Touring - Camera, tripod, etc.

I know some people are just happy with the usual point and shoot camera... and for the weight and price, these are simply wonderful! Some might even tour without a camera, I did it myself on a couple of occasion.

However, I was wondering if some of you were into photography and were touring with biger cameras and tripods. I know that nowadays you can find very versatile cameras with fairly good lenses and even some with crazy zooms... they, of course, come with at a price. As for tripods, I find most of them bulky and heavy but they are certainly quite practical if you like photography. I remember seing some kind of clamp which can be use to mount a camera to almost anything (chair, handlebar, fence...). If I had an aero bar, I would probably use such a clamp to mount my camera on it once in a while (it would be a good way to make nice short movies too).

Anyone has some experience to share about touring photography? Not only equipment but techniques or ideas that worked well for you?

Last summer I realized that the best way to use my camera more often was simply to have it available at all time (e.g. in my handlebar bag)... I took more pictures and this in turns improve the likelyhood of geting nice pictures.

Well pre-digital days I've done rides carrying an film slr camera and lenses in a camera bag on top of the rack but I wouldn't do that now. No point.

First question is what photographic capacity do you wan't to take with you. Maybe it would be nice to have my 70-210 f2.8 APO with me but NO WAY am I going to lug that beast anywhere on a bike!

Digital slr's are getting lighter and smaller so carrying a Nikon D50 and standard lens/lens's may not be out of the question. Taking an ultra light tripod could be useful. With these tripods you NEVER use them unattended though. Always hold them down.

Also good quality compacts do take fine photo's. Twice I've attained silver awards in proffesional photographic competitions and both times I was using a 35mm compact with a fixed 35mm lens. My view with compact camera's is don't go for the do everything type but get one that has a limited, but top quality lens. The more zoom range they try to squeeze into diminutive zoom lens's the more the quality goes out the window.

I currently have a Sony DSC-P150 and its an outstanding small camera with a 7 MP sensor.

Regards, Anthony

The more zoom range they try to squeeze into diminutive zoom lens's the more the quality goes out the window.

It might be a weird question but appart from light restrictions (need to use a larger aperture, especially with a long zoom), how does it affect the quality of the picture?

It might be a weird question but appart from light restrictions (need to use a larger aperture, especially with a long zoom), how does it affect the quality of the picture?

Well lens design involves compromises in different area's and the greater the zoom range the harder it is to maintain a balance between all the different aspects of lens design.

Distortion is one factor. Big zoom lenses have whats called barrel distortion at the wide angle end and whats called pin cushion distortion at the long end. The bigger the range the harder it is to keep it together, paticuarly in compact lenses. Resolving power over the entire range is also a factor. Getting a nice sharp image involves focusing all the light entering the lens onto exactly the same point which is no mean feat and those ultra compact, long zoom lenses just aren't that good at it so the results are blurry and uninspiring.

Thats why my advise is always to get a camera that has a limmited range but high quality lens over a ultra zoom lens that doesn't realy do anything that well.

A camera is a tool and even the full auto, supposedly idiot proof camera's still requires skill and technique to use well despite anything a camera salesman or user manual say's. An ultra zoom lens will allow the user to get into technical difficulty but provide no assistance to get you out of it photographicaly speaking. IE realy slow apetures. A shorter zoom range lens won't allow you to get into such a technical hole and then has quicker apetures to boot anyway.

See, http://www.dcresource.com/ as my favorite review site on digital camera's.

Regards, Anthony

Perfect timing...
I'm in the market for a new point n shoot digicam with a short optical zoom but I'm having a hard time locating one with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Ricoh sells short zoom 28mm and fixed 28mm cameras but are not available in the U.S. Any sugestions?

