I've done the same. I've sold all my Pentax kit and spent about £7K on Nikon, based around the D700. The reasons:

1. A far superior sensor with performance at 1600iso roughly equal to the K-7 at 200iso. I didn't take anyone's word for this but went to dxomark where they test such things.

2. Much better and faster focusing, especially in low light. I was constantly frustrated in both the studio and at events where the lighting can be poor by the K20D's slow or plain inability to focus. The D700 is much harder to confuse and delightfully rapid.

3. Better lenses. I've had images rejected from stock photo libraries because of aberrations. The 70-200 VR2 is simply a magnificent, fast lens with crispness corner to corner.

4. Better quality and range of third party accessories.

5. I'm hoping for better quality of product and support. My K20D went back for repairs twice in a very short space of time and was out of action for way too long. Each of my Pentax DSLRs has had to be repaired. I'll just have to wait and see on that one.

6. Better software support. I'm not a Windows or Mac user; I depend on Linux software packages and it's usually been the case that Canon and Nikon raw support appears first.

Pentax does have some advantages over Nikon:

a. Much easier and nicer to operate. Pentax just gets this right. Even changing a lens on the D700 is awkward whereas it's quick and natural on all the Pentaxes I've had.

b. Price. Nikon just takes the piss and accessory manufacturers then do the same. An example: A Sto-Fen flash diffuser for a SB-900 costs £32 from SRS or about £16 off the Web. This is a simple plastic cup shape. It's one piece on injection moulding and costs a few pence to make.

This wasn't a decision I took rashly or quickly. I compared Canon, Nikon and the K-7 in great detail before making a choice but I'm delighted with the D700. I simply haven't found it falling short in any area yet.

This is turning into a drama.

I sent the camera back to Johnsons Photopia on March 11. Having heard nothing, I called them today only to find, that 11 days later, they haven't even looked at it yet. Not only that. The ONLY(?) guy who can work on it is in two days training.

What an utter shambles. This has completely eliminated any possibility of me getting a K-7, which I had been toying with, or any other Pentax kit, for that matter.

Not all that long ago, I used to pop down to Langley, which is only a few miles down the road, and hand the camera over for repair. I'd collect it or they'd post it back a week later. Whilst it was convenient, it does highlight what unreliable cameras I've had.

Well, I got the K20D repaired under guarantee. It was a few months inside it's two years and I'm indebted to Richard Day for first alerting me to this possibility.

That's the good bit.

The bad bit is it took them over a month to repair it and now that I have it back, I find that they've introduced a new fault and nicked my strap.

The AE-L button no longer has a positive action and is hypersensitive to touch - or even camera movement.

Sigh...

No. Actually. I bought it in August 2008 so it's well inside two years. I'll look into this. Thanks.

My Pentax camera has developed a fault again. Yes. Again. After this recent failure, I suddenly realised that every Pentax DSLR I've used (*istD, K10D, K20D) and the last film camera (MZ-5) all failed.

The hot-shoe on the K20D isn't firing in M mode. I can't use X mode because it has never worked properly with any radio trigger I've used. I always get the curtain in the frame.

I sent it off to Johnsons Photopia and the quote has just come back as £180. That's £180 parts and labour to replace a PCB. That's absolutely outrageous.

This failure rate is unacceptable and that cost to replace a PCB is really taking the piss.

When people say that Pentax kit is amateur, I always thought they were having a dig at the photographers and not the people making the cameras.

I've been a Pentax user all my life since my first SLR - an ME-Super; followed by a string of Pentax cameras: Super-A, MZ-5, *istD, K10D, K-m, K20D and a load of compacts, but I've had it now. I'm seriously considering jumping ship.

I bought a Canon S90 a few weeks ago and the low light performance is superb. Way better then my K20D. In many situations it's a better choice to use. I'm afraid Pentax just isn't cutting it any more.

This camera is amazing. Pentax have managed to improve on absolute perfection. From the specs on the UK site:

Quality Level Still:*(Good), **(Better), ***(Best), ****(Excellent)

"Best" is a superlative; an absolute.

I assume "Excellent" is like 110%.

I've not got around to doing anything with this grip yet so I'll just bump this thread before sticking it on Ebay if there's still no interest.

I'm open to offers.

Thank you.

I found this thread somewhat late but didn't realise it was all done until I'd already come up with my own version. So I'll post it anyway. No Photoshop used here. Just UFRaw and Gimp.

There's an extra strap that clips on to stop that. It also holds it securely in place so it doesn't slice your neck open as it swings round when you bend forwards.

I'm very happy with my Slingshot but my recent lens addition means it is now crammed rather full.

Having sold my Pentax *istD, I now have a D-BG1 grip going spare.

It is in perfect condition.

Why do you want one?

1. It doubles your battery capacity.
2. You can shoot in portrait orientation using the extra set of controls for shutter release, exposure and aperture adjustments.
3. Makes your camera look more chunky for that important first impression.
4. Improved ergonomics - especially for big hands

A quick Google suggests these are selling new for around £74.

I'm looking for something over £50.

Offers by email, please.

Cheers.