Biking and Photography

Beav

Beav

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Hello.

Im into biking and photography and I often leave my camera at home because I don't want to go riding with a DSLR + 2 lenses in my bag. Is there anyone else who takes there DSLR camera out while biking? Obviously I don't go jumping/riding hard when the camera is in the bag but the general riding from place to place often puts me of taking my camera out with me.

Am I being over protective about my camera?
 
Def not worth damaging your DSLR mate! Why not buy a compact camera for when you are out on your bike?
 
samems said:
Def not worth damaging your DSLR mate! Why not buy a compact camera for when you are out on your bike?
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Well at the moment I don't have a car (I have my theory test this Wednesday) so if I wan't to go out of town I have to take my bike. I do have a HTC desire HD which produces good photos but not of other riders riding.

There is one place where we go and thats just 10 minute ride and I usually walk that as its up a big hill then its all downhill on the way back so the camera doesn't get jolted so much. Its just if we head out to the woods then its going to jolted a bit more when riding on dirt
 
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I find a bike trailer makes it easy to cart my gear about locally, and you can more easily get to places that cars can't reach.
 
Cameras are pretty tough just put some extra padding in your bag and don't worry about it, and if the worst should happen you can buy another 400d for not much used. If you were using a new £3000 5d iii then maybe leave it at home!
 
mrwaverley said:
Cameras are pretty tough just put some extra padding in your bag and don't worry about it, and if the worst should happen you can buy another 400d for not much used. If you were using a new £3000 5d iii then maybe leave it at home!
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£400 is like £3000 to me at the moment. Working 4 hours a week in retail + voluntary work despite studying IT for 3 years + 1 year business course and work experience while at college :( I see what your saying though. I don't actually have camera bag but I have a rucksack with the box the camera came in with bubble wrap :D
 
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Sorry I thought 400d's were under £200, but I sill think cameras are fairly durable as long as you're reasonably careful with them. Look out for old camera bags in charity shops or boot sales, I bought a lovely padded bag for £2, I think it was an early laptop bag but it fits a DSLR and a couple of lenses. Good luck.
 
mrwaverley said:
Sorry I thought 400d's were under £200, but I sill think cameras are fairly durable as long as you're reasonably careful with them. Look out for old camera bags in charity shops or boot sales, I bought a lovely padded bag for £2, I think it was an early laptop bag but it fits a DSLR and a couple of lenses. Good luck.
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My bad, yeah £170. Yeah ile keep an eye out in charity shops. I was recommended to buy pictures from chairty shops and strip the picture out and put my own in. :D
 
I've cycled and carried cameras for years now, without incident. If I'm on the bike, I generally cary the camera in a CCS hoster case, but on a long strap, across my body.

CCS cases are excellent, and VERY well padded.
 
i used to take mine out with me mountain biking and even had a couple of offs without incident.
I tend to use a small pouch with pleanty of padding and then place that inside my normal riding backpack. As i normally take an extra layer or 2 and waterproof jacket there is normally a little bit in there to pad it round further. Main thing is to get it snug in the backpack so it don't rattle about in there.
Oh and make sure that your tools are in secure pockets and not likely to jump about in there ;-)
 
It would probably be OK in a backpack style bag, trouble is that takes a degree of determination to stop and take it off to get the thing out!
A decent compact in a pocket is much easier and could even be carried for those quick shots in addition to the SLR on your back.
 
Personally, I think you're worrying far too much, it's a camera, not a china doll. If its wrapped up I think you've taken reasonable steps to protect it, it's not taking any sharp or direct blows. For all those that have their camera delivered by post or courier, don't you think they're likely to have a bumpy ride throughout their journey, with no-one caring that the box gets a particularly soft ride.

Wrap it in bubble wrap, and take it with you. The only risk I really perceive is to you if you fell off, a solid lump like an SLR digging in your spine etc if you hit the dirt could be a very unpleasant experience, and the reason I never rode (motorbikes) with a bag on, I always attached luggage to the bike, not me.
 
Is it insured? (Worth checking that it would be covered while riding your bike though)
 
I've yet to find really cheap camera insurance. Cover seems to start at 10% of camera value, plus government insurance tax and VAT.
 
I have a rack and box on the back of my bike, something like this -

http://designclassicsonly.blogspot.co.uk

My camera and its lenses still in the bag, fit in the box quite tightly.

