How Much Does a Professional Camera Cost?
Formats range from elementary to medium. Everything is dependent upon your wants.
Do you Need a Pro-Level Camera?
First, consider whether you actually need a professional camera body.All of us want the best gear we can buy, but it's crucial to understand that new gear won't matter as much as good lighting, composition, and technique.
After all, images captured using smartphones have appeared in publications dedicated to photography.
Therefore, don't let not having a pro camera body stop you.
Many professional photographers, in fact, find that prosumer models such as the Nikon D750 or the Canon 6D suit all their needs at a substantially lower price range, hence they rarely utilize "pro" cameras.
Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera
But once you've got the dream camera body, you must have quality glasses. For this reason, a lot of photographers replace their lenses before upgrading the camera body. With a kit lens, it is difficult to fully utilize the potential of a pro camera.
However, even with an ordinary camera body, good glass can enhance your shots.
In any case, your upgrade budget should include having the lenses you need for your photography style.
So, add at least $1,000 per lens, used. More like $1,500 – $2,000 new.
Canon EOS 6D Digital SLR Camera
What Makes Pro Cameras Different?
Professional bodies are more expensive since they come with a lot of features that entry- or consumer-level cameras don't offer.
Pro bodies are strong and weather-sealed, constructed like tanks. They are mostly made of metal, with the exception of certain elements like the memory card or battery doors.
They are long-lasting and resistant to damage. Shutter mechanisms on some of them are rated for 400,000 cycles!
Pro bodies also feature big buffers and rapid burst rates.
They have a long shooting range before their memory runs out, allowing them to take several rounds per second.
This can be crucial when you're filming a burst to ensure that you catch the pivotal moment when the keynote speaker makes that gesture, the player catches the ball, or the groom kisses the bride.
As you upgrade to a pro body, you should also be able to take better pictures in low light and have superior autofocus systems.
In certain situations, there may be better alternatives for tethered shooting, such as for product or fashion photos.
On the back, they frequently include superior LCD monitors, occasionally with touch functionality.
More important features can be easily accessible without going through a menu because to their increased number of buttons and knobs.
Additionally, you might have WiFi, GPS, or two memory card ports.
Lastly, pro cameras are usually a part of a large ecosystem with a wide variety of lenses, devices, and gizmos as well as prompt, dependable repair services.
Features seen in professional cameras will eventually find their way into prosumer and finally consumer cameras.
Similar to how new automotive features initially surface in the priciest manufacturers before progressively making an appearance in mid-range vehicles.
However, some of the more sophisticated capabilities won't make it that far down in an attempt to keep entry-level cameras reasonably priced.
Prosumer, Pro, and Medium Format are the three categories of pro bodies, each designed to meet the needs of a certain kind of photographer.
Prosumer
Because they appeal to both professionals and experienced amateurs, the least priced cameras, which start at about $3,000, are frequently referred to as prosumer cameras.
These are excellent cameras in every way. Although the samples below will give you a decent understanding of what features fall into the category, some photographers may also add the Fuji X-Pro2, the Nikon D750, and other bodies in this group.
| Camera | Canon 5D Mk IV |
| Sensor MP | 30.4 |
| Native ISO | 100-3200 |
| Frame Rate | 7 frames per second |
| Buffer | 21 RAW images |
| Auto Focus | 61 points, 41 cross-type |
| Added features | 4K HD video, GPS, WiFi, Intervalometer |
| Weight | 1.77 lbs./800 grams |
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR Camera
| Camera | Nikon D850 |
| Sensor MP | 47.5 MP |
| Native ISO | 64-25,600 |
| Frame Rate | 5 frames per second |
| Buffer | 22 shots |
| Auto Focus | 153 points w/ 99 cross-type |
| Added Features | 4K HD video, WiFi, touch panel LCD |
| Weight | 2 lbs./905 grams |
Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera
Pro Bodies
The best professional cameras available are the Nikon D5 and Canon 1 Dx MkII, both of which cost about $6,000.
They have sensors with fewer MP counts than prosumer models, which is counterintuitive.
A camera like the 1Dx or D5 can clear the sensor more quickly when there are fewer pixels in the same sensor surface area.
This results in a higher frame rate and the capacity to store more images in the buffer while the camera analyzes and stores them on your memory cards.
These are the flagship cameras of the two main competitors in this sector, Canon and Nikon.
| Frame Rate | up to 16 frames per second |
| Camera | Canon 1 Dx Mark II |
| Buffer | 170 shots |
| Native ISO | 100-51,200 |
| Auto Focus | 61 point with 41 cross-type |
| Senson MP | 20.2 |
| Added Features | 4K HD video, touch panel LCD screen |
| Weight | 3.4 lbs/1530 grams |
Canon EOS-1DX Mark II DSLR Camera
| Camera | Nikon D5 |
| Sensor MP | 20.8 |
| Native ISO | 100-102,400 |
| Frame Rate | up to 14 frames per second |
| Buffer | 200 shots |
| Auto Focus | 153 points, 99 cross-type |
| Added Features | 4K HD video, touch panel LCD |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs./1415 grams |
Nikon D5 DSLR 20.8 MP Point & Shoot Digital Camera
Medium Format
With a significantly larger price range, medium format cameras are utilized in many other contexts, including landscape photography. They are frequently preferred by the fashion industry and range from Pentax's 645, which costs less than $6,000, to Hasselblad's H6D-100c, a monster 100 MP camera, which costs over $30,000!
| Camera | Pentax 645 |
| Sensor MP | 50 MP |
| Native ISO | 100-25,600 |
| Frame Rate | 3 frames per second |
| Buffer | 10 shots |
| Auto Focus | 27 points, 25 contrast detection and 3 for low light |
| Added Features | HD video, WiFi, intervalometer |
| Weight | 54.7 oz./1.55 kg |
Pentax 645z Medium Format DSLR Camera
As you can see, there is a camera out there for everyone, regardless of whether you require everything a pro-level camera offers, are a hobbyist who wants to stick with a consumer-level camera, or are getting more serious about your photography and want to switch to a prosumer camera.
There is a camera body out there for you, if you can afford it! What about me? I'm generally content with my D750. However, I can't help but stare longingly at the D850!
How about you? What features are essential to you, and do you really need a professional camera for your photography?
4 Comments
Its really been a great capture. I must aspect more info about lens in next topic
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