Can anyone tell me what the classification is to deem something as 'Pro' equipment? Surely just because something costs x amount doesn't make it necessarily 'pro'?
"Pro Equipment" and being a "Pro Photographer" are two very different things. The two do not necessarily go hand in hand. There are many amateurs and hobbyists that use "Pro Equipment" because their personal passions demand it. Pro equipment does generally cost a lot more, but owning it does not automatically increase the ability or skillset of the photorapher, unless that photographer happens to have reached the limitations of their previous equipment.
I read on another forum that someone was told they couldn't be a pro photographer until they had a camera that cost at least £2500! Never mind skill or talent it was just based on the price of the camera body.
Whoever said that was an idiot.
Pro equipment will generally be much more versatile and durable than lower end gear, and allow you to shoot under more different circumstances that may not be possible with consumer equipment (hand-held under extremely low light, or in more severe weather conditions, for example), but without the skills, you're just another "Uncle Bob" who got this new fangled digital SLR with all kinds of buttons and features on it (so it must be good, even if he doesn't understand what 90% of them are) and thinks he can "turn pro".
So I'm wondering as I'm wanting to get into pro portrait/wedding work what does class as 'pro' and why.
A "pro" in this instance I would say is a photographer who knows what they're doing and has the equipment and skillset required to produce results that meet or exceed client expectations - and is prepared for any eventuality that may arise during a shoot (eg. backup bodies, lenses, etc in case one fails, knowing how to deal with bridezillas and mother-in-laws, not making guests uncomfortable).
There's a few other bits as well that qualify as "Pro" equipment on the NPS list (like some of the speedlights, SB-80DX, SB-800, SB-900 and a couple of other bits).
you really dont "NEED" the very latest lens or camera, just because it was Just released under the PRO tag. Some argue a Fuji S5 is the perfect wedding camera, and thats based on "older generation" Nikon
If you're *only* shooting weddings, then they may be right, depending on their style of shooting. It's a fantastic camera and has a dynamic range that is difficult to beat, but the S5 was also released under the "Pro" tag, hence "Fuji S5 Pro".
Pro equipment that's a generations or two old is not necessarily a bad thing depending on what you're shooting. But it's still "Pro equipment".
Yes, an image is still much more dependent upon the photographer than the equipment, but once the photographer or the demands of a job exceed the abilities of the camera, you have a problem. Pro/newer equipment is built to handle these problems.