My D90 setup got stolen.I am looking for a replacement. While an obvious next step is a D7000 I am intrigued by reviews talking about high ISO performance and want to know if anyone here is a former Nikon D90 (or D??) user.A camera is not only the body, it's the system - lens, flash, etc.If you made the switch or have both a Nikon and a Pentax SLR, I'd very much appreciate your opinion.Thanks, Amnon

JMO, worth what you paid for it. I had a D90, then got a k-x and now a k-5. The Pentax have in body stabilization, so the lenses are smaller and the package is lighter/easier to handle. I'm a jpg shooter (gasp!), so from that point of view, the pics I get from Pentax have better color and are crisper/sharper. I didn't like the skin tones and (ummm) "smoothness" of my D90 photos. I like the button/menu layout of the Pentax better. What I DO miss about the D90 is the flash system. Using my sb600 remotely, the lighting from the flash was wonderful. Not so much from the Pentax. Again, JMO.

By the time I switched over to digital in my geezerhood, I had a mixture of Nikon F mount and Pentax K mount lenses. I started out with the Nikon D7000 and got some very good images with it, but I really never liked working with the camera. Eventually got a chance to try a K-5 and found it was much more what I had in mind.I also eventually picked up a Nikon d700 and I really enjoy using it as well. So now I have Pentax as an APS-C system and Nikon as a full-frame system. I would highly recommend taking a look at the K-5. It has a better implementation of the Sony 16mp sensor than the D7000, while having a build quality and features more like the D300. The K-5 really is a unique camera that I think will be considered a classic. I wanted to let you know that this comes from someone that is also a Nikon user and isn't just a Pentax fanboy.

I would agree with this. I really like using the K-5, but Nikon does have a much better flash system.

I'm not a Nikon user, so I just have a sense based on what people close to me have experienced, and what has been expressed by so many (beyond a doubt the affinity between Pentax and Nikon is far stronger than any other pairing).Working for Pentax: in body stability +++, compactness +++, prime lenses ++, legacy compatibility (including MF) ++, economical weather resistance ++, sensor optimization +, higher quality fit and feel +.Working for Nikon: multiple TTL flash compatibility and accuracy +++, current lens line up - zooms especially ++, long-term prospects ++, somewhat superior AF +, cache +.It really comes down to how you shoot, and what you value most. For the vast majority, Nikon is a better choice. Unless you like primes, compactness, want to shoot really good oddball legacy lenses, or don't really need to extensively shoot pre-flash TTL or multi-flash. (Believe me, TTL is not necessary for many situations in this day and age. If you learn basic auto flash for use in typical informal situations, you are covered and have fewer potential problems to get in your way.)

That's a very good summary. I'm quite satisfied with the pairing I have ended up with and plan to continue using both. The pairing gives me quite a bit of versatility.I have legacy lenses from both systems. Pentax has been great about legacy lens support throughout their line-up and among the newer items I love the limited primes. Nikon has good support for legacy F mount lenses as well, but only in the semi-pro and pro models.

Thanks, all. I should find a store with the Pentax (K-5 or K-30) and try them.My first DSLR was actually one of the Canon Rebels which I never really liked and after a year and a half I decided to switch to the D90 based on trying it at the store and loving the controls. Never tried a Pentax, maybe I should before I buy anything.

Sorry about your loss, I would be pretty upset if my stuff got stolen.I have been a dual system user for a few years now, as have quite a few people on the Pentax forum - had a D40X (now my daughter's), D80 (now my son's), and a D90 (still have). In parallel with these, I've had a Pentax K10D (gone), K20D (gone), and now a couple of K5's (still have!). Before that I had Canon, but that's a different story.A lot of what you've heard is true. Nikon does have a better flash system. I have two (used to be three) SB-600's, and they are dead easy to use, and work extremely well. I had two AF360's at one point, but it was too much effort to figure out how to use them (always seemed to underexpose), so they are now gone. I was just being lazy, though - a lot of folks here have been doing great work with the Pentax flash system, but my feeling is that Nikon's is easier to use, in addition to being more versatile for very advanced users.Ergonomics - out of all the Nikons and Pentaxes I've owned, the Pentaxes have always had so much better ergonomics than the Nikons. The grip feel, menu systems, button placement. I've only had to open up the Pentax manual a couple of times, even after I bought my first Pentax (the K10D). On the other hand, when I bought my first Nikon, I just couldn't figure it out without digging into the manual for almost everything! (exaggeration, I know). The best of them was the K10D/K20D - the grips just felt right. The K5 is still better than the D90 (for me of course), but the grip feel doesn't feel as correct as the K10/20.Focus speed - In normal light, they're the same. In very low light in this price range, Nikon had the advantage (this is one of their historical strong suits), but with the K5 the advantage is not as great. I will say again, you have to compare apples to apples (i.e. lens to lens). I have some pretty fast focusing consumer lenses for Nikon (Sigma 70-200 HSM, 18-200 HSM), and some similarly fast focusing consumer lenses for Pentax (Sigma 50-150 HSM, Pentax 18-135). And for the life of me, I can't tell the difference in focus speed, and I have measured it. I take hockey pictures with both setups in AF-C, and the photos come out pretty good with either setup.Now, Nikon does have some bodies and lenses that are truly pro level (re: pro sports) that Pentax cannot match, but I am referring to consumer-level equipment that us mere mortals can afford. Anyway, I hope this feedback helps. I would recommend trying the K5. The price is right, it has a better sensor than the D90, real weathersealing, great controls. If you don't like it, you can always sell and get a D7000. But my D90 stays in the bag unless I need to take some portraits using the external flash. Otherwise, the K5's come with me.Good luck!

