pgjackson

I was looking at the "open road" picture thread and saw tons of really nice pics, obvisouly taken with serious cameras. I consider myself a fairly serious photographer, but have yet to take my nice camera on a ride. Just wondering what bag you use on the road. Backpack, mounted saddlebag...?

10 Wheels

Most of the riders I toured with kept them in a front bar bag or just a strap on their shoulder.
You might want to ask over in Touring.

milliron

P&S in a ziplock bag in right jersey pocket.









I'd like a larger more feature full camera, but I know it would then be too cumbersome to deal with.

pgjackson

Those are some really nice P&S pics. Nicely done.

By the way, I love your grip tape. Where did you get it?

10 Wheels

Cannon Power Shot A530
Bar mount with a bag on the stem.

kimconyc

I took these: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t-a-spinoff%29 and the photos in the open road thread with a Canon S90 P&S and I usually carry that camera in my right jersey/jacket pocket with the strap hanging out for easy access. I'm about as serious a photographer as I am a cyclist, which is not too serious--I just like to have fun doing both at the same time.

If I were a hardcore photographer, I would just get a touring bike with panniers and a proper camera bag for an SLR, multiple lenses and still carry a pocket camera for easy access (like random goats, bears, celeb sighting, etc).

pgjackson

I have a really nice backpack for my camera and lenses, but it's not real practical for taking random shots or moving shots. I have a decent P&S as well, but once you get your hands on a DSLR it's hard to go back to P&S. It would be like gong from a $2500 Specialized to a $200 Walmart Schwinn. I mean, technically they do the same thing...but not really.

I saw a picture of a guy on a mountain bike who had his DSLR strapped to his chest. That's kind of what I'm looking for, but can't find any on the Google.

logdrum

Cycling and DSLR's don't mix well really. Get a Leica Digital Rangefinder if you want think PS don't deliver, are you a Nikon guy. Get a D40 and 35mm prime. I think that's the smallest they make.

logdrum

My wife was just gifted by her aunt from Italy this Leica X1. She had an M3 that was stolen years ago when she went to Europe. No she won't let me borrow it on rides. It is a really great camera with a very high end sensor. It is an available light camera that costs 2K plus. The nice thing about it is that unless you know what it is it looks very plain jane. My wife was a wedding photographer at one point.

milliron

Thanks.

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/135...a-Bar-Tape.htm

That's photo is after 2,000 miles of riding so it holds up pretty well. I had white before though and couldn't keep it clean.

Seattle Forrest

I use backpacks to bike with an SLR, and sometimes a tripod. If it's a big lens ( 300/4 ) some water in the hydration-bladder works as a nice cushion - throw the camera in a sea bag for safety. Or, REI has an internal frame pack that keeps the weight a few inches away from your back, with a mesh backing to let you breath. Works pretty well for cycling.

Both of those are to move the camera around with me on a ride, and pull it out occasionally when I take a break with especially nice scenery. If I wanted something more accessible, I'd probably look into a point and shoot. Lenses are heavy and expensive, and the lenses that are much better than a P&S are pretty limited in their range.

I shot this after lunch on a mountain ride - and I never would have hiked this far:

pgjackson

I'm getting me some of that. Love the retro look.

jgjulio

Is this what you are looking for?
https://www.amazon.com/OpTech-BinoCam...=1IR94O32E7E4Q

Oostal

I asked the same question a while ago and even tried to take my DSLR with me (in a sling pack). Still, I quickly gave up the idea. The lenses I have are expensive and it would be a pain if the elements inside would bump out of correct alignment and I would have to send them in for service. Not to mention the cost of replacing to whole set in case of a crash. Also the bag was all the time in the way and not suitable for fast riding.

I now bought a cheap compact (Casio FH100). Sure, the image quality is not comparable to the SLR, but is still nice IMHO to post in the internet. Check the photos in this thread as an example:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ber11-12-13-14

I carry the compact camera in the Deuter waist bag. Better to have it on your body to dampen possible road vibrations.

merlinextraligh

The S90 hits a very nice sweet spot; pocketable, relatively light, comparatively inexpensive, but with RAW capture, and full creative controls.

