How young is everyone?

Not much surprise, in the largest group being the one is the largest fraction of Baby Boomers.

Wilt wrote in post #19421537
Not much surprise, in the largest group being the one is the largest fraction of Baby Boomers.

Only ones who can afford a real camera like a point & shoot, dSLR & mirrorless.

Unreal cameras like smartphones do not significantly draw users to any and all photo forums.

dolina wrote in post #19421541
Only ones who can afford a real camera like a point & shoot, dSLR & mirrorless.

Unreal cameras like smartphones do not significantly draw users to any and all photo forums.

I don't know that affordability is the primary consideration...not with dSLRs in the Rebel class, under $1000, and median hourly pay in US at about $16, means that is less than 1.5 week's pay

The failure to understand the limitations of smartphones, with inherent shutter lag and lack of lens interchangeability for optimal shooting under different shooting situations, may have something to do with it. I had to point both issues out to a son-in-law who was debating with himself about getting a mirrorless with interchangeable lenses...he got the mirrorless ultimately. Trying to shoot photos of his oldest son playing school sports via a smartphone made him realize its shortcomings. And convenience (not willing to carry something not compact and multipurpose) is a strong driver, too.

But his household is the only one of four siblings that has a camera other than a smartphone, and all have kids in school and high school!

Wilt wrote in post #19421543
I don't know that affordability is the primary consideration...not with dSLRs in the Rebel class, under $1000, and median hourly pay in US at about $16, means that is less than 1.5 week's pay

If Americans can stop spending on their physiological needs for less than 1.5 weeks but typically they do not.

It's a discretionary expense for enthusiast.

99.9% of all camera purchase relates to recording life events of loved ones, family, relatives, friends and possibly even co-workers. Smartphones are exceedingly capable in doing that.

What's more you can amortize the expense on a monthly basis of a smartphone over a 1, 2, 3, 4 or longer contract year contract. That's $45.79/mo for a $1099 smartphone over a period of 24 months? That's less than 3 hours of work per month to pay off the hardware + service.

Once the contract is done the telco will "push" a new $1,099 smartphone your way.

By comparison 0% interest of a max of 12 months from BH Photo appears to me is the most generous option in the US to buy a camera

I've been eyeing the $5999 Fujifilm GFX 100S medium format body for ₱329,990 12% VAT inc but we do not have that sort of financing. If there was a way to pay ₱6,874.80/mo for the next 48 months then I'd go for that.

Wilt wrote in post #19421543
The failure to understand the limitations of smartphones, with inherent shutter lag and lack of lens interchangeability for optimal shooting under different shooting situations, may have something to do with it. I had to point both issues out to a son-in-law who was debating with himself about getting a mirrorless with interchangeable lenses...he got the mirrorless ultimately. Trying to shoot photos of his oldest son playing school sports via a smartphone made him realize its shortcomings. And convenience (not willing to carry something not compact and multipurpose) is a strong driver, too.

But his household is the only one of four siblings that has a camera other than a smartphone, and all have kids in school and high school!

That is very very valid points and I agree with all of them.

Other than the financials another challenge here is the photog's willingness to spend & carry

- ~1kg body
- >1kg lens(es)
- >1kg bag
- ~1kg laptop

If I had my 1st born in the mid 2000s I'd strive for

- full frame body
- 16-35
- 24-70
- 70-200

Then upgrade every decade rather than the latest & greatest

When income permits eventually move up to a medium format to get better image quality than any smartphone with an image sensor the size of a paper hole from a paper hole punch.

Wilt wrote in post #19421543
I don't know that affordability is the primary consideration...not with dSLRs in the Rebel class, under $1000, and median hourly pay in US at about $16, means that is less than 1.5 week's pay

The failure to understand the limitations of smartphones, with inherent shutter lag and lack of lens interchangeability for optimal shooting under different shooting situations, may have something to do with it. I had to point both issues out to a son-in-law who was debating with himself about getting a mirrorless with interchangeable lenses...he got the mirrorless ultimately. Trying to shoot photos of his oldest son playing school sports via a smartphone made him realize its shortcomings. And convenience (not willing to carry something not compact and multipurpose) is a strong driver, too.