One area where film still rules is slides. For 35-mm work, I usually pack a Kyocera/Yashica T5, which is a point-and-shoot compact with a Carl Zeiss Tessar f2.8/35mm lens. If I want to shoot rollfilm, I usually take a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV, a folding bellows coupled rangefinder camera with a Carl Zeiss Tessar f3.5/75mm lens. A tripod of some sort is a necessity when touring alone--how else could one take pictures of oneself posing with one's bike in front of some landmark? The Leitz tabletop tripod with the Leitz ball head is quite sturdy, relatively small, and does not require too flat a surface underneath (which can be a problem with many other tabletop tripods).

While I carry a Nikon D70 DSLR, I'm a big fan of Canon P&S digitals. Take a look at this one.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons80/ Make sure you scroll down and hit "next" (several times) on that page as they really go into depth on their full reviews. There are also user reviews.
And if that camera isn't your speed, you can stay on that site and find anything and everything out about what's out there or what used to be out there if you're shopping the used market.

Cheers,

Ron



Perfect timing...
I'm in the market for a new point n shoot digicam with a short optical zoom but I'm having a hard time locating one with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Ricoh sells short zoom 28mm and fixed 28mm cameras but are not available in the U.S. Any sugestions?

Perfect timing...
I'm in the market for a new point n shoot digicam with a short optical zoom but I'm having a hard time locating one with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Ricoh sells short zoom 28mm and fixed 28mm cameras but are not available in the U.S. Any sugestions?

The wide angle end is the achilies heel of digital camera's due to the small size of the sensor and they need obsurdly wide angle lenses to have the equivelent width of 35mm film camera's. (example: The 7.9 mm end of my Sony P-150 is only equivelent to 38mm) Its less than an ideal solution but you may need to purchase and use a wide angle adapter thats available for most compact camera's.

Here's one camera to consider, http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/kodak/v570-review/index.shtml The reviewer gives it a generaly favorable review but its image quality isn't its greatest atribute.

Regards, Anthony

I haven't gone on a tour yet (going on my first one later this spring) but I plan to bring my camera along. It is a Panasonic FZ30, a 12x optical stabilization zoom F2.8 at wide angle and F3.6 at full telephoto. It is a really nice camera, and while you can't expect dSLR quality from it, it still makes excellent images.
Since it is so compact (a bit smaller than a Nikon D50 with a small lense) while still having a great zoom, I think it will make a good "prosumer" travel camera.

I would recommend checking it out if you want more than a point and shot but don't want to bring along a SLR with lenses.


I would also recommend the Canon A610 for general use. It is fairly small, very easy to use, has lots of useful features (swivel LCD for example) and it takes AAs which would probably be very useful on the road because you can buy AAs anywhere.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

I can't wait to go on my tour, if only it were warmer out right now...

Here's one camera to consider, http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/kodak/v570-review/index.shtml The reviewer gives it a generaly favorable review but its image quality isn't its greatest atribute.

Regards, Anthony

Thank you for that link! That 23mm fixed is nice, especially with the distortion compensation feature. Although I wasn't looking for anything that wide, it sure is nice. That Kodak is something definitely worth considering....although it's almost like buying two cameras in one compact case. Back during my film shooting days, my Nikkor 24mm was one of my favorite, most used lenses.....:)

Thank you for that link! That 23mm fixed is nice, especially with the distortion compensation feature. Although I wasn't looking for anything that wide, it sure is nice. That Kodak is something definitely worth considering....although it's almost like buying two cameras in one compact case. Back during my film shooting days, my Nikkor 24mm was one of my favorite, most used lenses.....:)

Yeah I still have my 24mm lens for my 35mm Nikons. It's great fun!

I've been considering the Sony DSC-R1, http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/kodak/v570-review/index.shtml

Fantastic Carl Zeiss lens which goes down to 24mm equivelent but its an absolute lump of a camera yet with such a nice piece of glass thats to be expected I guess.

Regards, Anthony

I am going to modify my helmet and put a helmet mount on it for my video camera. The nice thing is that it has a remote so I can tape that to the handle bars and turn the camera on and off as I please as well as take pictures. Digital video cameras are so small and light now that it is worth it to bring them along for pictures and video.

