I work part-time as a press photographer and use a Fuiji S5Pro and a Nikon D70s. I like both but for traveling on a bike I prefer the Nikon D70 because of its very long battery life and its mechanical strength.

With a 18-200 lens from Nikon or Sigma, you don't have to take a lot of glass with you, just the 18-200mm. Buy an external flash (like a Nikon SB600) if you can afford it. It will fit in a tankbag or topbox

To protect it from vibrations, dust etc. I always use a good padded camerabag. If I am not taking pictures, the camera is in the bag.

Chris, to quote yourself:

"Life is too short to drink cheap wine"

Likewise for the digital camera arena, it is unlikely that on your travels you will be faced with the same photographic opportunities ever again, hence take the best equipment to take the best photographs you are capable of.
Currently (2009) in the compact range, film cameras are still better. Regretfully these cameras are not as versatile

You asked specific for cameras:

I agree with the Bridge range, but disagree with their practicality and strength within your budget and intended purpose on a motorbike. ie it wont last long.

Compact camera wise, I would like to suggest two:
The Fuji F200, and the Ricoh GX200 (or 300 when it is launched)
The difference between which of these two to buy, being whether or not you are actually going to learn and understand aperture and shutter speed controls. if you are get the Ricoh, if not the Fuji.

The reasons for my suggestions being great quality images at a budget price.
One of the Canon G range is your other choice, which are higher priced but very good too.
And of course the highly recognised Panasonic LX3 or TZ7

for the super zoom range: 'Compact Super Zoom' Camera Group Test (Q2 2009) Review: 16. Conclusions and ratings: Digital Photography Review

I suppose you should go with the superzoom cameras over the ones I suggested, but I am going for the Ricoh myself once my Fuji E900 has died.

Unfortunately there really isnt a fantastic compact digital camera out there and my ageing Fuji was one of the best and still holds its own.
But most depressingly there isnt a decent digital compact camera with AA batteries on the market at present, that is the travelers bane.

The other choices are the Hasselbald Xpan or Mamiya 7 for the ultimate results


Cheers G

i would think you would have to exceed your budget if you went for a nikon dslr even second hand, but assuming you did, the vibration reduced 18-200 lens is a good do everything lens. not cheap tho :( i had one on a D50 which is now very out of date, but produced lovely stuff.
a different viewpoint with justin (case) being more in mind, would be one of the olympus tough series. 10 or now 12 million pixels in a water and therefore dust proof body, lens range is a little limited, battery life is good although it says it going flat days before it does. the charger is small and plugs into a shaver socket, a spare battery is tiny, buy olympus memory cards before you leave since these are the only ones that fit but not too pricey. i had one strapped to my mountainbike bars for a summer no probs. not as good quality as an slr for sure, but less chance of failure perhaps? newist version doesn't have a viewfinder though, how you're expected to frame anything on an lcd screen of any size in bright sunlight i really don't know!!

For travelling and trekking in rugged areas, a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1/TS1 is ideal. Waterproof, dustproof and well built with 12 Megapixel and Leica Lens, hard to beat, the equivalent Olympus is also a great camaera.

JB