That was the switch from Samsung to Sony Exmor sensors. Unless there's another sensor manufacturer out there who's really done some magic, unlikely. I predict DR and ISO performance slightly ahead of the Nikon D7100, just as the K5 was a tiny (and I mean really tiny) bit ahead of the D7000. Which basically means they will stand still compared to the K5 I think.

I'm a K30 owner too. In your position I'd get another K30, just to maintain the same button layout etc. Heresy I know, but I prefer the K30 handling to the old K7/K5. And yes I did used to own one (K7).

You will not see dramatic DR/ISO improvements until they drop their FF bomb, Smeggy. (If it ever happens!)

In terms of the crop sensor market, this machine looks like a Canikon beater though! Nikon image quality (at least) with Canon performance and video capability (or better). At least that's what I hope (for Pentax's sake).

Not that Canikon users will probably pay any attention

Sometimes you're actually better placed if you don't own either camera... if you don't have a horse in the race so to speak ;P

Well... I have owned an K10D and then a K30 in succession. CCD to CMOS. At the time I switched I felt that the CMOS images were different, but in truth, looking at them now, I can barely tell any difference (not pixel peeping, low ISO, little exposure recovery etc).

The imaging resource images just seem to confirm that, as expected, in the studio samples the higher resolution CMOS images are more detailed and there's very little else between them IMHO!

I can report that the K30 is miles better at high ISO than the K10D, the metering is better, the AF is better, there is less noise in exposure-corrected images, images are sharper etc etc. Any longing for the elusive 'aroma of CCD' pretty soon dissipated once I got using the camera properly!

Great idea! Now if it was DC as well that would be sweet, but still a great move. Makes so much sense to make this a WR lens.

You can easily compare using the comparometer (TM) over at imaging resource. By default it compares current cameras but you can change it to include old cameras too.

Try shooting with the camera wedged against your belly, looking down at the screen like a TLR John. Makes for great stability and of course it's good for street photography.

I know what you mean, I just think it's the fact that the images are smaller and have a bit more sharpening.

Maybe