Average age of BCG members?

[Wade Abadie]

I thought it would be interesting to get an idea of the average age of the members here on the forum. If you would like, feel free to post below with a little background info and how long you have been into photography.

I'll start with myself:

I am 36 years old and began getting interested in photography about 19 years ago while working on a ranch during the summer of 2005, before my senior year of high school. I started with simple "point & shoot" type digital cameras, and it wasn't until 2012 that I purchased my first DSLR (a Nikon D5100). However, it was in 2015 on a trip to Alaska with my girlfriend (who is now my wife) when I started to get serious about truly learning the art. Since then, I have educated myself any way I can on the technical aspects and artistic styles of wildlife photography, which is now one of my biggest passions. It is a never-ending learning experience for me, and I don't believe anyone ever "gets it all figured out".

 

[Ralph]

I thought it would be interesting to get an idea of the average age of the members here on the forum. If you would like, feel free to post below with a little background info and how long you have been into photography.

I'll start with myself:

I am 36 years old and began getting interested in photography about 19 years ago while working on a ranch during the summer of 2005, before my senior year of high school. I started with simple "point & shoot" type digital cameras, and it wasn't until 2012 that I purchased my first DSLR (a Nikon D5100). However, it was in 2015 on a trip to Alaska with my girlfriend (who is now my wife) when I started to get serious about truly learning the art. Since then, I have educated myself any way I can on the technical aspects and artistic styles of wildlife photography, which is now one of my biggest passions. It is a never-ending learning experience for me, and I don't believe anyone ever "gets it all figured out".

I’m 71 years old. Got interested in photography when I was a teenager. I started out on an old Ricoh rangefinder which was given to my dad who gave it to me. When I started my first real job I bought a Konica T4. Great camera. Became interested in Bird photography while working as a sea going tech for NOAA . That was in 1979. Graduated up to Canon F1 in 1980. After marriage , life gets in the way but maintained my interest in bird photography. When the digital camera age hit, I purchased all-in-one digital cameras but put buying a dSLR on hold until I retired from teaching in 2015. Bought my first dSLR in 2019, the D500.

 

[KimM]

Im 67. I started with a Minolta camera and offered photography and doula services for women during birth in the 1980's. I picked photography back up in 2015 and enjoy landscape, mammals and bird photography. My real love is birds. Heavy gear pushes me to exercise regularly so that I can tote it across the globe.

 

[Charles Loy]

I am 74 years young. Kodak sent me one of their Polaroid style cameras for free, at 17 y/o. Why I got it I have no clue, it just arrived via mail (try explaining that to mom, she would not let up). I used it for a couple years and dumped the hobby. Only to return with a Pentax K1000 at 26 y/o. Couple years later I acquired a Nikon F3 and have used Nikon since.

 

[Doug Herr]

... I don't believe anyone ever "gets it all figured out".

^^^ this! ^^^

I started in high school in the late 1960s, bought a used Nikon F, borrowed a 300mm f/4.5 Nikkor-P and in 1971 made my first wildlife photos during a UC Berkeley field workshop led by David Cavagnro and Ernest Braun.

hummingbird & scarlet paintbrush, Ansel Adams Wilderness California 1971

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American Pika, Ansel Adams Wilderness California 1971

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I then bought my own 300mm f/4.5 Nikkor-H

White-tailed Kite, Palo Alto California 1971

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Snowy Owl, Humboldt County California 1974

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Bullock's Oriole, Contra Costa County California 1974

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I spent a few years in the US national parks taking any job that included days off and $$ for more Kodachrome. When the Nikon's light meter failed irreparably I switched to the Leicaflex SL & 400mm f/6.8

Black Skimmer, Everglades National Park 1979

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American Goshawk, Denali National Park Alaska 1980

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Career and family slowed my photographic efforts for a few decades but Sony's mirrorless technology and fewer family responsibilities coincided; here are some of this year's favorites
#32

 

[Rogereh]

I'm 78. Been taking pictures since the 60"s

 

[RikWriter]

Wow, we're some old bastards, aren't we?

 

[Patrick M]

Early 80’s with a Minolta 7000 but a 20 years work break until my wife bought me a Nikon D70 and bang, 20 years a much ££££ I’m still trying to!

