timstone

I have a DSLR for the photography that I do...I'd love to take it with me when riding...but I also don't want to break it if I should wreck or something.

Anyone take one and what do you do to keep it safe?

simonaway427

Too big. But I also have a gf-1 that fits perfect in my camelback

es82

I've been looking into the Olympus Pen e-pl1 - it's not a DSLR, but a micro four-thirds camera, it's almost like a "point and shoot DSLR" (almost...), it has the options of interchangeable lenses, better picture quality than most point & shoots, and it comes close to some DSLRs, but with a much smaller form-factor.

I'm not really a photography buff so maybe someone that is could fill in a bit more, but looks solid from what I can tell, and have heard a few people recommend it. Was at the store the other day looking at it, and it's small enough that I could see being able to take it out on rides and not be much of an issue

pinsonp2 

I have biked on asphalt trails in a local park with a DSLR. It was loaded into my Topeak trunk bag (some padding) plus a neoprene case. Tripod was in fold down pannier. I was using my very slow comfort bike (Schwinn Sierra 7) for this. I would not carry it on my road or hybrid bikes because of the higher risk of an accident.

P2

onesidedcoin

Pentax are known for there small bodies. I have carried my Pentax k20d along with me the shake reduction works great.

cyclist2000

I was thinking for my next tour of taking my Mamiya 645 medium format film camera. It is rather heavy, as for damage during a crash, I haven't fallen off a bike in a few years, so I think that is unlikely but will put it in a padded trunk bag or get the Ortlieb camera liner.

timstone

I have Pentax K-x....so I'd love to hear how you carry your K20D......

onesidedcoin

For something like this...https://www.flickr.com/photos/oneside...72724/sizes/l/ around my neck. The DA 12-24 was mounted to the body. Riding to a given area, camera bag mounted on a rear rack. The other thing Pentax has going for it is the prime lens, it's hard to zoom while riding . The pancakes are small.

frankenmike 

My pops has been riding off road with a camera for a long time. He usually carries a coolpix mounted to a seatpost bag. When he carries his DSLR, He just puts it in his camelbak(and doesn't crash). The safest way to carry is with a rack mounted pelican case, but is too much of a pain to really be practical for mountain biking.

JanMM

I used to have a Yaschicamat TLR and carried it on a few rides................not a biking-friendly camera.
Smaller is better. Not tiny but small.

PaulRivers

It's nearly the same size once you add on a zoom lens, though. :-(

I carry my Canon s90 on my bike. It still has full manual controls, though it's certainly not as responsive as a digital slr. Weighs and costs less though.

rumrunn6

yes, and I didn't use it - what a waste of all that wegiht and storage space! ugh - gonna get a camera like my daughter's - a flat Nikon Coolpix - they have dozens of models and price ranges!

idiotekniQues

i do sometimes. i have a full canon 40D kit with a 17-55EFS, a 100mm macro, a 70-300IS and a sigma 10-20EX. i have a camelbak alpine backpack. i take the insert padding out of my think tank photo speed freak:

https://www.thinktankphoto.com/produc...belt-pack.aspx

and slide it into the bottom of the camelbak and it fits perfectly. nice and snug so very little movement.

my photography is at www.simplyathos.com

it fits the 40d with a lens mounted, plus 2 spare lenses out of my other 3 if needed.

StephenH

I used to carry my SLR with me when hiking (back in the days of film). It's just a matter of making minor compromises to get better pictures. Carrying a larger camera on a bike, I'd probably use a rack and bag set up just for the camera. I wouldn't be worried about wrecking, especially. In a padded bag, it's fairly safe, and if the wreck is violent enough to mess the camera up, it's liable to do worse to you.

Loose Chain

Canon S90

nahh

Nikon D40, but I won't take it biking. It's not that great, but it's what I got.

wunderkind

I did once. Don't know if I want to again. My 30d and a coupla small Ls was enough to throw off my roadbike's delicate weight balance on one side of the pannier. And that was already with careful planning to minimize gear!
Would like to look into them 4/3rd cameras...

cyccommute 

I carry a Pentax K100D in an Ortlieb handlebar bag with a camera insert on road tours. The bag is water proof and securely fastened to handlebars yet comes off quite easily for walking around. The camera comes out of the bar easily and can even be removed while riding for shots like these




Both made while rolling down the Katy Trail.

For off-road touring, I use a Nikon CoolPix (don't remember what brand) which fits in a camera bag that I can attach to the sternum straps on my Camelbak. Not a bad little camera. It allowed me to take these pictures on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

PaulRivers

That's pretty cool you found a way to carry it that works for you.

Some people are worried about additional wind resistance with a handlebar bag, but I've heard it's not actually an issue. Perhaps wind that hits the handlebar bag hits your chest as well, so it doesn't matter.

But the one issue I have heard that's legit is that (depending on the stability of the steering on your bike) a large amount of additional weight on your handlebars can change your steering.

KungPaoSchwinn

My Nikon D40 takes pictures just as good as a $3000 plus Canon 5D Mark ll, it's not the camera,it's the person take the picture,i used to carry it inside a padded back pack,now i carry a Nikon Coolpix L22.

TrekFix

My DH bought me a Nikon D 60 two years ago for Christmas. He got the extra accident coverage from Best Buy on it for me since, we hike the backcountry a lot. I also bought a rubber protective case for it that still lets you access all controls. I think it was called "camera armor" or something. Anyway, I haven't toured yet or taken it with me but, plan to in the future. I have gone downhill skiing with it in a small padded backpack though.

cyccommute 

Wind resistance is only a slight issue. An argument could be made that the bar bag acts as a bit as a fairing on the front of the bike...not a strong argument, however.

As for a bar bag having and effect on steering, I already carry front panniers on a touring bike that are loaded with close to 60% of the load I'm carrying. The bar bag doesn't really add that much. The panniers have a positive effect on steering in that they dampen the steering somewhat and make the bike easier to steer and handle.

PaulRivers

Yeah, though that's what I was referring to when I said "depending on the stability of the steering on your bike". On a stable touring bike you wouldn't even notice it. On a race road bike, it could really completely change your ability to steer. And naturally, there's a lot of areas in between.

Arrowana

I went to an anime con and brought my Sony A200. I had it inside a padded camera bag, then had that inside my messenger bag. Pretty bulky with the other things I had in the messenger bag, but I have a feeling the camera would be the least of my worries if I got in an accident.