Compact film camera for bicycle touring

[Asim]

Recently I asked which camera would be a good backup for a Leica MP. Many suggested another Leica MP. As desirable as this may be, I realized that my backup camera will be my main camera for my bicycle tours (up to 4 days long) where I wouldn't want to take a Leica MP under such conditions (vibrations, falls, rain, condensation, etc).

I would like suggestions for a film camera to be used with slide film that would be nice to take on a bicycle tour. It could be a fixed lens camera or even an interchangeable lens body. Either way, I would like something compact and durable. I prefer things that can withstand harsh conditions, hence less electronics. But I still do like a built in meter (but not totally necessary).

Do you have any suggestions?
How about the Minolta CLE, Leica CL, Voigtlander Bessa, or Olympus XA. I'm thinking along these lines. Any recommendations would be welcome.

Thank you

 

[Rom]

I would suggest one of the Olympus XA. It will be very useful and very quick to use which can be an advantage on a bicycle tour.

And also, if, unfortunately, you dropped it, it will not be a huge amount of money.

 

[MatthewThompson]

Hard to beat a weatherproof Mju-ii for that sort of application.

 

[Peter_S]

I have taken Contax TVS III and T3 from desert cycling trips in Argentina and Chile to harsh multi-day ski tours, combined alpine routes in the Caucasus and 7000m peaks in the Tien Shan. They are small and easy to protect from the elements. I prefer the T3, the TVS vignettes too much at the wide end.
The image quality of the T3 is hard to beat given its tiny size (several publications) and it is still my choice (combined with a Leica X2) when conditions are really harsh (over my M6 as well). You may also want to look at the Yashica T3. I also found electronics not necessarily more prone to failure than mechanics.

 

[thegman]

For me it would be a Bessa or a Rollei 35. Bessa is great if you want a choice of lenses, and a rangefinder. Rollei 35 is great if you want a truly tiny camera with manual controls. I have a Rollei 35 Classic (i.e. a more modern one) and it's miniscule, a great camera for taking anywhere.

 

[Robin P]

In the days when I was cycling 9000 miles a year I had a Pentax ME with 40mm pancake in the saddlebag. Never let me down, took up hardly any room and always exposed slides correctly.

 

[potcab]

I toured all over the British Isles in the 70's and 80's with one camera and took thousands of slide and b/w photographs. I still have the camera and it continues to astound with its picture quality and never say die attitude. Fast tack sharp lens, I carried it around in my shirt pocket. Sure its been refurbed once and the seals etc replaced but its still brilliant . Although my cycle touring days are over I wouldn't swap it for anything.
The camera? A Konica Auto S3.

 

[Scrambler]

Recently I asked which camera would be a good backup for a Leica MP. Many suggested another Leica MP. As desirable as this may be, I realized that my backup camera will be my main camera for my bicycle tours (up to 4 days long) where I wouldn't want to take a Leica MP under such conditions (vibrations, falls, rain, condensation, etc).

I would like suggestions for a film camera to be used with slide film that would be nice to take on a bicycle tour. It could be a fixed lens camera or even an interchangeable lens body. Either way, I would like something compact and durable. I prefer things that can withstand harsh conditions, hence less electronics. But I still do like a built in meter (but not totally necessary).

Do you have any suggestions?
How about the Minolta CLE, Leica CL, Voigtlander Bessa, or Olympus XA. I'm thinking along these lines. Any recommendations would be welcome.

Thank you

I agree with your options. Of those four I would take the XA for compactness. The Rollei 35 sounds like a decent option for compactness, quality and ruggedness.

I'd also consider something like a FED 2. Rugged, and not engineered to tight tolerances. Heavier, no meter, but also no electronics to give out.

 

[Pentudlian]

I'm a great fan of the Rollei 35 for all sorts of reasons - but more and more I find myself selecting the Olympus 35RC. I really do think it's a very special camera, and it's very compact.

 

[02Pilot]

I generally carry my Rollei 35 when I ride, but having recently gotten a collapsible lens for my FED-2, I may now opt for that; I have less fear of the FED suffering from vibration or other damage, and it is now only marginally larger than the Rollei.

