Aging and limitations in photo outfits

[Ken Miracle]

This has been an interesting thread to me as a peek ahead. I’m in my early 50s so I still have some resemblance to vitality but have been pondering things like whether I should spring for a 600 f4 while I can (so to speak). Of course I have the 100-400 and 600pf so that may keep me from justifying a second longer telephoto.

Irony I am 76 and had similar thoughts. When I went from DSLR in 2022 to Z9 the last f mount lenses I sold off were a Sigma 60-600 sport, a 500mm pf and my 600 f/4E so fairly heavy lenses that I had held for my on the go in all sorts of terrain and habitat birding bird ID photography addiction.

My first Z birding lens was a Z100-400 with 1.4TC and on 5-1-22 a Z800 f/6.3. Later I added a Z600 f/6.3 (pf) and a Tamron z mount 150-400 to my birding arsenal. Then Nikon put the Z600 f/4 TC on sale my dream birding lens. I decided to sell the Z800 pf and some other unused z lenses and take the plunge on the Z600 f/4 TC while I still can as you so aptly put it I do high intensity interval training, core strenght founer exercises and weight work with free weights 3 days a week for a reason and have been since I was about 62. I was far less than "fit" at 50 so it is easy to say I am more fit now than I was at 50.

One never knows how long this will last and someday the tripods, monopods, and various other photography support gear in my closet from the pre VR lens and pre me being fit days will get used again So enjoy it while you can.

 

[Calson]

LIke your approach Ken. No getting around need to keep moving and to use free weights (even 12 lb dumbells are a good foundation). I also so is the firemans carry with heavy dumbbells that strengthens the core with little risk of injury. During the peak of the pandemic I cancelled my gym membership and invested in weights so I could work out at home.

Bicycling is also great for maintaining upper body strength, especially on hilly terrain, and provides a good cardio workout. Where I live it is no longer safe for bicyclists (with most motorists focusing on their cell phones instead of the road ahead) and so I need to load the bikes in my truck and drive 15 miles to where it is safe to bicycle.

At 74 my recovery time is much greater and I need to adjust my workouts and off days accordingly. Advice for "seniors" targets people who are 55 or older and a vast difference between 55 and 75.

I have learned to use two bags when traveling to balance the load on my body and whenever possible to use a car as a holding location for my gear and only grab what I need for a location. I can leave my wide angle and my macro kit and speedlights behind. With the PF lenses I can also often leave the tripod and gimbal head behind as well.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Irony I am 76 and had similar thoughts. When I went from DSLR in 2022 to Z9 the last f mount lenses I sold off were a Sigma 60-600 sport, a 500mm pf and my 600 f/4E so fairly heavy lenses that I had held for my on the go in all sorts of terrain and habitat birding bird ID photography addiction.

My first Z birding lens was a Z100-400 with 1.4TC and on 5-1-22 a Z800 f/6.3. Later I added a Z600 f/6.3 (pf) and a Tamron z mount 150-400 to my birding arsenal. Then Nikon put the Z600 f/4 TC on sale my dream birding lens. I decided to sell the Z800 pf and some other unused z lenses and take the plunge on the Z600 f/4 TC while I still can as you so aptly put it I do high intensity interval training, core strenght founer exercises and weight work with free weights 3 days a week for a reason and have been since I was about 62. I was far less than "fit" at 50 so it is easy to say I am more fit now than I was at 50.

One never knows how long this will last and someday the tripods, monopods, and various other photography support gear in my closet from the pre VR lens and pre me being fit days will get used again So enjoy it while you can.

Bravo, Ken.

HITT, Core & weight work wonders to the heart & mind ! I also mix it with slow running, really slow but long runnings, 30 ~ 40 miles a week, easy on my knees.

Oliver

 

[Ken Miracle]

Bravo, Ken.

HITT, Core & weight work wonders to the heart & mind ! I also mix it with slow running, really slow but long runnings, 30 ~ 40 miles a week, easy on my knees.

Oliver

I quit running quite a few years ago on the advice of the orthopedist working on rehab of my knee after a snow boarder ran into it with his board while I was directing traffic away from where the rest of the team was loading an injured boarder on a sled.

