M8.2 in a Motorcycle Tankbag

[twelve]

Hi Guys,

I am planning to bring my M8 for a M/Cycle road trip.
Would like to know if anyone encountered problems having it in a Magnetic Tankbag?

My fear is that the magnets may cause damage to the camera electronics.
Any advise to use some material to prevent or shield the magnetic forces from the camera?

Thanks

 

[ferider]

Don't.

I use a strapped tank bag ("Tour Master Super Mini Tank Bag"). Fits a Leica and 2 lenses nicely.

Roland.

 

[kdemas]

I wouldn't be as concerned with the magnets ad I would with the continuous shock in the bag. I remember a thread a while back discussing this, interesting.

I have some two wheelers as well but I drag along my GRD II when riding, too chicken to bring the Ms. 🙂

Enjoy your bike and the photography along the way!

 

[Roger Hicks]

I do it, and have covered many thousands of miles with innumerable cameras over the last 20+ years with my Held magnetic tank bag. My M8 has covered probably 6-7,000 miles/10.000 km in long tours and the M8.2 probably half that. I wouldn't even hesitate.

The main thing is vibration insulation. I use either a thickish piece of foam in the bottom of the bag or put it in the top. I had the top cut down a bit because it was too tall. At that point, the camera is far enough from the magnets that even if there were any danger (and I don't know if there is) you'd be OK anyway.

See http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps photo-moto.html, where there's a module on carrying cameras on motorcycles.

Cheers,

R.

 

[kully]

What has already been said, I havn't done Roger's mongo distance but 3K miles and at the top of the tank-bag wrapped in a fleece - all good.

My memory cards were at the bottom of the bag, much nearer the magnets - they were all fine too.

I think vibrations are more of a concern than the magnets.

 

[twelve]

Thanks for all your replies Guys 🙂

Don't.

I use a strapped tank bag ("Tour Master Super Mini Tank Bag"). Fits a Leica and 2 lenses nicely.

Roland.

while the Tour Master Super Mini Tank Bag is nice, I was thinking of using my existing bags which I have and they're all magnetic.

I do it, and have covered many thousands of miles with innumerable cameras over the last 20+ years with my Held magnetic tank bag. My M8 has covered probably 6-7,000 miles/10.000 km in long tours and the M8.2 probably half that. I wouldn't even hesitate.

The main thing is vibration insulation. I use either a thickish piece of foam in the bottom of the bag or put it in the top. I had the top cut down a bit because it was too tall. At that point, the camera is far enough from the magnets that even if there were any danger (and I don't know if there is) you'd be OK anyway.

See http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps photo-moto.html, where there's a module on carrying cameras on motorcycles.

Cheers,

R.

That's reassuring to know your M8s has held up to date.
Thanks for the link..
I ride a V-Twin (not a Harley though) and yes vibration is another concern too.

What has already been said, I havn't done Roger's mongo distance but 3K miles and at the top of the tank-bag wrapped in a fleece - all good.

My memory cards were at the bottom of the bag, much nearer the magnets - they were all fine too.

I think vibrations are more of a concern than the magnets.

I do take precautions to damp out any vibrations when it rides in the top box of my Scooter in and around town. But I guess prolong period of subjecting any fine precision instrument or tool is a no-no, worse case scenario?, perhaps the rangefinder image will be knocked out of alignment in the viewfinder.

However with Electronics, I am not so sure 🙁

 

[spikey]

I have the camera in my backback usually

I have the camera in my backback usually

or in a hipbag ... hoping it isolates the vibrations quite well. I do enjoy the smaller size of the M8, compared to an SRL!

 

[jarski]

or in a hipbag ... hoping it isolates the vibrations quite well.

same here, back pack. I do not trust expensive electronics inside tank bag, least on longer rides. perhaps foam trick by Roger would be the answer though.

 

[GlennB]

Back in the day (for me anyway) tank bags had to be strapped on so I don't know about magnetic problems, but on my bag mounted to a Kawasaki pocket rocket, gas fumes from the tank cap leaked into my tank bag. Everything inside the bag smelled of fumes ! Wouldn't think that would be good for an electronic camera over the long term.
Just a thought.

