Traveling with a DSLR (Motorcycle)
Feb 20, 2013 21:57:05 #
On past Motorcycle trips I have taken my point and shoot and it has worked out good. This year having more control over my DSLR (Olypmus e-520), I am considering taking it with me on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice, pro and con experiences etc. If you know of some type of case / packing that works, stuff to stay away from. My thanks goes out in advance. I'll be traveling through the New England Area (just found a covered bridge tour) and thought it would be really great to have the DSLR
Feb 21, 2013 00:29:22 #
Lens Cap wrote:
On past Motorcycle trips I have taken my point and shoot and it has worked out good. This year having more control over my DSLR (Olypmus e-520), I am considering taking it with me on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice, pro and con experiences etc. If you know of some type of case / packing that works, stuff to stay away from. My thanks goes out in advance. I'll be traveling through the New England Area (just found a covered bridge tour) and thought it would be really great to have the DSLR
I carry mine in its normal case in my top case. No issues on a 2500 mile trip last year and gearing up for this year's trip.
Now I have to admit my nice smooth Bimmer has been replaced by one of those nasty vibrating Harleys so I might put a bit of foam under it to compensate. But so far no issues on trips of a few hundred miles.
Feb 21, 2013 03:04:28 #
My motorcycle travels have been mostly with a P&S (the 'tough' Olympus Mju).
i realised that i could probably get better pics with a better camera, which set me off... tried a bridge Nikon L100. hated it. okay portable, but hard to get it to do what i wanted (poor research by me).
Moved on to my D5000. Love the camera, bought various lenses to compliment, and a camera backpack which fits within my Baglux tankbag, so it's well packed and padded. The drawback here is the faff to get 'er out quickly. with the Mju it sits in the top right waterproof jacket pocket, and can be yanked out with left hand whilst still moving.
I've just bought a heavily-discounted V1, which i'm hoping might bridge (pun intended) the gap!
safe riding friend
i realised that i could probably get better pics with a better camera, which set me off... tried a bridge Nikon L100. hated it. okay portable, but hard to get it to do what i wanted (poor research by me).
Moved on to my D5000. Love the camera, bought various lenses to compliment, and a camera backpack which fits within my Baglux tankbag, so it's well packed and padded. The drawback here is the faff to get 'er out quickly. with the Mju it sits in the top right waterproof jacket pocket, and can be yanked out with left hand whilst still moving.
I've just bought a heavily-discounted V1, which i'm hoping might bridge (pun intended) the gap!
safe riding friend
Feb 21, 2013 06:32:32 #
Having been a camera toting motorcyclist for 45 years I think I can answer a couple of questions here.
First thing - long term vibration (both MC and car) can loosen screws! Like completly!
Second, dust WILL invade pretty much every container but a properly closed Pelican case.
Third, falls - once again a Pelican case is the best container for protection (no, I don't have anything to do with Pelican other than being a fan and owning 3 different sizes).
Fourth - re falls - the best place to carry is in a top box so as not to be directly in contact with the ground. And again Pelicans can withstand more than most side or top boxes!
That's it for pontificating.
Also be aware that you can take a smaller container by removing the lens from camera body and packing side by side.
Safe and enjoyable riding friend.
G.C.
Currently 2012 V Strom 650.
First thing - long term vibration (both MC and car) can loosen screws! Like completly!
Second, dust WILL invade pretty much every container but a properly closed Pelican case.
Third, falls - once again a Pelican case is the best container for protection (no, I don't have anything to do with Pelican other than being a fan and owning 3 different sizes).
Fourth - re falls - the best place to carry is in a top box so as not to be directly in contact with the ground. And again Pelicans can withstand more than most side or top boxes!
That's it for pontificating.
Also be aware that you can take a smaller container by removing the lens from camera body and packing side by side.
Safe and enjoyable riding friend.
G.C.
Currently 2012 V Strom 650.
Feb 21, 2013 07:12:26 #
On my last extended m/c tour, 1800 miles in Oregon, Wash. and all over BC, I took 3 with me. A p&s in my pocket, for quick shots, a fuji bridge for those times I saw something interesting when taking rest and stretch breaks, and my Nikon DSLR for in the evenings when walking around campgrounds or the occassional motel. Carried the DSLR in the tour pac, (HD Geezer Glide), in its regular case, inside a large zip lock bag and padded with some clothing. There were times I was glad to have the DSLR but for the most part actually more pain than I would do again.
Feb 21, 2013 07:43:32 #
Lens Cap wrote:
On past Motorcycle trips I have taken my point and shoot and it has worked out good. This year having more control over my DSLR (Olypmus e-520), I am considering taking it with me on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice, pro and con experiences etc. If you know of some type of case / packing that works, stuff to stay away from. My thanks goes out in advance. I'll be traveling through the New England Area (just found a covered bridge tour) and thought it would be really great to have the DSLR
I have taken point and shoot, bridge and DSLRs on my MC trips. I always carried them in the tour pack of my H-D Electraglide. I find that the DSLR is a pain as it takes up too much room (my wife packs heavier than I do) and I always end up wanting the "other" lenses I did not bring (again, due to space constraints). So now I bring the P&S, which fits into my jacket nicely so I always have it on me, and concentrate on enjoying the ride. To me a bridge camera would also be a good compromise.
