Dannydyn

Just wondering if there were any photographers here who carry a DSLR with them on rides.

I'd love to you see what backpack you use to carry it in.

Thanks in advance

surgeonstone

Not to be curt but why ever would a roadie want to carry a backpack with an slr in it. If on a tour maybe but for road cycling?

bianchi10

I wouldn't want to be curt either. I'd rather be Steve or Dustin or Nick.

I am into photography but I would never bring my dslr with me on a ride no matter what kind of special backpack I had. In have a special camera pack and it would be way to combersome to wear while riding.

Drag

Cycling and photograph are two of my hobbies, but I do not bring my SLR when I ride. Too bulky, and then there's that chance it could be damaged.

I just use my cellphone, and have been considering purchasing a GoPro or equivalent.

Dannydyn

Fair enough

thanks guys

st3venb

My wife's g12 is pretty capable... it can't focus on fast moving things like my 7D can... but it also weighs in a few pounds less than my 7D and 24-70L...

I've wanted to try bringing either of them... but on the group rides I go on it's a sufferfest, and there is no time for pictures. My training / daily rides don't take me through anywhere that's actually scenic.... so meh.

ReLLiK75

Not sure what type of DSLR you're wanting to bring along, but my D4 with a 24-70 lens weights a good 5 lbs. That's extra weight I'd care not have while riding. Additionally, If I wrecked for whatever reason while riding with said camera, I'd be out of pocket a whole lot of cash.

bianchi10

If i was looking to bring a camera, I'd go invest $200 into a good point and shoot that would fit in your back pocket. I just picked up a canon ELPH 520 HS on ebay for $169. it is very compact and takes fantastic pictures. The wife was always confused with my DSLR and to be honest, I didn't want her touching it anyway.

Yo Spiff

I bring a Canon S90 on my road bike, which fits in a jersey pocket, and have a folding tripod that fits in a water bottle (A Tamrac zipshot mini).

Tamrac Zipshot Mini on bike by Yo Spiff, on Flickr


When the ride is more casual or the purpose of the outing is photography, I have a hybridized MTB with a padded rack trunk that can safely carry my 50D.

Rack Trunk for 50D by Yo Spiff, on Flickr

Yo Spiff

-dupe-

hls811

I was just thinking about this on my ride today.. I have my iPhone 5 with me which has a good enough camera, I also have a Sony HX10V which is a small ultra-zoom point and shoot. I used to carry that in my seat bag but never ended up using it. I have a Tamrac Velocity 8x sling bag which is smaller than a backpack fits my Nikon SLR nicely but unless I was going out specifically for taking pictures I can't see riding with it.

spock

I carry my film cameras (old mechanical SLR's and a rangefinder) on most of my rides. I am not too worried about them getting damaged because they are build like a tank and I put them (one at the time) in a small sunpak bag inside the backpack. They are all fixed 45 to 55 mm fast lenses, so it's not that huge. They are all full frame sensors (36X24mm) .

unionmade

My iPhone 5 is with me, I lug my 25lb of camera gear when hiking, but not on bike. If I was going touring, I'd consider buying a S95

Machka 

I have brought my DSLR with me in a pannier, but not on a tour ... just for local rides. I did debate about bringing it with me on the tour we're on, and have missed it several times (I would have loved to have it with me when we went to Mont Blanc), but it is just too big and heavy to bring on a tour.

However, as I said, for local rides my camera bag fits nicely into a pannier.


On our current tour, I just have a little Nikon point and shoot. It's not the best, but I've been reasonably impressed by the quality of photos I've managed to get.

This, for example, is Mont Blanc shot with my Nikon ... would have liked to have my 60D then, but the Nikon wasn't bad ...

ThinLine

I am an avid photo buff with 4 cameras, although I would never bring one with me on a ride due to speed requirements and storage concerns. I would use my cell if needed, not bad at 8 MP w/ dual flash. Android HTC IIIS.

carl_h

I'm also a photographer, but don't want to carry a bulky SLR on a backpack while riding. If anything, I'd carry a lightweight P&S cam ... but I don't even do that.

PatrickGSR94

I love photography, and have taken my Nikon DSLR in a backpack on a couple of rides. Most recently I rode downtown and shot some pics of other cyclists competing in a 24-hour relay race benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital here in town. These are my first ever panning action shots. Had to stop down my Tamron lens all the way to f/22 to be able to shoot at 1/60th second in order to get some blur in the background and bike wheels.

diverguy

On two of the tours I've taken, I've packed a DSLR. The first time was in a trunk. It was a pain to stop, unzip the trunk, get the shot, and return the camera. The second tour, I crafted some special foam padding for a handlebar bag. The camera was reasonably secure while underway, even with the top of the bag open. It was much more convenient to get a quick shot.

