RF and a bike

[Fred]

Just curious really.

A thought ambled past my mind with the aquisition of a new motorcycle in a few days that I wonder how many RF users have motorcycles. Sorta like RF v SLR with the volume turned up.

OK, my reasoning follows like this:

Car, Sensible option.
- A car has four wheels (hopefully)
- a heater in the winter and a method of venting heat in the summer ( switch on the AC and roll down the windows, open the roof).
- It also has a roof (fabric works as well) for when it starts to rain.
- has a place to store your lunch and other bits and bobs i.e. the trunk

Bike, err...well...
- Does not stand upright without support, side stand etc.
- Crap for the rider in bad weather unless sutably adorned with the right kit
- no storage to think of
- incredible fun to use
- small and manouverable
- fits in and through small spaces


Compared to the RF v SLR

SLR
- What you see is 'what you get' (in the frame anyway, exposure is anyones guess)
-wide through to tele and macro lenses supported easily
- you get to use zoom lenses

RF
- incredible fun to use
- fits in spaces
- Top quality prime lenses
- small and light

I'm sure there's lots more but this is a start anyway.

Oh and I do drive a car as well 🙂

 

[FrankS]

Biker here.

 

[Talisker]

Well, I don't know about the read-across to RF vs SLR, 'What you see is what you get' is far more bike than car!". Anyway, mine's a BMW R850R in silver (thats the smallest 'big' beemer, and without any bodywork). Has got storage if I put the panniers on as well as the topbox (but doesn't fit in such tight spaces anymore). Of course, not having much storage means that its easier to squeeze in a Bessa than my autofocus Pentax (but not the Bronny...)

And it was cold out on the M25 today, despite being suitably adorned, and with the grips switched on!

 

[Fred]

Once it's in yer blood, very difficult to shake off. 🙂

 

[Talisker]

That will be bikes and rangefinders!

 

[Fred]

Talisker, you summed it up. Now why could't I have said that?

 

[RML]

I thought you were talking a bicycle, not a motor bike. 🙂

 

[Fred]

Nothing trusty about the YZF. Wonderful machine.

 

[suckerpunch]

i get around town on my '80 honda cm400. my nikon F2 and 35/f2 go with me....i'd like to take my M6 for a ride someday.....maybe...
i have no heated grips, so it takes a few minutes to warm my hands on the engine before i can even hold my camera....
motorcycle and photography..i think its two of the best things i've discovered in life.

 

[Talisker]

Heated grips keep your shutter finger warm!

 

[Mikael.N]

I have a Husqvarna wr360 only for offroad you really feel the speed near the trees

 

[XAos]

Trying to do 80% of my commuting or better on the bike. Looks doable for about 9 months of the year. Just got my grip heaters, but having wrangled with a deer on the bike already - I pretty much try to avoid being on the bike at night from november to february.

 

[remrf]

My bike is a Kawasaki 800 Vulcan. And my range finder fits very neatly in the left hard bag. With lots of room for other stuff . The photo below was shot on my first outing on the bike with a 4x5" view camera. I built a fixed focus 4x5" body specifically for use on the bike where space was at a premium. In the photo I had just packed up to leave and had the camera, six film holders, Luna star F meter, dark cloth and rain suit in the bags with the tripod bungied across the trunk mount. Since that time I have picked up a Crown Graphic which folds up even smaller than the one I built.

 

[aad]

Guzzi LeMans, Bultaco Frontera, Bultaco Metralla w/ Kit America, 2 TY250 trials bikes, 1 Stella/Vespa, 1 Vespa ET4.

More bikes than cameras!

 

[VictorM.]

I have a 750 Honda Nighthawk S. With a homemade foam insert, I can carry Leicas, Nikons or Rolleiflexes wherever I go. But 4X5 on a motorcycle?

 

[FrankS]

Sure, Victor! A Speed or Crown Graphic would fit into your tank-bag no problem (without your custom inserts.) 🙂

 

[Byuphoto]

My bike is a Kawasaki 800 Vulcan. And my range finder fits very neatly in the left hard bag. With lots of room for other stuff . The photo below was shot on my first outing on the bike with a 4x5" view camera. I built a fixed focus 4x5" body specifically for use on the bike where space was at a preminum. In the photo I had just packed up to leave and had the camera, six film holders, Luna star F meter, dark cloth and rain suit in the bags with the tripod bungied across the trunk mount. Since that time I have picked up a Crown Graphic which folds up even smaller than the one I built.

I would be very interested in the specs and the building of this camera. I want to build a simple 4x5 for taking vintage portraits at Civil war re-enactments.

!981 H-D Low Rider

 

[remrf]

I would be very interested in the specs and the building of this camera. I want to build a simple 4x5 for taking vintage portraits at Civil war re-enactments.



There were not any instructions or spec's when I started the project. I wanted a view camera for the bike and owned an Omega E model 4x5" view camera at the time as well as a Schneider 90mm WA lens. The Omega E has an easily removable (Grafloc style) ground glass/film holder assembly and I used that for the rear and used the 90 mm lens. 90mm works out to 3.543 inches which is the distance from rear element the film plane must be to have everything in focus. I built the frame first and then the lens board which slides inside the frame. After attaching the ground glass I set the body on a tripod and put the lens board w/lens into its position and with a dark cloth over the back I found the right point at which I had full sharp focus and marked it. I then glued the lens board to that position and sealed the front inside and out. The ground glass is held on by four screws with small washers approximating a "grafloc" style hold on the back.

The photo's are the last two in a series I shot of the build. If you like I will send you the others in the series. It aint' a set of plans but it should give a fair idea of the process.

I have a floor standing mill in my shop which made milling out the wood camera back to accept the ground glass frame pretty easy and the fit is very tight. I had one tiny light leak on the upper right corner when I tested it for such problems and that was easily fixed. I also used the mill to rout out the base of the body to accept the steel tripod mount plate. Both of these steps could be done other ways though using a table mounted wood router. Which I also have but was too lazy to set up.

I used a wide angle lens but you can use any lens you want. However the longer the lens the longer the focal distance and the deeper the camera (with a few exceptions such as true "tele" view camera lens which have been designed to have full focus at less than the stated focal length). As an example a 450 mm lens which is not a "tele" lens would have to be at least 17.716 " deep for focus at infinity.

I used African Imbuya wood for the body with Oak corner accents to cover the dowels I inserted for additional frame strength.


I see Graflex film backs for sale on ebay all the time as well as lenses.
Good luck and enjoy.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Bikes and rangefinders -- good combo! I always have a camera with me in the tank bag when touring.

 

[simonankor]

Bikes all the way here, no cars for me.

But real bikes only for me 😉

Fixed gear, one brake, no suspension!