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 an example of this in K mount, compare the F 70-210 to the DA 55-300. The F lens is blazing fast in AF, but the short throw and loose action make it a pain to focus manually. The DA has the opposite problem, with the long throw making hunting a real problem in difficult situations.

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

that is true, although I believe you sacrifice the pentaprism finder?

I believe the K10 and K20 are the largest and heaviest Pentax DSLRs to date, so if that's a concern it is worth keeping in mind.

yes the K20 would probably suit nicely, a little younger than a K10 as well

BTW, the K10D also has a glass pentaprism finder

she is gorgeous, and as we know both the digital camera and the internet were invented for the sharing of pictures of cats, so well done!

what do you generally shoot?

If you don't need or want ooodles of megapixels or high ISOs, the K10D is still a solid camera. Available on a certain auction site for ~£100 - £150 (with an 18-55 it's closer to £150). I'll be selling mine shortly but I already have a buyer.

At ISO 100 the K10 remains pretty hard to beat, although its performance at 800 and 1600 leaves a lot to be desired.

thanks for taking the time to do that Smeggy, that's a very interesting comparison.

Like you I enjoy low light photography of dynamic subjects so high ISO performance is important to me, and the higher the better. I have even been known to take my *ist out over my K10D for the extra stop.

I think my decision is going to come down to low light and tracking AF performance, if it's enough of a step up from the K5 is might overrule the drop in high ISO.

he doesn't look happy, I think you made the right lens choice here!

nice capture.

shouldn't really look at the sun though an OVF either, you'll burn a rather more precious sensor if you're not careful!