Pentax, Canon, Nikon, Cameras! Photography!

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Making a thread because I see there have been some but they are way in back somewhere. Doesn't seem to be much interest? Perhaps I'll just ramble a little and see if I catch any fish.

At the moment I own a Pentax KX, and a bit of lenses... but I'm not a professional. I haven't had much time to take pictures lately - my last one you can see in my icon next to my name. Taken with a 500mm lens in raw, and then post-processed. (yes, the moon).

I am currently trying to decide on a new camera for myself. I plan on buying it in the next 5 months or so. My options are.

Pentax K5
Nikon D7000
Canon 7d

I am torn between them. Because the D7000 offers the "gadget galore" I enjoy so much, while the pentax K5 lacks features I want, doesn't have dual sd card slots... but it does have full weather proofing (give it a shower!). The 7d is running in third due to its expensive price - it also uses compact flash I believe which is quite annoying, and I believe the markup on canon products is substantial + I don't believe it has any weather proofing per say.

The Pentax is the most appealing because I already have one of their cameras. But its only a small "upgrade" from what I have now. Albeit its a awesome upgrade, because I can basically take it anywhere without worries. But the Nikons really do have the features and buttons/firmware I'd prefer. The pentax also has shake reduction (the sensor moves itself) - and the nikon only has lens based shake reduction (which means even your older lenses with pentax would have shake reduction due to the sensor physically moving to compensate). Where as the nikon you'd be inclined to buy a "VR" lens if you wanted that feature.

Cost wise the pentax would be cheaper to own - but above this camera it goes straight to a full frame 6-$8000 camera. But nikon has many different cameras and lenses to choose from/upgrade to.

If any of this makes sense to anyone, or you have a opinion, please respond.

i havent owned other digital SLR cameras besides my nikon D80, but i have been very satisfied with it and have done some great pictures.
i have an old roommate that owned a canon 5d and it was a completely different experience (due to full frame) so i dont feel like comparing.

my impression is that between nikon and cannon there isnt much real difference in quality, more nuance than anything else.
the nikon cameras do perform better(less noise) at higher ISO numbers, but i must admit that was a generation ago so that may have changed.

i know the build quality of a nikon camera leaves nothing behind, mine has even survived a quick dodge into seawater(dodging the surfer i was photographing), took out the battery and sent it to the cleaners and it still functions perfectly.

odd thing is i have 6 decent analogue canon lenses so ii could have used ann adapter had i chosen canon.

Will you expand on the "no camera left behind" mentality towards Nikon's? I know my Pentax is pretty sturdy but I see them literally giving the new k5 showers. On the other hand I see them being more cautious with Nikons.

Canon, all the way. They have a much better selection of lenses.

I just bought a Pentax Kx around Christmas time. Problem - it only took one trip for the housing cover to come off and for the thing to have debris on the CMOS. Looking forward to using it again though, its definitely a quality camera.

Your talking about the cover on the body? I usually leave the lens on because the cover on the body was like a plastic stopper, lol.

Keep in mind there is a "sensor shake" feature in the options menu to shake the dust off the sensor, and that pentax has released a 1.12 version of their firmware which helps with a few things/adds a few features. I've had mine for a year and there has only been like 5-8 specs of dust on the sensor I've had to contend with since then. But if I switch lenses its fast, and I never leave it open.. and always leave it laying lcd down in my camera bag to avoid any damage.

Affordable, cheap, third party? I know the 5d mk 2 has a good following of people making custom firmwares for their cameras. But the non-sd memory is a bit of a turnoff, although I think that memory tends to be faster?.. *shrugs*

D7000 isn't even a contender.

K5 or 7d ftw.