Two Hobbies, Two Thumbs

I love riding my horses and I love taking photos.   So here's the thing.   Over time, somehow or another, my thumb joints have become arthritic.   Not too bad on the right hand, very painful on the left.   Holding the reins, even lightly, requires use of the thumb.   Holding a camera in my left hand while shooting with my right also requires the thumb.   Did you know, if you're right handed, you use your left thumb for so many things?   Opening pickle jars because you have to hold the jar to open it. Worse yet, try opening a container of Talenti gelato!   See my point?  

 I like my Nikon D7000 but it's heavy with the 28-300mm lens, which is what I mostly use.   I don't know what it weighs but I can tell you, when I go out and shoot a couple hundred photos, I definitely feel it.   That is primarily why I'm looking at smaller cameras such as the a6000 I mentioned.   I realize it's a whole new system to learn, and I also understand from the countless reviews I've read and watched, Sony doesn't have a friendly system.   Sony does offer a great product with well thought out features.   Very fast auto focusing, 11 frames per second shooting, and many more.   The more reviews I watch on YouTube, the more interested I become.   

 My thumb hurts and I wear a support on my left hand almost all the time.   But I am not giving up my hobbies.   Or Talenti.   


Comments

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said…
I changed my heavy camera to a bridge one as carrying too much weight round my neck was not good. I also carry bins and a telescope and tripod but I am happy with what I can and cannot do with the new camera. That's is the secret - to be happy and content and to acknowledge that when our bodies change as we get older, we have to adapt to to change.
February 28, 2015 at 1:46 AM
Author R. Mac Wheeler said…
Never give up. I wear neoprene gloves. They heat helps the arthritis, and helps me grip my camera and tripod.
February 28, 2015 at 7:05 AM
Anonymous said…
I feel for you! I took have that problem and my left is worse than the right, but my bigger issue is the chronic pain in my upper back, left shoulder from a OTJ injury that makes hold a 'hundred' pound camera difficult and when I do, I pay for it later, big time. I looked into the mirrorless, full frame Fuji XT-1 and liked it a lot (much lighter weight), but a settlement from the state for my injury was less than I expected and I cannot justify spending the several thousand dollars to move from my Pentax K5 (and lenses) to another camera, so I just grin and bear it, at least for now.
February 28, 2015 at 10:05 AM
This N That said…
You probably are much more advanced than I am in the camera department. I had a Canon rebel with three auxiliary lenses. It broke. I took it and it's three lenses to the local camera shop and asked them if they had anything that would do everything this equipment would do. They sold me a Canon super shot DHS50x..I may have the numbers and letters mixed up but I have never been happier. I can take moon shots without a tripod. Look into it. It's smaller, lighter and user-friendly.my stepdaughter has a Nikon with all the lenses and she bought one of these I loves it.uses it all the time.you do take wonderful pictures.
February 28, 2015 at 5:02 PM
~Kim at Golden Pines~ said…
Great photo, your colors are really lovely and vibrant!! I take photos while I'm driving, which can be tricky too!
February 28, 2015 at 7:28 PM
Tabor said…
Aging is not for the faint of heart, but it looks like your readers have a number of good ideas and I am sure, with your passion, you will try them all.
March 2, 2015 at 3:19 AM
Florida Farm Girl said…
Oh, you lucky girl! Wildflowers in the spring are priceless. Hope the new camera works out for you. I understand about the joint pain.
March 3, 2015 at 9:00 PM
Daryl said…
i feel your pain but i am a lefty who uses her right hand for almost everything .. thanks to a left handed aunt who taught me all her right handed mother taught her ..yup thats what happens when a righty teaches a lefty ...

i hold my iPhone with my left hand and press the 'shutter' with my right .. my right hand ungloved gets very cold ...

i do the same with the big camera .. someone put the shutter on the right ... i wonder if everyone left or right handed adjusts to this easily ...
March 6, 2015 at 6:57 AM
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