I don't want to hijack this thread, but being a german "cameraman"... why is noone using the term over there on your side of the pond? Here, and in most parts of Europe, a "cameraman" covers anything from studio jobs to ENG, from corporate to TV. Any reason?
Michael
A matter of personal preference really. Like you, I use Cameraman. To me, the simplest, most descriptive term for what we do.
We're not photographers, (similar, but a different skill-set), because we don't take photographs. I blame this misconception on our co-workers, the reporters and producers we generally work with. They picked the term "photographer" because they are familiar with it, as many of them have a print media background.
DP is valid, on occasion. But mostly we're only "directing" ourselves, and it seems a trifle pretentious. On the other hand, "Videographer" is appropriate, but through usage it has come to imply "wedding cameraman", therefore those that don't share this specialty seem to shun the term.
Language changes over time. The old Hollywood DPs called themselves "cameramen" because it was the traditional term, even though many of them were masters of the cinematic image. But whatever you want to call yourselves, fine, just don't call me a "shooter". Then you're going to have trouble.