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Enthusiast vs pro cameras.

aliengrove
Posted 08/04/2014 - 13:23 Link
What makes a "pro" as opposed to an "enthusiast" camera? I find it very odd that the OM-D, with a 4/3rds sensor (and the E5 before it), is considered a "pro" camera, while the K3, with a larger sensor and similar specs, is considered "enthusiast". To me the lines between entry level/enthusiast/pro cameras seems a bit arbitrary. Pentax, with the Ltd. lenses, is more than a match for the OM-D with it's Pro lens line-up. DXOMark scores the K3 ahead of the OM-D in all categories on their Sensor Score link

Maybe Ricoh and Pentax maybe missed a trick by not promoting the K5/K3 as a "Pro" camera? The camera-buying public, especially those upgrading, are very prone to hype, and Olympus make much better use of that fact than do Ricoh/Pentax.
Smeggypants
Posted 08/04/2014 - 13:37 Link
To me "Pro" equipment is something that is built to withstand heavy day in day out usage
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
aliengrove
Posted 08/04/2014 - 13:39 Link
Smeggypants wrote:
To me "Pro" equipment is something that is built to withstand heavy day in day out usage

Like the K3.......double the rated shutter life of the OM-D, weather sealing, etc etc
Edited by aliengrove: 08/04/2014 - 13:41
Don
Posted 08/04/2014 - 13:46 Link
depends on who you ask...
magazines give preference to who pays thier bills.
I say hand me anything and I'll prove it's a pro camera.
Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.
cabstar
Posted 08/04/2014 - 15:45 Link
I would call any camera 'pro' if it had an excellent repair and replacement / loan service available to it. Handling also makes a difference. The current Pentax DSLR line up beats any non pro bodies and more than matches any pro bodied interface / button placement / ergonomics.

Any DSLR released in the last 18 months would easily beat on spec and performance a DSLR built even 5 years ago.
PPG Wedding photography Flickr
Concert photography

Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released
ISO
Posted 08/04/2014 - 18:28 Link
I think both Smeggy and Alien are right. However coming from a Marketing/PR background, Pentax have missed a trick. To the great unwashed, a ‘Pro’ Brand creates an aspirational feel. Over many years Nikon/Olympus/Canon have played this card. In their product portfolio they have ‘top end’ kit, but then produced cheaper stuff, that the punter can buy into and thus imagine they are buying into a ‘Pro’ experience. Pentax used to promote itself as ‘Pro’ in the 60’s, but have, in recent history, seemed to be more apologetic about their offering. I do see this changing with Ricoh. But more needs to be done.
If they pick this up I want a FEE
Horst
Posted 09/04/2014 - 12:01 Link
Quote:
I think both Smeggy and Alien are right. However coming from a Marketing/PR background, Pentax have missed a trick. To the great unwashed, a ‘Pro’ Brand creates an aspirational feel. Over many years Nikon/Olympus/Canon have played this card. In their product portfolio they have ‘top end’ kit, but then produced cheaper stuff, that the punter can buy into and thus imagine they are buying into a ‘Pro’ experience. Pentax used to promote itself as ‘Pro’ in the 60’s, but have, in recent history, seemed to be more apologetic about their offering. I do see this changing with Ricoh. But more needs to be done.
If they pick this up I want a FEE

Very well expressed.

Regards, Horst
aliengrove
Posted 09/04/2014 - 15:04 Link
That sums it up pretty well: Pentax are not presenting their products the right way IMO. Olympus manages to promote the OM-D as a "pro" camera, yet the K3, which is a better machine, keeps getting reviewed, and seems to be generally considered as, an "enthusiast" camera.
johnha
Posted 09/04/2014 - 21:33 Link
As Smeggy pointed out, it's kit that's suitable for heavy day-in day-out use, weather sealed, versatile and dependable. Decades ago features were an issue, but most cameras made since the '90s already have too many.
ericmark
Posted 10/04/2014 - 01:15 Link
To me a pro camera is one where lenses can be hired as and when required the enthusiast however is looking for a camera that works well as supplied and not looking to hire lenses. So Canon and Nikon are pro cameras not because they are any better but because you can hire a lens without problem to fit the camera. Clearly there will be the pro who does not need to hire a lens and likely they will either be using a large format or really small camera the latter where being not seen is an advantage.

