Nikon D7000 or Pentax K-5 or Canon 7D

I recommend the Pentax K-5: cheapest, best value for money, best raw quality, best low-light performance, lightest, smallest. Also weather sealed. Clear winner in this contest.

K-5. Weather-sealed. Best handling. Lightest equipment. Best sensor.

D7000 v K5. That's the story I see. 7D is overpriced, always was. I have a D7000 and it's got a lot of things over the K5... but...

K5... for you it gets my vote because the D7000 has an issue with oil coming from the shutter flicking micro specks onto the sensor. Don't know if Nikon has sorted it, may have. I got mine over a year ago. Universal problem almost. For landscape and small apertures it can be an issue as the flecks are are the top of the image, so where the sky is often. I have a few, at f/11 I see them since I know where they are, but I can deal with them in post, just wish I didn't have to. Ok with clouds, nightmare with clear blue sky that has graduation. Time for a sensor clean soon. Don't get a K5 because the RAW looks better... RAWs hide themselves and ask you to tease out the best. 

Wether sealed, good price, possibility to get awesome old (wide-angle) lenses and yes I think it's quite stable built. 

Kit lens are weatherproofed except for the 55-300mm DA. Good performance vs price.

As far as I know the k5 is selling for $800+ right now, you can get a like new copy for $700. The k5 is also a very reliable piece of equipment having Shake reduction incorporated in the sensor (not the lens) and also weather resistant with a numerous WR lens to choose from, without a doubt the sensor of the k5 is one of the top performers out there (cropped factor wise), Has very good high ISO capabilities, Dynamic range is awesome, UI is great and is very user-friendly. Legacy support is also one of the best, enabling you to use very good solid glass made years ago, K-mount came-out 37 years ago and is still being used today. Size factor it is the smallest and lightest of the 3 and with the proper set-up you can either make it bigger, or make it compact (Have you seen what the k5 with the 40mm xs looks like?). So yeah to me the K5 is a no brainer. But keep in mind it also has its weaknesses, it is said that the AF would not be able to keep-up with canikon, but that's fine with me cause I shoot middle frame anyway.

No doubt here, K-5 is the obvious choice. Go into a shop, hold the K-5 in your hands and you'll know it too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo61t5fH6Qw

Best value for money, image quality

Digital Photography Review gives the K5 83% (Gold Award) and the Nikon D7000 a little less at 80%. Both use the same Sony APS-C sensor and have very similar scores over at DxOMark. I suggest you choose the model with the most user friendly interface (from your point of view)... having said that I've seen the Nikon UI and I don't like it (I use a Sony A580 and its UI is similar to Canon's).

The Pentax K-5 has phenomenal image quality and ruggedness.  It's duely weather-sealed and perfect for the outdoor photographer.  Plus, it's a fraction of the original $1500 price tag.  It's the best workhorse I use!

specs, value, and ergonomics .. pentax k-5 hands down

The Pentax K-5, out of this selection, has the best image quality, it is the most durable, has the best weather sealing(MUCH better than D7000's poor construction), and has arguably the sharpest lenses of any company.  

I use a 5D Mark II for studio/landscaping and the K-5 for storm chasing.  In the field, it has survived extreme cold, heavy downpours, hail, and everything else mother nature has tossed my way.  Not once have I had an issue with it failing on me.  The only minor gripe is the lack of 24 frame video.  If that was not counted, I would say this is the best possible camera currently, factoring what it can do and survive.

I've had a D7000...  It isn't a storm chaser's friend.

I've had a 7D(before 5D Mark II)... It's essentially a "Super" Rebel, nothing more.

Right now, the 5D MII serves a purpose for full frame needs.

Everything else is the domain of the K-5..

Season's Greetings! I own the PENTAX K-5 with some awesome PENTAX lenses, and of the 3 models you list, I would highly recommend the PENTAX K-5 (or the new PENTAX K-5II and K-5IIs)! In terms of ergonomics, IMHO the K-5 has it over the D7000 and 7D with regard to weather-sealing and build quality. The Nikon and Canon lens systems.are indeed more extensive, but frankly, the PENTAX system is not shabby either. Most of the FA and DA* lenses are super-sharp and of high-quality. For sample jpegs, see totalqualityphoto.com. Good luck!   

