We went to Empire State Building during our Christmas season (2012) trip to NYC.
I carried a small digital camera in addition to my phone which had a camera.
My girlfriend carries a Nikon digital camera D50 with exchangeable lenses, and also a camera in her smartphone.
Security checked the camera equipment without difficulty.
I was completely unaware that there could have been a restriction; it never raised a question for us.
I presume their definition of professional includes much more serious lenses, tripods and the like, to preclude the possibility of sale of competing photographs.
travel.stackexchange.com/users/1542/wbogacz
If you do not have a tripod, bipod, monopod, or any other bulky equipment which will create an impediment or disturbance to the other guests, you should be allowed in.
I've been up literally hundreds of times, and though I can't speak for them, I've a good feeling as to what they allow and prohibit.
travel.stackexchange.com/users/4848/user4848
They just mean you're not allowed to take photographs for commercial purposes in there, and stuff that into a blanket clause.
I've seen hundreds of such statements all over the world and have never been told my professional level DSLRs and lenses aren't allowed.
That includes the WTC, though that was long ago before the digital age when I was still using 35mm film cameras.
Of course you could always run up against a "security" guard on a powertrip who thinks he's doing his boss a favour by bullying you who tells you you need to buy a "photography license", but if you stand your ground and demand to see his supervisor that demand is likely to quickly go away.
travel.stackexchange.com/users/1438/jwenting
Just to complete the cycle I went up the Empire state on Sunday and took my DSLR and 2 other lenses for it
and they didn't bat an eyelid.
travel.stackexchange.com/users/1820/Phil
Never had a problem with a DSLR.
I don't think they mean pro-sumer cameras.
I think they mean no large formats, or television production cameras.
travel.stackexchange.com/users/4506/Stephen P.
Just visited last week
and I carry a Nikon D5600 for vlogging and they confiscated my Rhode Microphone at security.
I got it back, but still, what a pain.
travel.stackexchange.com/users/78614/devious
I'm currently planning a trip to New York and have been looking at the website for the empire state building and noticed the following   The items listed are not permitted in the Empire State Building.    [...]   Professional cameras, equipment  from  http://www.esbnyc.com/faq.asp .   Has anyone tried to take a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) with them?  If so have you had any problems at security with it?
Are DSLR cameras permitted in the Empire State Building?
travel.stackexchange.com
<regulations><security><new-york-city><photography>
travel.stackexchange.com/questions/14374
travel.stackexchange.com/users/1820/Phil
A DSLR without a tripod or other bulky equipment should not be a problem, they just mean you're not allowed to take photographs for commercial purposes in there, and that large formats, or television production cameras are not allowed.   Bulky photographic equipment may not be allowed in the Empire State Building but there does not seem to be a problem with DSLRs.
You cannot take bulky photographic equipment into the Empire State Building or take commercial photos. A DSLR does not seem to pose a problem.