Originally posted by bigted In fear of actually putting this on topic - I did buy a K-3 and I firmly admit to being an amateur photographer. I do it because I enjoy it. I don't sell any of my shots, but that doesn't mean I won't. I have a K-r and this upgrade is wonderful. I like to shoot (photographically only) wildlife and this offers me so much more. I bought it because I can use the "extra" features. My level of "professionalism" had absolutely nothing to do with that decision.
BTW I do like cheese sandwiches - especially with sliced tomato.
In my mind (a strange place, I admit), "amateur" is more of a financial status than skill status. A "pro", someone whose income depends on their camera, has different constraints and priorities. I can be as ambitious or craptastic as I feel like, without my supply of cheese sandwiches being threatened by an unhappy customer or deranged MotherOfBridezilla.
That said, I upgraded my cheese slicer from a K-r to a K-30 last year, so a K-3 would not be as big a step up for me. The 'thirty is ~most~ of a K-5, but it's that last little bit that tempts me: silky shutter, battery grip, extended bracketing, and of course all the extra knobs and buttons of the high-end interface.
Grilled cheese with diced tomato or chunky salsa and bacon is the way to go!