Not too off topic I hope...

[Will]

Manny: that film by Jesus is great. It brings me back to my days out there. I would often ride the same routes. It's been too long, I've got to get out there again sometime soon. Thanks for sharing.

I've often thought about starting a thread but thought better of it because it seemed off topic. I always look at all of the great photos that you post. In this video I catch a glimpse of your camera but can't id it. I know a great camera doesn't make a great photographer and you are certainly that. But it looks like something that is not too bulky and easy to carry around on the bike. What is it?

If anyone else has cameras that they like to take out on rides on their Rivs (Riv content!), I would like to hear about them. I'm sick of my crappy iPhone photos and want to step up to a good all around camera that will travel well yet still give me a good focal range to capture good, crisp shots. Something easy to strap across my chest and get up and running fast. Any recommendations?

[Mike]

Hey Will, I think images of our bikes and our rides are so integral to this group that your question isn't too off topic. I've actually been wanting to invest in a better camera myself but feel extremely overwhelmed when I start looking. I'll be curious to see what people recommend. 

And yeah, Manny's photos are great. Something about them conveys a playfulness and exuberance that makes me want to "just ride." 

--mike

[Eric Norris]

My suggestions for on-bike photography are here:

http://campyonly.com/mypages/2008/taking_photos.html

I'm currently using a Canon Elph 780 IS for most of my on-bike photography. Small and easy to use one-handed. Also takes nice HD video.

I have a Panasonic Lumix LX-2 that takes better photos, but it's not as easy to operate while riding. More of a "stop-and-take-a-photo" camera.

I prefer cheap cameras that I can afford to drop (doesn't happen often), and I buy used/refurbished cameras that are a year or two out of date. Prices on older cameras drop like a stone, but they usually have 90-95% of the features of the latest model.

Eric N

www.CampyOnly.com

CampyOnlyGuy.blogspot.com

Twitter: @CampyOnlyGuy

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[Allingham II, Thomas J]

Many pro photographers will tell you some variation of "The best camera is the one that's with you," and "Cameras don't take pictures, people do." Those sentiments are roughly consistent with the suggestions Eric (CampyOnlyGuy) made in his message a little while ago to this list. Applying those principles, Annie Liebowitz in an interview I read recently said her favorite camera is the iPhone you're trying to ditch -- because it's always with her and (with some judiciously selected apps) can do anything she needs to get great candid (mostly) or posed shots.

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[Garth]

Yep ... I see lots of bad cell phone images, but it's not because of the phone !   If your camera has some image stabilization , use it, but one still needs a steady hand !  THE Number One cause of blurry photos !    Many people think a camera will just take a perfectly focused photo no matter how much the camera is moving while shooting .... lol. 

[Mike]

Sure, I see tons of poorly framed shots taken with cell phone and nicer phones alike. I feel like I've gotten some great shots with my iPhone and my cheapie point and shoot DC. But like William said " I know a great camera doesn't make a great photographer and you are certainly that. But it looks like something that is not too bulky and easy to carry around on the bike. What is it?" 

Generally I'm happy with my iPhone for taking photos off the bike. On bike shots with the iPhone can get sketchy. Also, the iPhone just doesn't seem to capture landscape shots the way I'd like. With end of the year sales coming soon it seems like a good time to grab something at a discount.

--mike

[Will]

This is all great advice. Eric, the points you make are dead on.

I'm not looking to ditch my iPhone. I just don't want it to be my primary camera as it has been for two years. My primary used to be my Olympus E10. An old tank of a dutch bike of the digital camera world! It doesn't travel well! Too often my iPhone photos look great on the phone. I get some great shots. Then I get home and load them onto my computer and look at them full size. Too often there are some glaring flaws to the photos. Some winners squeak through, but too many are dogs.

I would like to get more winners. I'm looking at (in no particular order): Panasonic Lumix LX7, Canon Powershot G15 and the Nikon Coolpix P7700. All are sub $500, point and shoot cameras. Compact but not tiny.

I don't like carrying stuff on my body when I ride. Everything goes into a saddle bag. For the most part I will be stopping and shooting. But there are often times when I want to ride and shoot for a little bit. Maybe 15 minutes where I will strap it around my front so I can reach down and grab it and take some shots from the bike.

I guess if this is the direction that I am gravitating then what I end up with will be "the best camera". I wonder if I am missing something in this vast sea though.

[Garth]

Myself ... I prefer a camera that uses AA batteries if I have the choice.  I use Sanyo Eneloop AA which last a long time and do not drain when unused.  You can also find common AA batteries everywhere in a pinch .  Here's a few ... and more $$ does not mean better IQ .... http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/round_ups/best-aa-battery-powered-cameras

[Will]

Thanks Garth. The AA battery usage is a good point. My E10 is like that and I have always appreciated it. In that group the Canon SX160 stands out for me. That would be some serious savings over what I was looking at! And very portable. Doesn't look like I would be giving up too much?

Will

[RJM]

I carried a Panasonic LX1 for a long time until it broke. I loved that camera, just worked well all around and I could use manual modes if the mood carried me. Great lens.

 

I bought a digital slr after this one broke, Nikon d5000, and it is just too big to take with me on the bike most of the times. Great shots, the sensor on that camera is really good, but just too large.

 

I am currently looking for a bike camera and I keep coming back to the Panasonic Lumix stuff. I think I might buy the re-incarnation of the LX1 for the bike.

[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

The Path Less Pedaled made a 10-minute video about the cameras they use. It's on their blog here. 

I upgraded from a cheapie to a Cannon G12 about a year ago. If I had seen this video before I bought the G12 I might have gone with the Olympus in the video. I'm happy with the G12 though so no impending camera purchase for me. 

