Archive 2009 · CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
p.3 #1CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
It took me all but 7 minutes to get my application approved and nothing was verified. On a different thread, someone even mentioned putting all x's in as serial numbers and getting approved. 
2 free cleanings, 30% off service, 3-day turn-around, the potential for loaner gear...definitely worth $100 to me.
2 free cleanings, 30% off service, 3-day turn-around, the potential for loaner gear...definitely worth $100 to me.Mar 10, 2009 at 02:29 AM
p.3 #2CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
I just joined over the weekend and sent my 1D3 in yesterday, We'll see if being a CPS member makes a difference 
Mar 10, 2009 at 10:23 AM
p.3 #3CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
The point is in the past Canon wanted to bring in people using other brands mostly Nikon folks. Now they don't particularly care and each department has to carry it weight I would guess in the mean old current world. These things swing. Nikon was the guys to beat, now belatedly coast. Last year Nikon was apparently doing buybacks from guys to switch to them.
Mar 10, 2009 at 10:39 AM
p.3 #4CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Greg Feldman wrote:
The requirements are, in reality, much less restrictive than before.
This is 100% true. I was denied to the previous CPS program despite having several L lenses and shooting for the NHRA. I recently applied for the new program and it appears as if I got accepted... granted I also added a new 1DmkIII and a 5DmkII. Previously I had provided a letter from my boss at NHRA but that didn't account for much of anything.
I might be confused, but isn't there a spot for you to fill in your previous CPS number. A friend of mine that was a previous member, said that he put his number in and it basically took care of everything.
The requirements are, in reality, much less restrictive than before.
This is 100% true. I was denied to the previous CPS program despite having several L lenses and shooting for the NHRA. I recently applied for the new program and it appears as if I got accepted... granted I also added a new 1DmkIII and a 5DmkII. Previously I had provided a letter from my boss at NHRA but that didn't account for much of anything.
I might be confused, but isn't there a spot for you to fill in your previous CPS number. A friend of mine that was a previous member, said that he put his number in and it basically took care of everything.
Mar 10, 2009 at 10:49 AM
p.3 #5CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
As the OP (who originally posted this in Sports, but apparently it got moved), my biggest beef was the "Full-time photographer" requirement. As I stated, I know many here who are part-time photographers who are still "pros" that wouldn't qualify. When I joined, I had to send in proof of business: cards, flyers, invoices, website, etc. While I do have a full-time "main" job, I still consider myself a professional photographer in both senses of the word.
However, if they're not even attempting to validate it, then I agree that it lessens the requirements.
John
However, if they're not even attempting to validate it, then I agree that it lessens the requirements.
John
Mar 10, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Chris Beaumont
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p.3 #6CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Lars Johnsson wrote:
It's not at all like that. Canon UK like the rest of Canon CPS Europe don't require two 1 series bodies. Nearly every body qualify. Maybe you should read the rules before complaining here 
I got turned down for not having the right bodies, I've got the e-mail from my local Canon rep explaining why I got turned down if you want to see it, yes there are tick boxes for the 30D/40D/50D but they wouldn't let me join shooting with them. I'm afraid Tony IS right.
Chris
tonyhart wrote
I work as a full time pro here in the UK but I don't shoot with any 1-Series bodies. The UK CPS requires at least 2 1-Series bodies and 3 L-Series lenses. So I can't have the benefits of CPS membership and that really sticks in my crawl. I wish they'd make it a paid membership. I'd happily pay up to £1000 annually to have CPS membership. Not everyone chooses to shoot the same way and the stupid CPS policies are a pain. I got turned down for not having the right bodies, I've got the e-mail from my local Canon rep explaining why I got turned down if you want to see it, yes there are tick boxes for the 30D/40D/50D but they wouldn't let me join shooting with them. I'm afraid Tony IS right.
