what is the average age of folks on this site? I reckon about 57?

-- Craig (craigsmith@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002

Answers

Interesting question. From some of the responses lately I would say 12. Actually I am 53 years old.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), January 28, 2002.

I'm 32.

A very talented 32 by all accounts,riding the famous Isle of Man TT mountain circuit at the age of 13! And I'm a plumber?

-- phill (philkneen@manx.net), January 28, 2002.

Hello Craig. I'm 48 ..and have used Leica from age 16.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

43.3333 so far

-- Craig (craigsmith@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

It matters not.

By the quality of some of the recent responses I would say about 11. The sophmoric posting/reply activity of the past month or so is bound to happen. I just don't think it's possible to have a public forum where people are always demonstrate common courtesy and restraint. It has never been possible before has it? I suppose we all want to be heard.

Like anything else for public consumption, if its ignored long enough it eventually dies.

It is unfortunate.

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

I was asking out of interest Jeff,what was that all about?

-- Craig (craigsmith@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

Twenty-seven.

-- Luke Dunlap (luked@mail.utexas.edu), January 28, 2002.

I'm a whole 23

-- Kristian Dowling (Kronik) (leicashot@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

I am 58.I think and behave like a much younger person!Its been a problem.My same age friends want to sit on rockers and i want to travel if not to the stars,at least all I can do now!!! I cant wait to get up and get out there in case I miss something. I think all artists need to see the world like kids..like for the 1st time.Tomorrow nite off to Fetish Masquerade! Sorry NO cameras!

-- jason gold (leeu72@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

I'm 43... will be 44 in April. Not too many shopping days left, so get moving. I'm registered at Tamarkin's. ;-)

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), January 28, 2002.

Getting older and older... 24 .

-- leonid kotlyar (kotlyarl@mail.nih.gov), January 28, 2002.

47 going on 28. But then again, some days it feels like I'm going on 68...

;-) Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 28, 2002.

Craig-

It was nothing personal. My apologies if I offended you. I'm 41.

-- jeff (debontekou@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

20 tomorrow. Ugh. Getting old. :P

-- Ken Kwok (kk353@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

Its not the years, its the mileage. But if it were just the years, 33.

-- Marke D. Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

How did you know I'll be 57 in March?

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@metrocast.net), January 28, 2002.

This is an extremly mean question, but I try to be honest: my age is 56 yrs but my relationship to the LEICA-camera is more than 30 yrs old ...

So: which counts more?

I´am af0raid, your 57 guess is more or less spot on! Which puts you close to a extremely good photographer.

Best regards

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), January 28, 2002.

Hello,

An even 50.

-- David Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), January 28, 2002.

Hi, Craig:

Will you post your statistical conclusions once you have enough answers (how many will be enough . . .?) ?

My contribution: 54 until July the 27th

Regards

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), January 28, 2002.

I'm in the same age group as the youngest of the "whipper-snappers" in the Magnum Agency.

So I guess that means I'm doing something wrong!

;-)

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

18 with 33 years experience.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul@chefurka.com), January 28, 2002.

Hey Ivan , is it me , or does your link lead to my self portrait ?

leonid

-- leonid kotlyar (kotlyarl@mail.nih.gov), January 28, 2002.

Craig: I am 46 years young and a Leica convert for the past four years after 35 years of Nikon F, F2, F3... (8>))--Albert

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), January 28, 2002.

I'm just over 27. Getting old... ;-(

-- Alexander Grekhov (grekhov@wgukraine.com), January 28, 2002.

Right now I'm 47, but this morning I could have sworn I was 67, UGH!!!:-(

-- ron snyder (studio1401@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

53 in a couple of weeks.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

Next month I will celebrate my 29th birthday. As I have done for the past 18 years.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

twenty nine

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

Many lifetimes.....and.....

-- Emile de Leon (knightpeople@msn.com), January 28, 2002.

49.

"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years."

Abraham Lincoln

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

32 and counting, Leica user since I was 24

-- Philip Woodcock (phil@pushbar.demon.co.uk), January 28, 2002.

I'm 56. Being younger than your estimated average makes me feel pretty good for a change. I suspect your average will change, however.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), January 28, 2002.

I'm immortal. I only exist in pictures.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), January 28, 2002.

Coming 48. Been using Leica since 1973...one year before my wife was born.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

Just turned 44 this month (got myself Leica 10X25 Binos from Delta International for a birthday present:)

Handled my first leica when I was about 25, bought my first leica (a used M3 system)when I was 38.

