What makes a pro camera "Pro"?

[sovietdoc]

I am reading whole bunch of sites and photography discussions and finding out that people call different cameras "pro." For example, on one site a pro photographer was discussing DSLRs and he only used term "pro body" for 1D X and D4. While others said D700/D800 and adequate Canons were "pro." I've even seen mentions that D7000 and 7D were "pro." Is there even a more or less formal definition which camera is pro and which isn't and what makes a camera "pro"?

Silly me, I always thought what makes camera pro was the bit looking in the viewfinder.

 

[rexbobcat]

Marketing.

"flagship"

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Not sure what you're reading but Nikon defines the D7000 as "mid-class"

Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the Nikon D7000, a model that introduces a new line of mid-class Nikon DX-format digital-SLR cameras. The camera is equipped with a new CMOS image sensor and a new image-processing engine, EXPEED 2, that enable capture of high-definition images exhibiting superior image quality. It also offers a number of advanced high-performance features packed into a compact, elegant body."

 

[jake337]

I am reading whole bunch of sites and photography discussions and finding out that people call different cameras "pro." For example, on one site a pro photographer was discussing DSLRs and he only used term "pro body" for 1D X and D4. While others said D700/D800 and adequate Canons were "pro." I've even seen mentions that D7000 and 7D were "pro." Is there even a more or less formal definition which camera is pro and which isn't and what makes a camera "pro"?

Silly me, I always thought what makes camera pro was the bit looking in the viewfinder.

Of course! But someone who is very serious behind the view finder may find the added capabilities of those "pro" bodies beneficial.

There are reasons why serious professionals use the high end gear they do.

Ayrton Senna would have driven his F1 car around a track much, much faster than he could in a civic around the same track.

Although, he would have trouble with his F1 car racing around a go-kart track.

The right tool for the right job that can be trusted to perform.

 

[adichiru]

Unfortunately I have seen many jobs opportunities for freelance photographers posted on various places by clients (usually companies) that need some project done and they asked from the candidate to state what camera they use. They asked for portfolio too but if it wasn't a full-frame camera you were disregarded....

A pro photographer is a photographer that gets paid to make photographs (freelance, part time, full time whatever) so, it seems obvious to me that a pro camera is a camera that allows you to create photographs that you can sell.

There is all this mambo jumbo: "Pro-sumer" camera !?, mid-level, entry-level etc. which is basically BS.
I have a friend selling photography books he created (artistically) with a point and shoot, "bridge" cameras or his phone (not necessarily iphone!)! It seems to be contracting my above logic, but his is an artist in photography or based on photography and he gets paid for that, so....

Just for curiosity, why do you ask / care?

 

[KmH]

What makes a pro camera "Pro"?

The designation the camera maker gives the camera.

Camera makers use a model nomenclature/numbering system to identify their Entry-level, Prosumer, and Professional series of cameras.

For Nikon DSLR's the entry-level stared with Dxx up to and including the D90 when they ran out of number room - D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90. Nikon then had little choice and went to Dxxxx for their newer entry-level series lineup - D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100, D7000.

The Nikon Dxxx series was already being used by the Prosumer line - D100, D200, D300. D300s, D700, and now D800/D800E with a D400(?) in the wings.

The Nikon Dx series is the professional line of Nikon cameras - D1, D1x, D1h, D2h, D2x, D2hs, D2xs, D3, D3s, D3x, D4.

Canon has a similar numbering scheme, but Canon loves names :scratch:, and gives each of their entry-level camera models 3 different names - 1 name for use in Japan, a different name for use in the US, and a 3rd name for every where else - though hey are all the same camera. (Shoot the marketing department in the foot, and tie one hand behind it's back. :banghead

So what is known as a Canon EOS Rebel T3i here in the US, is a Canon EOS Kiss X5 in Japan, and a Canon EOS 600D in the rest of the world.
So Canon xxxxD and xxxD are entry-level. Canon xxD are 5D and 7D are prosumer (except the 60D, which is entry-level), and Canon 1D are Professional.

 

[Overread19 7]

So what is known as a Canon EOS Rebel T3i here in the US, is a Canon EOS Kiss X5 in Japan, and a Canon EOS 600D in the rest of the world.
So Canon xxxxD and xxxD are entry-level. Canon xxD and xD are prosumer (except the 60D, which is entry-level), and Canon xD are Professional.

xD are prosumer and professional at the same time?
I know what you mean. The 5D and 7D are their prosumer series whilst their 1D is their pro line. However the 5D series (esp the MIII) are pretty much now a pro series as well (heck the 5DMIII costs more than their current leading pro body until the 1DX hits the market).



Generally though the definition of "pro" is all kinds of iffy; mostly because photography definitions like this have no standard base to work from. Its all personal interpretation; there are no standards a unit must meet (national or international) to qualify for the title. Generally "pro series" is considered to the best of a series; normally focused around having a format size of at least 1.3 crop (from 35mm) or bigger (the bigger the more "pro it is of course )"

 

[Derrel]

By my line of thought, the "pro camera" designation means the flagship-level camera or cameras that a particular manufacturer has in its lineup. Until one has used a TRUE "pro camera", it's not entirely clear what one truly is. The Canon 5D series, and the 7D, do not qualify as "pro cameras" by the standard I use to discern pro from high-level consumer or "serious enthusiast" cameras. The serious enthusiast cameras that Nikon has made for the past 35 years have always been popular with professionals for backup, light-duty, or secondary use, or even as primary use cameras--even though those various cameras have often been nowhere near the flagship class. In some cases, like that of the Nikon FE-2, the "serious amateur" model for a number of years, the "amateur" camera had higher flash synch speeds, and a match-needle metering display that many people preferred over the "professional" F3, with its super-durable traditional shutter synching flash at only 1/80 second, whereas the FE-2 went to 1/250.

