speaking of cameras ...
 

PaulD

I am one of those people who would say you are MAD MAD MAD!

I do envy your passion and knowledge of photography though

MAD I say.

Cheers mate.

I do tend to use a polariser at times (probably under use it) and a graduated ND filter at other times (definitely over use it).

I am a bit of a lazy mans photographer. I compromise a lot on lens quality and set up of shots, because at the end of the day I prefer being on the bike and on the move, and travelling as light as possible. So the way I shoot travel images is just me trying to get the most impact and interest, with the least amount of effort and relatively cheap gear.

As you are now a Jupiters Traveller, and I am now one of the Committee of Advisors, I am happy to have a beer with you Henry and have a chat about tips to get more impact from your photography as simply as possible, without going over the top.

There are a number of cameras available now which aim to bridge the gap between compacts and DSLRs. Mainly using the M4/3 format, they have the aps-c size sensor, similar to many DSLRs, and interchangeable lenses. The bodies are much smaller although they do lack the optial viewfinder. Worth looking into. Search for Olympus pen but there are other makes. If I was spending cash now I would investigate this type. I like my Sigma dp1s though, despite its limitations (fixed 28mm eqiv lens, not great for low light and slow time between shots). The prime lens, while a limitation, contributes to very high quality images.

I carry a Canon 5D, 1-3 lenses, flash, and a pocket digital as a backup.

Definitely a pain to have so much fragile & expensive stuff with you on a trip, and they take up space, and weight quite a bit, too. But image quality on that full-frame sensor makes it worthwile (for me). I know I´d get at least 90% of that from a much lighter and cheaper camera.

I ended up opting for a Nikon D5100 + 18-200mm VRII lens kit for $1500 from amazon. Might grab a 50mm 1.8 soon. The camera and lens is perfect, in that it takes great photos and the broad lens means you don't have to change so much. Haven't been riding with it much yet but will be soon. Now looking for a decent tank bag to take on the trip which will fit it and a small laptop as well!

putting together my travel camera kit.. drawback is it's pretty darn heavy and overkill. definitely not fragile gear. D2H gets banged around without a whimper. advantage is world class photo's if you do your part.

Nikon D2H with Nikkor prime lens, 50mm f1.4, 18-70mm F3.5, 70-300mm f4 with a few filter and SB28DX speedlight. two li-ion packs & 12v charger. light weight tripod and filters.

Nikon D2H shoots at only 4 megpix, so folks tend to under rate this camera. that's why you can pick one up for $400 range (loosing a D2H would not be painful as a D3). what folks don't grasp is how those 4meg are used. in Raw format properly exposed, good for 20inx30in prints. or plenty good for 99% of my needs. besides web pics never require more than display's resolution.

here's the whole enchilada at 8lbs (without tripod)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC08949.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC08945.jpg

Nice setup mate. Where do you carry this when you're riding?

thanks... still in process of figuring out what goes where.

here's the setup so far, R80G/S PD with soft side/tank bags. plans are to add a lockable aluminum top box only (no side aluminum cases). camera gear will travel in top box.

http://www.happy-trail.com/images/1.25/HTB_47_m.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...01120002-1.jpg

Just a quick one, I was looking at buying a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens. There are two options... a 1.8G and a 1.8D. Does anyone know what the big difference between these is?

Personally I prefer to keep cameras on the tank - great vibration isolation, and much less pounding than in a top box at the back! :mchappy:

Good:
The tank is a big mass of weight sitting on rubber mounts, in the center of the bike. Perfect.

Bad:
Top box is at one end of the bike - swings up and down a LOT doh compared to the center of the bike - and no vibration damping at all, unless it's on rubber mounts, and even then not much.

We carried three cameras over 5 continents and never even had a screw come loose. Excess lenses we carried as far forward in the right saddlebag (non-exhaust side) and high up as possible, same thinking, plus easy access.

For vibration damping we used special foam rubber mat for shipping electronic equipment. Closed cell stuff, not squishy open cell rubbish. 12 mm underneath, and 4 mm in front and inside of bag. Worked a treat.

I've seen lots of laptops carried in top boxes - and they don't fare as well as you'd like. And of course I've seen a top box launched over the top of a guys bike on a big bump! :rofl:

and more than a few tales of lost top boxes...

hope that helps!

thanks... was thinking I was crazy for bringing along that much camera gear. will put rubber bumpers on top box with a separate locking cable in case box comes loose.

looks like camera in tank bag, lens, charger, ipad, etc in right side bag in water proof canoe bags.

main reason for top case is to have one place to lock things up. going with soft side panniers instead of aluminum. with camera gear weighting 8lb. going minimalist on rest of gear.

too many models to keep track of...

Nikkor lens came in three different flavors with lots of minor differences in between.

1. original Nikkor lens were manual focus, manual metering

2. then came AF Nikkors on film cameras. need motor on camera body to drive auto focus. electronically coupled for AF and metering.

3. then came AF DX lens with motor inside lens, full electronic coupling

4. then came AF FX lens for full frame sensor bodies, full electronic coupling. motor inside lens

hope this helps ...

All depends on your purpose, preferences and what you want to do! Oh yeah, and it helps prove you're not crazy if you know what you're doing with it all!

We carried 2 Canon SLR bodies, one pro EOS1N and one amateur EOS Rebel. All circa 1996, so film! Also an Olympus weatherproof point and shoot, whioch was heavily used and lived in Susan's jacket at all times for quick shots.

My lenses:
28-105 3.5/4.5
20-35 2.8 L
70-200 2.8L
1.4 x and 2x Canon extenders for 70-200. Great for animals in Africa.

Susan:
28-70
100-300 f4/5.6
Her kit was ultralight!
Mine was all HEAVY.

Also a collection of filters: polarizers, graduated ND's (very useful) a couple of strong warming, a "sunset" filter, and of course haze filters lived on all lenses always.

I carried a Gitzo carbon fibre "Mountaineer" tripod which got a lot of use. TIP: Make VERY sure it's super easy to get at or you won't use it! 15 seconds tops!

300 rolls of film :(
Lens cleaners and all the usual crap.

And of course a bag to carry a set each in, etc.

I am sooooo jealous of guys travelling now with digital...

Yikes... 300 rolls of film... compared to today's 32gig flash memory.
way back then I shot with Nikon F and Hasselblad. still got both cameras but it's been quite some time since I shot film.

there's a new photo lab trend that delivers 24meg digital scans along with regular pictures/negatives. for about $16 per roll. this gives all the 35mm film cameras a new lease on life. North Coast Photographic Services

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC08953.jpg

Traveling with a slr kit can be a pita. On every trip I've regretted some shots I didn't take because I was bored/tired to go through the procedure.

The fasted/easiest way I've found out until now, is to have the slr with a usefull lens (quite different for each one) on the tank bag where with a single unzip to get the camera and take the shot. The rest is left on a sidecase. I don't any padding or extra bag on ether one, although on the sidecase I try to place them on a fixed position between some soft stuff (clothes, etc). I didn't had any issues after 25k km. On the last two trips though in Iceland and Tuscany I took with me just one lens, a 50mm & 28mm respectively :) .

ν.