Godfrey wrote:
Very briefly: The DS has simpler controls (one thumbwheel rather than two), improved write speed performance, more settings driven through the menu and LCD rather than through discrete buttons, does not have wireless flash built in (you need two 360s to do wireless flash, can't do it with one external and the built in), does not have "HyperProgram", will not take a battery grip, and uses SecureDigital cards rather than CompactFlash cards. There are other differences, both in features and in operation, but these are the ones that I hear all the time as deciding points. The DS has scene modes and such that the D does not, but they don't go neither here nor there for me.
I bought a DS because I liked it more ... I prefer the simpler control layout, ergonomics, and the things missing from the D model are not particularly important to me.
That said, thinking of a "backup" myself, I would buy another DS over a D simply because they would both use SD cards. If I had a D, I'd buy another D so that I could use my CF cards in both. What I'd like to see Pentax release is an "upgraded DS" follow on with perhaps a couple of the D features returned and maybe a skin in magnesium for a more robust feel without adding any weight or size.
One more important thing is that the Ds does not have a PC connection so you would have to use an adapter or slave to fire studio flashes.
Butch
