Riding around with larger(er) camera?
 

So I'm a photographer as well as bike lover and know I'm not the only one here in that boat.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone is consistantly carrying around a DSLR, or any other camera larger then a point and shoot? Also, how do you carry it? I'm trying to find a bag that will safely pad a camera and fit comfortably. It doesn't have to be a strict camera bag, just something that makes sense.

Thanks everyone.

Get a real messenger bag since they are designed to be ridden with and hence making sense. Get some bedding foam and stuff it in there to protect the camera.

I carry a dslr inside a camera specifiz pouch inside my padded messenger bag constantly I also roll with a macbook somtimes. it is a lot to pull out. but i have wrecked several times. and last times crashed hard enough to bend my bars and break a wheel and a toe clip. but my camera is fine. so it is worth having to open two bags. or drop a camera pouch on the ground to get a shot.

I think someone makes a messenger bag with camera inserts tho. yeah the buckets that go inside of the crumpler bags. http://www.crumplerbags.com/Cart/Vie...stle%20Blanket

I have just a lowepro camera case inside my bag. just don't fall. my zoom lens is in the bottle holder of my bag.

I'd look at something along the lines of a handlebar bag. Get something big enough that you can put the camera specific bag into.

That looks pretty cool, some good suggestions.
I was thinking about sewing a Domke insert into a mess bag and reinforcing it with some foam.
It's good to hear some camera's have survived crashes though, that's one of my biggest fears.

yeah i'm sketched as **** when i ride with my camera lumbar bag inside my mess bag.

I might try the specific pouch inside an insert with a mess bag.
The saddle bag is something but I'm a sucker for a clean bike.

I hear you, I'm not one to baby my gear but I just have flashing nightmares of destroyed cameras and lenses after a crash.

topeak road morph

That's what I had in mind!
:thumb:

the crumpler bags are satan-ugly. would not buy.

i talked to under the weather about making a custom bag with removable inserts lined against my back inside the bag. enough to hold two lenses, a speedlite and a 5D body. might be super uncomfortable. we'll see how it goes.

lowepro

How about a chest harness bag like the Lowepro Top Load bags (or similar)?
Or a sling bag like the Tamrac Velocity series?

If I were to use a backpack or other non camera bag, I'd use Domke wraps or similar.

Sometimes I just take one of my inexpensive film bodies (N70), 50mm lens and sling it diagonally over my shoulder and go. It sits just behind left kidney. I hate it if I crashed and broke the camera/lens, but I could easily replace it if I had too.

I carry my dSLR in a tiny camera bag (http://products.lowepro.com/product/...AW,1900,20.htm) in my messenger bag
or in a larger camera bag (http://products.lowepro.com/product/...-AW,2034,4.htm) on it's own. Either option goes in my front basket for easy access and comfort if I'm on the right bike.

I think the Crumpler bag looks pretty ugly as well.
I'd love to hear how that works out for you when it's done, it seems like it could be cool.

I was thinking about sewing 3 pouches that look similar to the ones on the outside of this bag facing inside of a messenger bag and just reinforcing it with some foam. Large enough for a body and pair of lenses.
That could work.
http://www.mclassics.com/images/blac...total_crop.jpg

I was doing this with an M6 and 50/2 but I hated thinking constantly about the expensive weight hanging off my side. Not exactly a cheap camera either.

I have a feeling this is going to turn into an extensive do-it-yourself thing...

dear god please don't take a leica riding unprotected.

my beat-to-hell, weather-proofing-flaking-off, still-barely-ticking camera pack:
http://www.photoethnography.com/Clas...oStealthAW.jpg

my awesome but small lumbar pack:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ecc.../T_82866_1.jpg

the small lumbar pack actually takes up a lot of room because of its padding and buckles and stuff, so it really takes up about 1/3 of the space in my mess bag. but it's way more secure and padded than the lowepro stealth, so that's usually what i do.

if you don't fall down, you can just wrap your camera in a sweatshirt. but cmon, protection is important.

Yeah...I know.
But no horror stories yet.

I never was one of the white glove Leica shooters though. I love a Leica that's seen it all.

Edit: I try not to fall down...but see, this is why I'm looking for a solution!

i am not one for babying cameras(my d50 looks like it's been through a natural disaster) but there's no shame in putting your baby in a cradle while you're weaving through traffic.

That's the plan. hah

And how about some camera porn?
http://carlmogerley.zenfolio.com/img...09242609-4.jpg

if i had all the money in the world:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/friedtoast/2056777252/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/...297911419c.jpg

Nice, that's the same pair of camera's my Dad uses for all his shooting, he's never felt a need to upgrade to the Pro level stuff.
Nikon makes good stuff. I had an opportunity to get my hands on a D3 but it was a trade I couldn't convince myself to make. Maybe at some point I'll get another chance.

the 300 is pro level for most things. studio and sports photographers may feel the need the 3 but most professionals i know use the 300 or comparable bodies. i went to my cousin's wedding and the lead photographer was shooting a 20D.

i don't know how any of you guys can ride around wearing camera bags -- they're useless for city riding! don't you have other things to carry? like groceries, a bottle of water, flat kit, pump? i've basically given up carrying around a camera unless i'm on foot.

hopefully my experiment works, otherwise i will be doomed to an eternal photography dry spell.