Cameras for long motorcycle trip

[thegman]

So I'm thinking this may be my kit. FG with 28, FG with 50, 80-200, Rollei AF35M point and shoot. The Perkeo ll is the smallest 6x6 I have.

Looks good to me. The compact with built in flash is great for bars etc. Sometimes I get my favourite photos from trips with a little compact, not the Hasselblad on the tripod which I fussed over so much.

 

[FrankS]

The Rollei will be in my jacket pocket and the rest fits easily in my tank bag, with foam padding.

I'll have hard side bags and a duffle bag behind me.

Vince, I would not/could not conceive doing this trip with with just one camera. Just me.

 

[Moto-Uno]

My oh my,a single overhead cam 750 . If you ever get to Vancouver and need a bit help with the bike,pm me,I used to service those things when they were new.Those small Nikons are a tough couple of cameras. A bike trip like this should put you back in fine condition.
Have fun!! Regards,Peter

 

[Vics]

I had thought of taking 2 Nikon FG's with 28, 50, and 80-200 zoom. The trip would be about 5 weeks long, driving around the US, and photography will be an important aspect of the trip. A backup camera is a must....

I think that's exactly right. Especially if you're gonna be out west. Have a great time!

 

[aad]

Not your BMW? I am shocked!

Should be fun. My wife wants to tour out west, I'll keep an eye out for your bike. We'll be on one or two Guzzis.

 

[FrankS]

I've had the BMW's for 15 years or so. The Honda is new and exciting.

Peter, I wish you were closer to the beginning of my trip. Syncing the 4 carbs is intimidating the first time.

The Perkeo ll is the smallest 6x6 camera I have. It doesn't take up much room and I'm sure there will be landscapes worthy of a medium format negative.

I could live without the tele-zoom.

 

[zb3]

I have done several extended motorcycle trips and my small camera that works great is a Canonet. My slrs just get in the way. Have a great trip

 

[bitfeng]

Rollei 35S. The most reliable, most brilliant, in the smallest package.

 

[venchka]

I've had the BMW's for 15 years or so. The Honda is new and exciting.

Peter, I wish you were closer to the beginning of my trip. Syncing the 4 carbs is intimidating the first time.

The Perkeo ll is the smallest 6x6 camera I have. It doesn't take up much room and I'm sure there will be landscapes worthy of a medium format negative.

I could live without the tele-zoom.

Amen Brother! Medium format always belongs on any adventure.
Will you be in Texas at anytime? I'm in Houston. Give me a shout if you get close.

Combining the Nikonos technology with Joe's digital idea, there are a number of waterproof digital cameras on the market that aren't any bigger than iPhone.

Frank,
Do you already own two Nikonos cameras? If not, maybe you can find a clean, low mileage Pentax IQ Zoom 105WR (WR for Weather Resisitance) camera. I own the non-WR version and the 38-105 lens is a keeper. Full auto exposure, close up capability, many clever features.

 

[Moto-Uno]

"aad" out on your Guzzi's,people after my heart ! I have a few of those myself.
Great bikes for hauling around camera gear and my sorry arse...
Regards,Peter

 

[rjbuzzclick]

On a camping trip a few years ago I took a Pentax K1000 with a 50mm lens and an Ansco Speedex Jr 6x6 folder. It seemed like a good pairing. The Speedex had a few screws in the shutter loosen up from the vibration, but not until after I got home. I ride an '81 Yamaha XS650, so I had probably the equivalent amount of vibration in those four days that you'll have in five weeks!

 

[Godfrey]

I had thought of taking 2 Nikon FG's with 28, 50, and 80-200 zoom. The trip would be about 5 weeks long, driving around the US, and photography will be an important aspect of the trip. A backup camera is a must.

Last night I processed some film including a roll that I shot with a Nikonos V and that got me to thinking that maybe a couple of these with 35mm lenses, one for 100 speed film the other with 400, would be a simpler alternative to consider.

