You know that I have a Pentax K10D, that is working as new, but still limited in terms of available optics, resolution and high iso. The natural upgrade path is to buy a Pentax K7D, that is worse in high ISO and still have same limited lens availability, while staying on expert-level, not on Pro.
Yesterday, I found a Nikon D2X on craigslist, I know it’s only 12Mpixel, but’s image quality is really great and enough for my needs, as good as K10D in high ISO (or if you prefer not worse!), a real Pro-level DSLR, with an incredible range of used Pro lenses.
Better exposure (the 1005 color-ccd matrix of the F5!), faster AF, especially in low-light, really rugged, fast with 5 fps, faster with 8fps in 7MP (enough for sport photography even for a cover!), and moreover the feel and security that gives a real Pro SLR!
My last Pro SLR was an used Nikon F4s, that belonged to an photo-journalist of “Le Dauphiné Libéré”, bought in Annecy - France, and it never deceived me, even when I dropped it on concrete floor! Rugged, fast, efficient, easy to use, versatility from weddings to sport or portraits, I gave it to a photograph student just before leaving France.
I used Nikon F80 for a while, but it’s sophistication was more cumbersome than efficient, and it often underexpose in fashion show
You have to try a real Pro SLR, from Canon or Nikon, even an used one, and see the feeling and the control it gave you…