Why should anyone care what pros use?

sportyaccordy · Sep 10, 2018

Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

robblackett · Sep 10, 2018

sportyaccordy said:
Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Well, rightly or wrongly, both Canon and Nikon have both used the professional market as a central plank in their marketing and overall I would say it has been a successful strategy.

Of course you are right that most amateurs' needs are not really the same as that for a professional user but the theory is that "If it's good enough for him, it must be good for me!"

In fact you might well find that the average pro often has less good gear than you own. For him it's a tool that has to earn its keep. For us it's a passion (or can be) and some of us will go without many other things (food?) to indulge our passion.

The Pro strategy is an expensive strategy though. Sponsoring events at which Pros congregate and providing the loan equipment and service facilities is certainly not cheap. And certain products that are really made for Pro use really would not be cost effective unless loads of enthusiasts also purchase them, which fortunately they do.

Olympus used a slightly different strategy of celebrity endorsement. It was also quite effective at the time and certainly a lot cheaper!

JRP64 · Sep 10, 2018

Personally it's kind of nice knowing what professional photographers use even though I probably will never own that kind of gear. It helps me prevent buying some off-the-wall camera equipment or lens that might be a piece of junk.

stevo23 · Sep 10, 2018

sportyaccordy said:
Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Three things:

1) It can be part of a confirmation bias mindset to care what pros use. IE, "Mr. Cool So & So Photographer uses this camera, therefore it validates my choice."

2) But also, when you know a pro or read a pro's explanation of what he/she likes in a certain camera they've chosen, they might reveal decision points we've not though of and it can be helpful in helping us decide what we'll like. Pros can be educational at times I suppose.

3) There is always that "good enough for him" mentality. It's rugged - Mr. Pro has dragged it all over the place and it's never let him down. I want rugged, so I'll choose what Mr. Pro uses.

But I've never actually chosen a system because of what a pro said. So along with you, I really don't care.

sportyaccordy · Sep 10, 2018

stevo23 said:
sportyaccordy said:

Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Click to expand...

Three things:

1) It can be part of a confirmation bias mindset to care what pros use. IE, "Mr. Cool So & So Photographer uses this camera, therefore it validates my choice."

2) But also, when you know a pro or read a pro's explanation of what he/she likes in a certain camera they've chosen, they might reveal decision points we've not though of and it can be helpful in helping us decide what we'll like. Pros can be educational at times I suppose.

3) There is always that "good enough for him" mentality. It's rugged - Mr. Pro has dragged it all over the place and it's never let him down. I want rugged, so I'll choose what Mr. Pro uses.

But I've never actually chosen a system because of what a pro said. So along with you, I really don't care.

I think the value is in point 2, as having more insights and ways to think about approaching gear can help in making better decisions. On the flip side though it can lead to paralysis by analysis, particularly if you don't know how to parse out or prioritize information in the decision process.

I am a gadget and tech geek so that usually drives the decisions for me... but I've also learned that cool gadgets don't always make for enjoyable shooting experiences. In any case I don't even know of any pros that shoot Sony so if they do exist they haven't influenced my decisions either.

robblackett · Sep 10, 2018

stevo23 said:
sportyaccordy said:

Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Click to expand...

Three things:

1) It can be part of a confirmation bias mindset to care what pros use. IE, "Mr. Cool So & So Photographer uses this camera, therefore it validates my choice."

2) But also, when you know a pro or read a pro's explanation of what he/she likes in a certain camera they've chosen, they might reveal decision points we've not though of and it can be helpful in helping us decide what we'll like. Pros can be educational at times I suppose.

3) There is always that "good enough for him" mentality. It's rugged - Mr. Pro has dragged it all over the place and it's never let him down. I want rugged, so I'll choose what Mr. Pro uses.

But I've never actually chosen a system because of what a pro said. So along with you, I really don't care.

There is also the factor that Pros often have to work much faster and under greater pressure than most of us. Therefore they quickly help establish what functions work, which are simply gimmicks and so generally help hone the ergonomics of a device.

robblackett · Sep 10, 2018

sportyaccordy said:
stevo23 said:

sportyaccordy said:

Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Click to expand...

Three things:

1) It can be part of a confirmation bias mindset to care what pros use. IE, "Mr. Cool So & So Photographer uses this camera, therefore it validates my choice."

2) But also, when you know a pro or read a pro's explanation of what he/she likes in a certain camera they've chosen, they might reveal decision points we've not though of and it can be helpful in helping us decide what we'll like. Pros can be educational at times I suppose.

3) There is always that "good enough for him" mentality. It's rugged - Mr. Pro has dragged it all over the place and it's never let him down. I want rugged, so I'll choose what Mr. Pro uses.

But I've never actually chosen a system because of what a pro said. So along with you, I really don't care.

Click to expand...

I think the value is in point 2, as having more insights and ways to think about approaching gear can help in making better decisions. On the flip side though it can lead to paralysis by analysis, particularly if you don't know how to parse out or prioritize information in the decision process.

I am a gadget and tech geek so that usually drives the decisions for me... but I've also learned that cool gadgets don't always make for enjoyable shooting experiences. In any case I don't even know of any pros that shoot Sony so if they do exist they haven't influenced my decisions either.

