Originally posted by jimby The term "pro" is first and foremost a marketing distinction. If a camera company labels a model as "pro" then this will determine the course of all the downstream marketing activity, such as:
1. Where the camera is advertised?
2. How the camera is advertised?
3. How the camera is positioned and reviewed against competitors in the marketplace?
4. What kind of budget is needed for marketing a "pro" vs "amateur"?
5. How long is the camera going to be on the market?
For instance, marketing a "pro" camera against Canon or Nikon requires a completely different marketing strategy than marketing an advance amateur camera. Pentax has always been, at least in 35mm, an advanced amateur brand, and their foray into the 35mm pro market with LX probably taught them some valuable lessons. While the LX was a successful camera, it didn't penetrate the "pro" market in a huge way.
If Pentax had decided to market the K-7 as a pro camera, it probably would cost at least $500 more, and the marketing would be completely different. They wouldn't sell as many cameras in the long run because the pro market is currently locked up with two behemoths fighting it out.
You hit the nail on the head.
in addition to the different marketing expenses (that have to be added to the individual camera MODEL price), all the "pro" SUPPORT services have to be spread over an entire pro camera LINE, and added to the prices of all the camera bodies and lenses in the line.
To effectively compete in what is today considered the "pro" market (press is really sports/action, for the most part) Pentax would need AT LEAST to have:
- a significant series of long, fast prime glass
- a significant series of fast zooms
- significant brick and mortar distribution in major markets
- enough scale to support LOCAL lens and body rental in 25 major US markets alone, plus globally the same kind of markets
- rapid repair service centers, with "lender" gear available
- truly system accessories
Canon really established the professional Press standard of expectation with the F1, and has built upon that expectation for 40 years.
Pentax can successfully compete in certain sub-sets of the market for cameras used by persons who earn their living using them, as they dominated studio fashion (and to a smaller degree had some market share in nature / landscape) with 67 and 645 film cameras.
Let's enjoy the body we have coming to us today; appreciate the prime lenses we have for digital - available from no one else; watch for the next offerings in the strategy; and do our best to not care whether other people earn their living using a Canon or Nikon body to shoot professional sports.