Chris
Mar 10, 2009 at 01:18 PM
p.3 #7CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
If they are allowing you to input camera bodies on the entry form that do not actually qualify you for entry, that makes me wonder what they are doing with that information.
It could be that there is some hidden requirement for total gear value. So, if you had only two 50D bodies, but $100k in lenses they might let you in. It could also be that they are gathering information on other bodies for a possible change to the program at a future date.
It could be that there is some hidden requirement for total gear value. So, if you had only two 50D bodies, but $100k in lenses they might let you in. It could also be that they are gathering information on other bodies for a possible change to the program at a future date.
Mar 10, 2009 at 01:58 PM
p.3 #8CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Chris Beaumont wrote:
It's not at all like that. Canon UK like the rest of Canon CPS Europe don't require two 1 series bodies. Nearly every body qualify. Maybe you should read the rules before complaining here I got turned down for not having the right bodies, I've got the e-mail from my local Canon rep explaining why I got turned down if you want to see it, yes there are tick boxes for the 30D/40D/50D but they wouldn't let me join shooting with them. I'm afraid Tony IS right.
Chris
I know a lot of people that have joined CPS with only those bodies. And when I joined many years ago, I did it with the 10D
You just join over their website. There is no local rep. involved at all.
Many people even put down bodies and lenses that they don't have. and then just make up some numbers for those without any problem
Lars Johnsson wrote
tonyhart wrote
I work as a full time pro here in the UK but I don't shoot with any 1-Series bodies. The UK CPS requires at least 2 1-Series bodies and 3 L-Series lenses. So I can't have the benefits of CPS membership and that really sticks in my crawl. I wish they'd make it a paid membership. I'd happily pay up to £1000 annually to have CPS membership. Not everyone chooses to shoot the same way and the stupid CPS policies are a pain.Chris
I know a lot of people that have joined CPS with only those bodies. And when I joined many years ago, I did it with the 10D
You just join over their website. There is no local rep. involved at all.
Many people even put down bodies and lenses that they don't have. and then just make up some numbers for those without any problem
Mar 10, 2009 at 02:42 PM
p.3 #9CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
deepbluejh wrote:
Indeed. Many more of you didn't qualify before.
a soon as my current job ends my barely existent photography income will shoot (hopefully not for too long ) to 100% of my earnings and since I have the equipment required for silver theoretically i could join at that time despite not actually being a pro....
not sure it makes sense for me now, but i could've sure used it the last couple years
and i could image some college students qualifying if they manage a few photo sales and only have a very minor summer job for a few months.
anyway i have no comment on this either way
Edited on Mar 10, 2009 at 03:05 PM · View previous versions
Greg Feldman wrote
The requirements are, in reality, much less restrictive than before.a soon as my current job ends my barely existent photography income will shoot (hopefully not for too long
) to 100% of my earnings and since I have the equipment required for silver theoretically i could join at that time despite not actually being a pro....not sure it makes sense for me now, but i could've sure used it the last couple years
and i could image some college students qualifying if they manage a few photo sales and only have a very minor summer job for a few months.
anyway i have no comment on this either way
Edited on Mar 10, 2009 at 03:05 PM · View previous versions
Mar 10, 2009 at 02:58 PM
p.3 #10CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
RedWhiteandRed wrote:
When I joined I needed tear sheets, letters from art directors and magazine photo editors and a referral.
Same here... and there were no requirements to own any Canon gear - you just had to be a full-time professional.
Now it looks like anyone who owns a few of the recent amateur or pro bodies can join...
When I joined I needed tear sheets, letters from art directors and magazine photo editors and a referral.
Same here... and there were no requirements to own any Canon gear - you just had to be a full-time professional.
Now it looks like anyone who owns a few of the recent amateur or pro bodies can join...
Mar 10, 2009 at 02:59 PM
p.3 #11CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Just thought I would check out CPS in Australia (I'm from there)
To be eligible for membership of CPS, you need to:
* Be a full-time professional photographer *
* Own/use and register with CPS two or more eligible Canon EOS professional bodies ** and three or more L-series EF lenses which have been purchased from an authorised Canon Professional Dealer in Australia or New Zealand.
