MKIV987

I'd love to take my Nikon D50 out on tour with me but I'm afraid of ruining it/breaking it. Anyone here take nice cameras out on tour? What do you do to shield them from shock extreme heat and cold? Should I just stick with a point and shoot?

ctyler

I haven't toured with a Nikon D50, but have taken day rides with it in a handlebar bag. I added some padding to the inside of the bag and never had a problem. If I were going to take it on tour, I'd keep it in a waterproof plastic bag on rainy days.

Bacciagalupe

FWIW, I wouldn't take a DSLR on tour, unless fast focus is an absolute necessity. Too bulky, too heavy (and I'm not a weight weenie), too inconvenient.

I'd stick to a high-end P&S like the Olympus XZ-1, Canon S95, or Panasonic LX5. They'll fit in a handlebar bag very easily -- possibly even a Bento bag. For images smaller than 8x10 you will barely notice the difference.

If you absolutely must have a higher quality image, I'd consider a Micro 4/3 camera.

staehpj1

I carried one on the TA. I buy cameras to use them. If you are so protective of them that you don't take them then why have them at all?

I don't think I would ever carry a big DSLR again but for weight reasons only.

I have since decided that it makes more sense, for me at least, to carry something lighter. I used a Nikon CoolPix S550 P&S and that worked out well, but have since gone to a 4:3 camera (Olympus PEN E-PL1) and am very happy with it.

I also recommend the Nikon Coolpix P7000. It is a great compromise between the DSLR and the P&S models feature and size wise. I had a chance to play with the one I bought for my daughter and it is a really nice camera in a moderate sized package. It has no interchangeable lens capability, but the zoom range is excellent as is the image quality. I have been quite impressed by the pictures she has taken with it.

aenlaasu

I take my DSLR. I bought a nice, small camera bag with a weather cover. I ride a recumbent trike and it hangs from my seat panniers perfectly. I can even pull it out fast enough to get shots of deer running for cover. I love the greater focus and zoom range of even the standard lens though I take a larger one as well. This was after using a good digital point-n-clilck for 5 years on my rides. I've had the DSLR for about 3 years and never got the motivation to learn to use it. Now, since it goes with me on every ride into new territory, I've got opportunity and interest to figure it out.

aprhockey

I took my Nikon D60 on a ~500 km tour last summer. I just put it in a lunchbox with two big sponges (1 1/2" thick approx.) and strapped that to my homemade rear rack. I wouldn't recommend doing it, but it worked fine. No damage to the camera. I think DSLRs are more durable than most think. When it rained a bit I put it in a plastic bag inside said lunch box. I was worried that condensation might form inside the bag but it didn't seem to be a problem.

I saved up for a decent amount of time to buy this camera used with a standard kit lens (student here), so even though it's used equipment, I can't just go and replace it. Nor can I go and buy a point and shoot just for touring.

Really, as long as you don't get in a big crash, and there's a bit of padding beneath the camera, it'll be fine. The problem for me was that with my setup I couldn't easily access my camera, so it resulted in me not using it as much as I wanted to.

cyccommute 

I use a Pentax 100D with a zoom lens on tour. I carry it in an Ortlieb bag with a camera insert. The Ortlieb is waterproof and has a very solid mount. I'd much rather use the Pentax over a point and shoot because I was raised on SLR film cameras. I find trying to use a view screen to be somewhat difficult when trying to frame a shot.

If I am going to do a mountain bike tour, however, I carry a point and shoot since the SLR is much more bulky and mounting a handlebar bag to a mountain bike handlebar is more challenging.

niknak

Putting your camera in the handlebar bag is a safe bet as long as you provide water protection. The bag is well protected by drop handlebars in the event of a crash/tip-over.

I tried using a point n shoot for one trip. The weight and size are great, but without a viewfinder, I had trouble composing shots in daylight. The tiny lens and sensor also reduced the picture quality and depth-of-field flexibility you get with a bigger device. I'm back to hauling a D90 and 18-200 in my handlebar bag and loving it.

fietsbob

Ortlieb bag on the HB and their camera padded insert should do the job.

I packed my Film camera so well it resulted in less pictures taken,
due to all the waterproof packing and padding..
and extra time needed to deploy the camera, as a result.

neil

+1 I had a couple falls on tour, but the camera and lenses came out fine. On top of the bag's protection from rain and a bit of cushioning for vibration, the handlebars also create a nice crash frame around it.

Get the large bag, though. I've got the medium and it's a very tight fit with the camera and an extra zoom lens.

Erick L

I carried a SLR in a handlebar bar, a photo bag on the rear rack and currently in a photo bag on the front rack with platform. I never had a problem with any camera or lens. I broke one lens when I dropped it on pavement, got it fixed and dropped it again and the VR is acting up but still works. I use a 100 weight fleece or thick socks as padding, any clothing that I would only use in camp in case of unexpected cold spell. Like others said, I bought a camera to use it. I only buy used equipment so I won't lose so much if it breaks. I do carry a waterproof P&S too.

https://www.borealphoto.com/Cycling

bradtx

MKIV97, I just pack the camera into a padded aftermarket camera bag and that into the padded top rack bag. Sadly big lenses are left at home.