I have a feeling the average age at this site is about 10 years younger than you guessed.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), January 28, 2002.

5yrsold

-- grant (g4lamos@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

I'm 61 and I have been using Leica M cameras for over 35 years.

-- Jay Goldman (goldman@math.umn.edu), January 28, 2002.

I am 48 years and ONE DAY old. My birthday is 28th January.

-- tom tong (tom.tong@ckh.com.hk), January 28, 2002.

53, going on about 25.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), January 28, 2002.

Forty-nine (the site software wouldn't let me put "49"!!)

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.

39 dreading 40, which strikes in two months. a present -- motor drive, 135mm, etc. -- might make the blow easier to bear.

-- Gulley Jimson (gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

Turning 30 in about 4 days... but it is only my body, not my mind!

-- Toan Nguyen (toan.nguyen@videotron.ca), January 28, 2002.

What a shame that youth is wasted on the young. 53 in March.

-- Pat Dunsworth (pdunsworth@aryarch.com), January 28, 2002.

57 in April - just average, really :-)

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

38, but has the back and knee of a 65. Handled an M at 12 (Dad's), finally bought one at 33. Mind leaves the body once in a while to the edge of the universe. Hasn't lost its way back, yet. Happy belated birthdays to all who's had theirs in the last few days:) Happy shooting.

-- Steven Fong (steven@ima.org.sg), January 29, 2002.

Am not born of this Earth and so never will die. Always was and will always be. My mind has no beginning and no end. But my heart is a childs heart. Wondrous beauty everywhere........

-- YIp (koklok@krdl.org.sg), January 29, 2002.

Forty years young! :-) So what's the average age?

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

39, just caught the tail end of the Year of the Tiger.

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), January 29, 2002.

23, and 24 in 11 more days! Leica user since since February 2000, with many more years to come...

-- Badris (badris@mac.com), January 29, 2002.

The original Star Trek series first aired 5 days before I was born. I used to watch it, wonder what it would be like in the year 2000, and noted that I would be the same age as Capt. Kirk was in the series. Y2K is when all the aches and pains started manifesting themselves, and that I actually had to train before jumping on my bike for a 100 mile weekend, etc.

It's gotten better now, and I now realize the serenity and wisdom that come with age (which, y'know, I don't waste around here! ;-) and look forward to more of it.

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

42 hard years

-- chris chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 29, 2002.

I'm 41 just one year older than my M3 - but inside normaly just a big boy!

-- Kaj Froling (kf@draupnir.dk), January 29, 2002.

42 inside and out

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 29, 2002.

47, same age as the Leica M3 and the Fender Stratocaster.

-- Raymond (Dawglab@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

I'm 53, photography since 1964, Leica since 1975. Cheers Y'all

-- Ronald Wills (youngdeer@earthlink.net), January 29, 2002.

36 years human; 22 years photography; 8 months Leica;

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), January 29, 2002.

55 ... M4 since 1971 /Lars

-- Lars Kristensen (krislars@algonet.se), January 29, 2002.

Actual 62. but varies between 20 and 90+. Leica user since age 18. Collector since about age 30. Still stick to my trusted M3 and 111g Have 'small' website if anyone interested http://www.mysite.freeserve.com/leicaenthusiast Regards to All, David

-- David Seaman (Lincolnshire,England) (david@leicam.freeserve.co.uk), January 29, 2002.

Hey ! Big Bro ! I'm a silent Observer

25 yrs""""""""""""""

-- ChonG Liu (doctorpuchong@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I'm 47, born in 1954 like the M3. I've been an M6 users for 18 months, but still have the manual Nikons. DC.

-- Dave Carlisle (dave_carlisle@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

XLIII

-- Jim Shields (jim.shields@tasis.ch), January 29, 2002.

Hi, Leonid:

Sorry, I thought my picture was me. Post your own and lets have the forum decide who is who.

Regards !

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), January 29, 2002.

I fit your average exactly.

-- Robert Marvin (marvbej@earthlink.net), January 29, 2002.

1 year old. Leica age.;)

-- Travis koh (polar@cyberdude.com), January 29, 2002.

I'll be 38 in two weeks. This makes the average (excluding immortals,the first average, 5-year old and Startrek reference) 43.7 years. In Leica-time I'm only 2 months. But hey, I'm 20 in medium format!

