Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Photo Forum
Photo Forum Everything on Travel Photography, from what kind of equipment to take with you to how to light a subject.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 9 Aug 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 14
Camera gear in backpack or on bike

I'll be riding from Buenos Aires to TDF and back in November and will be taking a digital SLR (Canon 20D) plus four lenses (including a 400mm 5.6 for wildlife). That's too much gear for a tank bag (besides I hate tank bags). Do I carry it in a backpack (where I risk damaging myself in an "off") or in bag attached on the pillion seat (where may very well get shaken to bits on rough roads)?

Your advice please.

Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 9 Aug 2008
Vaufi's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Munich, the beer capital
Posts: 1,046
I haven't any experience with the photo rucksacks, but they are supposed to provide quite a good protection. I instead hate backpacks, esp. when they are heavy And your equipment does sound heavy...

The positive argument for tankbags is that it is fairly well protected when dropping that bike. Besides that, the camera is within easy reach. Additionally my camera is packed into a padded Ortlieb camera bag for white water canoeing, thus the expensive gear is well protected against dust, moisture and shocks. The less used lenses could be stuffed safely in the luggage. Check out the bag here: ORTLIEB product description

Alternatively I tried strapping the camera bag on the rear of the luggage roll, but that wasn't any good. Not quick enough for fast photos


Hans
__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 9 Aug 2008
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: London, England
Posts: 141
I'd say on your back, for a few reasons
- least vibration
- always with you
- could be full of knickers for all a thief knows; alum boxes seem to attract unwanted attention
- bike drops & small crashes won't land you on your back so safer for the kit
- easier to get access to in a hurry?
- easier to move as a whole inside a tent when raining hard
- if you slack off the shoulder straps you can rest the weight on the seat
- you might want to be away from the bike when taking photos

My only concern would be padding to prevent them hurting you in a serious accident, but any injuries would probably be secondary to the severity of the off in the first instance.
__________________
http://bigben.to/ London to....? The big bike annual rally.
http://www.mongolbikers.com 125cc London -> Mongolia.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 9 Aug 2008
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Pelikan case on back

If a pro, hire an assistant in a car to carry your kit.
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 19:09.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10 Aug 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 14
Vaufi

Thanks for the suggestion for a tank bag. But I'd need a large bag (if they make them) and this would be too cumbersome.

Patrick

I appreciate your comments about the amount of gear. The trip is only for a month. If I was travelling further and longer, I'd leave the long lens behind.

I will take a point and shoot digital along, in a pouch around my waist. This will allow quicker shooting (and I won't need to take my helmet off to frame the picture). But I do want to take my DSLR as the smaller cameras just don't cut the mustard for image quality - no contest. I'll be using the DSLR mostly in the morning or evening when not riding and when the light is best. I'm a biologist and part of the attraction of Patagonia is the wildlife, hence the long lens. The P&S will be fine for snapshots.

I rode around NZ's North Island last summer and the South Island the previous summer. I took my Canon 20D and a 10-22 and 28-135 zooms in a small Lowepro camera bag in a backpack on both trips. That worked well and was quick enough to access the gear. It didn't offer much protection for me, but I considered that the risks were low. The chance of an "off" will be higher in Argentina.

I looked at the Lowepro camera backpacks and didn't find anything that really grabbed me. I was interested in the models that carry a laptop between you and the camera gear. I thought about putting a sheet of high density foam in here for (my) protection.

I have considered a Pelican case, but this is quite cumbersome and slow to access gear. I remain unconvinced that it will sufficiently isolate continuous road vibrations. I may be a little paranoid about that, but I had a Canon 300mm lens shake apart on a ride around Australia.

Interested in your comment about the backprotector built into the jacket. My jacket (DriRider Nordic 4) is an excellent jacket, but only has some skimpy foam along the back.

Thanks for the feedback,
Bob
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12 Aug 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: I S T
Posts: 655
Just A Question !



Would like to ask:

You are riding in a nice atmosphere and surroundings. Seen an interesting/nice landscape or happening. What will you do?

Stop first, get off the bike. Take your rucksack off you or open the bag at the rear (if it is Pelikan or such a bag). Take the camera out. Take the appropriate lens. Take the picture.

Or, stop. Open the zip of tank bag without getting off the bike. Take the camera and the nacessary lens which you carry for all day round purpose. Shoot it.

Which one look more sensible?

You must have the wish of taking picture and should not miss any opportunity of taking nice pics.

Think twice...

Enjoy your pics.
__________________
"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12 Aug 2008
Matt Cartney's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 1,350
Hi,

I used to use a photo-backpack to carry photo gear around when I did it for a living. They are the best way to carry gear, IMHO, off the bike. But I would never use one while riding. All that gear weighs a lot and isn't going to help your comfort on long days in the sadlle. Also, in an 'off' you risk the gear getting damaged and worse, you too.

I use individual cases and pack my gear in a pannier with a foam bottom to it. When I get off the bike I take what I want with me in an ordinary day-sack. I've had major spills without suffering damage to the gear. A peli case top box might be a good way of carrying your kit, nice and handy. A friend of mine does this and managed to find a Lowepro camera case that exactly fits in his peli case. He can access the camera while its sitting on the bike, or just lift out the bag and take it with him. A neat system.
I've bounced up and down for many miles on very bad roads and none of my gear has come to harm. My gear is Nikon, but both of the 'big two' make very robust vibration resistant gear.