For a tripod, I have this. (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=606&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1) They also offer this one too. (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=787&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1)

Riderfan, how do you plan to place a camera mount on your helmet? Is it something that is commercially available or something you plan to build yourself?

Rogerinchrist, how do you like these tripod? Versatile enough? What about their solidity? Can you really use that velcro strap to attach these to an object (bike frame, branch...)?

Riderfan, how do you plan to place a camera mount on your helmet? Is it something that is commercially available or something you plan to build yourself?

I am sure it is commercially available but I plan on building it myself using an old helmet as a starting point and prototype helmet before moving it on to my second helmet and possibly my new helmet.....I am going to try to make it so that it does not compress the protective foam. One of my many bike-related DIY projects on the go........ahhhh, being a student.

I have a tripod that is a full size tripod and weighs about 500 grams......It folds down nicely into a 10 cm diameter, 45 cm long piece of equipment that can go onto the top of the rear rack. I am not totally sure that I am going to use it on tours as I might just make a handlber "tripod" that can be used as a mounting point for my camera. I have used the tripod hiking before.....it is great for solo hiking and taking pictures with yourself included.

I just found this web site: http://www.cycoactive.com/gps/other_mounts_ram.html

They offer handlebar mounts among other things.

Or what about this home made version: http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/03/13/handlebar-mounted-camera/

http://bluecollarmtb.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/mounted.jpg

I think the problem here is that there is no pivot.

Even better: http://www.camerahacker.com/build/Bicycle_Camera_Mount.shtml

http://www.camerahacker.com/build/Bicycle_Camera_Mount_Camcorder_Mounted.JPG

Same problem as above

I think attaching another arm on it that can pivot but can then be tightened back up when at the right angle to lock it in that angle.....but yeah, something like that. I will have to hit up the local hardware store soon.....spring is on its way.....too bad classes are getting in the way right now.

Oh! Oh! i found a couple of other ones:

http://eeio.blogspot.com/2005/02/diy-bottlecap-bicycle-camera-mount.html

http://www.jakeludington.com/project_studio/20040723_diy_bottle_cap_tripod.html

http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/touring/cameramount/cm.html

http://www.digave.com/videos/how.htm

http://www.cammount.com/camera_mount.htm

Ah yes, the Nikkor 24mm - still have one attached to an F3 in my closet. It was my hands-down favorite focal length also. I am currently using a Nikon Coolpix 990 - an older prosumer digital camera that takes great pics, but again has the limitation on the wide end. I am about to pull the trigger on a D70s with the 18-70 lens (27-105 equiv.) but it still isn't wide enough for real creativity. Nikon has a 12-24 (18-36 equiv) but it is almost a grand <sigh>, so that will have to wait.

Anthony is right about the lens quality being better with limited range zooms - fewer lens elements means less distortion, reflection and internal loss, not to mention they often have a larger maximum aperture. When touring I sometimes carry a small Gitzo tripod with a ball head tha is 16" collapsed, and well under 2 lbs. Fairly sturdy and much more useful than those tiny pocket ones.

I found a lot of possibilities for fixed mounting systems for handlebars or helmets but so far, it just seems a bit too 'single use' for touring. I mean, it might be a good thing to have a camera mount on your bike or helmet but you still don't have a tripod in case you want to take a picture of yourself and your bike (well, you could leave your helmet on a chair or a fence post...).

I have seen this camera clamp (http://www.pimall.com/NAIS/cameraclamp.html) but I don't think I would trust it when riding, especially on bumby roads. :(

This one (http://www.highsierramfg.com/) is even smaller but there is only one pivot. :(

Then there is this one (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=45384&doy=search) .

