Is m4/3s TOP PRO equipment ? It IS ! ;-)

Cibalius · Dec 29, 2016

Spending my Christmas and New Year holidays in Brno, Czech Republic, wondering the town I know pretty well, I've visited St. Peter's Cathedral today and have pretty interesting experience there.

After entering the place and taking a few photos with my E-M1 and Leica 15/1.7, a lady came to me and politely asked me to stop taking photos. I apologised and said I didn't know photography is forbidden at the location. But she said (to my great surprise) that taking photos is NOT forbidden, but such "equipment" is prohibited. I asked does she mean "TOP PRO equipment" like mine and she nodded - "Yes, exactly !". And she also suggested that I should use the mobile phone, because that's allowed with no limits.

I've just thanked her for letting me know and leave the place...feeling like the "top pro" photographer... ;-)

Airmel · Dec 29, 2016

Cibalius said:
Spending my Christmas and New Year holidays in Brno, Czech Republic, wondering the town I know pretty well, I've visited St. Peter's Cathedral today and have pretty interesting experience there.

After entering the place and taking a few photos with my E-M1 and Leica 15/1.7, a lady came to me and politely asked me to stop taking photos. I apologised and said I didn't know photography is forbidden at the location. But she said (to my great surprise) that taking photos is NOT forbidden, but such "equipment" is prohibited. I asked does she mean "TOP PRO equipment" like mine and she nodded - "Yes, exactly !". And she also suggested that I should use the mobile phone, because that's allowed with no limits.

I've just thanked her for letting me know and leave the place...feeling like the "top pro" photographer... ;-)

That's very funny. Amazing how some view cameras and their intended "use".

Earlier this year at the San Diego Supercross race, I was sitting at a table downloading qualifying/practice photos from my E-M1 to my iPhone in order to email them to my editor.

I had left the E-M1 + 40-150mm Pro sitting on the table with the lens hood extended, when a security guard walked up and asked "Is that is a Professional camera?" I put down my phone and said "Oh no, that's a common mistake. Let me show you". I retracted the lens hood, making the 40-150mm look several inches shorter and told the guard "it's just an enthusiast's camera".

He thanked me and walked away.

Sranang Boi · Dec 29, 2016

That's why I walk with my mobile phone with excellent camera as a back up. Sometimes it is a bit risky to take pics with a normal camera. But I have been experimenting with using my GX8 and the image app. Two of the Panasonic lenses can be zoomed via the app. So I have the camera slung sideways on my shoulder, and use the camera app to snap away unnoticed. Work in progress, but I have had a few otherwise risky shots that way.

Cibalius · Dec 29, 2016

Airmel said:
That's very funny. Amazing how some view cameras and their intended "use".
Earlier this year at the San Diego Supercross race, I was sitting at a table downloading qualifying/practice photos from my E-M1 to my iPhone in order to email them to my editor.

I had left the E-M1 + 40-150mm Pro sitting on the table with the lens hood extended, when a security guard walked up and asked "Is that is a Professional camera?" I put down my phone and said "Oh no, that's a common mistake. Let me show you". I retracted the lens hood, making the 40-150mm look several inches shorter and told the guard "it's just an enthusiast's camera".

He thanked me and walked away.

Cibalius · Dec 29, 2016

Sranang Boi said:
That's why I walk with my mobile phone with excellent camera as a back up. Sometimes it is a bit risky to take pics with a normal camera. But I have been experimenting with using my GX8 and the image app. Two of the Panasonic lenses can be zoomed via the app. So I have the camera slung sideways on my shoulder, and use the camera app to snap away unnoticed. Work in progress, but I have had a few otherwise risky shots that way.

Hello Sranang, well THAT sounds very interesting and pretty cunning to those poor ladies and other "guards of amateurism" around... ;-)

beatboxa · Dec 29, 2016

Cibalius said:
Spending my Christmas and New Year holidays in Brno, Czech Republic, wondering the town I know pretty well, I've visited St. Peter's Cathedral today and have pretty interesting experience there.

After entering the place and taking a few photos with my E-M1 and Leica 15/1.7, a lady came to me and politely asked me to stop taking photos. I apologised and said I didn't know photography is forbidden at the location. But she said (to my great surprise) that taking photos is NOT forbidden, but such "equipment" is prohibited. I asked does she mean "TOP PRO equipment" like mine and she nodded - "Yes, exactly !". And she also suggested that I should use the mobile phone, because that's allowed with no limits.

I've just thanked her for letting me know and leave the place...feeling like the "top pro" photographer... ;-)

That's great...and the E-M1 is a great camera (so congrats)!

