Average age of BCG members?

[ButlerKid]

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 doing 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

So very true! I worked for 31 years in a high pressure management job that required 50-60+ hrs each week and on-call on weekends. I literally had NO TIME to think about watching TV programs in the evening or doing photography other than the 2-3 weeks of vacation I got each year.

 

[Abinoone]

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".

Your scale doesn't go high enough. I can pretty well predict the results - skewed heavily at the geezer end.

 

[jeffnles1]

So very true! I worked for 31 years in a high pressure management job that required 50-60+ hrs each week and on-call on weekends. I literally had NO TIME to think about watching TV programs in the evening or doing photography other than the 2-3 weeks of vacation I got each year.

Karen,
Sounds like we had similar corporate world experiences.
I was a project manager for a global company in the IT industry. Same here, 60 hour high stress weeks under deadline and budget pressures was the norm.

Retired now and don't miss it a bit. Right now the biggest stress in my life is if I am going to try to change my grandson's diaper before my son and daughter-in-law pick him up or if I get even for all the poopy diapers I had to change on my son.

 

[TurtleCat]

This will be a clue for some. My first camera I owned was a Kodak Disc Camera when I was in 6th grade. My first decent film camera was a Samsung P&S with "fuzzy logic" in 2001. My first digital was some 0.9mp Ricoh in 2002. My first Nikon was a D50 in 2005. Lots of other cameras along the way and other brands as well.

 

[jeffnles1]

This will be a clue for some. My first camera I owned was a Kodak Disc Camera when I was in 6th grade. My first decent film camera was a Samsung P&S with "fuzzy logic" in 2001. My first digital was some 0.9mp Ricoh in 2002. My first Nikon was a D50 in 2005. Lots of other cameras along the way and other brands as well.

Young whipper snapper.

 

[TurtleCat]

Young whipper snapper.

Lol, relatively speaking maybe!

 

[Replytoken]

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.

I believe there are more of you out there. My nephew is now 40 and has two small children, but he got the camera bug a number of years ago and recently bought a 100-400 lens for some wildlife and BIF photography.

--Ken

 

[gaknott]

Became interested in photography at about 10 years old. Bought my first ‘serious’ camera, a Canon FTb while in the US Navy in the mid-1970’s. Switched to digital around 2012. Became addicted to wildlife photography around 2015-16. I love most forms of photography but wildlife and nature just won’t loosen their grip.

 

[Carmel Nikon]

My dad was passionate about photography, and bought me a Nikon FE in 1981 as a birthday gift (I still have it!). I waxed and waned in photography focus over the years, with an increasingly high pressure career, 3 kids, multiple moves, etc. I'm now semi-retired and got back into photography as a true passion two years ago, just in time for the dawning of mirrorless' golden age. I first tried bird photography 18 months ago and was hooked - now split my photography time between people/event (for friends/family) and wildlife (mainly birds).

I do think the general trend of more time/money available for photography (or any hobby) later in life is a real thing. I applaud and admire the younger folks here that have developed a photography passion, especially while growing up with cell phone cameras. In my younger days, there was no mainstream alternative to film for photography!

 

[Craig Yuill]

I figured the reported age would skew towards the middle-age and senior groups. But seeing 66-75 as the largest group (so far) is a bit of a surprise. FWIW, I am 60.

 

[GregoryG]

Turn 72 in less than 2 months. I started with a Pentax ME Super, and my first digital was a Nikon D80. Now all Z mirrorless.

 

[Micky]

I am 66 years old. As an architecture student in college, in 1977, I bought a used Nikon F from a local architect. He purchased it a few years earlier while in Japan. I used it while in college, taking some photography classes as part of my degree plan. Ansel Adams’ Zone System was interesting.

After college I did enjoy a low budget dabble in wildlife photography. Traded up to an FE and, eventually, and FE2. Got married, had kids, and photography was pushed to the back burner for years.

Fast forward to last year. I purchases a Z6ii, and a few months later, a Z8. Traded the Z6ii for a Z6iii, and have 5 lenses that should keep me happy.

I have some land with an abundance of wildlife that provide an unlimited opportunity for photography.

 

[Doug Herr]

"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.

Judging from the age distribution of this poll I suspect quite a few of us recall the original version of this quote.

 

[Tom Reynolds]

How many go back to the "Missel Gap"?

Tom

 

[PhilcTx]

I'm 38 years old, and I rarely see anyone my age or younger with a camera that isn't a cell phone or ....

From what I've noticed at least in my family is that the younger ones than me have little interest in camera's other than cell-phones. That and pickleball...

 

[Larry S.]

How many go back to the "Missel Gap"?

Tom

……hmmmmm remember a crazy person riding a horse through my village shouting someone was coming. He later became a silversmith I think. What’s a missel?

 

[Carmel Nikon]

Judging from the age distribution of this poll I suspect quite a few of us recall the original version of this quote.

I remember watching that debate live! After that line, I realized the election was decided. Not quite a "where were you during 9/11" moment, but memorable nonetheless.

 

[Lance B]

63.

