BobEssner Loc: Missouri

Does anyone have a good system to haul photo gear on a motorcycle to ride around and take pictures - either on a short jaunt or a long trip. How do you assure there is no damage (vibration, rain, dust, bird poop, etc) to the equipment? Any special technique to take pictures without getting off the bike (assuming you have stopped the bike)? I'm anticipating Spring is just around the corner.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Sony Rx100 or Canon S120 (or cheaper S110) might be good options for you...they are small but very capable cameras. As to keeping them dry, use the ziplock trick within/around a camera bag. My buddy used to have a camera mounted sitting in his handle bar bag that he would snap shots while on the road (a very seasoned rider).

I'm the guy on the bike...not taking the photo.
http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/Other/Doof-Clenas/i-FsB7fzS/0/L/IMG_5621-L.jpg

fjrwillie Loc: MA

I use a Nikon D5100 and carry it in my tank bag. I also carry a P&S in the same tank bag, for taking snap shots while I am moving. It has a ram mount on the bottom which makes it perfect to holding it up over the windscreen or off to left for taking those in motion shots. For the lens on the D5100, the kit lens works just fine. When it rains the D5100 goes in a plastic bag and then into the trunk if it really bad.

I wore out a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5 which worked great until I got the D5100. I just can't see replacing the D5100 with a P&S.

If you do a traveling, I would not skimp on the camera. You can relive those trips by watching the photos on your screen.

If interested there is a link to my blog on the signature lines

HTH and of course YMMV
Willie

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

One last thing to keep in mind...the camera must be simple enough for others to use...since you want to be in some of the images...and yes, that is a rubber chicken...Google the back of my shirt if you need to know more.

http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/Other/Doof-Clenas/i-64McTbn/0/O/DSCF0051.jpg

http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/Other/Doof-Clenas/i-F3Bpvvt/0/O/DSCF0047.jpg

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I can't wait to see the answers to this question.

I like to carry a camera when riding. Sometimes I go to shoot a sunset in the mountains and riding the motorcycle makes it much easier to pull off and shoot. I also carry a camera when I travel. I don't try to carry a whole kit or extra lenses etc. I have tried various packs over the years and I seem to always come back to some type of a back pack. The sling packs are nice but they shift when riding. I found a 2 strap camera "sport" pack that is compact and I good for riding, but it's a little too big for one camera and too small for two. Still it's the best I have found so far for my purposes.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I used to carry an Canon A620 when I rode (2004-2011) in one of the bags i had mounted on my bike. If I got off and stepped away from the bike, the camera (and anything else expensive) came with me...therefore it needed to be small and compact. I never wanted to ride with anything on me for fear of getting into a wreck and landing on it.

crimesc324 Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

A Pelican case is shock padded with foam and waterproof

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

I ride a bicycle and know a fair number of our kind have helmet-mounted GoPro cameras. You can get one for under $200. I bet it would be really interesting to see shots take while actually riding. Maybe Steve could set up one of the contests for these kinds of products.

BigE88 Loc: North Central Illinois - Rockton, IL

The best place to mount a camera for shock and vibration control is on the helmet with a remote button mounted to your left index finger in such a way that you can press it with your thumb without taking your hand off the handle bars.
another option is to use a camera that can be programmed to take a shot every so often depending on the cameras storage capacity and trip length.

The 1st option gives you better control of the shot and conserves memory. The second will give you better control of the bike and a more enjoyable ride.

You can use double sided carpet tap and hook and loop strips to mount the camera to your helmet. Don't rely on the sticky tape that comes with the hook & loop as it is not strong enough to hold the camera for long and multiple rides.
It is also a good idea to connect a short strap to the camera and helmet to keep the camera from falling should the tape fail.
you may also need to make a small mount, flat on one side and curved to match the helmet on the other. Your local lumber yard will a have tool used by floor covering professionals to custom shape pieces to fit around moldings and other objects as needed. It is about 6 inches long and made of many needles held in a bar. you press the pins against the object, in this case the helmet, then use the tools edge of the curvature to mark the wood or hard foam so you can give it the correct curve.

You can mount the camera any place on the bike except on parts that move with the wheels like fenders, break mounts, lower forks and swing arm.

Good Luck, Happy Shooting, and Enjoy the Ride.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

If you are talking about photographing while you are riding, I suggest a gopro. If you are talking about taking your camera with you on rides for photographs when you are stopped, this is how I do it: I have a tail bag that I pad with a thick sweatshirt. Then I place a camera in a small bag inside the tail bag on top of the padding. It has worked well for me.

JohnM Loc: Springfield, Illinois

I carry my D7000 in its normal Lowepro case (camera body and two lenses, one mounted and one not) in the tour pack. Easy enough to open the lid and get the camera out, slide it back, close it up and go.

I also carry a canon p & s in a pocket in the fairing pouch. Easy from the seat to grab, shoot and go.

Years ago I picked up a small bag to carry a p&s camera and its charger. Now I use that to carry an extra battery for the D7000 and chargers for both cameras.

The tripod goes in a saddlebag with a few other soft items that will form fit to the space and I can take my laptop in a soft case that fits easily into a bag that rides on the tour pack luggage rack ( with a rain cover ).

Bottom line plenty of equipment to do almost anything you want and still get to ride.

I still have room in one saddle bag and the majority of the tour pack for cloths, a small cooler, rain gear and odds and ends as needed.

If you think your going to want to take more than that I suggest you look into a small trailer. Its much easier to pull a trailer than ride an over loaded bike.

rick-o

can't read the shirt...

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Doof Clenas

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A lot would depend on the bike and the roads. My Gold Wing on the highway was about the same as riding in a car. I carried the camera wrapped up in cloth in a saddlebag or the trunk.

Ka2azman Loc: Tucson, Az

Agreed. It really depends on the bike and carrying abilities of the bike (bags/no bags). I too have a GW and I go birding at least once a week and take my bike most of the time. The camera is in it's normal soft sided bag placed into one of the bike's bags, along with the binoculars in it's bag, and an extra carrying bag for amenities, as well as a monopod/walking stick. Never had a problem.

For those times desired for quick shots, a P&S camera in a pocket, services.