--Andy

[Garth]

I think that's a screamin' deal on the SX 160 actually and no, I don't think you're giving up anything :)   I see Sam's Club has it for $150 right now ... wow ... I may get one too !!!

[Montclair BobbyB]

WIll:

I use a Samsung ST76 Pocket camera that is about 2x3x.5 inches in size, super light and takes photos that are pretty hard to screw up (I often take quick shots from the saddle which turn out pretty decent)... My link to Flickr proves it happened (sorry Manny, borrowing your line, dude...) http://www.flickr.com/photos/16461051@N04/sets/72157632115748649/

I brought it along on Riv Rally East... Many of those shots turned out well, and I put absolutely zero effort into trying to take an intentionally good shot.

I'm sure there are better cameras out there, but this was inexpensive, it's easy to use and it takes nice pics... period.

BB

[Will]

Nice photos Bobby. Looks like perfect Napa weather. Love the brick! I wonder what the main tube wall thickness was on those...

[Manuel Acosta]

Will to answer you question. The camera at the time was a Olympus Pen-3. I like it but me being a fairly reckless picture taker the camera isn't really living up to scuff to my standards of clumsiness. 

Before this camera most my shots from previous reports was a Canon G11 a camera that lasted a good two years of abuse. 

What kind of abuse? Well it survived countless of falls at bike speeds, many of wet and drenching rides and a dump into a river during a 3 day hiking trip. It finally kicked the bucket after getting dumped in the SAME river on the last 3 day hiking trip. 

I like the quick shots of the PEN but with only a year under it's belt it already has a broken screen, broken battery cover and it turns off after taking a shot. 

Its interesting because now it's forcing me to pick my shots and be a lot more selective when taking pictures. Hence the better pictures.

I highly recommend playing with a film camera if you're looking to expand your photography. My only reasoning is because it's expensive to develop pictures and you get mad at yourself if you don't take really good shots. So why don't I use film? Well the last film camera broke.

My picture taking suggestion? I generally take pictures with the mentality of trying to convey the whole experience in one shot. Take what looks good then be super selective with what you want to post up. Eventually every now and then you get good shots. After awhile you'll start knowing what you like. 

Any woo a picture of a camera proves that I should have gotten the g12:

http://flic.kr/p/cobWYU

-Manny "not a photographer" Acosta

 

[Eric Norris]

My original Canon Elph 780 lasted through about two years of riding that included getting thoroughly drenched at PBP--on that ride, the rear screen was so saturated with water that it stopped working, but the camera somehow kept taking pictures. Once it dried out, the screen started working again, although it never looked as good as it had before France. It finally stopped working a couple of months ago--just stopped taking pictures. My replacement Canon was about $45 on eBay.

I always carry my iPhone, which takes very nice photos but is way too slow to get going (turn it on, swipe on the home screen, etc.) and too expensive to risk dropping.

--Eric N

www.CampyOnly.com

CampyOnlyGuy.blogspot.com

Twitter: @CampyOnlyGuy

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[Will]

Thanks Manny and Eric. Everyone. Lots of good nuggets of wisdom in there. I still have my Nikomat 35mm film camera. I haven't used it in a few years. digital cameras have really changed the way we shoot. I've got to dust it off and use it one of these days. I agree that using film fosters better photography habits. For my current, on the fly needs, something like that Canon SX160 is just looking better and better to me though. A small amount to pay for a feature rich camera that may get put through the ringer and not run more than a couple years. I plan for it to be the camera that I will always have with me. It's not going to live a pampered life.

[Stonehog]

I like the micro 4/3 stuff. Smaller lenses - some of the pancakes are really small and light. I used a point and shoot (canon) for a while, and got some good shots, too. Lately I have been using a Panasonic GF3 with a 14mm lens on the bike. It is only slightly bigger than a P&S. I also picked up a GH2 which is slightly upscale, but uses the same lenses. That one requires a strap/sling, but is still portable light. It all comes down to what you find worthwhile.

Mobile Brian Hanson

On Dec 4, 2012, at 4:07 PM, Will <wrom...@optonline.net> wrote:

> Nice photos Bobby. Looks like perfect Napa weather. Love the brick! I wonder what the main tube wall thickness was on those...
>

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[Peter Morgano]

I have seen a platrack /slickersack converted to a pretty boss camera case if you wanted to go whole hog.

[Eric Platt]

First off, I'm a bit of a camera hog, so have ended up with quite a few over the years.  Although don't have one, do like the 4/3 option with a 14mm lens.  Jim Thill has one and is getting quite good photos from the setup.

 

For point and shoots, currently am using the Sony RX100 which has a really nice output, but is (a) probably not as robust as I'd like and (b) still quite expensive for what it is.

 

But if I had to only own one point and shoot it would be a Ricoh GRD.  Very robust build.  No zoom, although the 28mm lens is quite nice. The lastest versions have a built in level which helps my photography.  It's probably my favorite small camera.  (The Fuji X100 is better but bigger and more expensive).

 

Eric Platt

St. Paul, MN

[Montclair BobbyB]

Having ridden the Brick, it sure FEELS like it's solid through !!  I'll ask my friend Scott... He may know.

BB  

[Will]

Hi all. Following up and letting you know that I went with the Canon Powershot SX160IS. Staples was advertising them for $149 but the two stores I tried didn't have any in stock. Ended up getting it for the same price from B&H with free shipping. Very happy with it, taking lots of shots of the family at holiday time and took these two on my ride this morning. Got a good 20 feet away and used the zoom to try to get everything square as in Grant's photo taking tips. Prefer the even lighting in the first shot. These two were taken about 30 seconds apart, quick moving clouds this am in New York! The camera feels good to hold and its pretty easy to shoot with one hand. Not too big and bulky or too small so as to slip and drop. AA batteries are easy. Thanks for all of the great advice. -Will