Brad

Bike Hermit

https://www.zimbalenorthamerica.com/Z...-fslash-11.htm
https://www.zimbalenorthamerica.com/Z...e_p/cpc-18.htm

staehpj1

FWIW: The Nikon Coolpix P7000 that I mentioned has a viewfinder. Additionally it has an especially nice screen that works well in most lighting conditions (much nicer in this regard than my Olympus PEN E-PL1).

Derailed

As has been mentioned previously, DSLR's are actually pretty durable. Although just a personal anecdote, I've had multiple issues with my Canon S90 compact, whereas my DSLR has held up much better. I could imagine that the small form factor of the compact cameras leaves less room for sturdy construction. Plus, DSLR's don't need to move their motors as much just to extend and retract the lens.

All that said, to me, the weight and bulk are too much for bike touring. I much prefer the controls of my DSLR, but the S90 is so much lighter, and easier to pack and hide, that it's the one I take.

In terms of photo quality, my DSLR clearly wins if I'm 1) shooting in low light; 2) trying to control depth of field; or 3) wanting fast focus (e.g., for a moving object). That said, almost all of my shooting on tour is in good light and for landscapes for which I want everything to be in focus -- the S90 does quite well. The one exception regarding depth of field is for macro shots, but for such up-close objects, even a compact camera can give nice background blur.

ScruffyChimp

I carry my Canon 400d in my handlebar bag, which has a bit of padding and is water resistant. No problems so far. That bag also holds my passport, wallet and glasses, so it absolutely never leaves my side.

I wouldn't want to carry a whole bunch of camera accessories, but on my upcoming trip I will take a DSLR gorilla pod to try it out because it's pretty small.

gdlerner

I always carry my Nikon D300 and a Sigam 24-70mm on my ortlieb handlebar bag and the rest (macbook,bodys ,hd,flash lens) on a rear ortlieb bag
Never have any problem

D.B. Cooper

If you are really serious about your photograhy, then take the SLR. There is no comparison between an SLR and a point and shoot. I toured cross-country with 2 SLR bodies(film), 3 lenses(including an 80-200 f2.8 zoom), and a tripod. I used a Pelican hard case(waterproof and bomb-proof), and a small camera backpack. It was a lot of extra weight, but it was worth it to me.

QueueCT

It's usually a simple equation for me. If photography is a core element of the tour then I take the DSLR with me along with a gorilla tripod, multiple lenses, flash unit, etc. It's heavy, bulky and stays in a drybag when rain threatens. It also means that I'll spend a lot of time off the bike composing shots, waiting for the right light, talking to potential subjects, etc.

If, however, I know that I don't have the time or desire on a given trip to do all the above I'll just drop a small point and shoot in the handlebar bag since the quality of shot will be just fine in most instances. More difficult to compose a scene, yes. Lower quality lens, of course. Less control, sometimes, depends on the camera. But I know I won't be spending the time necessary to get high quality shots anyway so why weigh myself down.

Tourist in MSN

My DSLRs stay home. Heavy and I would be too nervous about damage.



I have a vintage 3 megapixel point and shoot in a water proof housing for camping and bike touring trips that I have dropped a few too many times (focus a bit off on one side of photo) so I recently bought a superzoom to also bring on camping and bike touring trips. The old water proof one will go along for rain and dusty conditions and the new superzoom for when I trust the conditions more.
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q110superzoomgroup/
I got the Pentax X90. Some of the others that were reviewed at this link scored higher but I wanted one cheap enough that if I damaged it I would not get too upset. I have been surprised at how good the image quality is at the long end but at the wide angle end of the range it is no more than average. But, for the money I am quite happy with it.

This photo from the old 3 megapixel this past fall on a canoe trip. Good photo, but I want better resolution, thus the new one.

parecon89

I take my Sony NEX-3 with me on long rides and tours. It doesn't have the lens selection or ergonomics of a DSLR but it has DSLR image quality in a smaller, lighter package. I think a good camera is worth the extra bulk on a tour, but I can see why others are perfectly happy with P&S cameras for their convenience and size.

You can see pics I took with it on my first tour in my CGOAB journal:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...c_id=7850&v=CV

MichaelW

Extreme heat is probably more damaging than any cold you will experience on a bike.
Cameras work OK in hot conditions but in very extreme direct sunlight they may overheat. It seems that the electronics (eg exposure level) start to misbehave before the lens cement melts. Cooling the camera restores normal activity.

bradtx

I had a "photo op" yesterday that afterwards caused me to think about this thread. All I had was my cell's camera available for this pic:


My one year old grand daughter was watching her reflection in the muffler distort as she moved her head back and forth. The cell's camera was good enough to capture the moment. My SLRs go with me when I anticipate an opportunity to compose a photograph. Point and shoot cameras, while less expensive if damaged and less controlable are probably fine for most cycling photo ops.

Brad

X-LinkedRider

I only take waterproof Olympus cameras when touring. Though they are just P&S, and I am no photographer but still manage to get plenty of excellent shots with them.

imonabike

I tour with a micro 4/3 (Olympus PEN EP1) - almost the quality and versatility of a DSLR with much less bulk. I just wrap it in a clean dry t-shirt and the legs of my Gorillapod then stick it in a giant zip-lock bag. In the past, I kept that in a pannier (did about 800 km that way with no problems at all) but this summer I am planning to keep it in a bag on top of my front rack.