To be honest I think 4 lenses is excessive. I took a short medium and long zoom (17-22, 28-70, 80-200) on my 'big' trip and found it plenty. Barely used the long zoom, either. Don't take it these days.

Matt
__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12 Aug 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 50
DaKine Sequence

Just a thought but if you go with the backpack option I thought it was worth throwing this in….

I had a look around for packs on a recent trip to Afghanistan – this was my first photo thing and I bought a DaKine Sequence pack. Similar in style to the Lowprowe’s etc but more geared (in theory) towards snowboarding / hiking etc. They are pretty compact but you can get in all the kit you mention in it. They zip on the back side though so you’d have to take it off to access gear. Hard to get a hold off though (I got it via the States and shipped to UK through ebay).

But they do have an internal camera bag (DaKine Camera Block) that you can take out completely….and buy separately if you can find it - £30 in the UK. Dakine Camera Block, facewest.co.uk

On my first bike trip last week (was only a week) I had this camera case stored in my pannier and never took the rucksack. It has a strap on it so you can carry it over the shoulder. I wanted a tank bag to hold stuff and make it more accessible but was spending too much on stuff I never knew if I *really* needed it or not. I found having the camera in the pannier prevented me stopping to take pics and used my point and shoot much more….

If you had a larger tank bag you could pop the camera block in it then pick it up and go.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 25 Aug 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 14
Thanks for the suggestions. I've flagged away the backpack and gone for a tail pack that will sit on the pillion seat and be protected from some of the shocks from the road and not be tossed around as much as in a top box. The Oxford First-timer tail pack holds my small Lowe Pro shoulder bag that holds my 20D with 28-135mm attached and the 10-22mm unattached. My 400mm 5.6 will go in a Lowe Pro case alongside the shoulder bag in the tail pack. The 50mm and a flash will live in the top box with my clothes. I will also carry a Canon point and shoot in a small fanny pack for quick shots.

The only optional piece of equipment is the 400mm. Its small for a 400mm and will give me access to wildlife I've missed on trips around NZ when I've left it at home. If the trip were longer than a month, I might leave it at home.

I'll let you know how I get on!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 25 Aug 2008
AliBaba's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Norway
Posts: 1,379
Tankmounted Lowerpro, small enough to not interfere with your legs when standing up:

Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 25 Aug 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
For very simple security reasons, IMO, DO NOT put your gear into your backback while riding. Especially if you have lenses from heavy side (i.e. 400mm etc).

I can easily come up with a crash scenareo in my mind when bits of your heavy photo gear stick through your spinal cord or lungs on a very serious rolling-crash...

I keep my medium-format equipment in my takbag (over 6 kilograms for body+lenses), it's the closest to the centre of bike thus it's the least-vibrations storage place. Combined with tanbag cover it's completely rain and weatherproof. I get a quick access to my photo gear even without coming off the bike. Tanbag zips off as a backpack - so I can take it with me if going for sightseeing, into hotel etc away from my bike. So a decent tankbag (that also works as a backpack) for photogear - safe, practical and convenient, IMHO.

And NEVER-EVER put your expensive photo gear or any other electronics into top box if riding bad roads or offroad - the most vibrating place on the bike - the farthest away spot from the centre of the bike. I've lost lot of stuff coz of top boxes, including blowed s due to vibrations, even when you soften them with clothes as much as you can . Roads are very bad around here. Top boxes are only good for smooth roads in developed western-world, as soon as going gets rough - it'll vibrate and shake as hell, also affecting the bike's maneuverabiltiy considerably worse. I much prefer waterproof elastic luggage roll now, and I only put the soft stuff there that take alot of room - tent (most below position), sleepingmats, some clothes - keeps the weight down, centre of gravity low, more space than any top box (my roll is up to 105 liters, and I can roll or fold it as small as I like), better waterproofness than any topbox (I've completely drown my roll under water with no leaks) and much better maneuverability of the bike (lower CoG and elastic "self suspension") than with any shaking solid top box. Also in a crash cenareo it is much safer - elastic roll mostly filled with soft stuff will act like a soft "pillow" rather than rock-solid case hitting your back when your bike does a salto in the air and decides to land on your backbone (been there, done that!). The only pro for top box is security (for city-communiting etc), but on a serious long travel every time in a new-unknown place, you rarely leave bike alone in a crowd of people around your bike. For rolls they also sell security net you can put around it and lock it on to the bike, but I've never found a need for it on my travels.



Ride safe, Margus
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Archos and On-Bike camera? craig76 Photo Forum 11 2 Feb 2008 01:23
camera/gear insurance Todd & Christina Photo Forum 5 30 Dec 2007 12:19
Camera Gear and vibrations Bjorn Photo Forum 42 9 Dec 2007 10:48
Backpack on top ? DukeXTZ Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 3 10 Apr 2006 10:00
Laptops, camera and other techno gear Mel D Photo Forum 5 11 Nov 2002 18:26

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:40.