I'll throw my hat in there and try to be subjective a bit.Going from Pentax to Nikon (don't have extensive K-5 experience but I have used it)I do agree that Pentax are quite easy to use handling wise. Nikon are different it's a press and hold buttons combination with the front/rear dials approach which is very much like many 35mm film bodies. Pentax/Sony are not like this. Nikon are more top LCD driven for setting changes.Neither is good or bad but different. I will say you won't really have to read the manual with the Pentax bodies (a good idea but easy to use straight off) I liked that. I did have to read the D90 manual..but got used to it fairly quickly though.On area I don't like on Pentax is the non dedicated controls for selecting the AF point, not good IMO, this was an annoyance on the K-r. with Nikon you can simply use the rear pad to select the AF point none of this press hold the central button then change AF point.Flash wise no competition..Nikon flaw Pentax easily in consistency and capability.Lenses wise Pentax are the WR small prime niche player. Some love it, I never really cared for it much myself. The limited lenses are interesting some of them, the affordable ones are too slow (IMO) the faster ones are quite pricey. I didn't like the cheap plastic mount affordable prime take either. I think Nikon are overall better here.But that is down to taste.Downer wise Tamron don't have the full range available for K mount and that takes a bit of a shine off it IMO. I suspect both probably have enough for most folks, I just think you're likely to look at third party offerings more for PentaxDo I miss the in body IS, well a bit yet being dead honest it is useful and a free lunch. On the other hand I don't think Pentax's IS is as good as for example Sony's performance wise (not on the Kx or K-r anyway)They are quite different systems, from bodies to lenses.If I were looking at K mount I would consider the K-30 which I would hope addresses the AF issues of previous bodies.Saying that I am yet to receive my third D90 in an attempt to get one that can AF properly!Hard choice really. I do think Pentax have some appeal for some shooters. With recent price hikes in the UK on their lens range. I think that appeal is reduced thoughSize is a subjective thing, the K-5 is a really nice body even if it's compact. D90 a bit bigger but it's not a huge body by any means.I would think carefully on this one depending on what your needs are Pentax might be a good bet, or they might not. If you want a compact WR type system then a good choice, if you do a lot of flash and want a lot of choices body/lenses wise or normal shooters, I don't think they are a great choice.But you can use what you like, and plenty like Pentax. I would suggest getting a grab of a few bodies in a shop to see how you get on.

I am a d300s former user/still have fuji s5 f mount/.the only body I liked from nikon was d200/the same in fuji s5/.I did like the nikon flash system and the nikon system a whole where you can find any thing for nikon at any local store.this thing is not easy for pentax.I think pentax has a special system so the term/special/ need a special effort to find what you want or need. I bought k5 instead of d300s for its body fit and feeling,the ease of use besid the great sensor insid But I faced many problems to find lenses in my areaME.I have to order every thing from battry to lenses but regarding for nikon it was very easy to find any thing.so nikon is a wide brand with a wide market and pentax is a special brand with a very small market. but for photography I choose the pentax/specifically k5/ because it is a camera that encourage me to go and photgraphing ..the opposite is the d300s which was big specialy with the sigma lenses.

Thanks. At the end of the day I will need to hold the cameras.Spending 10 days with a D7000 was very familiar (very similar layout to D90) and yielded very nice results.People keep telling me I need to shoot RAW and eventually I will.With the no-mirror cameras nowadays I am tempted to look at those as well, though I'm concerned regarding lack of physical button ergonomics.Thanks all for your comments, all are very helpful.

Amnon, I'm not sure what part of Washington state you live in, but when I checked on Pentax's website where the physical stores are (there are VERY FEW brick-and-mortar dealers for Pentax in America these days), there WAS a small chain in Idaho. So if the city you live in is in eastern Washington state it might not be too far for you to drive and actually get a hands-on experience with a K-5 before buying one.As someone who has no real experience with Nikon or Canon DSLRs (although I own two Canon "megazooms" and the one Nikon megazoom I bought was such a disappointment to me I returned it), I still think you'll find the K-5 a quite attractive camera -- especially for the money (and based on the MANY comments I've read here from other folks who have lots of experience with both systems). JeffAmnon Gwrote:Thanks, all. I should find a store with the Pentax (K-5 or K-30) and try them.My first DSLR was actually one of the Canon Rebels which I never really liked and after a year and a half I decided to switch to the D90 based on trying it at the store and loving the controls. Never tried a Pentax, maybe I should before I buy anything.

Amnon Gwrote:My D90 setup got stolen.D90 stolen, what next?Your life and you soul !