[cabstar]

I shoot at pro level. My work has appeared in magazines & the national press. I am represented by one of the worlds top 5 entertainment photo agency, I am also currently in discussions to join one of the worlds top photo agencies.

When I approached these agencies not once have been asked what gear I use, my portfolio has spoken for itself.

Gear doesn't make you a better a photographer, skills do!!!

I broke my GX20 a couple of weeks ago & it has been away for repair the last few weeks, which has meant I have had to rely on my k-x. Is my agency bothered??? Has any of my submitted work on my k-x been rejected??? No!!!

Maybe the music world different to any other photography, what I do know is that I very rarely come across any brand snobbery in the photo pits, just a mutual acknowledgement of the skilled photographers in that pit regardless of their gear.

[jpq]

I went looking for a K-5 today in Houston, Texas. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. The only camera store that had Pentax DSLRs was a computer outlet store that had a K-X and a K-7. Neither camera had power. Every Canon, Nikon, and Sony was powered. The Olympus and Pentax were not. They had no lenses other than the K-X kit lens. THis is the only thing that scares me about Pentax in the U. S.--lack of support. I really, really like the way the K-7 handles!!

In Finland we have similar thing but better i think. There is few shops what have them in their selection and there is some lenses even in available but still is hard get Pentaz Lenses i think. Now i think what is Dreamland for Pentax users i mean stuff is easily available etc.

[ewig]

Hey y'all, while on this topic: can someone please explain to me, What defines a 'Pro' in or at the game of photography.

I've never quite understood the delineation on that... status (? if that term actually applies, or if not, what does, and do formalities or training apply or are reqd, etc...), and would really like to know others' impressions or definitions of it.

Also, I suppose 2 other questions might logically arise from that:
1. Do you consider yourself to be a Pro?
and/or
2. Are you acknowledged as such?

But only if you have time to answer, and the interest or knowledge of.

.R.

pro is profesional ..thats mean you depend you live on what you are doing , just like example : profesional photographer,
they dont do farm in their field or sticht somebody cloth ...
they make some photo to archive some money to living.

so if they do not make a good picture they do not get pay , and they dedicated their work to earn money....

different motivation ... different goal but the same Subject : fotography

[ewig]

I went looking for a K-5 today in Houston, Texas. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. The only camera store that had Pentax DSLRs was a computer outlet store that had a K-X and a K-7. Neither camera had power. Every Canon, Nikon, and Sony was powered. The Olympus and Pentax were not. They had no lenses other than the K-X kit lens. THis is the only thing that scares me about Pentax in the U. S.--lack of support. I really, really like the way the K-7 handles!!

have you ever heard ADORAMA or B&H ..... one of them is support this forum..and guess what , they located in USA.... waw ..isnt that great , the most complete pentax store located in USA....

what kind support you need dude ?? just open your internet and start to search ...you have it all in your country ..lucky you

[Helen Oster]

have you ever heard ADORAMA or B&H ..... one of them is support this forum..and guess what , they located in USA.... waw ..isnt that great , the most complete pentax store located in USA....

... as if by magic....

[SpecialK]

have you ever heard ADORAMA or B&H ..... one of them is support this forum..and guess what , they located in USA.... waw ..isnt that great , the most complete pentax store located in USA....

what kind support you need dude ?? just open your internet and start to search ...you have it all in your country ..lucky you

He meant a store where you can hold and see something. Yea for Adorama, but I'm not driving to NY any time soon. They might as well be in Findland :-)

[petergottlieb]

There are different kinds of pros out there using all kinds of equipment to do the work they have to do.

It's true that Nikon and Canon own most of the photo-journalism market in the United States, for instance, but it's not universal. When I was working as a journalist, I shot for years with Minolta (film) gear. As a couple of other people here have already noted, nobody cares much about the name on your camera body if you can deliver the image they want.

Bad things do happen to equipment from time to time, but in my experience less often than you might think. In about 15 years of photography work (mostly part-time or as a component of a more general communications job), I've shot hundreds of thousands of frames, had one camera and one lens stolen, and broke a solitary flash unit when I was hit by a hockey puck.

So, shoot what you are comfortable with, or have lenses for - just make sure to get the image.

[glanglois]

In my experience Americans seem to be much more brand sensitive than Europeans.

One of my first experiences on this goes decades ago, when in a bar in the US I asked for a beer.
The waitress asked me which brand. I said whatever you have.
She then sprayed a list of a dozen brand names on me. I told her again to pick any. She got angry.
And indeed you'd see tables with men all drinking a different brand of beer...

Where I live in Europe you go to a bar. I'll ask for a beer or a cola. You'll get the brand that they sell.
The Europeans are more and more picking up the American behavior in this respect I guess.

