back alley
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in another thread 2 of us older shooters talked briefly about 'minor mobility issues' and it got me thinking.
my own mobility issues have altered my shooting habits/style...changed what i carry and even what i buy, now choosing gear base on size and weight rather that pinpoint accuracy.
so technique and gear and style...what else? any other 'mobility' shooters out there? what do you do, what sort of changes have you made or are thinking about making?
should be enough of us geezers to make for a decent conversation.
my own mobility issues have altered my shooting habits/style...changed what i carry and even what i buy, now choosing gear base on size and weight rather that pinpoint accuracy.
so technique and gear and style...what else? any other 'mobility' shooters out there? what do you do, what sort of changes have you made or are thinking about making?
should be enough of us geezers to make for a decent conversation.
charjohncarter
Veteran
I don't walk a mile from my car carrying my Pentax 6x7, two lenses, and a tripod anymore. And this one is hard for me, I like medium format but I am gravitating to 35mm more just for the ease of shooting.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
The reason I went for my first Fuji digital was precisely that my Nikon D700 is a heavy monster and I wanted something lighter in view of my bad ankles. I had one replaced (surgery to replace the other will take place in August 2018), but even after selling the X100 I got an X1-Pro for the same reason: lighter than the Nikon.
I also stopped traveling with my 35mm Summilux chrome: it made my Leicas unexpectedly heavy. Now I carry my Zeiss lenses with, black or chrome.
So, there's my mobility issue.
I also stopped traveling with my 35mm Summilux chrome: it made my Leicas unexpectedly heavy. Now I carry my Zeiss lenses with, black or chrome.
So, there's my mobility issue.
zuiko85
Veteran
Well, I'm geezerish I guess, at 68 years. But I've always appreciated lightweight equipment. I purchased the OM system as soon as I could afford it, early 1974, before that I hauled a couple of Pen F bodies and about 3 lenses around. So, compact and light have always appealed to me. Now with a paunch and sore back it means even more. Still have that original OM by the way, a pre 'md' body. Been repaired twice and still works, except for a dead meter.
Meter....meter! We ain't got no meter. We don't need no stinking meter!
Meter....meter! We ain't got no meter. We don't need no stinking meter!
Moto-Uno
Moto-Uno
After a trip to the sweltering humidity of Asia last year, I was beginning to question the
wisdom of bringing my Bronica Etrsi with an extra lens in a shoulder bag . BUT , the better
pictures were a delight to view , even on a simple light table ! Next time I'm bringing a Mamiya 7 , çuz as long as I can , why wouldn't I ? Remember it only hurts for a while , but big slides are damn near forever . Peter
wisdom of bringing my Bronica Etrsi with an extra lens in a shoulder bag . BUT , the better
pictures were a delight to view , even on a simple light table ! Next time I'm bringing a Mamiya 7 , çuz as long as I can , why wouldn't I ? Remember it only hurts for a while , but big slides are damn near forever . Peter
f16sunshine
Moderator
Hard to beat a Rolleicord when it comes to image quality:weight ratio.
CMur12
Veteran
I turn 66 this month and I have back problems. Even so, I'll walk a modest distance with a TLR (even a Mamiya C330f) mounted on a tripod, with the legs extended for waist-level viewing, carried over my shoulder.
What I won't carry is a camera bag hanging from my shoulder. That really seems to throw me off, as does a camera hanging from my neck. Instead, I'll carry a few accessories in jacket pockets or I'll wear a photographer's vest with pockets for gear.
In years past, for travel and when I lived in other countries, I carried a compact fixed-lens RF camera (Olympus 35RC, Vivitar 35ES, or a Canonet GIII 17 QL), which was perfect for those circumstances.
- Murray
What I won't carry is a camera bag hanging from my shoulder. That really seems to throw me off, as does a camera hanging from my neck. Instead, I'll carry a few accessories in jacket pockets or I'll wear a photographer's vest with pockets for gear.
