I currently have both the D7000 and K5 , the K5 is a bit better at handling shadow noise and the D7000 has a bit better AWB.
Both are remarkably good as a DX and in good light they can match the D700 in terms of just pure noise control.
having said that , they are still DX and having some serious DX Noise reduction characteristics that cannot hold it together in bad light.
you will see some seriuos difference in mid tone and dark shadow area compared to FX bodies in real low light........
the worse the light the more clear difference you will see between these latest DX and D3s or the D700.
the DXO is becoming a bit too ridiculous, they must have been testing all cameras only in studio and reading sensor data there.....
K5 and D7000 are good but not as good as any FF , it is just more and more sophisticated NR in RAW.
I guess guys at DXO cannot see this.
shoot human or black items(like lots of tripods in shadow) and apply some fill light you will see what I mean.
the D7000 is a good camera for casual action event shooter but not as good as the D700 as Thom says.
although its AF is good and much better than the AF of the D90 or the K5 , it is not match for the Nikon pro AF.
it is bit slower and hunt more often in low light compared to the FX AF system of the CAM3500FX.
the K5 is a good low light cam with good DR (IOS100-800)but its AF is so bad it struggles in low light or tracking on any moving subject, not even close to the level of the Nikon AF.
also as Dave of slrgear.com says, I can honestly say the K5's SR(or any Pentax in-body SR) is the least effective image stablization of any kind in lens or body I have tested myself.
My Sony A900 has a bit more effective SSM and my old Oly E30 had much better inbody IS.
and I dont find Pentax lens line so attractive , limited primes are small and attractive but they are netiher fast enough nor sealed enough.
if the concept of the K5 is small high ISO low light camera with exceptional sealing in its class , then they should make all primes sealed.
and DA* zooms are not as good as Canon or Nikon or Sony pro zooms.
so , as much as I want to love the K5 and Pentax system , I think I will keep my Nikon D7000 as a back up to my D3s and D700 and sell the K5.
I did not expect this though , it seems like I am still shooting 3 brand kit for a while at least until the 5D3 and D800 are announced.
for now, for me the cheapest solution is to use Sony, Nikon and Canon for all different type of applications.
just hope the D800 to have at least 24mp or the 5D3 to have a bit more sophisitcated AF coupled with a bit more complex metering system used in the 1D4.
finally I really hope the D800 to have the REAL 100 percent VF.
the D7000 has only 97 percent VF as Dave says in his review on this camera.
I think Nikon is most reliable sytem avaialble now although I dont like to admit this , I d have to say the D7000 is the best DX body for now and it is much more matured camera than the K5.
Finally , I was quite shocked to know how slow these Pentax small primes are optically and in AF.
Dont get me wrong I am not bashing Pentax , in fact I want to keep it because it fits into my right hand extremely well and it is really well sealed tough body.
But its AF and metering system are 3 generations (at least )behind Nikon or Canon.
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Camera-Sensor/All-tested-sensors/Pentax/K5
The K5 is highest ranked crop by a mile. Can't wait to see Nikon D7000 score. Graphs do show smoothing, but still, well implemented.
--
derek.