But his household is the only one of four siblings that has a camera other than a smartphone, and all have kids in school and high school!

In today's world Smart Phones can cost up to $1800 or more $$$$

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19421556
In today's world Smart Phones can cost up to $1800 or more $$$$

iPhones are $429-1,599.

It makes it affordable if you go on a 3-4 year or longer postpaid phone plan.

Best camera you can ever own is the one with you always.

There are flagship Android smartphones with periscope lens that allows for longer focal lengths in a smartphone chocolate bar form factor. It provides a 5-10x optical magnification.

Thus addressing the limited zoom range of smartphones that is typically wide & standard zoom.

I just hope the iPhone 14 being announced 2 weeks from now will have this so when I get the iPhone 15 it was refined further

dolina wrote in post #19421558

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19421556
In today's world Smart Phones can cost up to $1800 or more $$$$

iPhones are $429-1,599.

It makes it affordable if you go on a 3-4 or longer postpaid phone plan.

Best camera you can ever own is the one with you always.

Very true, I ALWAYS have my Cell phone on me, seldom do I have my 90D with me

Samsung Galaxy Z

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19421560
Very true, I ALWAYS have my Cell phone on me, seldom do I have my 90D with me

Samsung Galaxy Z

To be fair to dSLRs & mirrroless it forces you to exercise when you bring them with you.

Imagine adding 10kg (22lbs) more weight onto your back... your cardio workout will increase!

When I was birding from 2009-2019 I was at my tip top shape without going to the gym as I was forced to carry 20kg (44lbs) of gear with every weekend & holidays.

If I ate clean via whole food plant-based diet my body fat would be <20% before the 2020s.

That Android's more expensive than a Hong Kong-sourced 2016 EOS 5D Mark IV!

dolina wrote in post #19421561

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19421560
Very true, I ALWAYS have my Cell phone on me, seldom do I have my 90D with me

Samsung Galaxy Z

To be fair to dSLRs & mirrroless it forces you to exercise when you bring them with you.

Imagine adding 10kg (22lbs) more weight onto your back... your cardio workout will increase!

When I was birding from 2009-2019 I was at my tip top shape without going to the gym as I was forced to carry 20kg (44lbs) of gear with every weekend & holidays.

If I ate clean via whole food plant-based diet my body fat would be <20% before the 2020s.

That Android's more expensive than a Hong Kong-sourced 2016 EOS 5D Mark IV!

There is no way that now at my age that I could ever carry 20 ibs let alone 44 lbs! WOW!!!
I do not understand the HK pricing in comparison to the USA $$$$

dolina wrote in post #19421561

price is Canon HK unit warranty

price is grey market unit with possible (not guaranteed) in-store warranty

The quotes above while I am typing this I do see they do have URL links but they are not clickable.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19421610
There is no way that now at my age that I could ever carry 20 ibs let alone 44 lbs! WOW!!!
I do not understand the HK pricing in comparison to the USA $$$$

The quotes above while I am typing this I do see they do have URL links but they are not clickable.

I agree. I wouldnt be able to carry that much weight either if it werent for a well designed backpack that was provisioend to distribute weight to key parts of the body so even when it is heavy you remained balanced.

https://www.price.com.​hk/product.php?p=23439​9

dolina wrote in post #19421460
I was trying to think of a way to reconcile [this poll and the older similar poll]. Do I ask for a merge or something else?

Per an admin's recent post in another thread, POTN doesn't have the capacity to do merges. Per me , the two polls couldn't be combined anyway, since one of them uses birth years and one uses ages. You can still comment on what each version contributes and what, if anything, has changed in five years.

In general, changing a poll after votes start to come in would invalidate the results. All voters need to have considered the same set of choices.

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I am 54 years old (not 54 years young).

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19421701
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I am 54 years old (not 54 years young).

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Just turned 55 on the 26th.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19421701
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I am 54 years old (not 54 years young).

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jcothron wrote in post #19421702
Just turned 55 on the 26th.

You two are just children.... I am 72

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19421712
You two are just children.... I am 72

72. I wish I were that young again. Although, you are probably still shooting. It has been five years since I was out, thanks to my heart problems.