Pentax for business

Psynema · 10-20-2009, 11:42 PM

How many people here use Pentax professionally for a photography career? For weddings for example, or anything?

How's finding/networking with other pentax photographers?

little laker · 10-21-2009, 12:13 AM

I did use a Pentax for as a backup at events. However everyone I know personally shoots either Canon or Nikon.

Until Pentax Canada improves their After The Sales service I can't see all that many professional shooters here choosing their systems

*Ari* · 10-21-2009, 12:23 AM

I'm just starting out, but I am committed to using Pentax. So far, for the gigs I've gotten, my k20 and glass have been great performers. I get some looks (last week another photog said, "not many people shoot with Pentax anymore") but for what I've done so far (some studio work, events, real estate) it's all good. No question that Canon and Nikon are both great bodies and glass, too, but they are also incredible marketers. There are so many great brands out there - Olympus, Panasonic, Sony - I think it's almost good that there are dominant brands out there that push the smaller competitors to out perform and under price them (which Pentax does in some instances).

*Ash* · 10-21-2009, 12:33 AM

If I may speak on their behalf, we have our celebrity Pentaxian, benjikan, who shoots fashion professionally in France, and long-time wedding photographer Peter Zack in Canada, amongst many others on this forum...

lithos · 10-21-2009, 02:32 AM

I used to get paid in piss.

I don't drink.

And beer don't buy you lenses.

*Ash* · 10-21-2009, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by lithos

I used to get paid in piss.

I don't drink.

And beer don't buy you lenses.

Shout enough people with your beers and you may find someone tipsy enough to buy you one...

*Wheatfield* · 10-21-2009, 07:58 AM

I've shot Pentax professionally since 1984 when I bought a 6x7 system until a few years ago when I pretty much retired from pro photography. Weddings, portraiture and fine art were the mainstays of my pro photography.
I've never really been concerned about networking by brand name. If a person uses Pentax, that's fine, but I don't really care.

*Ratmagiclady* · 10-21-2009, 11:14 AM

I used to use the 6x7, too, and I'd have no problem with using my k20d for jobs: I've only sold a few photos around, on a pretty informal basis, but the IQ gets it done. The cameras themselves are perfectly adequate: I might be a bit concerned about the limited flash options if I were doing weddings or something, (This is one place where I might like the real high-tech, but I haven't actually tried what there is out there, for all I know it's fine, but this wasn't a point in favor of the K20d when I came here for digital. Certainly the cheapest way to get the proper build quality and such, these.)

One thing about what one might use as a pro often depends on what a company might have a stable of, and how available some things may be to rent: if they've got Canon stuff there, that's a huge incentive to have likewise.

If you're a small operator, then Pentax can work out: you can choose what you want and have less overhead. Anything's kind of not really a professional camera if you're not making money on it.

I probably would not choose Pentax to join the papparazzi, but who wants to do that, anyway.

It's all about the results, really. If it does what you need, use it.

It's not to say I probably wouldn't have gone Nikon if I could afford it, (Compatibility with an old film body like an MX, LX, or FE2 was a key concern, and nothing digital takes my Canon FD stuff in any useful way) ...but I'd be missing out on some stuff. These are really the most serious cameras out there for their size and cost, and I do like the size of them. Don't happen to need most of what makes the big cameras big.

And the support and expertise among Pentax people is all you could ask for. With pro work there's any number of concerns, not all of them really about what's the better machine. Knowing what you need and what you don't is, really, part of the business.

Parallax · 10-21-2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Ratmagiclady

................... I've only sold a few photos around, on a pretty informal basis, but the IQ gets it done. ...........................I probably would not choose Pentax to join the papparazzi, .........................
It's all about the results, really. .......................................

I am curious as to why you wouldn't choose Pentax as a Paparazzi. As you said, its about the IQ and the results. I have looked at your photos on flickr and here and they are very good. You clearly know how to get the results from the camera so why wouldn't you want to use it for serious Paparazzi-ing. (What do you mean "that's not a word"?

)

*Ratmagiclady* · 10-21-2009, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Parallax

I am curious as to why you wouldn't choose Pentax as a Paparazzi. As you said, its about the IQ and the results. I have looked at your photos on flickr and here and they are very good. You clearly know how to get the results from the camera so why wouldn't you want to use it for serious Paparazzi-ing. (What do you mean "that's not a word"? )

My impression of that trade is that it involves a lot of pushing and shoving and leaning on shutters.

(So, for that I might be wanting the crazy FPS and whatever AF speed I could get, seems that that's expected, even if pushing and shoving's not my way.

**Damn Brit** · 10-21-2009, 01:03 PM

Moved to the business forum where I am sure there are others like it.

*Blue* · 10-21-2009, 01:43 PM

I purchased my Pentax k20d and K200d primarily for macro photography and images for work related presentations. I also do some images for events for my college on occasion.

*graphicgr8s* · 10-21-2009, 01:49 PM

I started in the late 70's shooting Pentax film. With a K1000 and a ton of lenses. Funny none of my clients could tell from the output it wasn't a Canon or a Nikon. Funny how now with my K10 D none of my clients can tell final output isn't from Canon or Nikon or film.

So yes I still shooot Pentax professionally. And none of my clients could care. Not even the persnickety ones and there are many.

Ben_Edict · 10-24-2009, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Psynema

How many people here use Pentax professionally for a photography career? For weddings for example, or anything?

How's finding/networking with other pentax photographers?

I have been using Pentax for 35mm and DSLR shooting for the last nearly 30 years professionally. Nobody ever made a bad remark about it. If you use at least a K20 even the big picture libraries will accept the shots (its, to my knowledge on the official Ghetty's list of approved equipment). Sometimes one of those CaNikonians will ask to have a look at the camera or want to compare the weight etc., but always in a friendly manner.

For medium format, I never used Pentax, but always stuck to Mamiya. And if I see their latest digital offereings, I must say, I am very impressed and cannot really imagine, how Pentax would be able to make their way back into professional medium format.

Originally Posted by little laker

Until Pentax Canada improves their After The Sales service I can't see all that many professional shooters here choosing their systems

This is a very recent problem over here, too. Pentax Germany used to have a first class service, at least for pros and whatever happend to my equipment, the turnaround for repairs never exceedeed two weeks, often much shorter. NOW they have been stripped off their inhouse repar service and a third party does that. This dedicated repair shop looks good at first, because they have more capacities, also caring for Canon. But now I am already waiting for two full months for a repair to my 16-50/2.8 and just yesterday send out a copy of my warranty slip for the third time to them. If that is an indicator of the future Pentax service, I have to consider another make, unfortunately.

Ben