Cameras for long motorcycle trip

I would never go on a trip where photo is important without a backup.
two M2s with a couple of screwdrivers for small RF adjusts, and maybe a changing bag, would be my choice, but I do have a light meter.
OTOH, if you mostly plan to shoot outdoor, sunny 16 is your friend.
The CL's sound great too (more compact) although one of them is new to you, so you never know...
 
I never bothered with backup cameras in the 18-20 countries I visited, nor on my motorcycle trip from LA, down Baja, across the ferry to mainland Mexico, down and back up Mexico, and across country to North Carolina. I drove a BMW and shot an old Minolta HiMatic. In Europe I used one Canon IVSB. I think the idea of having duplicates and spares is for people with GAS. You buy quality so you DON'T have to worry about breakdowns. In the 1 out of 1000 times a camera might "break", just motor into another town, look for something on craigslist or in some camera or thrift stores, continue. But that won't happen, how many times do your cameras "just break" at home?
 
There are definitely 2 camps regarding backup. In in the camp where, if photography is an important part of the trip and I'm far from home, I'm definitely carrying backup. On a "rough" trip like a motorcycle tour, a breakdown is more likely than if you are just at home.

But if a single camera is your preference/style, good luck to you.
 
I have a tendency to "bond" with a camera, so the one camera/one lens thing works for me. My last trip was "The trip my M2 and I took cross-country". It was my constant companion and we "experienced" the trip together.

And I'm also a huge fan of the "Keep It Simple Stupid" school of travel.

When do you leave on your trip Frank?

Best,
-Tim
 
I think the Nikon FG is a fine choice for a basic camera, and the 80-200 is excellent, but a little large. There's also the matter of possible breakage.

Instead you might use a 75-150/3.5 E Series manual focus lens. It's over an inch shorter and has a smaller diameter., and can be bought for $100 or less on auction sites. It has outstanding optics, having been used by famous nature photographer Galen Rowell to produce published book photos.

If you couple the 75-150 with a TC-201 Teleconverter, you'd get out to 300mm. The 75-150 + Tele converter is the same physical length as an 80-200, with a smaller diameter.

Another useful accessory is a Nikon Lens Scope Converter, if you can find one, which turns your zoom tele lens into a zoom telescope.

Since you'll be out on the road a lot, I'd also suggest a Widelux or XPan for the panoramic opportunities you'll get. Of course, the XPan can act as a backup standard frame 35mm also, but the Widelux offers that 140* view.

Texsport
 
tomnrides said:
Where's the trip photos, gear, and the bike?
Click to expand...

Me? Here is one, 1989 kodachrome:

6289366824_9390d53b2d_b.jpg
 
Timmyjoe said:
I have a tendency to "bond" with a camera, so the one camera/one lens thing works for me. My last trip was "The trip my M2 and I took cross-country". It was my constant companion and we "experienced" the trip together.

And I'm also a huge fan of the "Keep It Simple Stupid" school of travel.

When do you leave on your trip Frank?

Best,
-Tim
Click to expand...


THAT!!!!😀
 
To me, the point of a trip is to enjoy the trip. I take a few pictures, but photography is not the primary purpose. The primary purpose is to enjoy new places, cultures, scenery. To meet and talk to people. It's hard to immerse yourself when you trying to shoot a picture of everything you see, so I just pull out the camera a few times a day, or take days for photography and days without.

Did Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David Douglas Duncan carry spares? Perhaps, but they were also in combat, or traveling in areas where you'd never buy another camera if you needed one. And I'm not sure they even had spares. They often referenced one particular camera they used for entire assignments or years of work.

Perhaps do what they probably did: have a spare camera at home base, packaged and ready to go. Leave it with a friend with instructions to overnight mail it to your next destination (Post offices will hold a "care of" delivery) IF your primary breaks. Then you can bond with one camera, save space, AND have a backup.
 
I've crossed the country a few times on my motorcycles, most recently last summer. My Nikon S3 lives in the saddle bag, and my ZI in a backpack strapped to the back of the sissybar / luggage rack. I've had several bolts rattle off the bikes, a belt snap, a stator motor die, and body parts fall off the bike itself, but the rangefinders have worked flawlessly. No alignment or damage issues at all. Personally, I wouldn't worry about a backup camera, and the only reason I had two was one was loaded with slide film and the other B&W.

I love wandering the US and Canada for weeks on my bike. Definitely one of the great joys of my life. But I plan for all manner of stuff to break on the bike itself and don't worry anymore about the cameras.

Enjoy the ride.
 
Trip is planned for summer 2014 as a retirement gift to myself. My career as a teacher has been spent being on time and having everything planned. This trip will be the opposite. I'll head south for a week or so, west for a week or so, north for a week or so, and back east until I get home.

The bike will be an old one, depending on which is running the best at that time.
75 Honda cb750, 76 BMW R90, or 81 BMW R100

The larger the group one travels with, the fewer new people one meets along the way, so I'm going on my own.
 
The FG's sound fine, bring lots of film! I took a week and a half off travelling around Texas on my Harley and my iPhone was my video camera of choice as well as the camera for 'happy snaps"! I deciced to shoot some video with it as well that turned out pretty cool! I probably looked like a fool holding it above the handle bars and windscreen and would'nt advise most folks do it but hey ;~)...

Here's a link to a you tube video I made if you have 15 min. or so... http://youtu.be/hp13wKl49oo
Todd

BTW, the antique-y effect was added in youtube, the iPhone video is more like normal looking 🙂.
 
FrankS said:
The larger the group one travels with, the fewer new people one meets along the way, so I'm going on my own.
Click to expand...

Absolutely!

Folks just come up and chat with you when you're riding solo.

Small town in Minnesota, Korean War fighter pilot, outside a Hardees. Great conversation. M2 w/50 cron collapsable, Tri-X.

Sturgis12.jpg


Best,
-Tim
 
Todd, unfortunately I can't watch your video on a mobile device like my ipad.

About cameras: instead of taking 2 FGs or 2 CLs, I could take one of each. FG with 28 and 50, CL with 21 and 40.

Texsport, I'll keep my eyes open for kitschy tourist displays along the way. I may also check out restaurants featured in the TV show: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
 
FrankS said:
About cameras: instead of taking 2 FGs or 2 CLs, I could take one of each. FG with 28 and 50, CL with 21 and 40.
Click to expand...

Frank, if I may, you are limiting the "backup" effect if you do so.
One camera dead mean two lenses dies with it...
 
sanmich said:
Frank, if I may, you are limiting the "backup" effect if you do so.
One camera dead mean two lenses dies with it...
Click to expand...

True that.

Lots of time to figure this out. I may even ultimately decide on just an M2 with Summaron 2.8 and force myself into a one camera one lens situation.
 
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