Packing a DSLR?

[RandomGuyOnABike]

While I do have a nice "rugged" camera, the DSLR just naturally takes better pictures. Is there a decent way to pack it on the bike w/o having to worry about it?

[BrianW]

I have an Ortlieb handlebar bag with their padded camera insert. Works great. You can't put a long lens on the body. , though.

[jsieber]

I have an Ortlieb handlebar bag with their padded camera insert. Works great. You can't put a long lens on the body. , though.

I second the handlebar bag approach. If it is not easily accessible I find that I won't use it as much as I should. I find that having it right in front on the handlebar bag helps.

[bogiesan]

alternative opinion:

I make my living behind a camera (and then in front of my Macintosh). I stopped carrying my big gear on vacation decades ago unless, of course, someone is paying me to work. Three reasons: I'm on vacation; that stuff is stupid heavy; I have a phone that takes 8mp photographs. Most of the 12-35mp snapshots my friends take with their big cameras are converted to 720pixel jpgs for uploading or email anyway. Terrible waste. 

The best camera one uses is the camera one has available. (This is not a commercial for Apple, most of the current phones have similar features or better.) My 5s is wrapped in an Otterbox and sits securely in a holster on the dash of my recumbent. A click and it's at my face, a touch of my thumb and the camera is activated. I get embedded GPS, face recognition, many levels of autommatic organization in Apple's software and I have Adobe Lightroom onboard if I need it. It shoots 10-image bursts, slowmo video, has a little flash, does panos, squares, some silly filters effects, uses voice annotation, has a bit of zoom, image stabilization and a nominal f/2.2 sensor.

I take way more photos on bike tours with the phone that I ever did with the big iron.

[staehpj1]

A handlebar bag with a bit of cushioning under the camera.  An article of clothing does the trick for the padding.  My DSLR did fine that way on the Trans America.

I decided it was just too much camera to carry and went to a 4:3 Olympus Pen EPL1.  It is much lighter, the lens selection is fine, and it takes great pictures.

That said my phone takes such good pictures that it is all I usually take camera wise.  I find that other than missing longer lenses once in a while the phone is fine.

[JDFlood]

Being a pro I think you would appreciate the Fuji X-2 or better yet the new weatherized one. I normally shoot a Nikon D800. The sensor on this camera is simply astonishing for a APS-C, wayyyy better than any smaller sensor end camera. The 35mm f1.4 is incredibly sharp, and I keep coming away with better close ups with the 90mm macro than my Nikon and the 105mm. I just throw in the handlebar bag. If I want to get into photography, I can. The sensor / fast lens is great in the pacific NW where it is dark much of the year. I use for backpacking and some hiking. Way better than my Leica APS-c.

[pptouring]

Check out Lowepro's Toploader Pro series. We used to put our DSLR into our handlebar bag (which is fine too) and our extra lenses and stuff in our panniers. However, we now use Lowepro's Toploader AW70 (8+ months) and put a couple extra lenses and stuff in our handlebar bag. Everything you need is right there when you need it.

I also prefer using their 4 point harness system over the shoulder/waist strap system. It works great while on the bike and when you're off the bike hiking around towns and/or woods and while you're wearing a small backpack. Just a thought.   

[vibe]

My pro dslr is just way too big for touring.  I am considering bringing my smaller fuji x-t1 which also takes great photos.

[bicyclejunkies]

Hi, I too carry a pro DSLR and a couple of lenses. I have put my DSLR in one of my rear panniers and the lenses are distributed in both rear panniers. I know, it's a lot of weight and takes a lot of space, but the quality of the images is far better than a quick clicky thingy.
And definitely no regrets of bringing the heavy camera!

The disadvantage is that I cannot quickly grab my camera, but it's way too heavy for a handlebar bag.

I'm carrying this stuff for exactly 2 years now and did send home a couple of fixed lenses and replaced them with a pro zoom one.

I might be interested in a mirrorless camera for a next trip but so far I'm not sure about the quality, I haven't really looked into that yet. And I kind of love my camera and lenses.

Good luck!

[pptouring]

The disadvantage is that I cannot quickly grab my camera, but it's way too heavy for a handlebar bag.


Good luck!

Hey BicycleJinkies which camera are you carrying that is too heavy for your handlebar bag and what handlebar bag are you using?

I carried a Canon 6d with a 24-105L lens in Ortlieb handlebar bag for nearly a year with no issues. My wife carried a T3i in hers for almost two years without any issues. The T3i is a lot lighter, but that 6D and L lens is pretty heavy plus I still carried other stuff in my bag as well.

I too have thought about getting a mirrorless but I am not ready to make that jump because I really like having the full frame sensor. Yes I know the Sony is FF but I don't think it's really that much smaller than our Canons to justify the cost.

[bicyclejunkies]

@pptouring: Hi, it's a 5DIII and I used to have a couple of fixed L-lenses, but now I have the 24-70 2.8 on it. The other lenses are tugged away in the rear panniers.

I don't tour with a handlebar bag, because it influences the steering too much, especially if you have such a weight in it.

True, those mirrorless things cost quite a lot... and me too, I'm also happy with my DSLR.

[pptouring]

@pptouring: Hi, it's a 5DIII and I used to have a couple of fixed L-lenses, but now I have the 24-70 2.8 on it. The other lenses are tugged away in the rear panniers.

I don't tour with a handlebar bag, because it influences the steering too much, especially if you have such a weight in it.

True, those mirrorless things cost quite a lot... and me too, I'm also happy with my DSLR.

Nice! I would like a 24-70 2.8! I recently picked up a 14mm 2.8 for stars and Milky Way stuff. :-) Do you tour with front panniers? I only ask because you mention the steering. We tour with front panniers and the handlebar bag is not even noticed.

[bicyclejunkies]

Nice! I would like a 24-70 2.8! I recently picked up a 14mm 2.8 for stars and Milky Way stuff. :-) Do you tour with front panniers? I only ask because you mention the steering. We tour with front panniers and the handlebar bag is not even noticed.

Oh, that's a really nice one!

I do, but a handlebar bag with about 3kg has the same influence on the steering as 2 front panniers of each 3kg. But, I agree, once you are used to it, you probably won't notice it anymore.

For our 2-year adventure though I'd prefer to keep it out of sight. A handlebar bag is screaming: 'he, here's all my important belongings in one easy place to grab!'

Here's our website if you are interested: http://www.bicycle-junkies.com

[walks.in2.trees]

I'd  recommend a GoPro. Takes great video and still pics, Small, light weight, rugged, submersible, wide-angle lens, mounts for just about any situation. Designed for outdoor use.  Can mount it on quadcopter. I know of  many pro photogs that use them. No interchangable lenses,  but I'd think the wide angle mode would be more useful shooting scenery on a bike trip anyway.

BTW, I also know of a pro photog  that now ONLY uses an iphone. It started out as an experiment to see how far he could push it, but the results he gets are so good he just keeps doing it. Oh,  he uses a DSLR for other stuff, like time lapse, but like the other poster said the smart phone is something  he already  has on hand.

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[walks.in2.trees]

Also, many people scoff at what has become known as a "Selfie Stick" but originally it was designed so you can get unique perspectives: photos from above an obstacle, or under water without getting wet yourself,  for instance.

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