Today's professional d-slr cameras are geared toward instant responsiveness, ruggedness, and dependability,and are somewhat tailored to the intended professional use; both Canon and Nikon have realized that for their "action" cameras, 18 megapixels is enough for people who want to shoot action and events and news, and who need high-ISO performance, superb AF, and *reasonable* file size economy for ease of editing and for ease of transmission and archiving of the files.

The Canon 5D and 7D are Canon's "serious enthusiast" cameras, and represent the top performers in the class that exists just below the flagship or "pro" cameras. If a person needs to feel like he shoots a "pro" camera in order to feel good about himself, he's got some serious insecurity issues. The D800 is Nikon's top "serious enthusiast" camera. All of them are fine performers.

 

[KmH]

xD are prosumer and professional at the same time?
I know what you mean. The 5D and 7D are their prosumer series whilst their 1D is their pro line.


Generally though the definition of "pro" is all kinds of iffy; mostly because photography definitions like this have no standard base to work from. Its all personal interpretation; there are no standards a unit must meet (national or international) to qualify for the title. Generally "pro series" is considered to the best of a series; normally focused around having a format size of at least 1.3 crop (from 35mm) or bigger (the bigger the more "pro it is of course )"

Canon uses flawed logic to name/number their cameras.

Cost is not a reliable indicator either, because newer prosumer cameras may cost more because of economic factors.

 

[sovietdoc]

Just for curiosity, why do you ask / care?

Well, I am trying to find out of it's all just marketing B.S. or if it has some merit to it.

I usually thought a "professional" camera is something majority of the professional photographers use. Professional photographer being a person who takes photos for a living. Which usually implies bodies like 1D IV or 1DX and Nikon D3/D3X/D3s/D4 etc.. But sometimes I'm finding out professional people opting out for bodies like 5D2 or D800 now because of the resolution.

With that said though, I wouldn't consider 5D3 "pro" even though it has a silly price tag, because 1D X does exactly everything it can do except better. I would argue that MP count difference between 1D X and 5D3 isn't that high for people who would consider either body.

But in case of D800, I can see pro landsapists, fashion and wildlife photographers opting for it instead of D4. Yes, wildlife with 4fps aint much but crop factor is nice and I know a few people who said they would rather take that resolution than fps for their wildlife work.

So I guess it all comes down to terminology and like someone said it should really derive from what the manufacturers decide to call their cameras and what market segment they are targeting with each one.

 

[Overread19 7]

A pro normally uses equipment that, at the very least, allows them to produce a product that the market they work for desires.

This results in a lot of variation as different markets put different demands upon the working pro; if they are servicing the lower ends of the market then they might only be able to afford lower tier equipment; whereas if they are servicing higher paying clients they will thus have more income to invest in their equipment as well as a higher expected quality to deliver.

It's no secrete that the pro that caters to the bottom of the market might be using a rebel series body; whilst a pro catering to royalty or celebrates is using digital medium format.


That is, of course, looking at things like portraits or the dreaded W word; if you're shooting war-reporting or journalistic shots one might well have "weaker" bodies that are smaller or lighter or simply less obvious.

 

[CalamityCreekDesigns]

So, since my D90 USED to be Nikon's flagship does, in your collective mind, newest flagship mean pro? In a couple of years, when there is newer cameras out will your D4 become prosumer? Sorry, in my mind pro is the person behind the camera. As has been stated, there are folks who shoot photo books with Iphones and movies with Flip cameras. They make their living at it. They are pros.
But then I am wrong a lot.

 

[KmH]

The D90 was the pinnacle of Nikon's entry-level line up in it's day, but it was never a Nikon 'flagship' camera.

To me a 'professional photographer' is an expert at doing photography. However, for many others the definition means soneone that gets paid to do photography, even if the photographer being paid shoots exclusively using 'AUTO' mode.

Most prosumer and pro cameras don't have 'AUTO' mode as a shooting mode choice.

 

[Overread19 7]

To me a 'professional photographer' is an expert at doing photography. However, for many others the definition means soneone that gets paid to do photography, even if the photographer being paid shoots exclusively using 'AUTO' mode.

I like the paid for (normally something like 65%+ of their income comes from photography as opposed to just being paid for odd-jobs) description because its easy to work with.
Expert in the field is so darned impossible to work out its mindboggling with all the many many many standards different people impose upon what a pro should be considered as within this regard (and normally by the time threads that head down that way are finished the pro is expected to be so good that they can take photos without seeing them without a camera)!

 

[cgipson1]

I agree with Keith! Most "so-called" pro's that use rebels, and d3000's are a joke.. definitely not PRO's (paid or otherwise!)

A Professional Photographer is one who can deliver a top quality image anywhere, anytime, any light, and in any conditions! I know a lot of hobby shooters that meet that criteria more than more of the "Facebook" and "Craigslist" pro's!

The D90 was release in 2008.. the D3 was released in 2007! Guess which one was the Flagship?