I like the pocket camera clamp on this page (http://www.eagleeyeuk.com/erol2eu/erol.html#709x0&&http%3A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Fsearch%3Fsourceid%3Dnavclient%26ie%3DUTF-8%26rls%3DRNWE%2CRNWE%3A2004-13%2CRNWE%3Aen%26q%3Dcamera+clamp).

Along with the tripods proposed by rogerinchrist, I find these much more elegant and closer to what I really need. (wait... do I really need this?)

I didn't see the clamperpod linked, but I didn't click all of the links above. I was thinking about getting one for a tour, and also to take photos of my commute. I I thought it'd be cool if I could get a small remote shutter thing and tuck it under my brake hoods where the shimano flight deck buttons are. probably not enough room under there, but it'd be pretty trick if it did.

http://www.clamperpod.com/Cpod2.html

EDIT: looks like it's the same clamp as one that magictofu posted. (the one with only one pivot)

Or what about this home made version: http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/03/13/handlebar-mounted-camera/

http://bluecollarmtb.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/mounted.jpg

I think the problem here is that there is no pivot.

You could go to any camera store and buy a small ball head mount to fit this. Some of the other options you've linked to have just such a ball head mount attached. Small ball head mounts aren't the strongest items though and I don't think that they would take much vibration before coming loose.

Regards, Anthony

I never toured but am planing to, I am learning a great deal from reading the forums, I am into photography........just look at my user name......lol. I will take my Dslr with two lenses on a tour , cause I love to take pictures, but thats just me, if its too big and heavy then look in to getting a point and shoot with lots of manual controls, I think the best camera for touring would be the canon S2 IS, or the new S3 IS and this is way:

1. Canon 12x optical zoom with Image Stabilization

2. Powered by four standard AA type batteries

3. Movie w/stereo sound, 640x480 or 320x240, 30fps or 15fps

4.The vari-angle LCD monitor , the user is free to compose shots, even self portraits, without having to move or twist into uncomfortable positions.

5. The camera’s compact ergonomic design .

Perfect timing...
I'm in the market for a new point n shoot digicam with a short optical zoom but I'm having a hard time locating one with a 28mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Ricoh sells short zoom 28mm and fixed 28mm cameras but are not available in the U.S. Any sugestions?

Fixer, this site will sort you out and good. There are a whack of compact digital cameras at 28mm.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

Have fun with the comparison table! :)

Fixer, this site will sort you out and good. There are a whack of compact digital cameras at 28mm.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

Have fun with the comparison table! :)

Lolly Pop.....thanks for that link!...That table brought out a few cameras well within my price range and exactly what I'm looking for to stash in my jersey pocket...:)

Lolly Pop.....thanks for that link!...That table brought out a few cameras well within my price range and exactly what I'm looking for to stash in my jersey pocket...:)

That's precisely what I was hoping would happen! Delighted to hear it. :)

I got a Pentax Optio S5n last year to slip in my jersey pocket. :) It fits in an Altoids tin, which is what I carry it in. The new version is the S5z, I believe.

Rogerinchrist, how do you like these tripod? Versatile enough? What about their solidity? Can you really use that velcro strap to attach these to an object (bike frame, branch...)?

I haven't used it while riding, but it does clamp down solid for self portraits & such (using the velcro strap). The strap is actually 12 inches long! I do like it alot, small enough to fit in a small camera bag pocket, plus it didn't cost much. Hopefully the include picture gives a better idea of size.

I haven't used it while riding, but it does clamp down solid for self portraits & such (using the velcro strap). The strap is actually 12 inches long! I do like it alot, small enough to fit in a small camera bag pocket, plus it didn't cost much. Hopefully the include picture gives a better idea of size.

It does look like a nice little travel tripod... I bet that velcro can serve a similar function as those clamps. I might go for something like that.