But why does it matter what some random lady (or anyone for that matter) thought about how professional your camera looked? I can pretty much guarantee she would have said the same about a Sony RX10 or any entry-level DSLR (not what I would consider "top pro" cameras; or that she would not have said the same on a Panasonic GM5.

But why does it matter? I use my micro four thirds (mainly a GM1) specifically because it does NOT look like 'top pro' equipment. I'd say that the "top pro" is always more about the abilities and end results of the photographer's images than the way the equipment looks.

Cibalius · Dec 29, 2016

beatboxa said:
That's great...and the E-M1 is a great camera (so congrats)!
But why does it matter what some random lady (or anyone for that matter) thought about how professional your camera looked? I can pretty much guarantee she would have said the same about a Sony RX10 or any entry-level DSLR (not what I would consider "top pro" cameras; or that she would not have said the same on a Panasonic GM5.

But why does it matter? I use my micro four thirds (mainly a GM1) specifically because it does NOT look like 'top pro' equipment. I'd say that the "top pro" is always more about the abilities and end results of the photographer's images than the way the equipment looks.

Hello there, I agree with you 100% and I didn't write that to express my real feelings about "being a pro" when someone calls my equipment "pro", but more to show how people's criteria can be pretty "flexible" when photo equipment is concerned - some photographers are afraid of using m4/3s for weddings because they're afraid if uncle Bob will have bigger and fancier camera than theirs and that could cause them problems in newlyweds eyes...and for other people, my (smallish) E-M1 with (really small) 15/1.7 is instantly recognised as "top pro" equipment and forbidden as such !

Go figure...

addlightness · Dec 29, 2016

with my TOP PRO setup: GM1 + 14/2.5 + e-shutter + assist-lamp-OFF.

beatboxa · Dec 29, 2016

addlightness said:
with my TOP PRO setup: GM1 + 14/2.5 + e-shutter + assist-lamp-OFF.

I also go GM1 with assist-lamp off (and usually tiny lenses)!

Except I use mechanical shutter when possible. It's so quiet that it's almost completely silent but really improves dynamic range!

I even went so far as to cover my flash with electrical tape, just to guarantee that the mechanical shutter works with non-CPU & manual focus lenses!

Cibalius · Dec 29, 2016

addlightness said:
with my TOP PRO setup: GM1 + 14/2.5 + e-shutter + assist-lamp-OFF.

Well, I had e-shutter on but didn't have assist-lamp off (that was't a big deal at that moment because I've approched the altar and took some photos and that lady came to me from behind of the church, so in no way she was able to see assist-lamp light, that is if camera used one at all, because there were plenty of light)...

But I do think that (very small and no viewfinder) camera like GM1 wouldn't cause me this problem and that I would be left alone to photograph...

RSColo · Dec 29, 2016

A few years ago I was in Las Vegas and went up to the roof top bar on top of a large casino. I wanted to take some photos of the lights at night. So the guard at the elevator said I was OK to go up and take photos. But he stopped someone else. Their definition of a professional was a tripod. They figured at night that would keep pros out. Well they had a railing and I could steady things just fine. And I didn't even have any IBIS or ILIS. Also, the lights are pretty bright so the exposure wasn't that tough anyway. Here is the stitched together shot from that night.

--
Reid Shay
www.sawatchpub.com
Colorado, USA

Voodoo View

Ulric · Dec 30, 2016

Cibalius said:
Spending my Christmas and New Year holidays in Brno, Czech Republic, wondering the town I know pretty well, I've visited St. Peter's Cathedral today and have pretty interesting experience there.

After entering the place and taking a few photos with my E-M1 and Leica 15/1.7, a lady came to me and politely asked me to stop taking photos. I apologised and said I didn't know photography is forbidden at the location. But she said (to my great surprise) that taking photos is NOT forbidden, but such "equipment" is prohibited. I asked does she mean "TOP PRO equipment" like mine and she nodded - "Yes, exactly !". And she also suggested that I should use the mobile phone, because that's allowed with no limits.

I've just thanked her for letting me know and leave the place...feeling like the "top pro" photographer... ;-)

That's why you should always carry your Panasonic CM1 with you.

Cibalius · Dec 30, 2016

RSColo said:
A few years ago I was in Las Vegas and went up to the roof top bar on top of a large casino. I wanted to take some photos of the lights at night. So the guard at the elevator said I was OK to go up and take photos. But he stopped someone else. Their definition of a professional was a tripod. They figured at night that would keep pros out. Well they had a railing and I could steady things just fine. And I didn't even have any IBIS or ILIS. Also, the lights are pretty bright so the exposure wasn't that tough anyway. Here is the stitched together shot from that night.

--
Reid Shay

Well, using tripod as a "sign" of being a pro is pretty well known even from the days of film, so I'm not too surprised here.