 

[Benjamin]

I've seen people with a small Pelican case mounted to the tank before (of an R1150GS), which I thought was pretty smart but probably not as useful as a tank bag for daily use. I'd agree that vibration is the biggest threat posed by carrying a camera on a motorcycle though, for sure. I'm still inclined to stay away from carrying them in a back or waist pack though!

 

[ferider]

Thanks for all your replies Guys 🙂

while the Tour Master Super Mini Tank Bag is nice, I was thinking of using my existing bags which I have and they're all magnetic.

Why save US 100 or less on a new bag when your camera is worth 20-100 times more (depending on your lenses) ?

The magnets are strong, and made to carry 10 or more pounds. And you will take the bag off and carry it around with some probability of them getting very close to your equipment. Even a mechanical camera could get into trouble (slow speed escapements), but all kinds of stuff can go wrong with the LCD, processor and memory in your M8.

BTW, I ride an R1100S and a Fatboy. About 100km per day.

Regarding vibrations, this is what I do and it works well:

Handcut from generic foam. There is a layer of foam underneath camera and lens as well.

Keep the rubber on the road 🙂

Roland.

 

[Benjamin]

Very smart Roland.

I have some thinner foam in the bottom of mine, but I just use the tank bag to hold my camera bag, which works pretty well.

 

[twelve]

Thanks for the picture ferider. Nice set up you have there.
I guess having Panniers on your R1100S, you can afford a dedicated Leica Tankbag.
I could keep it in the tail pack which would be strapped down on the pillion seat but that would make it less accessible... This may be the safest bet but wanna know if you guys may have a different/better approach.

I used to ride a R11🙂🙂GS, now its a TL1🙂🙂🙂S

Cheers

Why save US 100 or less on a new bag when your camera is worth 20-100 times more (depending on your lenses) ?

The magnets are strong, and made to carry 10 or more pounds. And you will take the bag off and carry it around with some probability of them getting very close to your equipment. Even a mechanical camera could get into trouble (slow speed escapements), but all kinds of stuff can go wrong with the LCD, processor and memory in your M8.

BTW, I ride an R1100S and a Fatboy. About 100km per day.

Regarding vibrations, this is what I do and it works well:

Handcut from generic foam. There is a layer of foam underneath camera and lens as well.

Keep the rubber on the road 🙂

Roland.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Why save US 100 or less on a new bag when your camera is worth 20-100 times more (depending on your lenses) ?

The magnets are strong, and made to carry 10 or more pounds. And you will take the bag off and carry it around with some probability of them getting very close to your equipment. Even a mechanical camera could get into trouble (slow speed escapements), but all kinds of stuff can go wrong with the LCD, processor and memory in your M8.

BTW, I ride an R1100S and a Fatboy. About 100km per day.

Regarding vibrations, this is what I do and it works well:

Handcut from generic foam. There is a layer of foam underneath camera and lens as well.

Keep the rubber on the road 🙂

Roland.

Dear Roland,

Have you any evidence of this? Have you spoken to the manufacturers about it? I've been riding bikes and carrying cameras (mechanical and electronic) for a very long time, and never had a problem.

Of course it could just be that I've been lucky, but the other possibility is that you're being over-cautious. In particular, I don't see how magnets are going to affect slow speed escapements.

I'd be a lot more worried about outgassing from cheap generic foam. I use open-cell nitrogen-blown foam from a camera case.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ferider]

Dear Roger,

please google "watches and magnets", and you will find plenty of evidence at least for mechanical and electronic watches. The Leica slow speed escapement is nothing else but a mechanical stop watch. And computer circuits always have at least one Quartz in them, managing clock frequency.

I think you have been lucky 🙂

Interesting comment on the foam though.

Roland.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Roger,

please google "watches and magnets", and you will find plenty of evidence at least for mechanical and electronic watches. I think you have been lucky 🙂

Interesting comment on the foam though.

