle of their ranges. (IMHO) I should go find another thread for that)

Doug

Doug - the K-7 with your Nokton lens on the front of it will make you very happy indeed! Looks really good too, even though that doesn't matter (much)

I would recommend getting the WR kit lens(es) as the freedom of being able to go out in the rain without worrying is great. If you get one and it's not sharp, send it back until you get one that is! There are some good ones out there.

Hi Paul - I think Huw's advice to pick one up and give it a whirl is good (even Curry's now sell the K-7 - £849 when I popped in yesterday - so hopefully you'll be able to find one to play with).

I think the step up from K10D is quite big, and as long as you like the size and handling I think you may well be very happy.

The only thing I wonder is about using your big Sigma lens. I'm not sure the K-7 would really balance terribly well with something much bulkier than the 50-135 or possibly 60-250 (Huw could comment on the latter), at least unless you use it with a grip.

I would recommend the grip with the 60-250 and actually the 16-50 too, feels better balanced that way.