* A full-time photographer is defined as someone who generates the majority of their income from photography and who operates through a registered business.
** Currently the eligible models are: EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1Ds, EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1D Mark IIN, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS-1D, EOS-1V.
EOS-5D bodies may be registered, but benefits for this model will be limited to priority serving. A minimum of at least one EOS-1 series model is required to register an EOS-5D
Only 1 of my 8 L lenses and my 5DmkII qualify. My 1DmkIII, 300f2.8, 85L, 70-200L f2.8 and so on would not help even if I was to set-up myself as a full time pro. I might as well not move home
To be eligible for membership of CPS, you need to:
* Be a full-time professional photographer *
* Own/use and register with CPS two or more eligible Canon EOS professional bodies ** and three or more L-series EF lenses which have been purchased from an authorised Canon Professional Dealer in Australia or New Zealand.
* A full-time photographer is defined as someone who generates the majority of their income from photography and who operates through a registered business.
** Currently the eligible models are: EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1Ds, EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1D Mark IIN, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS-1D, EOS-1V.
EOS-5D bodies may be registered, but benefits for this model will be limited to priority serving. A minimum of at least one EOS-1 series model is required to register an EOS-5D
Only 1 of my 8 L lenses and my 5DmkII qualify. My 1DmkIII, 300f2.8, 85L, 70-200L f2.8 and so on would not help even if I was to set-up myself as a full time pro. I might as well not move home
Mar 10, 2009 at 03:20 PM
p.3 #12CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Is this USA only or in Canada as well
Mar 10, 2009 at 03:38 PM
p.3 #13CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Ughh... honestly, the misinformation in this thread is almost a little overwhelming. The topic of this thread is about the US CPS program... there are a number of people from europe and other regions posting CPS requirements in their region without specifically stating in the post where they are from and then people are reacting to that. I can understand the need for comparison between the different CPS arms but it is getting out of hand.
The simple fact is that the old US CPS system was much more strict. It required you to own 2 Canon Professional series bodies and at least 3 canon L lenses. Additionally, it did require you to be a professional photographer and gain a majority of your income through photographic endeavors as well as provide hard proof of your professionalism (i.e. tear sheets, invoices, receipts, and letters from clients/bosses) Admittedly, the "professional photographer and gain a majority of your income through photographic endeavors" is a little cloudy, but If you were a CPS member and didn't have all of those items it seems as if you got lucky and slipped through the cracks.
They have now allowed for the use of lower mid-level bodies to qualify for the silver tier and they've added some non L (but still high quality and fairly expensive) lenses to the list. I think it adds some parity and proves that you can be a professional while not necessarily needing the most expensive Canon gear. I think it speaks to the overall quality of the Canon lineup, that professionalism can be obtained. Yes, it seems that they may have attempted to clarify their "professional photographer and gain a majority of your income through photographic endeavors" by changing it to a definite percentage of income.. but it has been proven though that is almost as equally gray as the previous, so there's no need to get worked up.
As far as the elimination of several older Canon pro bodies and Lenses from the list.. I can see Canon's reason for doing so. If you are truly a professional and in need of this service than you should demand nothing but the best from your gear. You will have invested in them recently (not 8 years ago) and this is there way of assuring that those people get the treatment that Canon feels they deserve. I don't believe that any discriminating professional is using an 8 year old Canon 1D.
That's just my 2 cents...
::edit:: additionally, I don't think any professional is interested in joining to receive the CPS strap and pin as was suggested by this thread. A true professional appreciates the service/loaner program and lens trial program.. and that is where the true value of this program is. If you aren't doing enough jobs and using your gear every week to earn you money, those things probably aren't important and in Canon's eyes, you aren't a pro.
