Originally posted by biz-engineer You have the PRO photographers specialized in sports , using a D4s or a 1Dx. I know one over here living 100% from photography (and others using 645z, Phase One MF or Mamiya MF for studio like shots and fashion).
5DII, 5DII, 6D, D610, D750, D810 are... I don't know how to say it... for amateurs who want to look like pros, or small pros, but in fact, a lot of the said "pro" are actually having another job, because even if they sell something, to get a decent salary out of photography, you need to be a "PRO" in upper case. And I doubt PRO are using on board flash. When Mr PRO gets a contract with Red-bull, they are talking about 5000 euros for 4 days of work (prepare the event by talking to different actors, going there and identifying the best spots, going at the event, and post-processing, and prints).
Man, you see the pro with lot of glamour and specialized area (sports/action). That's for sure 1 use case. Even if you'll find a pro on the olympics that use a large format camera with film. No on board flash, sure
Many pro make money from weddings, taking some shoots for the city journal, providing picture for a company internal journal, handling identity shoots for passport with stupid reglementation in term of format, people that take product shoots, people that are taking porno pictures/video... people that take pictures of you on the beach, while on cruise or while you are running and then sell you the photo.
To think they all use that D4s or 1Dx or that they would benefit from it one bit from their pratice is naive.
Somebody said that there is no pro gear, only professionnals photographers. I tend to agree.
On this forum you'll find pros that make quite great shoots with their K5... that's just how it is. The amount of money a pro is putting in is not even that linked to the quality of the shoot they produce but also if they have the good social skills and marketing skills.
Trying to put segration by the gear is bit stupid and the principal interrests are if you are selling gear yourself as a manufacturer or as a pro if you can't distinguish yourself from the quality of your work and need every possible help.