Roland.

Dear Roland,

My understanding with watches is that you are dealing with tiny forces and hairsprings. A slow speed escapement is very much more robust.

Next time I talk to Leica I'll have to ask specifically if they have any recommendations.

Cheers,

R.

 

[swoop]

Don't do it.

A motorcycle and an M seem like the perfect pair. But sadly it can all go wrong too fast.

I had a vespa scooter. And put my M7 in the back with a 35mm Nokton 1.2 attached.

After a long 3 hour ride. I pulled the M7 out and the rewind lock lever had fallen off. And the 35mm Nokton barrel came loose making the lens unusable. Even after getting the lens repaired it still wouldn't focus at infinity. I just sold it super cheap and bought another. And the rewind lock lever. I ordered a new one from Leica and replaced it myself super easy.

It's just too much vibration for a mechanically precise object.. Who knows what else could shake loose in there. And that's on a 150cc scooter.

If you want to bring it with you on the bike. Carry it in a backpack camera bag. I started doing that from then when I wanted the Leica with me.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Don't do it.

A motorcycle and an M seem like the perfect pair. But sadly it can all go wrong too fast.

I had a vespa scooter. And put my M7 in the back with a 35mm Nokton 1.2 attached.

After a long 3 hour ride. I pulled the M7 out and the rewind lock lever had fallen off. And the 35mm Nokton barrel came loose making the lens unusable. Even after getting the lens repaired it still wouldn't focus at infinity. I just sold it super cheap and bought another. And the rewind lock lever. I ordered a new one from Leica and replaced it myself super easy.

It's just too much vibration for a mechanically precise object.. Who knows what else could shake loose in there. And that's on a 150cc scooter.

If you want to bring it with you on the bike. Carry it in a backpack camera bag. I started doing that from then when I wanted the Leica with me.

And fall off and break your back. Sorry, my Leica is worth less to me than my back.

Yours was a vibration problem, not a magnet problem -- and low-density foam (in quite modest quantities) insulates perfectly well against vibration. I may only have totaled about 10,000 miles with the M8/M8.2 but I've done over 100,000 with cameras in the last 43 years.

Another thought on slow-speed trains. Not only are they much more robust than a watch: they're also less accurate. Plus-or-minus 1/10 stop would still be completely unacceptable for a watch, but excellent for a shutter.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

And fall off and break your back. Sorry, my Leica is worth less to me than my back.

Yours was a vibration problem, not a magnet problem -- and low-density foam (in quite modest quantities) insulates perfectly well against vibration. I may only have totaled about 10,000 miles with the M8/M8.2 but I've done over 100,000 with cameras in the last 43 years.

Another thought on slow-speed trains. Not only are they much more robust than a watch: they're also less accurate. Plus-or-minus 1/10 stop would still be completely unacceptable for a watch, but excellent for a shutter.

Cheers,

R.

After fifty years of motorcycle (and cycle!) touring, I've found that the last place to carry anything is on the back!, by the way - I wonder just how magnetic the average slow speed gubbins are? brass, bronze, stainless steel certainly are not?

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Don't do it.

A motorcycle and an M seem like the perfect pair. But sadly it can all go wrong too fast.

I had a vespa scooter. And put my M7 in the back with a 35mm Nokton 1.2 attached.

After a long 3 hour ride. I pulled the M7 out and the rewind lock lever had fallen off. And the 35mm Nokton barrel came loose making the lens unusable. Even after getting the lens repaired it still wouldn't focus at infinity. I just sold it super cheap and bought another. And the rewind lock lever. I ordered a new one from Leica and replaced it myself super easy.

It's just too much vibration for a mechanically precise object.. Who knows what else could shake loose in there. And that's on a 150cc scooter.

If you want to bring it with you on the bike. Carry it in a backpack camera bag. I started doing that from then when I wanted the Leica with me.

After a three hour ride - on a Vespa scooter, you were lucky your balls did'nt drop off! 😉