 

[Whiskeyman]

I'm 63 years old. Started out when about 4 or 5 YO, my grandfather let me take some family shots with a Brownie Hawkeye (120 mm, I believe) which I used for one roll, cutting the heads off of nearly every one of my subjects. Since then, I've had an on-again/off-again/now on-again relationship with a plethera of image making devices. Work and family responsibilities take most of my time these days, so my time with a camera is limited, but every second of it is enjoyed, even if it is frustrating at times.

 

[dabhand16]

I got my first camera in 1954, a Kodak Browie Cresta and I still have it!

A while later I also got a box Brownie. First 35mm camera was a Kodak Retinette 1b in around 1959 and first SLR, a Pentax SV in 1965. I bought that in Wallace Heatons in Fleet Street, London. Anyone remember their Blue Book? I PXd my Kodak Rettinette 1b for it and now I regret doing that.

This served me well including getting me an image that earned me a lot of money from Kodak that bought me an Olympus OM-2 SP and two Tamron Adaptall lenses in 1984 or 1985, a 24-70 and a 70-210. Yes - this means I used that Pentax for around 18 years! These lenses could fit any camera brand as Tamron sold adaptors (a clue in the name!) for any camera brand. There were not so many brands around back then. When I went full frame digital, the first lenses I bought included a 24-70 and an 80-200! I then dabbled with medium format with a Rolleicord 5b and a Bronica ETRS. I still have all of these cameras too.

I went digital in around 2002 with a Nikon Coolpix 885 compact, bought as it had manual controls. 3 megapixels was the sensor size and the CF card was 8mb - yes MB! When I took it to Italy I knew I needed a bigger card so saved up for a 128mb card that cost me £90! 2006 saw my first dSLR, a Nikon D70s, a D300 arrived in 2008 and a D700 in 2010.

My Nikon D810 came along in 2015 (px'd my D70s) and in 2018 I bought 3 cameras! First a Fuji XT-1 to dip my toe into the mirrorless world. I loved it when it was released as it reminded me so much if my Beloved Pentax SV. I loved it so much I sold it in 6 months, but only as I fell over an XT-2 at a price I could not resist that someone bought as a 2nd/spare camera but other than checking it worked OK, had never used it! At this time I had 2 Fuji lenses, an XF 18-55 and an XC 50-230. Then I added a Nikon D850 to my kit, px-ing my D300. I swore that the Fuji was going to be just a travel/lightweight/take anywhere camera with 2 lenses and I was not going to build another kit.

Hah! In the next couple of years I acquired two manual focus Samyang lenses, a Fuji 35mm lens, a flashgun, replaced the XC 50-230 for an XF 55-200 and some other bits and pieces and in 2020 I added an XT-4 (D810 sold to finance the 1st XT-4) followed in 2021 by a Fuji 70-300 (PXd my Fuji 55-200) and a Fuji 10-20. Then I px'd my beloved XT-2 for another XT-4 taking advantage of a Fuji promotion offer.

Recently I've bought a couple more flashguns for the Fujis as they were at a price I could not resist, and I do use flashguns quite a lot, mainly in daylight as fill flashes, but occasionally for portraits. I've got use of a 4 head studio kit for the serious studio stuff, and 4 flashguns for the Nikon kit from when I used to do interiors for a local builder.

After my getting the Samyang manual focus lenses for my Fujis I realised that there was a whole world of cheap manual focus lenses out there - vintage lenses! I was using these lenses in the last century when they were not vintage lenses!! Now I have about 33 manual focus vintage lenses that cover 19mm to 1000mm if you count the 2x TC for my Tamron SP500.

I dabbled with a Sony a7ii for six months exclusivly for my vintage manual focus lenses (could not stretch to a good used Z6 back rhen and the Z5 was still too new) but sold it when I got my Z6ii. I was well fed up with using 3 systems and batteries. The Sony was better with manual focus than the Z6ii though..........

Earlier this year I got a Fuji XH-2s and sold one of my XT-4s to finance a mint Nikon Z5 with only 1600 clicks that is now waiting for an IR conversion.