I never toured but am planing to, I am learning a great deal from reading the forums, I am into photography........just look at my user name......lol. I will take my Dslr with two lenses on a tour , cause I love to take pictures, but thats just me, if its too big and heavy then look in to getting a point and shoot with lots of manual controls, I think the best camera for touring would be the canon S2 IS, or the new S3 IS and this is way:

1. Canon 12x optical zoom with Image Stabilization

2. Powered by four standard AA type batteries

3. Movie w/stereo sound, 640x480 or 320x240, 30fps or 15fps

4.The vari-angle LCD monitor , the user is free to compose shots, even self portraits, without having to move or twist into uncomfortable positions.

5. The camera’s compact ergonomic design .


I just spent some time reading about this camera... it does pack a lot of features for such a small little box. But if what other posters have said about the limitation of these big zoom lenses, I wonder if such a camera (with a 12x optical zoom!!! :eek: ) would perform well enough... but then, my very little experience tells me that the best way to take good pictures is to take a lot of pictures (playing with shutter speeds and exposure when you have the time or just shoot tons of different images of the same subject)... having a small camera like this one, or any similar ones that you can easily carry, would definitely help.

One of my friend let me use his very cool digital SLR last christmas and I was just amazed at how fast it was... especially the 'machine gun' function... I'd love to see such performance in a small camera... I know from experience that many of the older compact digital cameras were very slow... I wonder how newer ones perform.

I just spent some time reading about this camera... it does pack a lot of features for such a small little box. But if what other posters have said about the limitation of these big zoom lenses, I wonder if such a camera (with a 12x optical zoom!!! :eek: ) would perform well enough... but then, my very little experience tells me that the best way to take good pictures is to take a lot of pictures (playing with shutter speeds and exposure when you have the time or just shoot tons of different images of the same subject)... having a small camera like this one, or any similar ones that you can easily carry, would definitely help.

One of my friend let me use his very cool digital SLR last christmas and I was just amazed at how fast it was... especially the 'machine gun' function... I'd love to see such performance in a small camera... I know from experience that many of the older compact digital cameras were very slow... I wonder how newer ones perform.

Actualy that camera doesn't get such a bad review, http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s2-review/

I wouldn't however call it a compact camera. It's got a pretty big lens and a fair bit of weight for such a camera which is one of those design compromises to add to the list.
With a wide end equivelent to 35 mm its not that wide and my concerns about the skill required to use realy long lenses still stand although its not that slow.

Regards, Anthony

Heres me playing around in the middle of the night.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=156709&highlight=camera+mount

I always carry a good (heavy) SLR, lenses, flash and tripod on my longer trips. The pictures are my prime souveniers, worth a lot more then pushing a little more weight.

I always carry a good (heavy) SLR, lenses, flash and tripod on my longer trips. The pictures are my prime souveniers, worth a lot more then pushing a little more weight.

We may be the last two people on the planet that do this:) My objection to a digital is mainly cost! If I want a good SLR quality digital camera, I'm going to have to spend nearly as much as my bike to get one. And I can't see paying $300 for a gloryfied Instantmatic. And then after spending $300 to $1000, am I going to subject the sensitive electronics to 3 or 4 weeks of bouncing around on rough roads and drenchings in the rain?

My last film SLR was a Pentax ZX-7 which cost me $150-with a crappy lens. It's got as many bells and whistles as the Pentax i-series digitals at nearly a 10th the cost. If something goes wrong with it, I can throw it away and get a new one. If I want digital pictures, I just get the negatives scanned and get a cd. If my computer crashes or if the camera crashes, I still have my pictures!

Smash the sewing machines!

Here's a monopod idea for folks bringing a camera along with a long zoom:

The Stoney Point Hiking Staff available from Cabela's Catalog (a US hunting/fishing outfitter).

It's a collapseable hiking staff with a camera mount, and "Y" yoke (intended as a gun rest). The touring application of the staff can be multipurpose:

1) as a bike prop rather than kickstand (using the "Y" yoke).
2) as a camera monopod (for long zoom/long exposure).
3) as a hiking staff (I do some hiking on tour).
4) as a tarp pole.