Feb 21, 2013 08:59:32 #
I have done a lot of traveling on Harley motorcycles, both two and three-wheelers. I keep my Canon DSLR in its original Caon case in the top trunk without any problems at all. When I know I may have to get to my camera in a hurry, I just use the neck strap and still have had no problems.
Feb 21, 2013 09:18:39 #
Lens Cap wrote:
On past Motorcycle trips I have taken my point and shoot and it has worked out good. This year having more control over my DSLR (Olypmus e-520), I am considering taking it with me on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice, pro and con experiences etc. If you know of some type of case / packing that works, stuff to stay away from. My thanks goes out in advance. I'll be traveling through the New England Area (just found a covered bridge tour) and thought it would be really great to have the DSLR
Have some experience with motor cycle trips and both of us are photographers so we take a bunch of equipment. Three weeks out west, small bag on windshield with rain gear. tripod across handlebars or across passenger seat behind me. both saddle bags have leathers and extra shoes.
large travel bag on rack in the back( cloths rolled enough for about four days then you have to find laundry matt. The cameras are on bag on top of close bag with two camera and a good mixture of lens to share with each other. Now we look like the Beverly Hillbillies going down the road but we have what we need!! lol
Feb 21, 2013 11:36:17 #
Lens Cap wrote:
On past Motorcycle trips I have taken my point and shoot and it has worked out good. This year having more control over my DSLR (Olypmus e-520), I am considering taking it with me on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice, pro and con experiences etc. If you know of some type of case / packing that works, stuff to stay away from. My thanks goes out in advance. I'll be traveling through the New England Area (just found a covered bridge tour) and thought it would be really great to have the DSLR
Wow, this brought out a few bikers to respond. LOVE IT! I too have had my share of Harley trips with a scaled down DSLR from my working DSLR (work DSLR is a Canon 1Dx..ride around is an older Canon 40d). I have always used a small zipped case but keep the camera in a gallon sized freezer zip-lock inside the case. I've never, I mean never had dirt or dust inside the zip-lock. It also protects the camera in cold weather (in case you decide to take it in a warm building). The condensation will form on the outside of the zip-lock and not on the outside of your camera. I also use bubble wrap around the camera inside the small case. It tends to cut down on some of the vibration.
Feb 21, 2013 11:53:36 #
I just carry mine in the tour pack of my HD Ultra. I usually have some other stuff in there, as well, and pack it around the camera. Have had no problems at all. If I take more than the one lens, I throw it all in my camera back pack in put that in the tour pack.
Feb 21, 2013 11:58:51 #
Well you all have given me something to think about.
I have often tossed a Canon 50D with a 300 attached (which is kind of a back up to the 7D) in a soft bag into the saddle bags of my 03 HD Wide Glide but only for short trips.
Did not give much consideration to the vibration and dust factor, but will now.
I have often tossed a Canon 50D with a 300 attached (which is kind of a back up to the 7D) in a soft bag into the saddle bags of my 03 HD Wide Glide but only for short trips.
Did not give much consideration to the vibration and dust factor, but will now.
Feb 21, 2013 12:22:47 #
albertaoldie
Loc: Lloydminster Alberta
My DSLR travels with me on every ATV trip through some insane terrain on my front rack. Bought a small cooler which is naturally waterproof and lined the inside with 2 inch upholstery foam and also cut a piece to fit on top before closing the lid. Realize motorcycle is different than jumping logs/deadfall/rock strewn creeks and rivers, however the point is with sufficient padding my camera has suffered no ill effects from the torture........cannot say the same about my body !! My son usually leads with the attitude ATV's go anywhere ! Good luck on your trip.
Feb 21, 2013 12:35:04 #
Bram boy
Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada
Lens Cap wrote:
On past Motorcycle trips I have taken my point and shoot and it has worked out good. This year having more control over my DSLR (Olypmus e-520), I am considering taking it with me on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice, pro and con experiences etc. If you know of some type of case / packing that works, stuff to stay away from. My thanks goes out in advance. I'll be traveling through the New England Area (just found a covered bridge tour) and thought it would be really great to have the DSLR
Just take it . If you have a full bagger , you have tons of room . I have a tmax its the same as a burgman or silver wing . I take my dslr and a 70-300 zoom every time i ride. No problems yet .
Feb 21, 2013 14:24:51 #
I put 6000 miles on my 95th Anniversary H.D. carrying my K10 in a Tamrac bag. Worked great and is still working great! Just put it in the tour pack and away we went.
Feb 21, 2013 15:45:32 #
wuzfuzzab
Loc: Red Deer, Alberta
Lens Cap wrote:
On past Motorcycle trips I have taken my point and shoot and it has worked out good. This year having more control over my DSLR (Olypmus e-520), I am considering taking it with me on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice, pro and con experiences etc. If you know of some type of case / packing that works, stuff to stay away from. My thanks goes out in advance. I'll be traveling through the New England Area (just found a covered bridge tour) and thought it would be really great to have the DSLR
Last June I did a 10,600km trip on the bike. I have a 'lazy rider'(round) bag for trips. Serves as a backrest and hold tons of gear. My T3i just sat on top of the clothes in the bag with a towel wrap=not a problem. Long lens was in there also in just a old leather lens bag.
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