I have 3 deformed vertebrae from birth. Meniscus in left knee surgically repaired back in high school. Various twists and contusions from fishing accidents, combat fishing, and being run into several times on the ski hill, amazing how many people can not see that red coat

As the doc put it "if you want to keep hiking, skiing etc." quit the pounding of running. At that time I was a long distance trail runner. I took his advice and switched to using my nordic track xc machine for indoor work outs not long after that I retired and bought a gym quality elliptical that stood up better to the pounding of high intensity interval training and have used it for my indoor workouts for many years now.

 

[CJCrawford]

I'm 79 with arthritis in my hands and hips. I still use all my cameras and lenses, but don't carry them around much. I shoot through my windows at home, or from my car when looking for birds. Recently switched to mirrorless , and enjoy Z8, Z6iii, ZF, with my heaviest lens a 600PF 4.6. I can hold that one for a while with special hand braces. Recently got the Nikon Plena, and though it is heavy, it balances beautifully-very nice with ZF. So...fewer birds and more "art" photos and macro. Used to walk around for 1-2 hours with a birding group and D500 + 500 PF. No more of that, sadly. I do find the Black Rapid shoulder sling very nice for carrying any rig. No tripods at t this time...too much trouble to set up....very happy to be able to do any photography at all!

 

[xxx]

My experience is 55 is not 65. 65 is not 75 and somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 adjustments need to happen. You can pretend that you are young and take steps to keep young, but Father Time ultimately wins.

The first thing to go seems to be the robust, heavy tripod. Time was we strolled down the trail with the tripod across our shoulder and a serious camera and lens across our back. To me that was never fun but was required to get the shot. Times change. I remember Steve saying "the 500pf is my most fun lens, not most used." No more.

Around 80 I found that my preferred system, a D-500/300pf on one side and a D-500/500pf on the other side, was simply NOT FUN to carry. I was on the South Padre Island Bird Park boardwalk when this revelation hit me. Even easy walking on a boardwalk was not fun with that weight. I switched to a different system, a single camera-lens solution, a zoom. Fun returned.

Now 80 is well in the rear-view mirror, and my view of the future is through clouded lenses. I look for trips where I don't need to walk far or at all. I spend my money on guides that know my limitations and get me to the subjects with effort within my capabilities, not ultra-awesome expensive lenses. It is still fun.

Tom

Time for walker-cam.

 

[pittbandphoto]

Greetings!
With the latest poll on average BCG membership sitting over 55 years of age, have any of the members found the need to change certain qualities of their photo outfit?

Fresnel lenses, monopod vs tripod, autofocus?

I like my 500mm f/4 g vr but it is a heavy walking companion.

Happy New year a little early,

Bob

I'm 67, soon to be 68. When I was unable to lift my camera bag into an airplane's overhead storage compartment, I started a program of weightlifting. Not joking.

 

[hsjd700]

I sold all my Nikon equipment; D850, 3 lenses, 2 flash guns etc.
With the money I bought into the OM 1 mark 2 and the 12-40 pro lens 2.
I still had money left over and I don't need Flash guns, tripods or extra lenses.
Really happy with the results from this camera - best thing I ever did.

 

[Doug Herr]

Currently 72 and very thankful for mirrorless technology and those camera makers whose products embrace the light weight potential of this stuff. The moment a compact full-frame mirrorless camera with sensor stabilization became available I said adios to the dSLR.

About a year ago the 600 GM started getting too heavy for longer hikes so the 300 GM + TCs is now the hiking wildlife lens. My blind for hikes is now a piece of camo-print bug net instead of pole framed, hiking tripod is now Peak Design CF instead of the big Gitzo.

Last year my next-door neighbor was moved by his family into assisted living. He was a couple years younger than I am, lifelong smoker, drinker, drug user. I'm no longer participating in triathlons but still in good enough condition to hike 5 to 6 miles before my knees complain, bicycle around the local lake (~ 18 miles) and get up from the ground without toppling over.

 

[MukilteoManiac]

I am 62. Lighter, more compact gear is sought and appreciated as I age. I switched from my heavier Nikon F gear to Nikon Z 7II with the trinity f2.8 lenses and the Z MC 105, Z 26 f2.8 pancake, Z 24-120 f4, and Z 180-600 long zoom. I am finding the Z180-600 pretty heavy and I am thinking of swapping it for the lighter Z 400 f4.5 prime. I use a Shimoda Explorer V2 for wildlife and scenic photography.