I ride to shoot, I do not ride for the sake of riding, my bike is camera equipment...:)
 
Beav said:
No its not insured. How much could I get it insured for? Im tempted to get rid of my phone insurance because it doesn't even cover me for screen damage.
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dougdarter said:
I've yet to find really cheap camera insurance. Cover seems to start at 10% of camera value, plus government insurance tax and VAT.
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There's plenty of threads regarding specific equipment insurance - but it's well worth checking your home policy because many of them will cover your photography kit (so long as you're not considered "Professional"), and if they don't it's not normally a lot to have it added as a specific line item.
 
I've done it, but slimmed the gear down,

one backpack and a tripod attached to it in its own case, it didn't weigh a lot at all, the hardest part was riding the bike not carrying the gear.

:)
 
joxby said:
I have a rack and box on the back of my bike, something like this -

http://designclassicsonly.blogspot.co.uk

My camera and its lenses still in the bag, fit in the box quite tightly.

I ride to shoot, I do not ride for the sake of riding, my bike is camera equipment...:)
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Wouldn't go to well on my bike, lol. Its a freeride style bike. Put a fair bit of cash in to it. Biking has been a hobby of mine since a very young age and im now 21. Im to scared to work out the money ive spent on bikes. lol
 
ha ha, wait until you get to 40 and realise the amount you have spent on bikes over the years!!!!!
Like i said i've took my old Sony A450 out with me quite often, and i ride quite hard(agressive xc/freeride/mess about) and have come off a couple of times without incedent to camera :-)
 
I Used to take my 40d out with me in a Lowepro backpack. The padded camera compartment prevented too much movement on the down hill sections.
Best get a backpack with good padding and a waist strap to stop it bouncing.

I think the new Lowepro sprot ranges even have drawstrings to tighten up the padding around the camera.
 
I've been mountain biking in Wales (Afan etc) a few times with my DSLR, I even took a few falls and my gear was fine.

I had my kit in a Dakine Sequence camera bag (which will be going on the classifieds soon) LowePro and FStop gear also do action sport specific bags which would be suitable.
 
I tend to fall off when off road so I'd not take anything other than a compact if I was taking a camera lol
 
yep my camera goes everywhere with me - which includes my bike, although I'm not doing sport cycling, just pedalling from a to b

so it either goes in my handlebar saddlebag (£7 from Asda) or in my backpack

in fact my bike is my main form of transport for local shooting :)

when I came off my bike recently my main concern was for my camera lol, never mind the bike or me...
 
I bought a Camelbak HAWG for the very purpose of fitting the SLR in there when I go skiing and mountain biking.

I don't take it with me all the time mountain biking, but when I'm in the mood for a photo session it comes with me. I've taken numerous tumbles with it on skis and bike, and camera is fine, and it's done tough trails including downhill, though I've not hit it hard if I know the camera is in there. It's my old D70 and I'm used to that being thrown around and battered (barely a scratch on it though) and I generally just stick on an all rounder lens like the 18-70, 18-200. Goes snug inside and the water bladder when filled acts as padding, as do the layers of pockets on the front.

Mind you, the camera is only a fraction of the price of the bike which may be why I'm not too fussed ;)

Problem I've got though is I want to do some serious MTB action photography and need a newer/better camera with a good fast rapid shutter, and maybe even video. That's way more value and I'm be hesitant about taking it. Though maybe take it to shoot people doing the big stuff and I take it easy.
 
My gear goes most places with me on my Lambretta and that shakes, a lot. My gear goes in a Kata DR465i Rucksack.
 
You'll be surprised at what it'll take, the odd knock and bump on the bike will be fine, especially if you've got it in a box and in bubble wrap. It'll certainly stand up to being dropped a few times.

sounds like you take good care of it whilst out and about but you'll probably find it's covered on your home insurance anyway should the worst happen... "it was on the worktop and the kids knocked it onto the floor" ;)
 
I've carried a 7D with 70-200 f/2.8 fitted in a Camelbak HAWG in the Alps, even took a 20' roll down hill in a wood when I came off to come out unscathed. I just made sure the bladder was on the outside, the HAWG has the advantage of having two bladder compartments and also used the foam/polystyrene padding stuff you normally have packed around DVD players etc to cover it around the other sides.

For casual biking I use the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip System to secure it onto my Camelbak shoulder strap so it's instantly useable rather than the faff of ruck sack off etc, just make sure it has a cover as the dust gets everywhere and the lens has a velcro strap to stop it banging around.
 
I bought a block of closed cell foam from ebay and cut a hole in it for the camera, which then goes in a camelback. Seems to work pretty well as the camera has some padding in case of a crash, but is still easy to get to.
 
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