Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

A lot of Uglies (hehe) take sides on just about any topic. The worst happens when it is about professional gear and processing.
I might be mistaken but i believe we should define the terms precisely so everyone would be looking at the same apple.

A. A professional is someone who earns their living from their activity.
It does not always mean they are experts in their careers, just that they are earning out of it.
An attitude or way that directly improves the activity

B. An amateur does things for the love of doing it. They do not get paid and although it also means incompetent, many amateurs are far better and knowledgeable than some professionals.

C. Hobbyist are those who endure serious leisure pursuit having no significant professional counterpart and being too poorly remunerated to constitute a livelihood. Hobbies are usually, but not always, practiced primarily for interest and enjoyment, rather than financial reward.


Well if we look at the above meanings, then:
1. There is no such thing as a hobby photographer as photography is a career choice.
2. There is no limit to what can be called a professional camera. Professional is the person and whatever that person is using is a professional tool. Is there an entry level hammer? or an entry level phone?
3. If we look at boxers, we can also see that being a professional does not always mean you get better the longer you are into it.
4. If someone get paid, he is no longer an amateur but either good or bad professional
5. Professional only means there is money involved. An amateur racer, basketball player and so on, do not get a power up just because he signs a contract.
6. Professional only means there is money involved. The more he can rely on it as a primary means of living then the more professional he gets.
7. A Celphone is a professional camera when used by Pollock.
8. A Nikon F is an amature camera
9. The Canon 7D is expensive
10. Just like fish and meat, some like it raw, some like it scooc
11. Neutral grey will join the nearest software.
12. If you are reading this, perhaps you now understand the absurdity of some of the things being discussed.

We are all in the same boat, let us learn together instead of butting heads and rowing our own way...

Hedgehogs in all their prickly glory can sit side by side together in the same den because they are family.

BebuLamar

There are many people who don't agree with the definitions you post.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Correct, but those are the real written meanings found in books, not the loose definitions people make up to fit their own agenda.

John Sh Loc: Toronto, Australia

"those are the real written meanings found in books"

I think we need to define "books" at this point.
Do you mean dictionaries, and if so by whom, Webster or the OED?
Or do you mean "books" as in Dr Suess?
The veracity of the definitions may well be challenged if you are referring to the latter.

Ollieboy

Deleted

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

Wallen, I agree with you. You have done a very good job of defining our interests. Unfortunately, there are an awful lot of people on this forum who let their ego write checks, their ass can't cash. It is the right of each individual to see and choose the style, gear and functions which best suit them. Too many people get caught up in the process of trying to impress that they forget the pure and simple beauty of what photography is.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

Pollock????? Are you some kind of stupid???

HOHIMER

Although difficult, I abstain from comment as a result of the wisdom imparted to me by my dear departed Mother.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

It seems you skipped item 12

Silverrails

This is a "who Cares" moment, Each person has their own interests, hobbies, career, etc, in Life. As long as they enjoy what they do, and do not infringe on other's personal space, they are entitled to their own belief or opinion. So, all the "Gib & Gab of other individuals, is like "Dust in the Wind", gone in the Blink of an Eye. (My Opinion.)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Couldn't agree more. And it is one more example of a very annoying troll post, which we have way too many of on this forum already. After taking the minute or so to read the rantings of the madman (I use that term only because he seems to have written it before his morning coffee or after a bad night and he sounds mad), I have not furthered my photographic knowledge one bit - another complete and total waste of my time.

CO

2. There is no limit to what can be called a professional camera. Professional is the person and whatever that person is using is a professional tool. Is there an entry level hammer? or an entry level phone?

I don't agree with item 2. Was this really a written meaning in a book? There are some tools that could be considered amateur and professional. For example, I use precision measuring instruments in a machine shop. Calipers are used extensively for making measurements. The least accurate are made of plastic and would not be considered by people making a living as a machinist. Only a hobbyist would consider those. The best ones are stainless steel and even have carbide jaws for wear resistance. The best ones even have digital readouts.

These plastic calipers would not be used by a professional


These stainless steel calipers would be used by a professional

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I
People who “let their ego write checks their ass can’t cash” are nowhere near as annoying as the a$$holes who buy very high end cameras just because they have a large enough checkbook and then ask childishly stupid questions about using its features because they are too lazy or too ignorant to research the answers by themselves. Read the freaking manual!