So my Fuji Kit now has 2 cameras, 11 lenses and 3 flashguns. I got fed up with waiting for a Z8 and got a Z6ii and have 8 F and Z lenses so the Nikon kit has a Z6ii and a Z5. I

I also have an adaptor that allows all of my Nikon lenses that have AF motors in the lens to autofocus on my Fujis so I do have a choice of 17 lenses to use on the Fujis

This is at December2024.

 

[jeffnles1]

I started photography in the late 1970's with a Minolta XG-7. It was around 1978 or 1979. I had several "instant" type cameras before but my first decent camera was that Minolta. In early 1980's (around 1984 plus or minus) I switched over to Nikon after the Minolta suffered a fall. My first Nikon was the FE2. Then career, family, took priority and photography went to the back burner. Around 2010, I started getting interested in photography again and bought a Nikon D5000. Shot several Nikon "D" cameras ending with D500. About 2 years ago (in February) I switched to Mirrorless and now shoot Canon. (EOS R7)

I am old, retired, my son is married and they just blessed us with our first grandchild. For a while, "gramps" duties will most likely take priority over photography but not to the extent career and family back in the 80's, 90,s and early 2000's

 

[Whiskeyman]

I started photography in the late 1970's with a Minolta XG-7. It was around 1978 or 1979. I had several "instant" type cameras before but my first decent camera was that Minolta. In early 1980's (around 1984 plus or minus) I switched over to Nikon after the Minolta suffered a fall. My first Nikon was the FE2. Then career, family, took priority and photography went to the back burner. Around 2010, I started getting interested in photography again and bought a Nikon D500. Shot several Nikon "D" cameras ending with D500. About 2 years ago (in February) I switched to Mirrorless and now shoot Canon.

I am old, retired, my son is married and they just blessed us with our first grandchild. For a while, "gramps" duties will most likely take priority over photography but not to the extent career and family back in the 80's, 90,s and early 2000's

Jeff, those "gramps duties" should include photography of your grandchild. You'll likely take more time for it than the parents will be able to.

 

[Replytoken]

Wow, we're some old bastards, aren't we?

Reminds me of an old family story about my uncle, who was strong as an ox, served as a sailor in the navy in WWII, and had his share of "adventures". During his seventies or eighties, he was walking down the street one day and someone said something within earshot about him being a dumb, old man. He turned around, walked up to the guy, and asked him who he was calling old? I can accept being called a bastard, but who you are calling old?

Let's hope we are all having this same conversation 10 years from now!

--Ken

 

[Ralph]

I started photography in the late 1970's with a Minolta XG-7. It was around 1978 or 1979. I had several "instant" type cameras before but my first decent camera was that Minolta. In early 1980's (around 1984 plus or minus) I switched over to Nikon after the Minolta suffered a fall. My first Nikon was the FE2. Then career, family, took priority and photography went to the back burner. Around 2010, I started getting interested in photography again and bought a Nikon D500. Shot several Nikon "D" cameras ending with D500. About 2 years ago (in February) I switched to Mirrorless and now shoot Canon.

I am old, retired, my son is married and they just blessed us with our first grandchild. For a while, "gramps" duties will most likely take priority over photography but not to the extent career and family back in the 80's, 90,s and early 2000's

Congratulations. It’s a great time.

 

[GregT943]

This poll is shaking out how I thought it would. I'm 38 years old, and I rarely see anyone my age or younger with a camera that isn't a cell phone or vlogging/gopro type camera, especially if it's a photography tour group.

 

[Wade Abadie]

I have enjoyed reading all the responses so far! My wife and I have two young children (ages 4 and 1) so I certainly understand the time constraints involved with parenthood that many of you speak about. Realistically, I’m lucky if I get out twice a month to do wildlife photography, so I have to be very intentional when I do. I am envious of the folks that are able to go out several days per week! My oldest seems to be genuinely interested in my photos though, so I’m hoping there are some opportunities to get her involved one day.

 

[Larry S.]

I’m 71 years old. Got interested in photography when I was a teenager. I started out on an old Ricoh rangefinder which was given to my dad who gave it to me. When I started my first real job I bought a Konica T4. Great camera. Became interested in Bird photography while working as a sea going tech for NOAA . That was in 1979. Graduated up to Canon F1 in 1980. After marriage , life gets in the way but maintained my interest in bird photography. When the digital camera age hit, I purchased all-in-one digital cameras but put buying a dSLR on hold until I retired from teaching in 2015. Bought my first dSLR in 2019, the D500.