-- Peter Olsson (peter.olsson@lulebo.se), January 29, 2002.

34, and glad to be among the younger folks here.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), January 29, 2002.

I'm 78+++, and started with a IIIc in 1945. Old age just ain't for sissies! < grin >. Using an M-4 (with M2 viewfinder masks) and an early M6 - - - when I can pry it out of my 75 year old spouse's greedy fingers. Biggest problem for both of us was developing cataracts (now gone!) that really cut down on our ability to focus and compose.

-- George C. Berger (gberger@his.com), January 29, 2002.

Hmm... I was born on the 4th of July, 1957. A year old Leica convert and 2 years FM2n user.

-- edgaddi (edgaddi@msn.com), January 29, 2002.

I am told that the Leica Standard was

My Mum said that the Leica IID(chrome version) was introduced to mark my birth.

-- James Harper (drjh@btinternet.com), January 29, 2002.

Please delete line one of my previous post. Line two is the correct quotation (memmory going).

-- James Harper (drjh@btinternet.com), January 29, 2002.

I'm 31,... seems the average age is still around 42.8 years old..

-- Andy Wijono (andywijono@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

59-Leica user since 1960 (IIIf), currently M-2 and M-6. If you work at using them, they work for you.

Pushing the average up I guess.

Cheers

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), January 29, 2002.

I am about same age as first Leica M3 camera (born in 1953 right?) How Leica will celebrate Leica M 50 years anniversary next year?

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), January 29, 2002.

Hi, Preston:

Don't worry. To be amongst the younger folks here is something that time will certainly cure sooner than later.

I had the same problem time ago but it's gone now with no effort on my part.

Just wait.

Regards !

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), January 29, 2002.

36 and still confused...

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I'm 15 years old.I have been using an old Leica M4-2/35mm f2,which I worked for long and hard,I think I washed about 6 million pots to buy it!

I've been a Leica photographer for 6 months.

-- Chad Reasley (Chadreasley@msn.com), January 29, 2002.

OH NOOOOOOOOO! This sends my average right down Chad!

-- Craig (craigsmith@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

Yes, Ivan, "Time's winged chariot [is] drawing near." Thought I could just walk slowly . . .

Cheers!

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), January 29, 2002.

I'm 74.Always feel guilty on this group as I prefer SLR's. Please don't flame me. Started in'45 with a Luftwaffe 3C for which the previous owner had no further use. Being a retired airframe driver,I don't have a great deal of disposeable income. Use an SL and an R4. Pete

-- Pete Harvey (nnn0lmt@worldnet.att.net), January 29, 2002.

Mr. Harvey:

Do you have any prints from your early days as a photographer? I'd love to see them (regardless of the camera!).

Regards,

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), January 29, 2002.

55.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), January 29, 2002.

Exactly Peter Olsson's calculated average.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), January 29, 2002.

age 25 years

-- Chris Lutz (mesheca@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

Boring average as always...42

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 29, 2002.

i'm 27.

nirvana lead vocalist kurt cobain died at the age of 27. the doors lead vocalist jim morrison died at the age of 27. guitar god jimi hendrix died at the age of 27.

ha. ha.

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I am 31. I started as a photographer at age 11. So I have 220 years of experience, dog years at least.

I am surprised at all the 18 to 35'er out there. makes me feel that Leica is attracting the younger generation as well as the older.

Happy thoughts everyone.

-- Rob Schopke (schopke@attbi.com), January 29, 2002.

44.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), January 29, 2002.

I'm 53.Bought nikon FM in 1975,then EM,F3,N90.I bought Leica M6 in 1993 with 35 and 50 cron,and added m3 with 24mm asph last year.Since then i sold n90 and autozoom lens.Now my favarite len is leica 24mm f2 asph.Amazingly sharp len.

-- raymond teng (rteng@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

Happy Birthday to all:-) I'm 56 and counting. M3 with scummy collapseable cron since 99. Love it.

Regards to all.

Alan Purves

-- Alan Purves (lpurves@mnsi.net), January 30, 2002.

72. Leica M's since 1960; Leica R's since 1992. Occasional flirtations with 4X5 and Nikon.

-- Jack Matlock (jfmatlo@attglobal.net), January 30, 2002.

48 at the end of this week, photographing since 1980, using Leica M's (on & off)since 1985 & now using a M6TTL as my primary camera...

-- Ken Prager (pragerproperties@worldnet.att.net), January 30, 2002.

