Yet another K7 question.

So, I my Tamron 18-200 lens does not seem as stellar on my new K7 as it did with my K2000. Not a huge difference, but noticable to me. So, I guess what I am asking is....is the K7 showing the weakness of an inferior lens better than the K2000 did, because of more MP and what-not? The Tamron was my favorite lens, but now...not so much.
(btw how many posts now before I am promoted again? LOL Still so excited about my recent promotion to "SITE VETERAN"!!!!)

Yes.

I think it's at 100 you become a Pentax Pro Master - 59 to go!

Higher resolution does more show up the weaknesses of a lens when you view the image at 100%, but not when it's downsized to match the lower-resolution camera when all else is equal. (Default sharpness settings may not be really equal).

I don't know for this case, but there may be a difference in the strength of the cameras' anti-aliasing filters. This affects sharpness.

It's not something to worry about if you're happy with the image when printed or downsized to completely fit on your computer screen.

It's a yes from me as well!......try going to your nearest Pentax dealer and rattle off a few shots with DA* lens's!....you will then realise your fave lens is not as good as you thought it was!....good luck!..Ken

Well, the Tamron 18-200 shouldn't look any worse at simialr sizes on the computer than it did on the K2000. There are a number of possibilities for the Tamron looking softer on the K7 as compared to the K2000.

1) You may need to check for Back or Front Focus. Back Focus (BF) is where the lens has a propensity to focus behind the subject/focus point and Front Focus (FF) is where the lens focuses in front of the subject/focus point.

Test the lens out on a subject with a wide aperture, like f4 and look at your results on the computer. If the lens is showing either BF or FF, then you will need to access the "AF Adjustment" feature which is adjustment number 36 in your "Custom Settings" menu. Follow the procedure on page 121 of the manual.

2) As Pete - iceblinker - pointed out, there may be slight differences in AA filters between the K2000 and the K7 which may have a slight impact on the perception of sharpness, although I am not sue about this. Being a "lower end" camera, the K2000 may have a weaker AA filter and thus would look possibly sharper straight out of the camera.

3) Check your sharpness settings on the jpeg menu in the camera. Sharpness settings may be different in each camera.

Awesome advice! Thanks Lance! Appreciate it.

Ok, so I hate to admit this, but on the outdoor shots with the Tamron 18-200 I had mis-placed the lens hood, so wasn't using it. Could that cause slight less contrast? (which, I really think is what I'm looking at as the problem rather than sharpness.)
I isolated some leaves, etc very well at full zoom, and the focus looked fine. Even at full aperature f6.3, it looked sharp except when I zoomed it out to 100%, then not so much. (but thats normal, right?)
I feel like a dork for not thinking that some of the shots, like as in partial sunlight, could be affected by lack of lens hood. Which would result in loss of contrast. Right?

Use of a lens good with complex zoom lenses is vital for the best results.

Yes, especially if shooting into bright light.

Ordered a lens hood from ebay today. Thanks guys!

P.S. I DO realize that I needto get better glass, but until I can afford to do it up right, the 18-200 will have to do, and just need to work with what I have for now.