 

[jschrader]

recently I took a Rollei 35 instead of my M6 in a three day bike trip. It included 3.500 m climbing and I am close to 50, so saving weight was not just so-so.
But I would take my M6 next time. The Rollei is fine; I even have an old distance-meter to be added in the flash-shoe so that distance-guessing was easy. Still, I was not happy.
Nothing beats the Ms.

What You need is a water-proof bag - check Ortlieb, they are perfect. And pack the camera in the fleece that You need anyhow with you against vibration (or do you travel Florida?).

 

[Mablo]

I use the Ortlieb handlebar bag which is very sturdy, weatherproof and roomy enough for everything I need in there including a small camera. On my cycling trips I've carried a Konica Hexar AF, Rollei 35, Olympus Trip, Olympus XA and a Olympus Mju II. All very capable cycling trip camera alternatives. The Hexar is perhaps a little overkill but I liked the images I made with it. I noticed I don't shoot much while I'm on the road. Most of my images are taken in the evenings, but I understand it's a personal thing.

 

[Rodchenko]

I have a Carradice barbag, and, for film, it's carried all sorts of cameras, but most often a Minox 35 of some flavour or other. I think my XA & Mju i will similarly clock up many miles, but a Mju ii would be ideal, I think.

 

[Mark T]

On my last and longest bike tour, which lasted for more than a year, I carried an MP with two lenses and the camera didn't miss a beat. It survived dust storms in Mongolia, rough roads, weather and traffic across India, Tibet, China and more - no problems. I also had a Canon S90 which was fine, although it eventually broke when I dropped it. I didn't replace it as I wanted to concentrate on the MP. I have since replaced the Canon with a Nikon Coolpix A. If I were to leave on a tour tomorrow, I would take the MP and a 50mm lens plus the little Nikon (28mm equivalent). That would be a good combination for my needs. Enjoy your cycle tour - it is a great way to live life!

 

[oftheherd]

I don't ride bike, nor have I used any of the cameras you ask about except the Olympus XA. But I have enjoyed using mine, especially when I wanted a camera that was compact and still delivered good quality photos. Even with a flash attached, it is still quite pocketable.

 

[KoNickon]

The Yashica T4 is a terrific camera for slides -- 35/3.5 Tessar.

 

[zuiko85]

Another vote for the olympus 35rc. It has full manual control, not battery dependant. Great lens too.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Nothing but Oly XA. I could take pictures with it from my bicycle without stopping.
Gives good b/w and very good with colors. One of the fastest RF to operate. Very accurate metering.
Adding small hand stripe makes it very handy, quick and secure to use.
I'm using one from my old P&S camera with belt pouch. Easy to take pictures at any time with one hand only.
Easy to find everywhere batteries lasts for months with daily use under any weather conditions.

 

[Sam Kanga]

This is a good question. The travellers ethos, especially for hiking or cycling is to be careful not to carry too much.

There are many great small cameras listed already, I have used and loved the Olympus Xa, the Yashica T4 and Rollei 35. It all depends on how you shoot, but for hiking/biking, I would suggest small and light.

I think it was the great hiker/writer Colin Fletcher who advised to take as small a bag as possible to insure you don't carry too much. For the cycle/camping trips I used to do, I carried the smallest pannier bags possible, and never felt I needed more gear. Although I remember reading in Bicycling magazine at the time ('70s) of the crazy cyclists who would trim the corners off their maps and cut the handles off their toothbrushes to save a few more ounces!

Off topic: digital cameras - don't forget about the small APS cameras like the Sony Nex-6 & 7!

For all hikers/bikers/outdoor enthusiasts, I would suggest following the intrepid Chris Townsend: http://www.christownsendoutdoors.com

I came across him last year when reading a review about the Sony Nex-7, and contacted him. He has done a huge amount of hiking and writing. He currently uses an Nex-7 & Nex-6. See his thoughts on those cameras (scroll down to the post called: "Sony NEX on the Scottish Watershed")

Thanks
Sam

 

[Rodchenko]

Cutting the handles off toothbrushes and sawing down (downtube) gear levers is the Crane cousins' signature style.