….nice journey…..and your D500 continues to serve you well.

 

[Doug Herr]

... My oldest seems to be genuinely interested in my photos though, so I’m hoping there are some opportunities to get her involved one day.

Homepage - Girls Who Click

photo by Alli Smith What We Do Girls Who Click empowers females ages 13-30 to enter the male-dominated field of nature photography and use their work to further conservation efforts around the world. We aim to inspire a new generation… Read More Homepage

girlswhoclick.org

 

[Wade Abadie]

Homepage - Girls Who Click

photo by Alli Smith What We Do Girls Who Click empowers females ages 13-30 to enter the male-dominated field of nature photography and use their work to further conservation efforts around the world. We aim to inspire a new generation… Read More Homepage

girlswhoclick.org

Thanks for sharing! I will have to keep this bookmarked to look into when she’s old enough!

 

[JamesFarrell]

77

 

[Larry S.]

Senior alert.. 76 and not feeling it. Began as hobby to document places, events, friends and family. In 1968 I receive an unwanted government invitation to a party in S.E. Asia. There I bought my Nikon Ftn at a CanTho PX for $204. In 1970 that was a month’s salary. Sold the Pentax and still regret it. I quickly developed a passion for what is now called “street photography”. I could go into villages a take pictures of people and how they lived. And later recall the experiences with my photos. It was a very bad time for this country. This picture of a young village woman catching rainwater from a roof in a bucket is special to me. Taken with the Nikon Ftn and ektachrome and digitized w/D850 a couple years ago….

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This experience bonded me to my camera. I wanted every frame to capture a fleeting moment or expression that would be lost and forgotten. But it just doesn’t happen that way. Returning to Virginia I became more interested in landscape photography and had been processing my B&W film for years. Fast forward to 1989 and building a house in mountains next to Shenandoah National Park. Animals everywhere, especially black bears! I turned my cameras to what seemed like an endless supply a photogenic subjects. I was seriously hooked on wildlife photography. And still am…

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1966 startMinolta SR7>Asahi Pentax Spotmatic>Nikon F>D100,200,7000,750,850(2),500,Df,Z9/8/Zf….2024 finish. Kept the Nikon F for sentimental reasons and maybe a foolish adventure with ektachrome down memory lane. Use the 3Z’s and one remaining D850.

 

[jeffnles1]

Jeff, those "gramps duties" should include photography of your grandchild. You'll likely take more time for it than the parents will be able to.

I am pretty sure I've already taken more photos than my son and daughter-in-law combined. He turned 1 month old yesterday.

Hopefully in a couple years, he can go on our wildlife and nature photography adventures with us.

 

[ajrmd]

"I will not make age an issue of this thread. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience". Camera drop.

 

[jeffnles1]

This poll is shaking out how I thought it would. I'm 38 years old, and I rarely see anyone my age or younger with a camera that isn't a cell phone or vlogging/gopro type camera, especially if it's a photography tour group.

I think there are a few reasons.
1) career and family take priority as the younger folks are establishing their place in the world.
2) this may be bigger than number 1 these days but it is the cost of entry.

Middle/lower end new body is going to cost between $1,000 and $1,800
one of the wildlife zooms is going to cost close to $2000/
Another few hundred for a wide angle if the person wants to get some landscapes.
Let's add another $300 - $400 for incidentals like spare batteries, some case or backpack to carry stuff around, strap or harness system.
Add another $200 if the person wants to do any flash photo work.
Let's call it another $300-400 for a halfway decent tripod and another $150 for the ball head


I'm already at about $4,500 and there are other nice to have things I've overlooked.

Not a whole lot of young persons with families have that kind of disposable cash laying around that can be used to buy toys. Us old geezers have already raised our families, and maxed out our careers and are at a place in life where we might as well spend it on fun toys or we will spend it in the nursing home later.

Jeff
[edited to correct spelling error]

 

[Tom Reynolds]

Hello kids. I am 83.5. I started Nikon, then a variety of ultra-light film cameras for hiking the California Sierra, then Olympus 5050 for underwater, then Nikon again underwater with a D-200, then birds with a D-7200 and D-500 and now OM Systems.

Tom