We have seen how the Olympus trip was really loved no battery to go flat and small enough not to alert all there is some one taking photos. But in the TT that would not be the pro selection and it really does depend on what type of photography.

The enthusiast wants one camera to do all. The pro with select a camera to fit what he is doing.
Smeggypants
Posted 10/04/2014 - 03:05 Link
Horst wrote:
Quote:
I think both Smeggy and Alien are right. However coming from a Marketing/PR background, Pentax have missed a trick. To the great unwashed, a ‘Pro’ Brand creates an aspirational feel. Over many years Nikon/Olympus/Canon have played this card. In their product portfolio they have ‘top end’ kit, but then produced cheaper stuff, that the punter can buy into and thus imagine they are buying into a ‘Pro’ experience. Pentax used to promote itself as ‘Pro’ in the 60’s, but have, in recent history, seemed to be more apologetic about their offering. I do see this changing with Ricoh. But more needs to be done.
If they pick this up I want a FEE

Very well expressed.

Regards, Horst

Agreed, and indeed the brand aspiration is exactly my long term argument for Pentax making a FF DSLR system with associated lenses even when I wasn't personally interested in FF.
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
ericmark
Posted 10/04/2014 - 10:56 Link
Pentax was a one time leading the market with a lens mount which was used by many makes of camera. And as I said pro means ability to hire a lens. But to regain that would be hard I can't see how hire shops could be made to offer Pentax lenses for hire. Fuji, Hasselblad, Canon and Nikon have got the market Mamiya and some other specialised cameras have a small section but the question I am sure Pentax will ask before making a pro model is would any pro buy it with the lack of hire equipment.

At the moment the 4/3 market is in early days and it is possible to look at that as a way in. Once the mirror is removed the lens becomes smaller due to being closer to the sensor so to produce a pro camera with lighter lenses would be one way into the market and the difference in lens to sensor means adaptors could be made to take all makes of lens giving an option for any pro to move over bit at a time. This is the only way I would see how any camera manufacturer could break into the pro market.
saxon
Posted 10/04/2014 - 11:15 Link
I believe SRS hire Pentax lenses don't they?? Interestingly I watched the movie 'First we'll take Manhattan last night' which is the story of David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton (the 60's first supermodel) and he was shooting on a Pentax throughout the movie as his preferred camera...

Well worth a watch by the way.

Saxon
ronniemac
Posted 23/04/2014 - 00:06 Link
Thanks for the tip, Saxon, just watched First we'll take Manhatten and enjoyed it hugely. Good to see the S3 took so many iconic shots too.

I like the following snappy dialogue from the movie...

Lady Clare Rendlesham - What on earth is that you’re using?
David Bailey: It’s a Pentax S3
LCR - Tourist Camera
DB - No…
LCR - An amateur camera
DB - Well that depends on who’s holding it, doesn’t it?
LCR - Are you seriously telling me you’re going to spend the rest of the morning shooting on that thing?
DB - Rest of the week if I can help it.
LCR - Oh no, Mr Bailey I’m not an idiot. What about the reduction in quality?
DB - There will be no reduction in quality, there will be a change in quality.
LCR - The negative area produced in a medium format quality is several times the size of what can be produced on that thing; our results are going to be grainy, blurry….
DB - Energetic!
LCR - hurried…
DB - fresh, young, real,
LCR - cheap,
DB - vibrant,
LCR - grubby,
DB - instant
LCR - messy,
DB - and…..Alive! Does anyone remember alive? That’s the one before dead.

And yes, I know, DB did also shoot medium format in the studio, but the point he was making was about using the camera that best caught the moment. In the street, that was 35mm.

There’s a good article about his attitude to cameras in Pentax User Archive.
Edited by ronniemac: 23/04/2014 - 00:47
ISO
Posted 23/04/2014 - 19:20 Link
Didn't David Hemmings use a Pentax in the film Blow-Up :

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