47, with two M-6's (Classic and Black Paint) currently in hard use. First Leica an M-2 at age 16. Many M's and R's between then and now, and, despite some quirks in the R-3 to R-8 era, I've loved them all!

-- John Layton (john.layton@valley.net), January 30, 2002.

I now have the distinction of having two birthdays. One tells the world that I am 58 (and having used Leica M's for 44 of these years) and the other one indicates 3 months+. That was the day I got my Stemcell Transplant and was told by the oncologist "regard this as your new birthday". - He gave me a clean bill of health a week ago and with some physio I will soon be back to carrying at least 3 M's and assorted lenses without a sore back. - Life does throw you a curve-ball now and then, but in general it is great! Tom A

-- Tom Abrahamsson (TTAbrahams@aol.com), January 30, 2002.

Tom congrats with your 3+/12 with many more to come!

I'll be 60 next week. That makes 41 M years for me. My Dad is buying himself a new lens for his M6, for his 94th bday coming up soon.

-- Hans Berkhout (berkhout@cadvision.com), January 30, 2002.

Do not know what are the rules here, but since Craig did not post the average age until now I try it:

It is just under 49 yrs so far (48,7)!

Not too bad after the initial 57 guess. But our younger friends like Chad R., Ken K., Leonid and Kristan D. helped a lot to get to this figure down.

Best wishes

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), January 31, 2002.

ERROR!

Before others calculate: the steps between my two desks were too much for my 50 odd yr. old brain:

The figure was 45 yrs not 49! (44.88 to try to be exact once more)

Now I know why I switched to the LEICA R camera. Have to think less when I leave the M at home.

Sorry for this confusion.

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), January 31, 2002.

OK, I will help raise the average. In chronological years, will be 63 in April. As a Leica user, am celebrating my first birthday now. I'm in the minority here because I prefer the R8. What a great camera and lenses! (Before last year, I used N**** slr's for 30+ years. BUT I have seen the error of my ways and will not repeat my transgessions again!) Good shooting. LB

-- Luther Berry (lberrytx@aol.com), January 31, 2002.

49 and holding.

Steve

-- Steve Belden (otterpond@tds.net), January 31, 2002.

3 years older than the oldest M3

-- Tom Bryant (boffin@gis.net), January 31, 2002.

40 in regular years. 80 in "forum moderator" years! :-)

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), January 31, 2002.

I'm 50. The answers do make a good point. Most of us die hard Leica fans are an older generation (at least in years if not spirit). I do think Leica has not done enough to attract a new generation of Leica users. Or maybe the availability of auto-everything cameras makes it very difficult to interest young photographers in an auto-almost- nothing manual camera. But Leica definitely needs to attract new blood. I was "sold" on Leica when I was in high school!

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), January 31, 2002.

47 going on 21. Introduced to the world the same year as the M3.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), January 31, 2002.

K. G. Is that average age the median or the mean? Median might be more meaningful in this survey (1/2 of us older, 1/2 younger).

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), January 31, 2002.

Andy, don´t know about that. I did not not use any specific statistic formula, I´am a simple engineer.

But just from counting: Out of 73 participants 33 were younger than the resulting average (total yrs 3,276 +/-...........hint: the roman thing I figured as 58).

Good shooting

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), February 01, 2002.

My driving licence says I'm 38, my bones feel 60, and in my mind, I always want to be 25.

-- Fred Sun (redsky3@yahoo.com), February 01, 2002.

Born in 73 july. I'm not so good in mathematics!

-- Kris Kiszely (kcris@freemail.hu), February 09, 2002.

I am 40 and I still need no glasses

-- Marios Andreou (aqualeo@cytanet.com.cy), April 23, 2002.

I'm 55 today - 23rd.April. Just had birthdaycake with the family and it's off to a restraunt at 7pm. Like to join us? "Old blue eyes"

-- Tim Gee (twg@optushome.com.au), April 23, 2002.

Hey Tim! Congrats. And as they say here "All the best for the next 55". I'm workin' on it myself. Mike

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), April 23, 2002.

I grow old...I grow old...

I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), April 23, 2002.

47, but who's counting?

-- adam lang (aglang@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

49 creeping up on 50.

50 is the age at which Bilbo set off on his adventure, and also the age at which Frodo set off on his adventure.

50 is the age at which the Harry (the Steppenwolf) intended to commit suicide, but found enlightenment instead.

Joe

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), April 24, 2002.