The Advantages Of Professional Cameras

By Dale Smith


Because the high end technology becomes cheaper year after year, many people can afford to buy excellent items even though it's just for personal use. Photography is one of the areas largely influenced by these changes, to the point where experienced photographers have a little of a personality turmoil. It's hard to draw in the line these days between a professional and an amateur photographer, and it's almost impossible to say precisely what are the attributes that distinguish professional cameras from the rest.

One thing is certain from the very beginning: price is not a criterion. The cameras described by their own producers as "professional" start from a couple of hundred dollars and can go up to seven or eight thousand dollars, and that's without any accessories. Many of those who actually make a living as photographers - and who can describe themselves as "professional photographers" beyond any reasonable doubt - would generally go for something in the mid-range, simply because they have to treat this same as any other business investment. If they purchase the most expensive professional cameras, it will take longer to start making a profit.

Which brings up another concern: for whatever reason, most companies believe they have to advertise their cameras as "professional", even though that's clearly not very true. The basic fact that they're not smacked with legal cases for false promotion serves to show that the meaning of professional cameras is hazy these days, at best. It is definitely a marketing trick, aimed at convincing consumers that buying a more expensive camera would improve the quality of their images enough where they could compete with those taken by a pro. Many customers however recognize that they don't need exceptional standard for photos they are really going to share with their family and friends, or publish to their Facebook accounts. However, it's also obvious that even the best camera in the world is worthless in an inappropriate hands.

One astonishingly simple definition originates from outside the industry itself. Professional cameras are restricted from live concerts, shows, and various similar events, and they are described as any kind of camera with a flexible or zoom lens. Disappointingly easy, this description functions in practice. Of course, this doesn't mean that having a camera with a changeable lens turns you into an expert photographer.

In the end, the most important features of all professional cameras are related to flexibility. The user has to be able to adjust all settings quickly - including exposure, ISO, shutter speed, and so on. The second key aspect is durability: in many cases, this is an investment that should last for many, many years, even for a lifetime. Any parts that could potentially wear off or break down quickly should act as a warning sign for the buyer (the parts prone to this risk are generally those made of plastic). And if you're not really a pro, but you want to look like one and show off to your friends, think about color, too.

If you show up with a red or yellow or silver camera, nobody is going to take you seriously (though you may score additional points for originality, yellow cameras are quite hard to find). If the camera is black, you suddenly look a lot more... professional.




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