Do pro photographers use Pentax, Sony, Olympus or Panasonic cameras?

Nearly every photographer that I know or meet uses either Nikon or Canon with the occassional Sony. What about the other brands like Pentax, Olympus, or Panasonic. Are these used by many pro's? I see them advertised here and there on B&H or Adorama, but I've never seen anyone with one of those.

Many pros want full frame bodies, which Olympus and Panasonic do not offer (dunno about Pentax). Plus the industry is already set up to support Canon and Nikon, with regard to stocking accessories and rentals.

Kelly Cook

I know of a couple, but it's probably not many.

It's probably what Kelly said and it would depend on what type work a photographer does; if using medium format it might be Hasselblad etc.

Pentax made pro film cameras, but with digital they have mainly targeted the enthusiast market. I think this is starting to change. Some of their more recent cameras show signs of greater aspirations. Panasonic and Olympus don't make DSLRs, and most pros use DSLRs. Some pros probably use Panasonic and Oly when using a compact camera would be more appropriate. Oly and Pentax tended to be behind Nikon and Canon most of the time even when they were popular among some pros.

Sony is a new brand name to the pro market. They are battling 50+ years of a Canon and Nikon lead. Possibly they'd be in a better position if they'd kept the Minolta brand name, but think they are carving their own space. Sony shoots themselves in the foot when they insist on using their proprietary gizmos. For instance on the only Sony camera I own the flash hot shoe is all Sony-fied. It doesn't make the camera work any better, but it does keep me from buying the accessories I really want, because Sony doesn't make them, and apparently they won't let anyone else make them either.

Here's An Example

Henry Peach wrote: Pentax made pro film cameras, but with digital they have mainly targeted the enthusiast market. I think this is starting to change. Some of their more recent cameras show signs of greater aspirations. Panasonic and Olympus don't make DSLRs, and most pros use DSLRs. Some pros probably use Panasonic and Oly when using a compact camera would be more appropriate. Oly and Pentax tended to be behind Nikon and Canon most of the time even when they were popular among some pros.

Sony is a new brand name to the pro market. They are battling 50+ years of a Canon and Nikon lead. Possibly they'd be in a better position if they'd kept the Minolta brand name, but think they are carving their own space. Sony shoots themselves in the foot when they insist on using their proprietary gizmos. For instance on the only Sony camera I own the flash hot shoe is all Sony-fied. It doesn't make the camera work any better, but it does keep me from buying the accessories I really want, because Sony doesn't make them, and apparently they won't let anyone else make them either.

I was a Pentax film shooter, but Pentax came to the market a little too slow for my tastes, and what they came out with did not blow my kilt up. I would have gladly stayed with them, but I am not one of those blind brand followers. I had a couple of digitals before moving to Nikon for Dslrs, my last P&S was the Nikon Coolpix995, which so impressed me with its images made me stick with the Nikon line. IT was also what caused the demise of my shooting film at all. The other reason I went with Nikon was being able to use legacy glass, because like Pentax they had one mount.
Luckily for me I sold off my developing equipment, and my excess lenses, while the selling was good. I kept my Pentax MX with its 50mm kit lens for nostalgia sake, because it was my first ever brand new out of the box camera. One of these days I will use it as shelf art, when I get the rest of my stuff out of storage.

Henry Peach wrote: Pentax made pro film cameras, but with digital they have mainly targeted the enthusiast market. I think this is starting to change. Some of their more recent cameras show signs of greater aspirations. Panasonic and Olympus don't make DSLRs, and most pros use DSLRs. Some pros probably use Panasonic and Oly when using a compact camera would be more appropriate. Oly and Pentax tended to be behind Nikon and Canon most of the time even when they were popular among some pros.

Sony is a new brand name to the pro market. They are battling 50+ years of a Canon and Nikon lead. Possibly they'd be in a better position if they'd kept the Minolta brand name, but think they are carving their own space. Sony shoots themselves in the foot when they insist on using their proprietary gizmos. For instance on the only Sony camera I own the flash hot shoe is all Sony-fied. It doesn't make the camera work any better, but it does keep me from buying the accessories I really want, because Sony doesn't make them, and apparently they won't let anyone else make them either.