It would be this one:
The Pentax K-5 DSLR. Picture courtesy of B&H Photo
The Pentax K-5. Why? Well, it’s simply one of the best semi-professional DSLRs currently available. It has a small, solid body that is completely weather sealed, it has a great performing 16 megapixel sensor that compares well with current Nikon and Canon models, it has fast AF, a quiet shutter, a decent viewfinder, HD video — essentially all the features you could wish for. And it’s getting one great review after another. And it can be used with a number of great lenses. The two which I would have for it are:
The Sigma 24mm f/1.8 Macro (equivalent to 36mm on full-frame) and the Pentax 55mm f/1.4 (82.5mm eq.). These would make a great two-lens kit, with one for general shooting and the other for portraiture (or anything else that asks for a narrower field-of-view.) And maybe one of the nice small Pentax Limited primes, such as the 40/2.8 (60mm eq.), the 43/1.9 (64.5mm eq.) or the new 35/2.4 (52.5mm eq.), as an intermediate, small walkaround lens.
But I’m not going to buy a DSLR today. But if you are, you should seriously consider the K-5!
January 10th, 2011, 6:27 pm | 
Aye – good choice Felix. Tho for me it would be a tough race between this one, and the Nikon D7000. Same (Sony) sensor in both, so it boils down to:
- in body stabilization (Pentax) vs. in-lens stabilization (Nikon) (advantage Pentax IMHO)
- better weather sealing and a more pro body of the Pentax (advantage Pentax again)
- many more lenses, better flashes, and a much more complete system from Nikon (advantage Nikon)
Hard to tell, but I think I’d probably go the ‘safer’ route, and buy into the dark side if I had to buy today – which I don’t. So I’ll stay with Olympus and their legendary little lenses. Only Leica would be better I think.
Wolfgang,
tanks for your comment. Indeed, I was inspired to this post by your contemplation about the D7000
The Olympus E-5 would be my second choice, because the lens lineup is really great. Although I would miss a 35mm-equivalent prime lens.
I’m just not a big fan of either Canon or Nikon. Not because their products are bad, but because they’re too mainstream for my taste …
efix>I would miss a 35mm-equivalent prime lens
Ouch – you put your finger exactly where it hurts. Yes, missing primes are/were a problem with Four Thirds.
efix>I’m just not a big fan of either Canon or Nikon
Neither am I – tho I should probably endorse and promote Canon, my brother-in-law is working there, making lenses
But what these two companies do is sell you the same thing over and over again with their stabilization in the lenses. Still both of them have a lineup that’s quite hard to match by anyone else, up to tilt/shift and the like.
Just got the 50 macro from Olympus – one of the next ones for me is probably the Panasonic Leica 1.4/25mm. We’ll see.