Suggested rescently by someone over on the Phred touring list. I have one on order, which I hope to use as listed above on my tour. It's stated weight is an oz more than the lightweight tarp pole I was previously going to bring.

This should hopefully link to it:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0006704513571a&navCount=4&podId=0006704&parentId=cat20774&navAction=jump&cmCat=search&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20774&hasJS=true

We may be the last two people on the planet that do this:) My objection to a digital is mainly cost! If I want a good SLR quality digital camera, I'm going to have to spend nearly as much as my bike to get one. And I can't see paying $300 for a gloryfied Instantmatic. And then after spending $300 to $1000, am I going to subject the sensitive electronics to 3 or 4 weeks of bouncing around on rough roads and drenchings in the rain?

My last film SLR was a Pentax ZX-7 which cost me $150-with a crappy lens. It's got as many bells and whistles as the Pentax i-series digitals at nearly a 10th the cost. If something goes wrong with it, I can throw it away and get a new one. If I want digital pictures, I just get the negatives scanned and get a cd. If my computer crashes or if the camera crashes, I still have my pictures!

Smash the sewing machines!

It's funny to see how people have different perspective on this. As for myself, I moved to digital in order to save money. The cost of film rolls and film processing rises very quickly when I am beind a camera. I guess I am a bit trigger happy.

It's funny to see how people have different perspective on this. As for myself, I moved to digital in order to save money. The cost of film rolls and film processing rises very quickly when I am beind a camera. I guess I am a bit trigger happy.

I too am trigger happy but I still find it worth it. On my last tour (3 weeks) I took 19 rolls of film (over 500 pictures). Cost of processing and film was around $10 per roll, so my total was around $220 (including tax) for the whole lot. Still cheaper than a digital SLR including camera cost. And in the end, I have pictures that I can hold in my hand and don't need a computer to look at (I get tired of phosphorescence ;)). If you print your pictures - not on a home printer- but get quality prints, how much would the printing cost?

By the way, for a tripod, I use something like this (http://www.clamperpod.com/). It works very well. Mine, much older, has a wood screw that allows you to attach it to a fence post and then clamp the camera to the wood screw.

I too am trigger happy but I still find it worth it. On my last tour (3 weeks) I took 19 rolls of film (over 500 pictures). Cost of processing and film was around $10 per roll, so my total was around $220 (including tax) for the whole lot. Still cheaper than a digital SLR including camera cost. And in the end, I have pictures that I can hold in my hand and don't need a computer to look at (I get tired of phosphorescence ;)). If you print your pictures - not on a home printer- but get quality prints, how much would the printing cost?

By the way, for a tripod, I use something like this (http://www.clamperpod.com/). It works very well. Mine, much older, has a wood screw that allows you to attach it to a fence post and then clamp the camera to the wood screw.

Judging by what you just wrote, I guess we take about the same amount of pictures per week while on tour. The thing is that I tend to use my camera on tour as well as on other occasions and I end up taking well over 1000 pictures a year. I got my digital camera (not a DSLR... they were too expensive anyway the time) for a trip to China... the savings on films and processing for that single trip justified the investment...

I do not print my pictures anymore... except one here and there to offer as gift or to hang on the wall. A few CDs take much less space on my shelves than photo albums and shoe boxes full of pictures. That being said, I know that the tactile feeling of holding a picture and passsing it around gets lost but that is the price to pay I guess.

I too am trigger happy but I still find it worth it. On my last tour (3 weeks) I took 19 rolls of film (over 500 pictures). Cost of processing and film was around $10 per roll, so my total was around $220 (including tax) for the whole lot. Still cheaper than a digital SLR including camera cost. And in the end, I have pictures that I can hold in my hand and don't need a computer to look at (I get tired of phosphorescence ;)). If you print your pictures - not on a home printer- but get quality prints, how much would the printing cost?