 

[Graham Clark]

I'm only 61 and fortunately my "day" job keeps me quite active tabbing miles around open country most days, I also do free weights a couple of times a week.

Don't have any issues with the D5 and D500 plus primes weight wise but who knows whats round the corner?

GC

 

[MT_Dave]

I'm age 68 and packing up to 40 pounds not a problem...hopefully I can continue for another decade.
I work hard on hiking fitness and I do love the high country.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[sh1209]

I am 51 years old, but I have suffered some major injuries to my arms around the age of 40. Having said this, one of the best purchases I’ve made as far as photography gear, was the cotton carrier vest. I can attach two bodies and have both arms free While walking. I frequently carry two full frame bodies, a 600 prime and usually a smaller zoom on the other body for several miles with this set up. It sure has been a lifesaver for me and really isn’t that expensive as well. They also make a small unit for one Camera called a skout, which is nice. If I take a tripod with me when I’m hiking a good distance, I normally take my series 2 Gitzo tripod. I find that it handles my large prime and full frame body just fine unless there’s heavy wind. I have a much larger RRS tripod, but typically only use it whenever close to the vehicle or within less than a mile of my vehicle because it’s just so heavy.

 

[xxx]

You know you are old when the subject of conversations is always about your aches, pains, and ailments.

 

[BarryM]

Greetings!
With the latest poll on average BCG membership sitting over 55 years of age, have any of the members found the need to change certain qualities of their photo outfit?

Fresnel lenses, monopod vs tripod, autofocus?

I like my 500mm f/4 g vr but it is a heavy walking companion.

Happy New year a little early,

Bob

I’m 80 now. I did a fair amount wildlife photography back in the ‘90s, but then put it aside to run a software company. I retired a few years ago, bought my first full-frame digital camera (D850) and unpacked my 600 mm f4 Nikkor lens. It is still a beautiful lens, but it weighs 14 point something pounds, about double what an equivalent lens weighs now. I sold it and bought a 500 mm PF. Much better, but the quality of that 600 lens was outstanding. I have switched to the Z8 body, also.

 

[ButlerKid]

I’m 80 now. I did a fair amount wildlife photography back in the ‘90s, but then put it aside to run a software company. I retired a few years ago, bought my first full-frame digital camera (D850) and unpacked my 600 mm f4 Nikkor lens. It is still a beautiful lens, but it weighs 14 point something pounds, about double what an equivalent lens weighs now. I sold it and bought a 500 mm PF. Much better, but the quality of that 600 lens was outstanding. I have switched to the Z8 body, also.

Welcome to BCG! Try the 600mm f6.3 PF. At 3.1 lbs and with very high image quality, you will love it. I just used it for 2 weeks in Panama. Almost every image HERE was taken with that lens and a Z8.

 

[Doug Herr]

You know you are old when the subject of conversations is always about your aches, pains, and ailments.

Years ago my peers' conversations were about joints. Different kind of joints now.

 

[Maljo]

Yes, turning 70 in a week. I use the 600 mm f6.3 in place of heavier options. I still carry two bodies, the 14-24/2.8, the 24-120/4, the 100-400 zoom and the 105 macro everywhere. I am using a lighter but still stable tripod. Things do change with age.

 

[Ken Miracle]

Welcome to BCG! Try the 600mm f6.3 PF. At 3.1 lbs and with very high image quality, you will love it. I just used it for 2 weeks in Panama. Almost every image HERE was taken with that lens and a Z8.

Fantastic images Karen ! and yes @BarryM I came to the Z world from a D850 and D6 and the last lens I sold was a 600 f/4E and as you can see from @ButlerKid Karen's images you would amazed at what the Z600 f/6.3 will do in such an amazing compact package. I use it on a Z9 and Z6III.

Full disclosure my primary birding lens is a Z600 f/4 TC and yes better in low light and versatile by going to 840 f/5.6 with a flip of the switch but it is significantly heavier and larger to get that f/4 and built in TC and it is not for everyone. I think you would find with your Z8 and high ISO noise reduction in camera (surpising jpgs or Raw opened in NX Studio) and other options like advancements in editing software like Light Room Classic DeNoise AI you would be very happy with the Z600 f/6.3.