I feel like it's just a case of taking their big expensive toys out for a spin in a safe environment that is directly related to their gear, albeit generally not the usual end purpose, maybe meet up with old mates and chat about their gear. Most of them don't look like they care what people think and that's sound.
Get a 500/600 and just sit in the corner or at the top of the Fujifilm tower 
"dirty Mac brigade" ye there's always that element
I thought that was good too and made me wonder about this forum and its demographics. There were a lot more women there than I remember from previous years and many with cameras and engaging with the stalls, not just keeping an eye on their partner's wallets.
always been the same when ive been, made me wonder why in heavens name
You could for example take it to test it on one of the new cameras... Just saying
One reason for not getting younger photographers on the forum may be because their age group generally don’t do forums and are more in favour of social media apps. They’ve more likely to be involved in the likes of Facebook/Instagram/TikTok for sharing and discussing photos they take (generally with phones and not ‘proper’ cameras. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of the latest app, Be Real, that’s going around the younger generations. It’s an interesting development to stop the ‘highlights reel’ produced by most social media sharing.
Think that applies even more so to photography clubs, they are seen as very old fashioned, quite often rightly so.
I agree about youth and I think TP might well be the sort of place that people come to later in life, like country pubs vs night clubs. However that doesn't explain the lack of women and ethnic minorities on here.
Yet again kicking Camera Clubs based on non-factual information. It is surprising that the 27% of TP members continue to take this.
Yet again being the spokesperson for every club in the country.
So where are you claiming these facts come from? You mentioned invisible and old-fashioned. I can see that all of the Photography Clubs in the Midland Federation have web sites and have done so as long as I can remember. In what way are they old fashioned? Surely that is just a personal opinion by you. I am not saying that clubs have lots of young members and many other clubs of various types are having difficulty in attracting younger people.
But only at weekends
But only at weekends
I think we have a fairly good handle on it and there is a lot of very "blokey" stuff posted on here which is what some people are here for and probably puts others off, we will never know.
There's a non photography section for those topics, nobody is forced to read them though, TP is a community and having a separate section where off topic issues can be discussed can only be a good thing in my opinion as it means that the photography sections aren't overloaded with the subjects you're complaining about. Personally I avoid the political section as it seems like a left wing love in but it works for many members.From what I've seen over the last few years, there's a lot more of this than there was and a lot less photography talk too. It most certainly puts me off and is a reason I'm spending less and less time on here.
If I wanted to read about politics, football or religion or any other non-related crap I'd go to a forum that specialised in that. I wish those that do, would.
I'm all for disagreements and good debate - that's healthy, but this is supposed to be a PHOTOGRAPHY forum after all.
As for the rest . . .
Following COVID many clubs are in financial difficulty so it is expected some will fold which is sad. One of the issues is that far from fearing to use the internet, many settled into using Zoom and now will not get out of their armchairs. While we are back meeting live, we will be offering some Zoom sessions particularly with international speakers. Most members have come back, and we seem to be attracting new members still.
Prices indeed got better for some items, and that was rather unfortunate for me. I got what I really should not get and I just hope the business case I had in mind works out for it somehow; R6 is really not an enjoyable piece of kit
Paid £0.00 for all three days. Shame diesel is so expensive
Could it be they were dropping the price as it was last day and they were trying to get rid of old stock rather than ‘pro’ prices?
Wandered around this morning for a couple of hours as I’m local. Busy with too many old blokes dragging cameras around with bloody great lenses on them and huge back packs on.
That's usually the case especially if they don't want to ship it all back to the warehouse
Well, last time I looked the photography sections were full of photography threads.From what I've seen over the last few years, there's a lot more of this than there was and a lot less photography talk too. It most certainly puts me off and is a reason I'm spending less and less time on here.
If I wanted to read about politics, football or religion or any other non-related crap I'd go to a forum that specialised in that. I wish those that do, would.
I'm all for disagreements and good debate - that's healthy, but this is supposed to be a PHOTOGRAPHY forum after all.
As for the rest . . .
They can generally be what you want them to be. If you want to look at stuff it’s all under one roof and you can spend hours walking around the different manufacturers looking and trying it. There are various talks going on too. I normally plan my day there around the different talks I want togo to and then look around the stands between the talks.
Yes.....thought it was only still there because of the odd size which I happen to have....do you use yours much?
I think we are beginning to see changes. But maybe they have to have time to filter through?