By the way, for a tripod, I use something like this (http://www.clamperpod.com/). It works very well. Mine, much older, has a wood screw that allows you to attach it to a fence post and then clamp the camera to the wood screw.

Judging by what you just wrote, I guess we take about the same amount of pictures per week while on tour. The thing is that I tend to use my camera on tour as well as on other occasions and I end up taking well over 1000 pictures a year. I got my digital camera (not a DSLR... they were too expensive anyway the time) for a trip to China... the savings on films and processing for that single trip justified the investment...

I do not print my pictures anymore... except one here and there to offer as gift or to hang on the wall. A few CDs take much less space on my shelves than photo albums and shoe boxes full of pictures. That being said, I know that the tactile feeling of holding a picture and passsing it around gets lost but that is the price to pay I guess.

Judging by what you just wrote, I guess we take about the same amount of pictures per week while on tour. The thing is that I tend to use my camera on tour as well as on other occasions and I end up taking well over 1000 pictures a year. I got my digital camera (not a DSLR... they were too expensive anyway the time) for a trip to China... the savings on films and processing for that single trip justified the investment...

I do not print my pictures anymore... except one here and there to offer as gift or to hang on the wall. A few CDs take much less space on my shelves than photo albums and shoe boxes full of pictures. That being said, I know that the tactile feeling of holding a picture and passsing it around gets lost but that is the price to pay I guess.

I agree 100%. Bought my Coolpix 990 for $1000 at the end of 2000 and have shot almost 4000 images, that's over 100 rolls of film at $10/roll - you do the math. And what I DON'T have are more boxes of negatives waiting to be scanned to digital - still have plenty of those from 20 years with 35mm and medium format - it is ugly. Have the film scanner but it is tedious and I never get far with it. So at least from this point on - no more film.

OTOH, I do miss the feel of a nice SLR and manual focus lens in hand - espec with that 24mm on it <sigh>...

I actually just finished doing a presentation about bicycle touring for a local camera club. It was tremendous fun!

There is an assortment of Photography related articles on BT101 that can be found from the following link:

http://www.bicycletouring101.com/Photography.htm

Personally I don't use a tripod on tour yet. I've considered it a number of times but so far I haven't discovered a need for it. I currently use a Canon Rebel XT with IS lenses that goes a long way towards making it easier to take nice pictures that I can enjoy afterwards.

Some of my favourite touring pictures from my tours can be found at:

http://www.bicycletouring101.com/DejaVuDayTwo.htm
and
http://www.bicycletouring101.com/DejaVuDayThree.htm

~Jamie N

I just placed an order for a clamperpod2 (http://www.clamperpod.com/Cpod2.html.) and a mini ball head (http://www.clamperpod.com/miniballhead.html). I hope this works well. I don't think I'll update my camera just yet... I still consider mine to be quite decent for most of what I am doing but if the perspective of an extended trip comes, I might go for something else.

Thanks to all of you for your feedbacks... I guess I used this forum to brainstorm a few ideas with all of you... it was really usefull.

On my last trip, I carried both digital and film SLR (Nikon D70 and F100). I brought the latter so my 20-35 would still be a wide-angle and as back-up. Also had a 50/1.8, a few filters and a tripod (Manfrotto 719B). Only had a 512mb card meaning I'd have to edit en route and use the LCD panel so I carried the battery charger but didn't use it. I only Overall, I had about nine pound of photo equipment, not counting a photo/non-photo backpack on the rack. Ideally, I'd get a 12-24 for the DSLR and a 24-85 or 24-120, the new 18-200 or a 70-300. Add a small Digicam for back-up and a Gitzo 11xx serie carbon fiber tripod and a RRS BH-25 ballhead. Well, ideally... coz all that costs a lot!