In years past, for travel and when I lived in other countries, I carried a compact fixed-lens RF camera (Olympus 35RC, Vivitar 35ES, or a Canonet GIII 17 QL), which was perfect for those circumstances.
- Murray
lynnb
Veteran
When I go for a walk nowadays the biggest camera I like to carry is a Barnack, usually with just the one lens; otherwise it'll be a Rollei 35S or an XA. Occasionally a folder.
It used to be a 5D and a bunch of lenses in a big shoulder bag, but no more.
It used to be a 5D and a bunch of lenses in a big shoulder bag, but no more.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Edward Weston said that anything worth photographing will be within 100 yards of the car.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
For me, I used to carry a bag with two Canon F1 bodies and about 6 lenses. Now days (I'm 62) it's like the song: One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer! I carry one camera, one lens, one me! And, actually, I enjoy my photography much better this way.
Big Ursus
Well-known
77 next month, and even my Fuji X-t2 is heavy with a big zoom attached, but the main problem, as my father warned me, are my knees. Dam hard to get low, or even to switch angles!
Paulbe
Well-known
The lighter the better! Sometimes the iphone is the best carry camera. We were in New Orleans recently, and for three days I didn't carry a camera--just the phone. It was very freeing--I actually saw stuff I hadn't seen on previous visits--and didn't feel the need to take a photo--at age 74, things are changing.....
Paul
Paul
Dogman
Veteran
Oh, the good old days. As a younger man, I could hike around national parks using a 4x5 with 4 lenses, a dozen loaded film holders, plus a Leica with a couple of lenses, accessories and a big heavy tripod and seldom feel the strain.
That was then.
Today, I'm a fat old man with spinal stenosis, multiple arthritic joints and various other health issues that have been limiting more and more activities each year. Equipment changes have been gradual but most recently have been necessitated by my physical condition as much as my photographic needs. Currently, I'm mainly using Fuji mirrorless gear with an occasional delve into Olympus M4/3 and a Ricoh GRII. All small, lightweight equipment. I have some APS-C format Canon gear that I really should sell since it has been sitting idle now for over a year. It's doubtful I'll ever use the heavier stuff again.
For the last year, I've been pretty restricted to shooting close to home. Hopefully, this will begin to change with an upcoming surgery that should allow some mobility improvements. Medical science is sorta amazing these days. Oddly enough, the restricted activities over the last few months have led to some of my best photos. At least I think they are. While travel can inspire, the familiar can also lead to good work if you are able to see the potential.
That was then.
Today, I'm a fat old man with spinal stenosis, multiple arthritic joints and various other health issues that have been limiting more and more activities each year. Equipment changes have been gradual but most recently have been necessitated by my physical condition as much as my photographic needs. Currently, I'm mainly using Fuji mirrorless gear with an occasional delve into Olympus M4/3 and a Ricoh GRII. All small, lightweight equipment. I have some APS-C format Canon gear that I really should sell since it has been sitting idle now for over a year. It's doubtful I'll ever use the heavier stuff again.
For the last year, I've been pretty restricted to shooting close to home. Hopefully, this will begin to change with an upcoming surgery that should allow some mobility improvements. Medical science is sorta amazing these days. Oddly enough, the restricted activities over the last few months have led to some of my best photos. At least I think they are. While travel can inspire, the familiar can also lead to good work if you are able to see the potential.
Kenj8246
Well-known
^^ I just 'hit 70', as Carlin said, and I still want to make the short hike to Artist Point in Yosemite with the 4X5, 4 lenses, a dozen loaded film holders, etc. Was gonna try it when I was there this October but the park was smokey and the clouds were nowhere to be found. Maybe next time.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
77 next month? Me, too. My shoulders are still OK, and I can walk with a fully loaded Domke F6, Think Tank Retrospective 5 or 6 for 20 or 30 minutes before I need a rest. A small camera backpack works even better for me, but I still need that rest. I do tend to bring along a bit less these days, leaving behind the bigger and heavier lenses. And I can do a lot with nothing more than my Fuji X100.
cz23
-
My best recent discovery in this regard is the small backpacks with side access. I comfortably carry weight that would be bad news with a shoulder bag. And have access like a sling bag.