<---- Ducking... to avoid the flames
The simple fact is that the old US CPS system was much more strict. It required you to own 2 Canon Professional series bodies and at least 3 canon L lenses. Additionally, it did require you to be a professional photographer and gain a majority of your income through photographic endeavors as well as provide hard proof of your professionalism (i.e. tear sheets, invoices, receipts, and letters from clients/bosses) Admittedly, the "professional photographer and gain a majority of your income through photographic endeavors" is a little cloudy, but If you were a CPS member and didn't have all of those items it seems as if you got lucky and slipped through the cracks.
They have now allowed for the use of lower mid-level bodies to qualify for the silver tier and they've added some non L (but still high quality and fairly expensive) lenses to the list. I think it adds some parity and proves that you can be a professional while not necessarily needing the most expensive Canon gear. I think it speaks to the overall quality of the Canon lineup, that professionalism can be obtained. Yes, it seems that they may have attempted to clarify their "professional photographer and gain a majority of your income through photographic endeavors" by changing it to a definite percentage of income.. but it has been proven though that is almost as equally gray as the previous, so there's no need to get worked up.
As far as the elimination of several older Canon pro bodies and Lenses from the list.. I can see Canon's reason for doing so. If you are truly a professional and in need of this service than you should demand nothing but the best from your gear. You will have invested in them recently (not 8 years ago) and this is there way of assuring that those people get the treatment that Canon feels they deserve. I don't believe that any discriminating professional is using an 8 year old Canon 1D.
That's just my 2 cents...
::edit:: additionally, I don't think any professional is interested in joining to receive the CPS strap and pin as was suggested by this thread. A true professional appreciates the service/loaner program and lens trial program.. and that is where the true value of this program is. If you aren't doing enough jobs and using your gear every week to earn you money, those things probably aren't important and in Canon's eyes, you aren't a pro.
<---- Ducking... to avoid the flames
Mar 10, 2009 at 06:18 PM
p.3 #14CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Paul has been ranting lately about how the drop in prices and increase in technology has opened some doors for a lot of people (and narrowed some doors for others). I would imagine that CPS membership has thus skyrocketed...they have to reign in the leash somehow.
IMHO canon have a deeper and more serious problem...QC and batch/series of products with serious issues.
L zooms that need to be calibrated when they should have perform flawlessly, camera AF that do not work as it should or camera lens combination that do not perform as they should, poor design,production or materials that make some of the products eligible for malfunctions/breaking, etc.
Also products that are marketed in a way that makes buyer to expect more than product itself can offer and from that unproper exploitation of the gear in certain conditions which make user to send product into service or simply user supposing the gear have a defect/misscalibration (xxD AF precision/tolerances, lens AF ability, lens sharpness that varies from copy to copy too much or depending on FL in the same lens, etc...)
this is the real reason Canon need to trim service requests this hard.
when u buy a camera and 2-3 lenses tha need to be calibrated, then recalibrated together with a new lens, then compare to another copies of one of your lenses and u observe yours does not seem to meet the other quality, etcetc..is natural u stress the service too much.
another thing, IF canon sells more and more stuff it should INCREASE the service equipments, personall, investment, that is part of the business... u don;t cut/trim clients right to benefit from prompt services, u proportionally increase services.
IF products would meet specifications in a better percentage, services would be less crowded. (the big demand is for fixes that never should be needed if production wpould be right.) broken gear or "normal" defects represent low % of service work.
now, services just do what production should have done in the first place.
IF they would update services proportional to their sells, things would be much better...
the reality is low market price involves poor QC, poor quality products to some extent (stuff that are much more probable to get broke or not perform properly...) they need to sell and after that who cares, the fool who paid can wait...1 week, 10 weeks, that is life, right...one cut from production should be compesate with same amount of plus on service , at least...not the case here...
so the situation is wrong in principle...they struggle to justify something it should never happen, that is a client who paid have to wait in order to be able to use the promised product...