On another trip, I carried an articulated arm made for lighting mounted on a Manfrotto Superclamp (http://www.borealphoto.com/articles/plein-air/velo/commuting/cameramount01.jpg). That clamp is heavy but will not fail. I took 3 shots with it on that tour. Just too long to adjust. I since took one section off the arm (as in picture) to shave weight and make it more stable and simple. The weak point is the head. There are threads where the head connects and eventually, I'll put a screw in there to mount an Arca-Swiss plate. I might cut down the arm a little too.

I carry the DSLR with 20-35 attached is in a Arkel small handlebar bag lined with some padding from a photo bag or clothes that I keep for camp. The 50/1.8 also fits in. The bag mount doesn't creep and the bag frame is very stiff. I would'nt carry that much weight with most handlebar bags. The tripod is held by the straps on the left rear pannier of an Arkel T-42 set. The strap have buckles so it's easy to get the tripod out. What I didn't do but will, is inverting the content of my rear panniers. The rain-cover doesn't get over the tripod well and I use one rain-cover for the rack top, meaning one pannier is not covered. That pannier has stuff that can get wet so I'll put that stuff in the left pannier, then I can use the tripod straps. This picture (http://www.borealphoto.com/articles/plein-air/velo/2005_grand_tour/_DSC1494.jpg) might help understand what I'm babbling about.

That sums it up for the equipment. I'll add more later. Now it's beautiful outside and need to ride. :)

I get tired of photos of empty roads or bikes leaning on railguards so the tripod is essential for shots like this (http://www.borealphoto.com/articles/plein-air/velo/2005_grand_tour/_DSC1527.jpg). It's very time consuming though. The cheap little remote control with the D70 is very handy for those shots. The screen on digital camera is very useful to see if the position of the bike is correct. Otherwise, I use the 10-20 second timer, spot a mark on the road where I need to be when the shutter is released and I try to be there at the right moment by checking the seconds on my cyclo-computer.

Some tips that might be useful for the photographically challenged:

- Frame tight. Find the elements that are useful to the photo and leave everything else out.
- Check the edge of the frame. Scan the contour of the frame.
- See things as lines and geometrical forms instead what they really are (like when Marge is painting Homer). A mountain is not a mountain, it's a pyramid. A house is a rectangle with a triangle on top.
- Keep it simple. One or two colors, perhaps three. Simple lines and forms.
- Get to the point. That sign post is funny? Photograph the sign and not the whole landscape with a tiny sign in it. Take two shots if the landscape is important. Three is you want the sign, the landscape and another with the sign and landscape.
- Find common points among different elements. Different objects of the same colors or similar shapes.
- Find differences among similar elements.
- Find contrasts. Old vs new, red vs green, blue vs yellow, rough vs smooth, etc
- Frame tight!
- Find a foreground, middleground and background to add depth. Use an element that goes through at least two of these three parts.
- Using a telephoto lens, compress the shot and eliminate or reduce the middleground.
- Perspective is all about where you stand. Things won't move around for you, You have to walk around to place them in relation to each of them and your lens.
- Use natural frame. Trees one each side of a road, a mountain side.
- Put a human in the landscape. Makes people relate.
- Put space in front of a rider, an animal. So the person is getting in the picture and not out.
- Photograph the life on the road. Campsites, food, socks drying on a tent guyline, etc.
- Turn around. See what the landscape behind looks like.

Have fun!

Thanks Erick... although most of us know what makes a good photo when we see one, we often forget about it when taking a picture. This is something I had to learn over the years: take the time to think about the picture you want to take... i still often forget about it.

Some great reminders Erick. I had a look through your tour photo's and they look fantastic. I do take some good shots but I take a lot of mediocre ones to get them.

The camera that I bought last year for our tour in France is an Olypus CZ-8080. 8M, 28mm and it takes 2 cards at the same time so 2G+ storage is easy. Fits easily in the handlebar bag but not perhaps in the back pocket. It comes with a remote shutter release and the battery last for about 5 hours of use.

Cheers

Geoff