Started with an Agfamatic 2000 Pocket 110 cartridge camera for my 13th birthday. Unfortunately, the photos were grainy and it didn't inspire me, but also had little money to devote to it. In the summer of 1980/81 (Australia southern hemisphere) I took the Agfamatic on a driving trip to The Whitsundays in North Queensland (about 2000kms, 1200 miles) with my then girlfriend, now wife, but the photographic results were not great. Purchased a Pentax ME Super when we got back and then got into it a little over the next couple of years, purchased a couple of lenses, shooting slides and reading photography books. However, still didn't have a lot of money as we were then engaged and saving for a house.

Purchased a Pentax Z 50P AF camera in 1994, an upgrade to AF and to photograph our kids growing up using a mixture of slide film and print film.

First digital camera was a Canon S30, I think from memory. It was good for the time but I wasn't impressed with the point and shoot format and I lusted after a DSLR type camera, which were in the making. In 2004, a Pentax APS C *ist D was introduced and a purchased one as I had legacy Pentax lenses. I got right into photography again and purchased many of the top spec Pentax lenses. A progression of Pentax APS C DSLR cameras and lenses followed over the next 6 years, but I wanted a FF DSLR and purchased a Nikon D700 in May 2010 and sold off all my Pentax gear.

A succession of Nikon DSLR's and many top spec Nikon lenses followed. A D7000 for birding as an adjunct to the D700. Then in 2012, the D800 came out making the D7000 superfluous, then the D800E, then D810, then D850 and a D500 adjunct to the D850. In 2018, the Z7, then Z7II, then Z9 added the Z8 and sold off my F mount cameras and lenses as Z lenses became available.

 

[Mal Paso]

Kodak Hawkeye, Argus C3, Pentax Spotmatic, Leica M2. Yashica Mat 124, Cambo 4x5, Bronica SQA. My first digital experience was a 256K Kodak/Nikon that put me off anything but point and shoot digital until the Nikon D810 then it was Z7ii and Z8.

Glad to see my group winning the poll! LOL

 

[Mark_Laidlaw]

36, been shooting for a living for 20 of them.

The only three things in life I know how to do is buck hay, shoot photos, and drink.

 

[fulltimewanderer]

My first camera was a Nikon 8008, first digital camera was a D100. Others that I’ve own; D300, D7200, D4, D810, D500, and a D850. Currently own 2 Z9’s. Since I’ve retired we have been full time RV’ers and work campers. We normally pick our work locations based on our interests. 2 summers up state Michigan, 1 summer in Jackson Hole, 2 summers in Livingston (Montana), 1 summer in Silt (Colorado), 3 summers (this year will be 4) in Cody (Wyoming), 2 winters in Raton (New Mexico) and 1 winter in Seal Rock (Oregon). So interesting and so many photo opportunities to be able to see during extended time traveling. Have been very fortunate to have the opportunities to explore and photograph the beautiful places in this country. Oh and by the way him 67 soon to be 68. Normal winter is spent in Florida (Zephryhills).

 

[seh]

Thanks for the poll and all the responses. I've wondered about the age distrubution but was too chicken to ask as I was concerned it might be politically incorrect to do so. I'll be 72 next month. My son got my 4 year old grandaughter a kid's digital camera for Christmas. It's pretty amazing, including video, etc. We shared time today teaching her how to delete poor shots. Who knows what the future holds?

 

[pomkiwi]

63 (not sure how that happened). Had a 110 Agfamatic in the 1970’s and still remember when every image cost real money only to find most were poorly exposed and otherwise not very good. To this day I still feel reluctant to delete any image that is not technically flawed and I’m sure that it’s a hangover from paying for developing them!
in the early 80’s I got a Minolta SLR and a couple of lenses which I used for landscapes mainly.
in 2002 I went digital with a Konica compact and returned to SLRs with a Nikon D50 in 2005. My first foray into wildlife photography was in 2006 on a family trip to South Africa but I didn’t really start taking it seriously until 2015 by which time I had moved to a D90 and then D7200.
Since then I’ve been lucky enough to have more time to devote to wildlife at home and abroad and after many years with a D500 moved to a Z9 via Z6ii.

 

[Len Shepherd]

Not a whole lot of young persons with families have that kind of disposable cash laying around that can be used

Jeff

Generally + 1.
I started with a Taron (not Tamron) film camera as a 21st birthday present.
It was another 10 years before I could afford a second lens.
61 years after getting my first camera I have a decent pension, the mortgage was paid off years ago and I have the luxury of being able to afford reasonable camera gea
My wildlife photographic peak was around age 40-55 when I could afford a trip a year to East Africa or the Falklands.

 

[Maurie_S]

Hi all,,
I'm in the over 75-dead section!!!
I'm 78,
I started "serious photography" about 5 yrs ago. starting with a Z6ii and a 200-500.
I have always been interested in birds, unfortunately as a very young boy in the U.K. I had quite an impressive bird egg collection. Just didn't know any better!
My interest in birds was rekindled when I worked in the Middle-East (Bahrain) as a engineer during the 80's . The numbers and varieties of birds, during the migration periods, between Africa and Europe was absolutely mind blowing!
I certainly wish I could revisit now with my present camera equipment!!
In 1990 we then bought a Dairy farm in New Zealand. Milking starting at 4.30a.m. then again in the afternoon/evening , certainly not conducive to anything other than head down/ harris up activities!
We sold the farm in 2018, so then I had time and some cash to start accumulating my present equipment .
I'm certainly enjoying still being able to get out in the field and occasionally getting some good images!
And being a very small part of the BCG community!