IMHO canon have a deeper and more serious problem...QC and batch/series of products with serious issues.
L zooms that need to be calibrated when they should have perform flawlessly, camera AF that do not work as it should or camera lens combination that do not perform as they should, poor design,production or materials that make some of the products eligible for malfunctions/breaking, etc.
Also products that are marketed in a way that makes buyer to expect more than product itself can offer and from that unproper exploitation of the gear in certain conditions which make user to send product into service or simply user supposing the gear have a defect/misscalibration (xxD AF precision/tolerances, lens AF ability, lens sharpness that varies from copy to copy too much or depending on FL in the same lens, etc...)
this is the real reason Canon need to trim service requests this hard.
when u buy a camera and 2-3 lenses tha need to be calibrated, then recalibrated together with a new lens, then compare to another copies of one of your lenses and u observe yours does not seem to meet the other quality, etcetc..is natural u stress the service too much.
another thing, IF canon sells more and more stuff it should INCREASE the service equipments, personall, investment, that is part of the business... u don;t cut/trim clients right to benefit from prompt services, u proportionally increase services.
IF products would meet specifications in a better percentage, services would be less crowded. (the big demand is for fixes that never should be needed if production wpould be right.) broken gear or "normal" defects represent low % of service work.
now, services just do what production should have done in the first place.
IF they would update services proportional to their sells, things would be much better...
the reality is low market price involves poor QC, poor quality products to some extent (stuff that are much more probable to get broke or not perform properly...) they need to sell and after that who cares, the fool who paid can wait...1 week, 10 weeks, that is life, right...one cut from production should be compesate with same amount of plus on service , at least...not the case here...
so the situation is wrong in principle...they struggle to justify something it should never happen, that is a client who paid have to wait in order to be able to use the promised product...
Mar 10, 2009 at 07:56 PM
p.3 #15CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
parintele wrote:
IMHO canon have a deeper and more serious problem...QC and batch/series of products with serious issues.
L zooms that need to be calibrated when they should have perform flawlessly, camera AF that do not work as it should or camera lens combination that do not perform as they should, poor design,production or materials that make some of the products eligible for malfunctions/breaking, etc.
Also products that are marketed in a way that makes buyer to expect more than product itself can offer and from that unproper exploitation of the gear in certain conditions which make user to send product...Show more →
Well, now this thread had devolved into nothing more than a Canon bash. I encourage you to buy Nikon.
Earlier quote
Paul has been ranting lately about how the drop in prices and increase in technology has opened some doors for a lot of people (and narrowed some doors for others). I would imagine that CPS membership has thus skyrocketed...they have to reign in the leash somehow.L zooms that need to be calibrated when they should have perform flawlessly, camera AF that do not work as it should or camera lens combination that do not perform as they should, poor design,production or materials that make some of the products eligible for malfunctions/breaking, etc.
Also products that are marketed in a way that makes buyer to expect more than product itself can offer and from that unproper exploitation of the gear in certain conditions which make user to send product...Show more →
Well, now this thread had devolved into nothing more than a Canon bash. I encourage you to buy Nikon.
Mar 10, 2009 at 08:46 PM
p.3 #16CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
I'm a member of CPS Europe, at the time I had a 5D and 20D. They were far more interested with proving that I was a pro. Don't know if the rules have changed but hopefully I won't have to reapply either..
Mar 11, 2009 at 02:03 AM
p.3 #17CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
Beni wrote:
Don't know if the rules have changed but hopefully I won't have to reapply either..
Confusion on that score. I did get an email saying such as CPS UK member. But no follow up email or where or how to apply [reapply] was received.
Don't know if the rules have changed but hopefully I won't have to reapply either..
Confusion on that score. I did get an email saying such as CPS UK member. But no follow up email or where or how to apply [reapply] was received.
Mar 11, 2009 at 03:11 AM
p.3 #18CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
This is a copy of my reply to the same topic in the Wedding forum.