However, the last couple of tours I have migrated to using an Olympus Tough TG-820. It's reasonably compact enough to fit in a top bar bag along with a cellphone. Shock proof (when dropped from as high as 6.5'), water-proof (down to 33'), crush proof so you can put it in a back pocket and not worry about sitting on it, and freeze proof. It also has high quality glass, high speed sport mode, takes seven frames per second at 12 megapixels, and can zoom in as much as 10x. It meets all of my needs for combining cycling and photography. Could work for you, too.

rollin

Old Olympus tough, now a Nikon AW100 (upgraded for full HD movies which newer Olys have).

Both waterproof and hardy, put it in pocket and forget about it. Survived tropical storms and the occasional spill. No messing around with ziplock bags.

The best camera in the world is the one that you actually carry with you.

skreee

I may be a little late in offering my two cents, but as I usually don't know enough to offer any advice on this forum, and only ever ask questions, I hope I can finally offer some advice because photography is the only thing I can claim any real knowledge about (I at least know far more about photo than I do about cycling!)

I, like many of the responders here, would probably also say ditch the big SLR. I've owned numerous SLRs (digital and film) and have recently sold my Nikon DSLR but have elected to keep my Nikon F3 film SLR. Why keep the film SLR but get rid of the other? I've basically replaced my DSLR with a mirrorless micro four thirds camera (m43). They offer the best balance between versatility, size and photo quality. And you can change lenses For a quick size comparison, here is a photo of a Panasonic Lumix micro four thirds camera sitting next to a Canon DSLR (though both lenses have ridiculously large zoom lenses... I'd never carry lenses that size on my camera even if I had it in the trunk of my car... better to just "zoom with your feet"): https://g3.img-dpreview.com/9C7EBB62F...C0F17EC1E5.jpg Here is a photo of the Lumix GX1 with the far more reasonably sized 20mm f/1.7 on it (angle of coverage equivalent to a 40mm wide angle lens on a 35mm film camera): https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6...5297e152_z.jpg

I've owned the Panasonic GF1, the GF2, and most recently, the GX1. So far the GX1 has been very impressive. It seems every digital camera, from point and shoot to DSLR, have always had some irritating drawback, but so far I've found nothing lacking in this camera. If you read commentary comparing image quality between M43 cameras and DSLRs, you'll find the primary advantage is that DSLRs exhibit less noise in shadow areas in low light due to their larger sensor sizes. And yes, some DSLRs offer larger image sizes compared to the GX1's 16 megapixel images (most notably the new full-frame Nikon D800 which weighs in at 37 megapixels!) but this is only important if you're making large prints, and probably your consumer color printer at home can't even produce prints that can match the 8 megapixel images that your iPhone 4s produces anyway. So this usually doesn't matter to most people.

One thing you may feel is a drawback of an M43 as compared to your Canon DSLR is the lack of a viewfinder. You just have to use the screen on the back to compose and shoot. This could be a problem on a really sunny day, but I have yet to have any trouble. I realize it may feel "wrong" to not be holding the camera up to your eye if you're used to using SLRs over the years (though, there is an accessory electronic viewfinder available that fits to the camera's hotshoe). And another possible drawback to using a M43 compared to a smaller, integrated-lens point-n-shoot is that the M43 DOES have a shutter, and so it does sound like a real camera when you are shooting. But this also means it may be more difficult to take clandestine shots of the "natives" when touring.

Oh, and it also takes beautiful full HD 1080p video with stereo audio as well.

I too am planning on doing some touring in the future, and I plan on bringing my GX1 with me.

Hope this helps.

Eric

Drag

I drove to the race above. Carried my gear with me. Too heavy and bulky to ride with.

Matt Gaunt

I carried my Eos 40D up the Luz Ardiden for this ride. I wouldn't recommend doing it on a regular basis but I'm glad I had it with me that day.

NWS Alpine

If I am riding I have my iPhone 5 or if I want to take some better photos my Cannon S95 is great. I only bring a DSLR an lenses when I am spectating races.

Drag

Yup.

AbsoluteZ3RO

If I'm riding to ride, I leave the DSLR at home. I could see taking it for a cruising style ride or one in which photography was my primary goal. Otherwise I just take a decent Point and Shoot. I even made a really crappy camera mount for mine while I rode a Livestrong Ride in Seattle Some of the point and shoots now (S110, RX100, LX7, and several others) are so good now, that if you really want to enjoy the ride, get one of those and you'll still take great photos (especially landscape and candid style).

If your goal is awesome action photography, leave the bike at home and focus on the photography.