Ha, what would had happened if I tried to bring tripod to that church, I shouldn't even imagine that... ;-)

Cibalius · Dec 30, 2016

Ulric said:
That's why you should always carry your Panasonic CM1 with you.

CM1 ? You mean GM1 ?

Unfortunately, I don't have it and if I ever decide to get myself one of those dwarfs, that's going to be GM5 instead, I simply have to have viewfinder...but who knows if the viefinder itself wasn't the cause of all my trouble, maybe that's "sign of profesionallity" for some people, since I don't know of any mobile phone having viewfinder... :-o

Ulric · Dec 30, 2016

Cibalius said:
Cibalius said:

That's why you should always carry your Panasonic CM1 with you.

Click to expand...

CM1 ? You mean GM1 ?

Unfortunately, I don't have it and if I ever decide to get myself one of those dwarfs, that's going to be GM5 instead, I simply have to have viewfinder...but who knows if the viefinder itself wasn't the cause of all my trouble, maybe that's "sign of profesionallity" for some people, since I don't know of any mobile phone having viewfinder... :-o

No, I do mean the CM1. Panasonic call it a "communication camera"; what that means is a premium 1" camera combined with an Android phone.

https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consum...nd-shoot/premium-compact-cameras/dmc-cm1.html

The GM5 does have a viewfinder, although a tiny distorted one that is only good for framing.

Cibalius · Dec 30, 2016

Ulric said:
No, I do mean the CM1. Panasonic call it a "communication camera"; what that means is a premium 1" camera combined with an Android phone.
https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consum...nd-shoot/premium-compact-cameras/dmc-cm1.html

The GM5 does have a viewfinder, although a tiny distorted one that is only good for framing.

Oh, CM1, something new for me...but since I'm the person that hates mobile phones and aven more taking photos with them, I doubt CM1 will ever have my money...

haslo · Dec 30, 2016

addlightness said:
assist-lamp-OFF.

What, you mean that thing is possible to have ON? The horror!

wolfychi · Dec 30, 2016

Did you ask her what was the reason that PRO CAMERAS are forbiden?

Cibalius · Dec 30, 2016

wolfychi said:
Did you ask her what was the reason that PRO CAMERAS are forbiden?

No, it all came pretty much as a shock to me and I forgot to ask, though I'm not sure she would know the answer - she was instructed that way by her superiors in the church and I doubt she knows the reasons.

But I think the reason is that church robberies and thefts of very old and valuable churchs items are pretty common in this country (Czech Republic) and it's not rare that someone "orders" what is going to be taken - based on the photographs that are photographed before in the church.

I realised that many years ago when I just buy my first Olymus E1 and went to one very old church - after just a few photographs, a man (in black) appeared (priest, I suppose) and asked me to leave. A few years after, I've heard that church was robbered and many valuable old artefact was stolen. Coming from the country with extremely strong church tradition and influence, I simply couldn't believe something like that is happening but it obviously is.

Or, used to happen as I was thinking until yesterday. If they forbid the photography, then it's pretty obvious the danger of such acts is still present. Though, if someone wants to "choose" what's going to be stolen based on photography, image from high end mobile phone will be sufficient, I'm afraid... :-/

wolfychi · Dec 30, 2016

Cibalius said:
wolfychi said:

Did you ask her what was the reason that PRO CAMERAS are forbiden?

Click to expand...

No, it all came pretty much as a shock to me and I forgot to ask, though I'm not sure she would know the answer - she was instructed that way by her superiors in the church and I doubt she knows the reasons.

But I think the reason is that church robberies and thefts of very old and valuable churchs items are pretty common in this country (Czech Republic) and it's not rare that someone "orders" what is going to be taken - based on the photographs that are photographed before in the church.

I realised that many years ago when I just buy my first Olymus E1 and went to one very old church - after just a few photographs, a man (in black) appeared (priest, I suppose) and asked me to leave. A few years after, I've heard that church was robbered and many valuable old artefact was stolen. Coming from the country with extremely strong church tradition and influence, I simply couldn't believe something like that is happening but it obviously is.

Or, used to happen as I was thinking until yesterday. If they forbid the photography, then it's pretty obvious the danger of such acts is still present. Though, if someone wants to "choose" what's going to be stolen based on photography, image from high end mobile phone will be sufficient, I'm afraid... :-/

umm, seem illogical if it is about property protection from thieves, Any mobile phone would have been sufficient to do the job, in fact, the mobile phone would have been a better tool to do such thing, such as instant upload or email to anyone for confirmation etc.

it remains a mystery. hehe

Is m4/3s TOP PRO equipment ? It IS ! ;-)

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