K20D vs. K7 in High-ISO RAW Noise

Greg Lovern wrote:

It looks like Santa may bring a used K20D or K7 this year. I'm still using my *ist D.

I recall much discussion, disagreement, and angst about whether the K7 was noisier than the K20D at high ISO, even in RAW. What's the truth?

Greg, yes there was a lot of "angst" over nothing IMHO. The K-7 has a little bit more noise due to the addition of circuitry to support video capabilities but it is hardly the end of the world with a difference of less than half a stop. This was confused somewhat when comparing images due to differences in compulsory raw data Noise Reduction (NR) with the NR for the K20D of the older more blotchy type (stronger) starting at ISO 1600 and the K-7 having the newer less blotchy type (weaker) compulsory NR starting at ISO 3200. The comparison in raw image quality between these two is minuscule when comparing either of them to the K-5 which really has about a stop less noise in the brighter parts of images and up to three stops less noise in the deep shadows.

If it were my choice between these two, I would likely pick the K20D if I weren't concerned at all with video and Live View and didn't mind the larger body (or liked it) and would pick the K-7 if I did want to play with those things and/or wanted a smaller camera body and/or wanted to use the newer user interface of the more modernized K-7; in other words, I wouldn't choose between them based on image quality at all.

Regards, GordonBGood