Gear selection for retirement motorcycle trip

[FrankS]

I've been mulling over what gear to take with me on my great circle tour of the US in July/Aug 2014 on my vintage honda cb750. It has been, and remains a delicious mental exercise.

At the moment, I'm thinking this: Leica M2 with Summaron f2.8 as my primary camera. An iPhone will fill my digi snap needs. Photography will be an important aspect of my trip, so a film backup camera is a must. Luggage storage capacity on a motorcycle is limited so I have to balance my photography gear desires with that.

The backup will be either a CL or a Nikon FG, either one with 50, 28, and 20mm lenses. The advantage of the CL is same lens mount as primary camera. The advantage of the FG is auto exposure and SLR viewing when I feel that way. The CL will require an external viewfinder for the CV21 lens. The photo gear will ride in the padded tank bag. A larger duffle bag than the one shown below, will ride on the luggage rack.

My bike:

 

[Vince Lupo]

Think we talked about this once before. I like the idea of the CL as a backup. That way you'll have two cameras that use the same lenses. I wouldn't recommend bringing a totally different camera system.

 

[JSU]

Good looking bike, takes me way back.

Tisklonaut carried a Pentax 67 and (i think) three lenses including the fisheye and 200/4 on a big Beamer, along with his bride, as the two circled the globe.

True, all on one bike. Are you going to fit panniers or hard side carriers for your trip?

Their blog, a good read and even better photos:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532

 

[Moto-Uno]

You gotta get yourself some saddlebags! Love the choice of transit. Peter

 

[FrankS]

Hi Vince, my gear choice has been all over the place, at one time including medium format. Still up in the air.

JSU and Peter, I'm pretty sure that with minimal packing a duffle bag will suffice. No camping gear to carry, won't be doing that, those days are over.

I have a couple of same vintage airheads with Krauser hard bags, which would be a more logical choice, but for some reason I want to do this on this Honda.

I hope/plan to use the M2 with Summaron for 90% of my trip photography. The backup gear only takes up about 150 cubic inches, so that's worthwhile for the versatility of the other focal lengths when needed and insurance of backup in case of Murphy's Law.

 

[farlymac]

So which is getting retired, Frank, you or the bike?

I would think vibration would be a factor in whatever camera you take with you. Could shake the screws loose on either the Leica or Nikon. Maybe if you take a good P&S along as a back-up, something with a decent zoom, such as a Canon Z135, or go wide angle with a Yashica T4. Olympus Trip AF 50 does 28mm, if you can find one. Stop in the Goodwill stores you see along the way if you need to get an emergency replacement, as you never know what you will find. I picked up a Yashica YF with a Canon 1.8/50 one day.

PF

 

[FrankS]

So which is getting retired, Frank, you or the bike?

I would think vibration would be a factor in whatever camera you take with you. Could shake the screws loose on either the Leica or Nikon. Maybe if you take a good P&S along as a back-up, something with a decent zoom, such as a Canon Z135, or go wide angle with a Yashica T4. Olympus Trip AF 50 does 28mm, if you can find one. Stop in the Goodwill stores you see along the way if you need to get an emergency replacement, as you never know what you will find. I picked up a Yashica YF with a Canon 1.8/50 one day.

PF

The bike has fewer issues than me! 🙂
There is foam padding at the bottom of the tank bag, and the 4 cylinder engine is pretty smooth. I'll stop in at goodwill type stores along the way just for fun. My route looks like this except the east to west stretch won't be quite so far south, and going through Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. I'll be passing through about 24 states.

 

[Scrambler]

It sounds like an excuse to take more gear to me ;-) If you really feel the need for a backup, something like the CL with a 40 makes sense. Adding the wide angles isn't "backup." If you are traveling light, I'd suggest just the main camera and lens. If not, admit you are carrying a "kit" and pack it accordingly. For which I agree with comments above that sticking with the one lens mount makes more sense.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Nice bike. I really mean it. The only classic style wich makes sense.
Good choice on bike, good choice for photo gear.
I like to use one of my RFs and iPhone if I want to go light and creative.
I use free lomography app for iPhone. Called Leme Cam.
Oly XA might be good alternative to CL as backup. Very small and ultra fast to operate.

 

[tjh]

My backup is usually a point and shoot, either digital or film.

Tom

 

[Paulbe]

FrankS--listen to a biker who's been on the very trip you are taking--the lighter the better.
Forget all the DSLRs--the Leicas--the Speed Graphics--etc--get a Canon S100 or 120 or equivalent and several cards and be done with it.
With the scenery roaring by--you'll be hard pressed to take any epic pix.
Enjoy the friggin' ride and forget the pix. They've all been taken before, anyway.
Wind farms in E Texas and W NM the exception.
With the CB 750--you'll have your hands full, anyway. Be SURE and map out ALL the Honda dealers beforehand. You'll need 'em--riding and pix experience speaking here, and GFL--we sure had it! NBL--enjoy the ride and make the pix secondary..
Paul

 

[shiro_kuro]

This is awesome ...
If the M2 were to stop working would you like to use the CL for the remainder of the trip ?
I wouldn't and so my choice would be the Nikon FG as it would be a nice camera to use alongside the M2 and all by it's self if the M2 gave up on you .... which isn't likely
Another suggestion is to leave with a friend several cameras packed and ready to ship to wherever you are if needed ... shipping within the US, there is no reason a camera could not get to you within a day or so ... and just take one

 

[FrankS]

Thanks Kostya, on the comment on the bike. I quite love it.

So, perhaps i shouldnt call the second camera kit a backup, which is normally used only if there is a problem with the primary camera. Instead, lets call it the 10% kit. I hope to do 90% of my picture taking with the M2/Summaron. Photography is an important aspect of my trip and I am not willing to sacrifice that 10%. And who knows, once I'm out on the road, it will turn out that most of the pic opps I see call for a 50 (or a 28). It seems silly to leave gear at home that could be useful when there is room to pack it.

 

[FrankS]

Sorry Paulbe, I just couldn't do that. I'm still a film guy. I plan/hope to get off the bike often and meet/talk to as many people as possible. I will not be on any interstate highways. This is about the journey/process just like my photography.

Shiro, I am leaning towards the FG. Leaving cameras with a US friend is a great idea. I'll do that, thanks for the idea.

 

[JSU]

You're skipping the Mother Road (Rte 66) through the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico and Arizona? 😱

The bike has fewer issues than me! 🙂
There is foam padding at the bottom of the tank bag, and the 4 cylinder engine is pretty smooth. I'll stop in at goodwill type stores along the way just for fun. My route looks like this except the east to west stretch won't be quite so far south, and going through Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. I'll be passing through about 24 states.

 

[FrankS]

The route is not pre-planned after the first few days. I plan to cross into USA over Wolf Island, visit with Earl in Rochester, head south via Blue Ridge Parkway, and west to visit Blake in Memphis. From then on I'll follow my front wheel and any offers of a couch, until I reach the Pacific Ocean. North along a combo of the pacific coastal road and the Rocky Mountains to Washington State, then east back to Toronto.

So, closer to the date, I hope to collect addresses of people close to my route along the way.

 

[farlymac]

Why, you'll just be coming right by here. Let me know when you pass through, and we can meet for lunch (or whatever is apropos for the time).

And if you've got camera trouble, I can give you a back-up.

PF

ps: Looks like you'll also come close to Chris Crawford as you pass through Indiana.

 

[FrankS]

Cool, thank you PF!

 

[nikonosguy]

see you when you pass through memphis... hope you can hold your liquor

 

[FrankS]

see you when you pass through memphis... hope you can hold your liquor

I was hoping you'd say that. 🙂