Companies are working hard to transform their label and logo into a brand with a certain identity.
It is the people who buy the brand then with the perception that the brand identity is their own.
It shows to the world; I wear Nike, or Gucci, so I'm cool or trendy...

There is a lot of literature on the subject of Brand identity and the psychological effects it has on people.

- Bert

Even in a British tied house (owned by the brewery), there will be different beers - some from the owning brewery and some, "guest beers", from elsewhere. In the handful of countries in which I've ordered beer, I'm glad to say I've always had a choice. It's a wonderful thing, is choice. Of beer.

Since you were undoubtedly wondering, yesterday at the Potosi Brewing Company (in Wisconsin, not Bolivia) it was porter and stout.

It's a wonderful think, is choice.


Now, back to serious stuff .......

[Wheatridger]

Hey, BDERY, I've been to Quebec City recently, and it's as lovely as a city as can be. Ironically, it's 10 below (F) here and I was listening to "Acadian Driftwood" when I saw your post. So I know what makes the Great White North great. But do you mean to tell me you have a "photo club" that's rich enough to employ somebody? Baby, I'm amazed!

[jamesm007]

I love the image quality from Pentax glass, and the friendly usability of its cameras, but lord help you if you need immediate support. Better plan on buying three cameras and enough lenses to cover any mishaps.

Pentax has had PRO level support for awhile now. I know some members on DPR that belong. This support gives the ability to have gear sent to you over-night. This support system is for true Pros who earn a living with the camera.

If you buy a 645D your automatically enrolled in the program no matter what you do with it.

Here is the link for PENTAX Professional Services program-

Digital Cameras and Accessories - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site

[john5100]

I don't know, if you need a fix in a pinch then I understand, however if you have a week or so to send it in, I have found their support outstanding. They have fixed my K100D 2 times, both my own fault and charged me nothing (aside from shipping). I don't have experience, but I can't imagine CaNikon would be as personal. Just my .02...

Were you K100d still within warranty at the time?

[john5100]

I went looking for a K-5 today in Houston, Texas. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. The only camera store that had Pentax DSLRs was a computer outlet store that had a K-X and a K-7. Neither camera had power. Every Canon, Nikon, and Sony was powered. The Olympus and Pentax were not. They had no lenses other than the K-X kit lens. THis is the only thing that scares me about Pentax in the U. S.--lack of support. I really, really like the way the K-7 handles!!

For folks in the Seattle/Tacoma area, try Robi's Camera s in Tacoma,WA. They have every Pentax body and lens in house. Great selection.

[VorpalWill]

funny story, I won contests as a teenager two years running against some pretty expensive gear with brand names (I still live in the USA) once with an entry level Rollei all manual SL35-M often derided as "the only piece of junk Rollei ever built" in my area, and the following year with a pinhole I built myself in high school shop class on a lark.

I have always looked for function first since then, and I still have nearly all of the cameras I have purchased while I watch the branders go through gear like food every time the biggie adds another significant 0 (zero) to the price.

ETA forgot to mention the first group of loosers both times were seasoned "pro" types older than my parents FWIW

[KFrog]

I went looking for a K-5 today in Houston, Texas. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. The only camera store that had Pentax DSLRs was a computer outlet store that had a K-X and a K-7. Neither camera had power. Every Canon, Nikon, and Sony was powered. The Olympus and Pentax were not. They had no lenses other than the K-X kit lens. THis is the only thing that scares me about Pentax in the U. S.--lack of support. I really, really like the way the K-7 handles!!

I'm in Katy, TX and the only place I found a K-7 (K-5 was not out yet at the time) was at Fry's on Southwest Fwy. It had power and the kit lens, K-x too. I brought my kit with me and was allowed to put my FA50mm f/1.4 on it and take a few shots. You are right, it handles beautifully. I would imagine the K-5 would be just as superb.

A lovely Lady | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Macario]

It is very funny to hear , and read in reviews, that Nikon en Canon have more lenses. So you might be better off with them.
But I always wonder, how many lenses do you need ( Ok, I won't quote how many I actually have). When shooting film, 99% of my pics were made with a 50mm lens, for portraits I took a 135, for sports a 400 and sometimes when I fellt a bit artistici I took the 20mm

No in Digital I still have the 400 for surfing, I have the 16-45 as standard lens and 28-105 to back it up for portraits.And I just got a 80-200mm (it came with a MZ-M and 35-80 lens, which all together cost me just 45 euros) which will only be used for sports (of my kids)
I am saving up for the 40mm, and from then on it most likely will be the lens that will be on my camera for 99% of the time.

Unless you need specialist lenses, any of the brands is good (well, pentax is the best right )

And I ones heard from a photographer, that the majority of pictures that won contests were made with K1000's