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Would you carry your 20D and lenses on a motorcycle?

I'm going away for the weekend and want to take my camera (I'm sure all you guys can relate to that)

Only problem is I'm going on my bike this time and not my car. Normally I'd take my G2 and not my 20D

What do you guys think. Am I being irresponsible and fool hardy?

cheers

mal from cessnock
checkout my smugmug

http://malcolm.smugmug.com

Is your gear insured?

The way I see it:

What's the point in having the gear if you're not going to take it with you?Sounds like you're going on a nice trip, I know I'd be taking my camera.

Why not? I can't see a problem unless you are going scratching on a 999, but the fact you are going away for the weekend probably precludes that bike and riding style. I would suggest that we have heard a few stories about dropping their camera on the pavement or walking downstairs, so this is just another risk, as any time the camera is out. I would be more worried about losing a bit of bark than my camera.


If you have a large enough bike and are worried enough, consider a Pelican case, they could probably survive most falls off a bike.

Have you seen the photographers on the tour de france? Sheesh, what are you worried about!

Malcolm

Why do you see a difference between having it in your car or your bike?

Do you see it as more likely to be stolen or more likely to be damaged?

To me the risks are basically the same provided you carry your camera when away from the bike (as you should when away from the car).

If it's insured WHILE AWAY FROM HOME, then it's a no brainer.

Maybe I should have said what my concerns are...

I'm scared stiff of having an accident with my gear on board. It occupies one full panier and a drop on that side would smash my equipment for sure.

Thanks for all your responses, much appreciated

cheers

mal from cessnock
check out my smugmug
http://malcolm.smugmug.com

Geez, man! Why are you thinking this way at all? I'm riding from time to time with my gear but if I'd think about possible accidents (and one just happened with me in the middle of march) I wouldn't ride a bike at all with or without my gear

Mal, if your pannier will fit it, get a Pelican box. They are almost indestructible and would easily survive a dropped bike. Did you look at the link I provided? They have a pic of one being run over by a 4WD.

Motorbikes and bikes have an unfortunate way of creating havoc for cameras due to the fact that vibration is more likely to be generated in introduced into the camera and lenses you may carrying. The result will be screws, mirrors and lens elements getting a shaking and possibly working loose (I managed to shake the rear element out of a near new Hasselblad lens in this manner many years ago and so I know this for a fact).

Ask any camera technician and they will advise you against carrying a camera in any kind of bag that will be physically attached to the bike itself. My advice - if you are still keen then carry the camera in a backpack, at least your body might dampen the vibration.

Good point, Antsl. Actually, I always carry all the gear in backpack, so, I've never thought about this aspect

Glen

Yup I looked at the link and the feeling I get is that they are truly amazing. The images displaying the various models are not large enough to see just exactly each case is carrying, so it's not easy to work out which model would suit your purpose.

I wonder if the measurements on their website are in metric or linear. After all it's a yankee site, but there's no mention.

cheers

mal from cessnock
check out my smugmug
http://malcolm.smugmug.com

http://www.ausmedia.com.au/pelican.htm (the link above)

It's actually an aussie site but the buggers are too lazy to convert from the yank brochures, the measurements are imperial

Mal,

I'd highly recommend one of the Pelican cases for what you have in mind. As others have said, if it's inside a pannier in another case it'll be safe - I know a couple of riders/photogs who use a Pelican case for this.

Pelican cases have an anti-static foam that they refer to as "pick and pluck" - its easy to get the shape for a very secure fit by plucking out the little pre-cut foam squares.

As for vibration. I've had my D70 in a Pelican case at a couple of mining sites and the amount of rattling around in a Cat D11R dozer didn't seem to bother it (also keeps the dust out with the sealing system on the case). I have a couple of spare foam inserts to easily re-organise the internals depending on what I need to take.

And... yet another endorsement for Pelican - a major IT vendor I deal with sends all of their sensitive loan gear around the country in various sized Pelican cases via standard courier. The gear spends a significant amount of time per year in the hands of DHL (Dont Hope it Lives), StarTrack Express (StarTrash) and AAE. They're yet to lose any h/w due to shipping damage (shipping misplacement is another matter).

Do you get the feeling I think they're great...

They're even Wendell-resistant.

ausmedia.com wrote:And remember, smaller does not mean less strong. Micro Cases are just as durable as the larger models. You break it, we replace it… forever.

The sizes in cm to model numbers are here or here

Sold... to the man on the BMW R1150RT

These cases are great. The endorsement they get from the board is good enough for me.

What model do you suggest for 2 lenses, 1 flash & 1 body (with additional gagetry)?

cheers

mal from cessnock
check out my smugmug
http://malcolm.smugmug.com

Just to let you know....he s got a car..... but





Go and enjoy your ride, tomorrow is another day.....

Fab

Just to let you know....he s got a car..... but

You will see all that gear on Ebay shortly, listed as rarely used second camera or lens in next to mint condition

I like the bootcam on the RH side. That's a very rare Nikon model, and not often seen in use.

The brown body though ..... yech!

Jeko70 wrote:Just to let you know....he s got a car..... but

So little respect for his gear!

mark wrote:

Jeko70 wrote:Just to let you know....he s got a car..... but

So little respect for his gear!

It's probly not his own gear.

A carefully engineered photo with each item being delicately placed. Isn't it great to see photographers share a photo with us that makes us all cringe...what emotion...great photography.

Back to the original question: I once took my trusty FE2 on the Sydney to Gong Bike ride and took quite a few photos while riding down the long and winding road from Waterfall through the National Park. Great photos single handed.

I would be more worried about one's personal safety and not the camera on a motorbike. You can replace cameras.

Peter Mc

Na! I'll be right Peter

It's the camera gear I'm worried about

cheers

mal from cessnock
check out my smugmug
http://malcolm.smugmug.com

Hi,

I'd carry the gear in a back pack.
No issues with vibrations.
I've got a KATA R-102.
You can through it with gear accross a room and the gear should remain intact.

Cheers,
CD

CD,

just to be sure, maybe I should look after the 70-200 while you're destruction testing your gear

due to my girth I find a backpack restrictive and movement is very important on a motorcycle

cheers

mal from cessnock
check out my smugmug
http://malcolm.smugmug.com

Hi Daniel,

Yes, I've never actually tried it and probably won't.
I have travelled with the KATA a lot and it is very forgiving with its contents. (I'd still give the VR to you to look after ... )
The KATA is however very well padded.
As a motorcycle rider I'd probably be more concerned about my personal safety.
Then I guess if I came off the bike and was in the position to walk away the camera would be the next important thing after the bike.
I believe that if I survived so would the camera if it was in a KATA.

Cheers,
CD

Mal,

A mate has been carrying his D100 + gear wrapped in a towel in the tank bag on his Blackbird for years now ( along with the laptop ). Although he has never had an accident he's not overly concerened about the vibration either ( and he's living is photography ).

He even has the Givvi panniers but there for the wifes shoes.

When I've ridden with my gear it's on my back in the lowepro backpack. But that's cause it always lives in the backpack so why repack in the tank bag.

Cheers

I carry my camera gear in a backpack when mountain biking very often. It does make me ride a bit more conservatively, walking technical bits of track I might otherwise try to ride. Camera and lenses are usually just wrapped in bubble wrap, a compromise between protection and the space taken by lens cases. I've been doing this for years with no problems.

Gordon

You will see in my avitar the givi bag on the trump. I plan to get a big bit of foam, shape it to the givi, and cut holes in it for the gear I want to take biking. To date I haven't needed to, but I will get around to it.
Bikes - the only way to go (even in winter in Tassie...)