gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

What is it with weight? Unless you're physically impaired there's no reason to be always looking for lighter gear. Tired of carrying it around? Get in better shape. I'm 73 and in poor shape but have no problem carrying my D7000 and 18-200 zoom around when I go out and about. Shifting from one hand to the other isn't difficult. I like the inertia of the weight when I get it up to my eye to take a shot. Verticals are a bit problematic but I could solve that with more exercising and muscle tone. End of rant.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Happy for you!

jrcarpe Loc: Jacksonville,AR

Great comment.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Sorry Sir: My Nikon D810got to heavy for this 87 yr old. Traded for Fujifilm XT-2.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

That’s a fairly light rig.

Add a vertical grip and an 80-200 2.8 and it becomes more clear.

I’m almost 62 and in pretty good shape but I picked up an 18-200 for the weight savings.

D7200, MB-D15 grip and 18-200 are a breeze.

The 80-20 f2.8 or 300 f4 not so much.

cdayton

I would have agreed when I was a mere kid of 73, but 10 years later with some mobility issues, I am more sympathetic to the weight issue (although I still primarily use my D300 and P900 but occasionally “borrow” my wife’s much lighter D5200).

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

That’s my take on it too. However, I have a shooting buddy that is 80 years old, and she wants to lighten her camera load. I don’t blame her. When I am her age, I may think and feel the same as her. My current film rigs would wear her out. I carry much of her gear when we shoot tigether. I will hold off judgement, until I become her age. My approach to gear may very well change too, when I am in my 70’s and 80’s.

Just do whatever works for you.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

I hear you.

I still bring out the F4s but the weight difference is quite apparent.

Nancysc

I'm an out of shape old girl who is still mobile, and I hate carrying a heavy camera all day. I am planning a trip to Morocco in November and just sent in my Nikon D60 and two lenses for sale to KEH and will get an Olympus micro 4/3 and a couple of lightweight lenses for the trip. Will order now so I can be fluent with the new rig well before the trip. A camera and two lenses that are easily carried in a frou-frou tote bag attract less attention than a big rig in an "steal me" padded camera bag. I had Olympus OM-2s's (two bodies, several lenses) back in the film day and missed the feel of metal and the compact size. It's not a matter of being in or out of shape, but just how much dragging a heavy bag around all day annoys you.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

Totally agree gvarner, for a short walk - but when I take a 55 lb backpack with the food for a week,
then I look for a lighter bridge or mirrorless camera.
Cheers!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm with you. As you stated, unless one is physically handicapped, quite whining. I regularly carry a 4x5 with film, lenses, and film holders. Total probably weighs 40 pounds (18Kg). I never think about the weight, only the photos I'm going to take. Taking just a 120 camera or digital is a breeze. Oh, yeah, I do workout, but not excessively. When out and about with a 35mm or digital camera, I hardly realize I'm carrying one.
--Bob

wayne barnett Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon

rmalarz - case looks just like the one I have - no camera darnit but film holders and slides. Was a great camera to shoot with - gave great negs. Yes, when younger we would carry around 40 plus pounds of equipment. Do not know if it made us better photogs but it kept us grounded.

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

Coming up on 79.
I carry a D5 with a lens (24-70, 70-200, or 200-500). I don't use a neck strap, I carry the camera in my hand. When I need my hand for some other purpose I bend my left elbow and stick the lens in there and hold the camera that way. (The lenses not on my camera are in a sling bag on my back along with another body [camera body, that is]). I can do that all day.

I am lucky. I had a desk job for 40 years but in the last 30 years I was physically active and kept in reasonable shape. Now that I'm retired I try to keep my shape reasonable (it's sometimes tough, but necessary). I've seen too many people retire and sit on their butt. They don't last long.

I see a lot of people who don't even try to keep themselves in shape. Yes, it takes some work.

I understand there are people that are not able to do it. I am not an expert in the field, but I think that with a little work you can improve. It's best done earlier in life than later, so all you young whippersnappers out there -- do something to keep yourself in reasonable shape. It will pay off when you're older. It's worth the investment of time and effort. Don't wait.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

This is not whining - just stating a fact. At age 70, there is only so much weight I can lug on a multi-mile birding "walk" {which sometimes includes climbing which requires that my hands be available} with my wife, and I adjust what I carry to be consistent with that.

added: and I don't see any point to carrying more than I need