I'm starting to really enjoy photography, picked up a dslr recently, however I cannot justify bringing it for a ride and run the risk of a fall and have something happen to it. What type of camera does everyone bring with them on rides? Are we just talking a Canon/Nikon/etc. point+shoot?
Camera for riding?
rob.char
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2,157 Posts
For point and shoot I like the Canon G11. A little bulkier than most, but very managable. Takes great photos. For really nice photos, when I'm taking pics, not riding, I'll use the Canon D7 or D20. Amazing pics as long as you don't mind the bulk. 'L' series lenses have amazing glass!
I carry my Panasonic ZS3 everywhere (MTB, skiing, etc). It has 12X optical zoom and does HD video, and the image quality is quite good as long as I don't need a full resolution crop. It lacks manual controls, but they wouldn't really help since at any particular zoom there are no more than a couple choices of aperture value. There is a newer model with some manual controls (and the same limitations), but I can usually do everything I want in auto mode, and there are many scene modes to cover unusual situations. The biggest problem with it in my opinion is the lack of an optical viewfinder, but I guess that's normal for compact cameras these days.
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576 Posts
The camera's of my choice have been Canon P&S.
1st was a A10, then a A530 and now a A1100 IS.
I really haven't been that impressed with the A1100, but it does good enough for me.
I use a camera pouch and attach it to the chest strap to my hydration pack.
I've taken the A530 on 2 muddy spelunking trips and it still does fine.
My MTBR.com photo gallery. All 3 cameras used
http://gallery.mtbr.com/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=249709
My images and ride reports from 3 trips to Raccoon Mtn.
Using both the A530 and A1100 IS
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=437925
Munny Sokol ride reports.
Using both the A530 and A1100IS
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=4103917#post4103917
1st was a A10, then a A530 and now a A1100 IS.
I really haven't been that impressed with the A1100, but it does good enough for me.
I use a camera pouch and attach it to the chest strap to my hydration pack.
I've taken the A530 on 2 muddy spelunking trips and it still does fine.
My MTBR.com photo gallery. All 3 cameras used
http://gallery.mtbr.com/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=249709
My images and ride reports from 3 trips to Raccoon Mtn.
Using both the A530 and A1100 IS
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=437925
Munny Sokol ride reports.
Using both the A530 and A1100IS
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=4103917#post4103917
A compact point & shoot that you can afford to wreck. Even if you never fall on it hard enough to break it, the constant vibrations & shocks will eventually knock the lens out of alignment, in my case the lens went a bit fuzzy at the long end of the zoom range after around 3 years.
Personally I'd go with a camera with a fast lens such as the Canon S90 or S95, it lets you take non-blurred pictures in heavy forest cover or other poor lighting conditions. Almost any camera can be used in most lighting conditions if you know what you're doing, but a fast lens makes it easier and more consistent.
Personally I'd go with a camera with a fast lens such as the Canon S90 or S95, it lets you take non-blurred pictures in heavy forest cover or other poor lighting conditions. Almost any camera can be used in most lighting conditions if you know what you're doing, but a fast lens makes it easier and more consistent.
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I got all pumped up when I bought my Olympus Stylus Tough 8010. I doubt there is a tougher camera currently on the market. After using it for a few months I am pretty disappointed. The picture quality is pretty ordinary but the biggest negetive for me is the terrible shutter lag. For a camera that was made to be used in an active setting I sure miss a lot of action shots. Sure there is a continuous burst mode but the picture quality in that mode is poor.
I have a nice DSLR but I wouldn't dare ride with it on anything but the easiest of trails - I tend to wreck often.
B
I have a nice DSLR but I wouldn't dare ride with it on anything but the easiest of trails - I tend to wreck often.
B
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676 Posts
I also have the Pentax W90 camera that's water proof, dust proof and shock proof. I keep it in my jersey pocket where I can grab it in a heartbeat and get shots while riding that I would miss if I had to dig a camera out. Here are a couple of pics:
My favorite over the shoulder pic on the way to the trails
![Image]()
Water crossing when it's 32 degrees
![Image]()
My favorite over the shoulder pic on the way to the trails
Water crossing when it's 32 degrees
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3,085 Posts
I carry my point and shoot (Canon Powershot90) everywhere because you just never know what you might see. It gives up something with the lens but it more than makes up for that with ease of use and convenience. I also carry a tiny tripod.
I have a friend with all sorts of DSLR equipment that takes amazing photos, but he doesn't take it on rides because it is fragile, bulky and takes a while to get out and use.
Ironically, in the days long before digital, when I wrote for bike magazines, I carried a 35mm SLR on lots of rides, and even developed a means of rapid deployment that seems way too complicated now. Modern P&S is good enough quality for magazines, and it will only get better.
I don't miss paying $1 for film and processing every time I took a photo.
I have a friend with all sorts of DSLR equipment that takes amazing photos, but he doesn't take it on rides because it is fragile, bulky and takes a while to get out and use.
Ironically, in the days long before digital, when I wrote for bike magazines, I carried a 35mm SLR on lots of rides, and even developed a means of rapid deployment that seems way too complicated now. Modern P&S is good enough quality for magazines, and it will only get better.
I don't miss paying $1 for film and processing every time I took a photo.
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356 Posts
point and shoot is your friend. If you have a 6+ mega pixel camera and know how to compose a nice picture you are set. there is no point in carrying a DSLR.
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1,097 Posts
Well, my second P&S (Lumix 12mp) died this past week so I'm looking for a new one and will probably go waterproof shockproof.
I really liked the panasonic as it took pretty good photos....just not tough enough for a clumsy guy I guess...
Looking at the Stylus tough...but open to other suggestions
I really liked the panasonic as it took pretty good photos....just not tough enough for a clumsy guy I guess...
Looking at the Stylus tough...but open to other suggestions
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1,682 Posts
Until it was stolen, all I ever used was a regular point and shoot camera. It worked great and I wasn't as worried about it getting damaged since it wasn't as expensive as a DSLR. Down the road, I'm going to go the GoPro route since it can take stills and HD video. Save the expensive camera for the times that you're going to hike along with the folks who are riding and you are going to be the photographer.
In the days of film I used disposable cameras for most of my rides, I crashed more often in those days so I used cameras I could afford to break (I was also a poor starving student). Sometimes we did rides where we knew everyone was going to stop and session an obstacle or section of the trail and that's when I'd carry an SLR and ride real carefully.Repack Rider said:
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