If and when things really get dire, there's the GR.
John
If and when things really get dire, there's the GR.
John
back alley
IMAGES
have we run out of geezers?
Swift1
Veteran
I'm not a geezer yet (I'm almost 38), but I have ALS and I'm confined to a power wheelchair. I have been continually adjusting my gear and shooting habits for the past 10 years as I have become weaker and weaker.
Being in the powerchair means that basically 100% of my photography is done from the street or sidewalk... the plus side being that I have a $25000 powerchair to carry my gear, so weight isn't a problem. Right now my go everywhere kit includes a FED 2 w/Jupiter-8, a Zorki 4 w/Jupiter-12, a Widelux F7, and a Rolleiflex 3.5F.
Being in the powerchair means that basically 100% of my photography is done from the street or sidewalk... the plus side being that I have a $25000 powerchair to carry my gear, so weight isn't a problem. Right now my go everywhere kit includes a FED 2 w/Jupiter-8, a Zorki 4 w/Jupiter-12, a Widelux F7, and a Rolleiflex 3.5F.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Joe,
At almost 60 I'm getting there.
Last year adopted a rescue dog and basically gave him 13 months before I had to put him down. I would do it all over again, but in the meantime I lost a lot of strength, stamina and my youthfulness for the sake of Beagle-Face.
So I bought a baby Linhof that weighs about 7 1/4 pounds rigged to shoot. There is pretty good reason why here in NYC you don't see Linhof's in the wild, but I figure it is like a free gym membership shooting a Linhof. One thing for sure is that walking around with a Linhof is like being a tourist attraction.
I mentioned to Christian that people on the street might have a first impression that anyone carrying a Linhof around NYC might be a little crazy, and Christian's response was, "Their first impression might be right."
The baby Linhof is almost as heavy as a gallon of milk, and the way I carry it is cradled like a baby in two hands. I walked from East Harlem into the Bronx via Randel's Island. Like carrying a baby I had to walk slow but the weight I felt tighten up my abs.
Still trying to stay young and fit. Been hitting my gym lately to lose 5 pounds of flab and replace it with 5 pounds of muscle. I'm still around my fighting weight at 152 pounds at 5'10."
Cal
At almost 60 I'm getting there.
Last year adopted a rescue dog and basically gave him 13 months before I had to put him down. I would do it all over again, but in the meantime I lost a lot of strength, stamina and my youthfulness for the sake of Beagle-Face.
So I bought a baby Linhof that weighs about 7 1/4 pounds rigged to shoot. There is pretty good reason why here in NYC you don't see Linhof's in the wild, but I figure it is like a free gym membership shooting a Linhof. One thing for sure is that walking around with a Linhof is like being a tourist attraction.
I mentioned to Christian that people on the street might have a first impression that anyone carrying a Linhof around NYC might be a little crazy, and Christian's response was, "Their first impression might be right."
The baby Linhof is almost as heavy as a gallon of milk, and the way I carry it is cradled like a baby in two hands. I walked from East Harlem into the Bronx via Randel's Island. Like carrying a baby I had to walk slow but the weight I felt tighten up my abs.
Still trying to stay young and fit. Been hitting my gym lately to lose 5 pounds of flab and replace it with 5 pounds of muscle. I'm still around my fighting weight at 152 pounds at 5'10."
Cal
Darthfeeble
But you can call me Steve
I've gone to not using a bag at all, mostly I'll just carry the camera. The heaviest camera I carry is my M9 and it's being left home more and more. I've gone to the fuji XE3 and the 18mm lens and that's been my constant companion since it arrived. How much helium will it take to give neutral boyancy to a Mamiya RZ67? Anybody know?