If you are just starting out in photography and in the process of buying your first camera, you may have noticed some cameras are referred to as "entry" or "professional" or "prosumer". What do these classifications mean and who are they geared towards?
Most of the major camera brands, like Nikon, Sony and Canon, develop their cameras based on what type photographer is going to use them. They look at things like skill level and use case to determine what market each camera will fall into. For the sake of simplicity, we can define these markets as Beginner, Prosumer and Professional. There is also what I call the "Controversial Grey Zone" in which some camera markets overlap., but I will get into that later. For now, lets take a look at each of these three markets.
Beginners
If you are just starting in photography, then you will most likely fall into the beginner market. The beginner market can also be referred to as the entry or consumer market. These cameras are designed with simplicity in mind and offer more automatic controls versus their upper tiered counter parts. The major camera brands know that users in this market have little to no experience using a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. Therefore, they design and develop cameras that are easy to use and allow the user to start taking quality pictures right away. They are typically the most cost efficient way to get into photography and are usually great options for beginners. However, there are some drawbacks to their cost and design.
A typical entry camera will:
Usually have an APS-C sensor.
Lower Frames Per Second (FPS).
Limited or no In Body Image Stabilization (IBIS).
Limited video specs - No 4k60p, No LOG, only 8 bit recording.
Autofocus limitations
More plastic parts
One card slot.
Limited or no weather sealing.
Because of their plastic parts and limited specs, they are easier to mass produce and cheaper to sell, which is great for new photographers trying to save some money. But, they are not great long term options as they more prone to breaking under poor conditions. Camera manufactures know this, and therefore hope that you will eventually find yourself in the next tier; the prosumer market.
Prosumer
If you have been shooting for a while and are ready to upgrade from your beginner camera, then you will most likely join Team Prosumer. The Prosumer market can also be called Hobbyist, Amateur, Mid-level, Semi Professional or Enthusiasts market. This is one of the most wide ranging camera markets and can overlap with both the entry level and professional markets. A prosumer camera is one that takes features from an entry level camera and further expands on it.
Prosumer cameras:
Most likely have Full Frame sensors, but can also be APS-C.
Able to shoot faster FPS.
Have both Electronic and Mechanical IBIS.
Industry standard video specs - 4K60p, LOG, 10bit recording, 1080p120
They can also have features that are seen in more professional cameras such as:
Dual card slots - Usually SD/SD or SD/CF.
More metal parts.
Weather sealing.
Better autofocus technology.
Despite these upgrades over Entry level cameras, they do have some drawbacks, such as
Crop or limited autofocus in certain video modes.
Limited buffer.
No integrated battery grip.
Most photographers will at some point find themselves buying into this market and never leaving. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Some professionals can make a comfortable living off just these cameras. But for those that demand the very best, there is the Professional tier.
Professional
If you have made it this far, then congratulations. You are a top tiered photographer. That, or you have a lot of disposable income to drop on an expensive camera. No judgments here. The professional camera market is one that is geared towards working professional photographers. The keyword here is working. These are photographers that are out every single day working their craft. They are the ones you see on the sidelines of major sporting events, covering world events or shooting product photos for major retail brands. This market demands not only the best performance from their cameras, but also durability.
Professional cameras have class leading specs, such as
Fastest FPS.
Usually have higher resolution Full Frame sensors.
Dual card slots - Usually CF/CF.
Industry leading video specs - 8k/6k/4k, 12/10bit recording.
No crop and full autofocus in video modes.
Industry leading autofocus.
Few plastic parts.
Premium Weather sealing
Usually have an Integrated battery grip.
They are usually the flagship camera for each camera brand and therefore, in theory, are supported longer than prosumer and beginner camera and designed to used for many years.
The Controversial Grey Zone
Some cameras are easy to separate into these categories while others come down to personal opinion. Some cameras overlap markets and can either be considered Entry or Prosumer while others can be considered Prosumer or Professional. For example:
Z5 - Full Frame camera, but lower end specs when compared to Z6II. Could be a high tiered entry camera or low tiered prosumer camera.
Z8 - Has professional specs, but geared less towards sports/action/wildlife as it does not have an integrated battery grip.
There you have it folks! Most cameras are going to easily fall into either the beginner, prosumer and professional tiers, while others kind of float around the grey areas in between. Just remember though, its not the camera that makes the photographer. Its the expensive piece of glass in front of your camera that does. I think. Something like that.
What camera do you shoot with and what market do you think it falls into? Let me know in the comments down below.
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