As there aren't many of them perhaps that also forms the reason behind part of your decision, even if only subliminally?

sportyaccordy · Sep 10, 2018

robblackett said:
There is also the factor that Pros often have to work much faster and under greater pressure than most of us. Therefore they quickly help establish what functions work, which are simply gimmicks and so generally help hone the ergonomics of a device.

Only in the context of their shooting style, subjects, workflow etc. We don't shoot like pros and vice versa so that is only so relevant. Plus they have their own biases too.

robblackett · Sep 10, 2018

sportyaccordy said:
robblackett said:

There is also the factor that Pros often have to work much faster and under greater pressure than most of us. Therefore they quickly help establish what functions work, which are simply gimmicks and so generally help hone the ergonomics of a device.

Click to expand...

Only in the context of their shooting style, subjects, workflow etc. We don't shoot like pros and vice versa so that is only so relevant. Plus they have their own biases too.

Human hands are generally fairly similar though (at least I think mine are and I assume yours are too?)

volks 1 · Sep 10, 2018

sportyaccordy said:
Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Why should anyone care what other people use, as long as they are happy with what they have.

robblackett · Sep 10, 2018

volks 1 said:
sportyaccordy said:

Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Click to expand...

Why should anyone care what other people use, as long as they are happy with what they have.

Baaa. Baaa.

Sybil Enders · Sep 10, 2018

Sometimes, paying attention to pros (and what they are made to do) can make for a good laugh.

Like watching all those paid poseurs perform "pure photography" with the Nikon Df some years back.

Ah, the memory of it--still brings tears to my eyes!

stevo23 · Sep 10, 2018

robblackett said:
stevo23 said:

sportyaccordy said:

Pros have a completely different mindset with gear. I know pros still making money with D3s and cameras of that vintage. Key phrase in that sentence is making money. I was at a wedding reception this weekend with my A7RII + 35 1.4 and my camera was newer and more high tech than all the stuff the pros were shooting with. Did it matter? I'm sure their photos came out better than mine (well at least I hope they did :-D). But I had fun with my gear.

Plus you don't know what relationships a top top pro has with a brand, nor do many consumers have the same priorities (i.e. service). So why do people care? When's the last time a pro's kit influenced your purchasing decisions?

Click to expand...

Three things:

1) It can be part of a confirmation bias mindset to care what pros use. IE, "Mr. Cool So & So Photographer uses this camera, therefore it validates my choice."

2) But also, when you know a pro or read a pro's explanation of what he/she likes in a certain camera they've chosen, they might reveal decision points we've not though of and it can be helpful in helping us decide what we'll like. Pros can be educational at times I suppose.

3) There is always that "good enough for him" mentality. It's rugged - Mr. Pro has dragged it all over the place and it's never let him down. I want rugged, so I'll choose what Mr. Pro uses.

But I've never actually chosen a system because of what a pro said. So along with you, I really don't care.

Click to expand...

There is also the factor that Pros often have to work much faster and under greater pressure than most of us. Therefore they quickly help establish what functions work, which are simply gimmicks and so generally help hone the ergonomics of a device.

And which things continue to work faster after much hard use.

sportyaccordy · Sep 10, 2018

Member said:
As there aren't many of them perhaps that also forms the reason behind part of your decision, even if only subliminally?

I don't think so. I don't have an aversion to brands that are popular with pros; I just don't care :-D

There are some Sony "Ambassadors" but they all seem to be shameless shills so I don't take them seriously. If anything they should turn me off from Sony. But none of that matters for my photography.

sportyaccordy · Sep 10, 2018

robblackett said:
Human hands are generally fairly similar though (at least I think mine are and I assume yours are too?)

They're not as important if you're not shooting for hours and hours a day like pros though.

Jake2046 · Sep 10, 2018

With brand...not really. I already own a Nikon...I most likely stick with Nikon. Unless other brand took a leap and bound in innovation...so far nothing even comes close.

I just really got into photography 3-4 years ago...so I kinda a newbie...so I do pay attention to what lenses and lighting the pro used to get particular shots.

robblackett · Sep 10, 2018

sportyaccordy said:
robblackett said:

Human hands are generally fairly similar though (at least I think mine are and I assume yours are too?)

Click to expand...

They're not as important if you're not shooting for hours and hours a day like pros though.

My hands are quite important to me all the time.

Mark S Abeln · Sep 10, 2018

Sybil Enders said:
Like watching all those paid poseurs perform "pure photography" with the Nikon Df some years back.

That was a blunder for Nikon and sales were disappointing. I know I considered the ads faintly annoying, but not nearly as annoying as the Nikon ads staring Demi Moore’s former boy toy.

But I’d gladly take and use a Df, especially mated with the 58 mm f/1.4G.

justmeMN · Sep 10, 2018

robblackett said:
Well, rightly or wrongly, both Canon and Nikon have both used the professional market as a central plank in their marketing and overall I would say it has been a successful strategy.

For first-time camera buyers, it's an indication that they are good/safe brands to buy.

Tuloom · Sep 10, 2018

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