CPS stands for Canon Professional Service, here in the UK the new rules for membership
are that you own 2 Professional cameras and 3 L lenses. 20/30/40/50D and the 5D`s are not professional but consumer cameras. It`s bad enough as it is with Uncle Bob who has a brace of 1D/1Ds and a camera bag full of L lenses turning up at Pro events just to use an 800mm for the day shooting from the stands. Canon supply loan cameras and lenses for CPS members at major events but there is a limit to the amount of loan gear they have with them. We the ( Pros ) have asked Canon to make sure that the membership of CPS is for full time accredited professional and not the Uncle Bob`s who can afford to buy the gear as a hobby, takes the loan gear to give the photos away just to be published. I have shot Motor sports for over 30years, but this year I will not be applying for press accreditation, as so many amateurs are giving their photographs away we cannot cover the costs that they do not have, my Public Liability insurance this year is over $900. CPS gives the pro peace of mind that if Canon cannot fix our gear within 24 hours we get loaners, we have a living to make, they do it for pleasure.
Mike
CPS stands for Canon Professional Service, here in the UK the new rules for membership
are that you own 2 Professional cameras and 3 L lenses. 20/30/40/50D and the 5D`s are not professional but consumer cameras. It`s bad enough as it is with Uncle Bob who has a brace of 1D/1Ds and a camera bag full of L lenses turning up at Pro events just to use an 800mm for the day shooting from the stands. Canon supply loan cameras and lenses for CPS members at major events but there is a limit to the amount of loan gear they have with them. We the ( Pros ) have asked Canon to make sure that the membership of CPS is for full time accredited professional and not the Uncle Bob`s who can afford to buy the gear as a hobby, takes the loan gear to give the photos away just to be published. I have shot Motor sports for over 30years, but this year I will not be applying for press accreditation, as so many amateurs are giving their photographs away we cannot cover the costs that they do not have, my Public Liability insurance this year is over $900. CPS gives the pro peace of mind that if Canon cannot fix our gear within 24 hours we get loaners, we have a living to make, they do it for pleasure.
Mike
Mar 11, 2009 at 03:35 AM
p.3 #19CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
[We the ( Pros )]
How typical of a Wedding Photographer forum user to use this blabber. Yes the snobbish, elitist attitude creeps it's way into the Canon forom. Oh watch out for Uncle Bob and his 1DMK78 and 5000m Lens shooting from some bleachers, he's always around giving everything away for free including brand new CPS membership stickers. Hey I sold a picture last week, I'm a pro now woooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooo! Why would a wedding photographer lower himself/herself to shooting Motor sports as well, I would think it would be beneath your PROFESSIONAL WEDDING DRESS SHOOTING capabilities.
Mike C, lose the snobbish attitude will ya?
Oh, I joined and I'm not a pro and yes I own two pro bodies plus a bag of L's I've spent thousands on my hobby so why shouldn't a company give me the same respect as a wedding photographer?
How typical of a Wedding Photographer forum user to use this blabber. Yes the snobbish, elitist attitude creeps it's way into the Canon forom. Oh watch out for Uncle Bob and his 1DMK78 and 5000m Lens shooting from some bleachers, he's always around giving everything away for free including brand new CPS membership stickers. Hey I sold a picture last week, I'm a pro now woooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooo! Why would a wedding photographer lower himself/herself to shooting Motor sports as well, I would think it would be beneath your PROFESSIONAL WEDDING DRESS SHOOTING capabilities.
Mike C, lose the snobbish attitude will ya?
Oh, I joined and I'm not a pro and yes I own two pro bodies plus a bag of L's
I've spent thousands on my hobby so why shouldn't a company give me the same respect as a wedding photographer? Mar 11, 2009 at 03:47 AM
p.3 #20CPS - Most of us no longer qualify
And see
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/749028
for another angle!
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/749028
for another angle!
Mar 11, 2009 at 04:00 AM