Whatever I take needs to be no fuss, rugged, and not expensive. This excludes my Leica M2's with no built in meter and shock sensitive RF.

Any thoughts?

I did a two month trip like this with Leica M6TTL (24 and 50mm) and Nikon FM2n (35, 85, 105mm), riding around the UK and Europe for three months using friends' Laverda 1000, Benelli 650, and hopping trains. The equipment had no problems whatever. The gear was carried in a Domke F3X bag, which sat in a padded bag strapped to the passenger section of the seat.

It was too much gear, for sure ... never did a trip with that much camera gear along again. I found I made more and better photos with just the Leica and two/three lenses, or the FM with two/three lenses. None of my gear has ever broken on the road, unless I did something stupid and broke it (once), so I stopped carrying backups and carried more money instead. A lot lighter and easier to carry, and I realized there's nearly nowhere I want to travel that I can't find a store somewhere that will sell me another camera.

On my last long trip, I had the Ricoh GXR-M with 21, 40 and 90mm lenses, and a pinhole lens. It all fit in a light, small bag, including all the other junk I tend to have along, and would be perfect for a motorcycle trip. For film, substitute the GXR-M with a Leica M4-2 or CL body, and reserve half again the volume for carrying film.

G

 

[FrankS]

I'm rethinking my camera choice. I just bought another CL, giving me a pair of them, and a new idea.

Now, I'm thinking one CL with Nokton 40 (for probably 80% of my shots), a second CL with CV21 (and viewfinder), and my Elmar 90.

Or maybe a Canon 28 instead of the 21.

 

[back alley]

i bet the 21/40 would be just fine...i'm looking forward to that combo with my fujis...

 

[skibeerr]

The CL idea seems brilliant. 40 and 21 is perfect maybe a small gorillapod to use on your bike. I bet the 90 won't be used much although it is so small it's a good thing to have it when you need it.

I did my last trek in India with an M6 and 21/50/90 worked really well.

 

[Peter_wrote:]

my personal approach for such trips is to take a full manual, "serious" camera with a normal lens and a p&s with a wide lens with me.

so i have a serious camera for the joy of photography and a small, handy one which is easy to use. i think, sitting at home, some underestimate how annoying it could get, always have to unpack a big camera every time you want to take a photo.
i am more experienced with bicycle trips, but i think with a motorcycle it's quite the same.

i also think, that it makes more sense to take two very different cameras with you. because they complement then each other.
the one with manual control, normal lens,.. the other small, with af, integrated flash (which could be sometimes useful too),...

so in your case, i would take the nikon or the cl with a normal and maybe additional a tele lens and some sort of p&s (i prefer the mju II for such things. because it is really shirt pocketable and weatherproof. but there are also some p&s with a 28mm)

 

[ray*j*gun]

I did a week to Fla and back from Pa on my 99 Harley Low rider (FXR3 Evo motor no counter balance) and I took 2 of my Nikkormats and a few lenses. Some weight of course but I never missed a shot and never used the back up body.

 

[dave lackey]

Frank, just thinking...having ridden HD and BMW touring bikes all up and down the east coast for years, Spring is upon us and brings back memories.

One camera, one lens (or two) and an app that allows you to contact an RFF member anywhere along your route should you need a backup camera, film, tires, food, lodging, or just a friendly person to talk to....🙂

 

[FrankS]

Thanks for the input!

Ray, which lenses did you take?

 

[ray*j*gun]

Frank, I took a 50 1,2 AIS a 105 AIS and a 35 AIS. As I said the weight was a little more than it could have been but the room needed wasn't a big deal. One of the Nikkormats was the one that I brought back from 'Nam and had been serviced about 5 years ago. Nice thing is the market value of the two bodies was a joke so no worries.... the lenses however are a different story.

Oh and the nice thing about the Nikkor glass is I only needed one hood 52mm.