K5. How do you rate yourself???

I have just read a review of the K5. Claims it is for serious amateurs and professionals. How do members who have purchased the K5 rate themselves???
How do I rate myself?? Should there be an age barrier. say, below 65. That eliminates me!!
Not happy with the K20. So where do I go from there. As an average amateur should I promote myself and pretend?? Would other Pentax users see me with a K5 and presume I am better than I am??
Any silly suggestions welcome.
regards Thoramay

I am a hobby photographer. Not a serious amateur and certainly nowhere near professional level. Often (usually) producing no more than average photos.
But I have a K-5. I love it. So much better in so many ways than the K20D.

If you don't like the K20D and can afford a K-5 then I would say buy one.

Who cares what labels reviewers want to stick on us? If we did we wouldn't be shooting Pentax .

Spending £1000 on a camera is pretty serious stuff for anyone!

How does "seriously professional amateur photographer" sound?

Couldn't agree more!

Out of interest what are your issues with the K20, I guess if you're thinking of the K5 it must be related to FPS? Otherwise what's likely to make the K5 more appealing than the K20?

I guess the term "serious amateurs and professionals" is a marketing suggestion that users will need to learn a bit about the technical side of photography to make the most of the K5, if that's you then the K5 is worth a look. For anyone more interested in pre-set modes etc then the K5 (or K20/K10) are probably not the best choice.

I'd class myself as serious amateur - I wouldn't make my camera choice based on the marketing terminology though

Simon

I have a Pentax k7 and & K5 and I would rate myself as a professional serious amateure and when I take good images I become a serious amateure professional. To be honest I just see myself as a photographer and amateures take some very good images on par and sometimes above professionals. If you earn money I guess you could class yourself as profesional. I buy a camera based on what I need and where I want my photography to go, I think the word profesional in front of camera and lens often implys extra £££ not always better kit, but of course there are exceptions and you do get what you pay for.

My issues with the K20, now being serviced in preparation for moving on, might just have something to do with its source.

I am not as comfortable with it as my K10. I find the end result did not justify the upgrade. Perhaps it is all in the mind.

The K5, however, does offer a useful upgrade. I was just amused by the handle placed on those who, the reviewer felt, should be using the K5.

I can service its cost. It is justifying the expenditure at my age. It is a solumn thought that the camera might just outlast its owner ....and would I get to grips with the additional features.

I shall continue to dither.

regards Thoramay.

The K-r may also be worth considering. The K-7 is also a more advanced body but you'll see no improvement in IQ over the K-20

I find I have to do far less PP with the K-5 than I ever did with the K20D. The IQ is to me, therefore, superior.

I also prefer the size and weight of it and the general ergonomics of it to the K20D.

Serious amateur is not intended to denigrate other amateurs, but merely designates the idea that some of us have photography as a major pursuit rather than a minor one. Just like those who seriously fish no doubt spend a fortune on rods at a level commensurate with their interest. A lot of these phrases are used in a generally well understood way, but they aren't closely defined.

My photography is purly as a Hobby, and as such I don't see why I should be serious about it! I think my shots would probably improve if I could get more humour into the shots.

Unfortunatly I have too many other commitments to allow me to get the K5 at least for a few years - but from what I've read so far it's definitly top of my wish list. It ticks more boxes than any other potential upgrade, but would probaly be unable to completely replace my K100 as I doubt it's IR sensitivty is up to much.
Mike (photographic Dabbler)

Think I am reaching Amateur level. I love taking pictures but sometimes I enjoy whole tactile thing of going out with the camera and a nice lens more. I believe the K-5 will actually punish me for lack of technique and i'm looking forward to that in a perverse way , it will help me along the road a bit more.

Maybe not closely defined, John, but a camera review sets out it's abilities in a defined manner.

I take it all lightly. I just think that the statement is an opinion and is at odds to the purpose of the review. I am sure that Pentax would not want the K5's use restricted by such an opinion.

I thought it would be a good talking point, but not to be taken too seriously.

John. Have you bought the K5 or been tempted? Your endorsement might encourage me.

regards Thoramay.

IMO, the distinction between amateur and professional has always been clear: if all or a major part of you income comes from photography, then you qualify as a professional. If an amateur, whether you are, or others view you as being,'serious' is, again IMO, more a function of how much time you spend taking and perfecting your photographs, and studying those of others as part of a programme of self-improvement, than of how expensive and extensive your kit is.

I'm fortunate enough to be in a position to buy a K5 now. I choose not to however, because the K20D I am using meets, and, in all honesty, exceeds my current and projected (next 12 - 18 months) needs.

In case you are wondering, no, I do not wear a 'hair shirt' and in the last 12 months I have spent a sum at least equivalent to that of a K5 on a lens with matched 1.4X converter, tripod, monopod and macro-flash unit; all of which have enhanced my photographic range (no pun intended) and the quality (sharpness, clarity and contrast) of many of my photographs.

Having pursued and developed my interest in photography for 40 years now, I would definitely class myself as a serious amateur: albeit one for whom there remains considerable scope for improvement and further experimentation

Jon

Always interesting how peoples experiences differ...I must admit that for me moving from the K10D to the K20D was a very pleasant suprise as my expectations were quite low - the main difference was the detail that the Samsung sensor can capture, far beyond that of the K10D in my view. Other than that I'd agree that differences are minor.

The K5 is certainly on my list but it's appeal isn't really related to using it for my landscape photos moreso when I'm travelling as the better high iso and the size/ergonomics mentioned by Gwyn would definitely be useful as would improved Live View functionality.

Simon

I guess if you have a hobby & are willing to pay over a £1000 for your hobby, then no matter what that hobby is, you would be considered serious about it surely.

As for difference between a pro & amateur any kind of paid photography makes you a pro, it certainly isn't defined by percentage of income. For example a merchant banker earning half a million a year also shoots weddings at weekends & earns 75k per annum from those weddings is he a pro or a hobbyist?? In my book he is a pro despite less than 20% of his income coming from photography. I have also seen some fantastic quality work from amateurs, which forever reason they choose to not pursue a career in photography.

I have a day job, which allows me to choose the photography work I like doing, I also shoot for magazines & my work is represented by agencies. My photography income is probably approx 15 to 20% of my day job, does that make me a pro??? Yes, in my book, but it does not make me a slave to my photography work, it does however keep it enjoyable. well except when it's cold & raining & you are waiting for this months X Factor idol to turn up