Next Logical Step After *ist DS?

How about a K200, splash proof, nearly 2x the pixels and cheap secondhand. It has a CCD sensor like your ist.

K10D is the first of the WR bodies, but it is weighty for a Pentax (note it's still hardly heavy, just heavier).

The K200 has the same sensor, is WR and smaller and lighter, but I think it's a pentamirror finder.

In truth the pentamirror finders are still pretty good, just not quite as large or as bright as the pentaprisms

Thanks, Mr. Munro the K10 is certainly in the running.

Not sure why the k7 hasn't been mentioned yet (although I'm used to being Lone Ranger in this respect ) - both the k20 & k5 have been suggested (one at the lower end of budget, one at the higher), but the K7 should fall nicely in the middle.

It has all the robustness for the outdoors plus WR, but is that bit more modern in technology than the K20, and almost all the control features and functions are identical to the current K5II models, so you're staying well up to date in these respects as well.

You've mentioned it now Nigel! The K-7 is fine, but IMHO no better than the K20D, perhaps unsurprising as the sensor is the same.

The K-5 was a sea change and IMHO might as well be the one to aim for.

The sensor is the same, but the Prime Image processor was a significant update I believe. I havn't used a K20 but surely the new processor resulted in improved performance (I've seen posts dating back to 2009 when the first users updated from the K20 and that is what was reported), plus the K7 has the edge in weight and handling doesn't it?

And the K7 (Like the K5II) offers things like sensor shift composition adjustment, level indicator, in camera HDR, in camera CA & distortion corrections... plus plenty more I'd no doubt find if I actually had a specs list for a K20 .

Plus, the ISO performance of the K7 is perfectly good up to 800, even 1600 with some decent noise reduction.

Just had a quick look at ebay completed listings. Kx or Kr can be had for very good money, that's what I'd be buying on a low budget, great image quality if that's a priority.

I might be wide of the mark, but my impression is that Macs budget can't stretch as far as a K5, if he could then the correct answer would probably be obvious to him. This is an unexpected need to purchase due to equipment damage, not a planned upgrade.

A quick glance (and I stress this was a quick glance) on ebay suggests the following prices in the UK at the moment

£100-£150
K10D
K200D

£150-£200
K20
K-x
K-r

£200-£300 (varies, most recent examples sold with lenses)
K-7

£350-£400
K-5

For info, the K10D was the last of the Pentax DSLR's to use a CCD sensor. The K20D onwards emply a CMOS device.

That may or may not be important to you Mac. Some say the CCD sensor produces richer colours.

We had a thread running on that topic recently - there was a lot of nostalgia for the particular 'feel' and qualities that the older sensor offered. But others who had made more scientific comparisons reported that the IQ of the newer CMOS types were superior in all respects.

Anyway, looking at those prices listed above (thanks Mongoose), any of the mid priced options look good for our OP - K20 / Kx / Kr / K7

Personally for that money I'd still plug for the K7 - its technology is still modern and it has the most useful features, plus strong construction and WR - unbeatable value.

Notice you have K110D as well Mac, which would suggest a transition to the K200D an inexpensive and easy transition if cost is a major consideration. If you have additional money set aside - then the K20D is an excellent camera, but the K-5 is becoming good value.

I would agree with Nigel that the K7 is also a really good alternative. It is a well constucted model with a number of good options.
They can be had for around £200 on e-bay.
The K10 is around £140.

The last K-7 I sold on eBay fetched £350, just a few weeks ago, so the price gap may well be more than you think.

Thats a good price John and truely reflects the high regard out there for the camera.

The game changer for image quality was the K5 and subsequent models. The Sony Exmor sensor really is an improvement over earlier sensors, wider dynamic range, much lower noise even in low light.

It's a game changer because of the low noise, this means you can use smaller aperture lenses (cheaper) in low light, the K5 is virtually noise free at 1600 ISO which means you can up the ISO to get reasonable shutter speeds in low light situations, or when you want to increase shutter speed, when using a telephoto lens in less than ideal lighting such as this shot taken with an ISO of 3200 which enabled the 1/125th shutter speed in shadow conditions at f9 so even a cheap Sigma 70 - 300 lens bought off eBay for £36.00 performs well.

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Botanical_Gdns_0199 by Chris_Judge, on Flickr].

The Pentax K30 and the K-01 both use the same sensor.