Only thing it misses on is the lack of an optical view finder.

pgjackson

Maybe carying my big DSLR camera on a bike isn't such a great idea. I mean, I've already fallen off the bike three times because I forgot to unclip (facepalm)...wouldn't want to do that with a nice camera...I guess I'll just stick to the P&S.

logdrum

The S90 is good and not to be snobbish about the P&S, if you want DSLR quality in a point and shoot format and are a schooled or seasoned photographer then, aside from the Leica which I would not pay for I would look at the Panasonic GF1 and the Olympus EP1 or EP2. This still does not answer your bag question but I think you will get the best of both worlds somewhat. The X1 I mentioned is very limited, no zoom, just one good lense and one good sensor. If you want the whole shebang you get an M9 but that's like 6.9K, still cheaper than the the D3s. As for bags it is definitely what you are willing to carry. DLSR's specially Nikon and Canon pro DLSR's are tough. Our D200 got rained on with the AFS 18-35 lense (a 1500 lense) and it did not matter. My wife's friend's D2sx was left on the roof of a car and fell on the pavement at 45 mph. Still working today. The 50 mm lense got a huge ding on the front but still works except for close focus. So I think you can bring the DLSR with you if you have the inclination to carry that weight around.


These range finder-4/3 mirror less cameras are really great even though DLSR's look more blingy. I am just (re)discovering them now and like the simplicity, I myself am planning to get an Olympus ep because they will take some of my Zuiko lenses even my Nikkor lenses. Leica M9 will be the ultimate. There is also the Sigma DP2 with the Foveon sensor. Great sensor but not not good performing camera. These Japanese versions are all affordable (700 - 1000) but will have much better quality than a PS and more flexibility than the fore mentioned X1. Plus the lenses that comes with them are f 1.4 or 1.7. You know how much a f 2.8 lense costs in DSLR's. Leica is crazy. They have f .95 wide angle I believe. It probably costs like a brand new motorcycle. I just checked B&H almost 11K.

milliron

I've got a Panasonic GF1 & 20mm and have taken it riding a few times. It's a little too bulky, heavy and expensive to always take with me. 460g with lens and battery vs less then 150g for my Sony WX1. I also prefer the 24mm equiv lens on the Sony to the 40mm equiv lens on the GF1.

A cell phone or P&S camera that you actually take with you and use, that trumps an unused DSLR in an unwieldy bag or at home.

And to be honest, I've seen iPhone 4 photos that were better, at web size, then 99.9% of the DSLR photos out there. A little artistic ability goes a long way.

merlinextraligh

^ These things always involve tradeoffs, and where you draw lines, but for me the Olympus is just a little bit too big, and a little too expensive for an occassional use camera I'm going to stick in my jeresy pocket.

merlinextraligh

I really don't think that's true. Cameras are tools for a job, and good P&S can be a very effective tool for most photographs you're likely going to take while on a bike ride.

I have a couple of Canon DSLR's including a full frame sensor 5D, as well as an array of L glass from 24 to 600mm.

I can recall very few situations while taking a picture on a bike ride where not having the 5D limited me in making the image I wanted to make.

Scenic pictures in bright sun are pretty much in the wheel house of a good compact camera, and some of the limitations of a point and shoot (such as shutter lag, and low light quality) aren't problems for most pictures taken on a bike ride.

opie

Canon G series is what i use instead of my DSLR. I've got the G11. Love it for portability

logdrum

Depends if the OP is taking pictures and making a side living as a stock photographer. P&S and iPhone are good on the web. You might have issues if they require a 50MB TIFF file. Whenever someone says DLSR I like to think they shoot manual, print 17 X 24 and need RAW. Of course with post processing iPhone and PS will be as good, but consider the time spent on sitting on the computer and post processing when you could have the Image Quality and resolution to begin with. Heavy by what 300 grams, expensive 700 - 1K, that's like PCADs per hour rate.

merlinextraligh

The S90, now S95 uses the same image sensor in a much smaller package.

milliron

I think the Panasonic FX700 would be a better buy. 24mm equiv, shutter priority and a little lighter.

I really wish my Sony WX1 had shutter priority.

pgjackson

I've taken some really decent pics with my little Fuji 8mp P&S, but they are a far cry from my Panasonic G1. When i take pictures, I'm always thinking about how it would look as an 8X10 print, not a 2X3 internet photo. I'm going to take the P&S out on my next ride and see how they come out.

Here's one of my favorite pics with my G1. Looks much better in 8X10.