elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I'm posting this under "photography" since the weight of a camera seriously comes up far more often with the advent of mirrorless DSLR. And I understand that. But here's a point I'd like to make.

Ten years ago, when I taught and also broadcasted at a local radio station, on one day, I arrived an hour early. The station was on the campus of a local college, with silk smooth private street. So I brought my roller blades, and enjoyed myself before going into the building. I carried them into the studio, to a shocked announcer, 15 years younger, who ask "were you really skating on those?" Yes, was my response. He replied with "I know I'm too old to be skating on roller blades, and you certainly are too old to do that!"

To him I asked: "Did you buy a book on AGES, where each chapter tells you what you can do and can no longer do? And you believe what you read?"

As we grow older, we should not be in a super hurry to stop doing what we enjoy doing, from skating and from carrying a DSLR that we've carried for years earlier. Yes, I've stopped climbing a 20 foot ladder to clean gutters. But instead of using a snow shovel, I now use a snow blower. I'm in no hurry to give into "Mother Nature", only because others might suggest we should. Keep doing what you enjoy. My doctor reminds me that us "older folks" naturally grow weaker with our upper body muscles, and we should actually use those muscles more than before. I think of that every time I pick up my 5DII with it's battery back.

Let's exercise more, not less.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

👍👍👍👍

kpsk_sony

I actually find it "easier" carting around my SONY DLSR when its attached to a tripod. Must have something to do with leverage.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I just carry my gear, I don't think of how heavy it may or not be.
Carrying the bag cross-shoulder helps reduce the fatigue.

sabfish

We are all different and age differently. Genetics and lifestyle are the principle drivers. Some have arthritis and other disabilities, even though they have lived healthy lifestyles, including getting regular exercise. As we age, it is sensible to make adaptations that ease our passage into old age. If carrying a heavy camera works for you, great. Others may find it aggravates a rheumatic shoulder or other body part. If carrying a lighter camera makes it easier and less pain free for them to continue a hobby they enjoy, that's terrific. A prescription for one does not fit all.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

photoman43

I bought a well used baby jogger for $5.00 at my church thrift shop. The seat was ripped, (the reason for the low price) but my camera bag fits into it and the frame perfectly. Now I can cart my stuff by pushing a three wheeler instead of having it on my back or shoulder.

Or I could trade in everything I just get a new Nikon Coolpix 950!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The message of this OP is positive and thoughtful re mental attitude. User sabfish relates some of the reasons that people may not have a choice in the physical changes they've had to make as they age. It's all good.

Zooman 1

Age is something we all face. But, how we handle it varies from one individual to another. At 76 I am planning to head to north central Minnesota in about 10 days for winter bird photography, something I did not do when I lived in Minnesota 25 years+ ago! I do look for lighter gear including moving from DSLRs to mirrorless. Have had both shoulder joints replaced, so weight does figure into what I can carry. Still will take whatever I feel I need for photography.

Just my ramblings!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

At 80 I am starting to have joint issues, particularly my left shoulder. But I go to the gym to try to keep the joints moving so they don't lock up. I carry my camera in my right hand most of the time (probably around 6 lb with lenses and other stuff -- another 15 lb of lenses and stuff in the bag which I carry sometimes). Gave up on shoulder straps many years ago. I view it as part of my exercise program. Went to a 3 day event in December and carried the camera and bag the whole time.

OTOH, when I went on a cruise for 2 weeks I took the iPhone instead of the DSLR. It did the job for the scenery. Not fine art, just a reminder of the trip. I did miss the DSLR when it came to indoor or evening shots where the light was not good.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Thanks for bringing this up Elliot. I am a spry 76. My kids Son and Daughter keep challenging me with
are you alright. Don't do that Dad.

A couple of weeks ago a good friend and business partner at times had a 3.5 min. music video and industrial company wanted to do with it's employees. And they were a good client with 32 plants across the US. So we went on a monday. Scouted main office in PA for places to shoot this skit with a song and he
told me they didnt want a crew etc. 20 scenes of employee's in different places in an office building.
Singing a pop song to be somewhat synched for a National Sales Meeting. Monday we scouted and shot
on Tues. I was moving 2 lights. Improvising shots in boring spots. and directing the action. Oh and I was the DP told them it would be run and gun hand held which I do a lot of running and sports events.
I use a PXW X70 10 bit sony camcorder rigged. Sony makes some excellent doc cameras.

It was not easy as a director/camera I let it happen the way they wanted. Then gave them a rough
cut by the end of the shoot week. And then the corporate set in and they liked my approach but
politics and nitpicking of a bunch of reviewers made the edit intense for 8 rounds of changes.
This is not the way to do this. But today is cheap and fast and good. We don't have a big budget.
The video is a success. Their were still a few changes to titles etc.

Why wouldn't a 76 year old not be able to do this. My wife worries. My daughter worries.
My son in FL continually says to me shooting my star soccer player from the sidelines
sit down Dad. Are you alright. Are you too warm. Drink some water.

You can do what you do as long as you can do it.

Now a too heavy camera like my Sony mirrorless a7sII video rig with a cage monitor and audio is too heavy to hand hold for a long time. I prefer the small pro camcorder which is really great for busy work.

My former Nikons and DSLR's loved them are way to heavy loaded with a good lens.

If I am shooting run & gun of a triathlon or running event I use a monopod to shoot live action.
For interesting angles I hand hold. And quick interviews the monopod hiked up to my eye level
so I can see the shot and ask a question. You can hike the monopod with a camera in the air
for high shots of the action. Yes i have a drone. Get someone to shoot aerials for jobs.

I was at a multi camera shoot of a TV chef lady making 13 shows for public TV. I am the
consultant for them for years. their were 4 cameras on sticks. And the only guy who got
tired was the guy with the hand held jib rig that he said was heavy but some of the best shots.
Yes I do stills and rip screen grabs off of high quality HD video too.

Weight depends on what you are doing and where you are going.
It appears today that our society is writing off some of the best talent and intelligent
business and creative people because it is a young coder internet world.

My apologies for this being long but wanted to share experiences and approaches.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Good points! But to me a tiny little camera weighs nothing anyway (for exercise got to start lifting a couple hundred pounds or so)!

Scottty Loc: Portland,Oregon

A big improvement for me was to use an across the body strap. Like a Black-Rapid. Once I got the weight off my neck I could walk for hours and feel fine. Might not work for everyone but for me it was a game changer.

User ID

Lighter smaller gear doesn't necessarily
lighten the loaded weight of your bag. It
just allows you to carry a more versatile
outfit ... same bag, same weight.

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

Next time the kids suggest you cant do something, announce that maybe you should move in with one of them.