I'm recommending this based on others' admittance that it's the best quality (pro & against) AND also to point out something regarding having Pentax gear then changing camera bodies...

Second: Pentax & Nikon have been using the same mount for their lenses

Pentax K-5 II - The Next Generation of the K-5.

Amazing camera. Enough said.

Price vs. Image and Performance. Best ergonomics and logical layout. Good line of lenses including outstanding Limited prime lenses which will mount on many other cameras with K- or micro 4/3 mounts as well.

Totally worth it's price ! magnificent image quality , iso , color depth , HDR , and .....

I marked the Canon, but I would say Canon or Nikon, never Pentax. And I will tell you why. It is true that out of those three the Pentax is the best one (not far but it is) the problem is that if you get to really like photography, you will start buying  some gear for you pentax (Fix lenses, macro lenses, telephoto lenses, etc)  eventually you will put your eyes on buying a new camera, and of course as it happens to all amateur photographers, you will think to yourself: "Ok what I need is a full frame camera body". and then you will realizae that that; There are no full frame pentax!!!, So will have to buy a Canon or a Nikon, or sony or whatever, and all your pentax lenses in which you had spent so much money are useless in your new camera. 

My advise is: Get the Canon or the Nikkon (the one that sounds better to you because they are both great)  and buy only FF lenses which  fit in APS-C cameras but also in FF cameras... your lenses will be usefull for a lifetime

magnesium alloy body construction, weather and moisture sealing...

I support canon 7D because my cousin has one and the picture quality is good, shutter speed and the zoom is very good. And I saw his all photos in instagram and it's awesome I'm sorry that I can't give you his instagram account name because i don't that he will allow it. But I recommend you to buy a canon rebel t3i or the eos digital 1D

D7000 is a little better for a much lower price! Canon_EOS_7D-vs-Nikon_D7000 at snapsort.com

I'm a nikon guy, but i'm no dummy. i work in a studio and know that if i had to pick between these three the one i'd take is the 7D. i've seen the images it makes in my studio and thats where i'd put my money.

It's rugged, weather sealed, it can take pictures at 8fps and can film at 50fps, it has a huge battery (~2000 shots) and a fantastic focusing system. I own it and I never missed my old XTi.

easy to use

I prefer D7000. It is Value for Money with all features

Way better image quality to all of the other cameras that you are willing to buy, and it is way more feature packed.

Not too much difference to the 7D... and you could use the rest of the money to buy quality lenses... as a 35mm f1.8 and a 85mm f1.8

hi! i am from indonesia and pentax user. i try canon 7d from my friend. what i like about this camera is some how af respond more faster in low light condition then pentax k-5. i never try nikon d7000. some of my friend said that nikon d7000 give more effort for sport photography.

* very durable and weathersealed

* lenses manufactured 20 years ago still work fine - which means you can take a cheap, easily replaceable lens into the woods instead of an expensive one. (ie: the 28-80mm 3.3-5.6G lens can be had for less than $50 on eBay and was my everyday lens for a long time.)

* D7000s are on sale at most places right now - probably because the D7100 is right around the corner.

love the autofocus system, rugged body, magnesium alloy, fast shutter speed

...My suggestion...7D,personally for me,not much difference,indeed,every cam worth it.

I'd say the D7000. It has better image quality, a higher ISO, better battery life, and better color than the 7D and has more focus points and better battery than the K5. Also, if you plan on shooting any video the D7000 has contrast auto focus while the 7D and K5 have none. I think the D7000 is the best of overall between these 3.

I own a D7000 for the past 2 years. The expectations you have mentioned are very well met by this piece of gem. If your budget approves of it get the D7000. Its the topmost prosumer camera by Nikon. Very well built, weather sealed, rugged.

Picture Quality: A lot will depend on the lenses you choose... and ofcourse getting the basics right while capturing the image.

Servicing is also not a problem.... there are ample Nikon service centers all around in India.

best value for money, Many focus points

Definitely the Nikon D7000, great non-full frame camera for landscape. If the statistics on Snapsort are correct, then it's definitely the D7000.

good camera for sporty things. Must be the king of ASP-C sensor- camera !!!

The best choice. The most advanced DX format Nikon camera now on the market.. or you can wait for next generation of DX semi-pro camera from Nikon soon :)

the best dx 2010 - 2011 - 2012