Carrying DSLR gear on XR250?

[jnelson4x4taco]

In a few months, a buddy and I will be setting off for Moab for a 4 day camping/riding trip. We did it a few times in college but haven't been back in a few years since we got married, bought homes, started careers, etc. We finally decided its now or never, and we're planning to head back for what used to be our annual guys trip.

We both have older XR250's and plan to spend 4 days riding some fun, and occasionally pretty nasty trails. We like to do fins and things, kane creek, metal masher, hells revenge, etc. We enjoy playing on the slickrock when we are out there and mostly stick to the jeep trails and so on.

I would like to take my DSLR gear out there but am concerned about vibration, dust, crashing, etc. A few options I am considering:

1) Pelican case mounted on a rear rack, holding my D7000 and 18-200 lens

2) Pelican case mounted to rear rack with my old D40 (no LCD screen) and either 18-200 or cheap 18-55 kit lens

3) Scrap the DSLR idea and get a water/dustproof pentax/nikon/lumix point and shoot to keep in a pocket of my riding jacket or pack.

What are your experiences with off road riding and camera gear?

*Mods, if this belongs in the photo forum instead, please move.

Thanks for the input! Thanks

-Jeff

 

[Clutch]

Depends on the type of photos you are going to do. Artsy or just for memories?

I just use my smart phone for the "just for memories" pics, I don't even know where my point and shoot camera is...buried in a box somewhere.

If I take my DSLR for art shots, I carry it on my person in back pack....the bike vibrates too much, even to have it in a Pelican case. At least for me.

 

[Scott Brady]

I typically use a DSLR off the bike and store it in a tank bag with only one zoom lens. The tank bags seem to be well protected in most drops.

 

[daveyd]

I use a cheap point & shoot Sony Cybershot for dusty/damp/muddy environments and leave my professional DSLR equipment at home.

 

[deserteagle56]

Try a chest pack

As someone has already mentioned, anything mounted to the bike is liable to damage the camera - a lot of vibration and pounding with a dirt bike! I used to carry my gear in a backpack but found that I was missing photo opportunities because it was just too much of a hassle to stop, take off the backpack, dig out the camera and then reverse the whole procedure. So I invested in a "Clik" brand Probody SLR Chest Pack - check it out on their web site. It holds the camera tight against your chest so it does not swing or sway about, and you can still wear a backpack for your other gear. Very handy - when a photo opportunity comes along, just stop, pull the camera out of the pack, shoot, and put it back in the pack. No need to take off anything. The camera stays well-protected and clean. I use it with both the dirt bike and quad.
Now if someone will just school me on how to use a DSLR - especially in portrait orientation - while still wearing a helmet, I would be most appreciative!

 

[desertrover]

I carry my DSLR in a Maxpedition gearslinger type pack, it is comfortable enough while riding and designed to be spun around on it's one strap so you can get into it without taking it off or getting off of the bike. I have carried camera gear in a Pelican 1520 tailbox while road touring, but offroad, I call the box "the pulverizer". I wouldn't carry anything in it that I wouldn't feel comfortable clamping into a commercial paint mixer for a day.

 

[Christophe Noel]

Years ago I put my Canon A2 in a tank bag on my Ducati 916 and rode from Denver to Prescott. I rattled that poor sucker to pieces with the vibrations. This even in a neoprene case. Lesson learned.

 

[jnelson4x4taco]

Thanks for the input everyone. Im thinking the tailbox may cause too much vibration so ill try and avoid that route. I do have a Lowepro Slingshot 200, that I can strap on pretty tight so that may be an option worth looking into. The bag swings around without having to take it off and allows me to get the camera out and shoot quick. My only issue with that would be the protection in a crash, as it is a soft bag. Not that im planning on a crash but as you know, they are always a possibility lol.

I am taking photos for memories as well as art purposes. I love photography and would like to get some landscape shots of the beautiful places we ride to. The more I think about it though, I am considering looking into the cost of a water/dustproof point and shoot to keep in a chest pocket. I may go down that road and look into the photo subforum for some recommendations on that.

Thanks again guys, and keep the ideas coming, it may help someone else along the way.

 

[RHINO]

i really like the chest rig,,,, i use a cotton carrier myself but the clik one looks great and costs less.

 

[Clutch]

Years ago I put my Canon A2 in a tank bag on my Ducati 916 and rode from Denver to Prescott. I rattled that poor sucker to pieces with the vibrations. This even in a neoprene case. Lesson learned.

Yikes! I have too much money into our DSLR to carry it on the bike. To be honest, I won'y even carry it on my person either while on the bike. $100 replaces my smart phone not so much with the DSLR.


That Click chest pack is pretty cool, very similar to my MSR Roost Pak that zip ties to the chest protector. Great for keeping the things you use the most close and handy.

 

[Clutch]

Thanks for the input everyone. Im thinking the tailbox may cause too much vibration so ill try and avoid that route. I do have a Lowepro Slingshot 200, that I can strap on pretty tight so that may be an option worth looking into. The bag swings around without having to take it off and allows me to get the camera out and shoot quick. My only issue with that would be the protection in a crash, as it is a soft bag. Not that im planning on a crash but as you know, they are always a possibility lol.

I am taking photos for memories as well as art purposes. I love photography and would like to get some landscape shots of the beautiful places we ride to. The more I think about it though, I am considering looking into the cost of a water/dustproof point and shoot to keep in a chest pocket. I may go down that road and look into the photo subforum for some recommendations on that.

Thanks again guys, and keep the ideas coming, it may help someone else along the way.

The point & shoots are getting really good anymore, they won't break the bank, and you won't cry when you smash them.

 

[sandalscout]

The point & shoots are getting really good anymore, they won't break the bank, and you won't cry when you smash them.

Totally true. We have a DSLR, and last year when I went to Peru and my wife went to Italy at the same time, we thought we would fight over the DSLR. I took my $120 point and shoot, she took her iPhone. We both got some incredible photos. I took some great shots that I blew up to 12x18" that look incredible. I always carry it in a small soft camera case in my tank bag and it does fine.

 

[Mlachica]

I carry a Sony Nex5 with a c/y zeiss lens in my wolfman enduro tank bag. The bag is padded and has room for other stuff such as your wallet, phone and maps. It's size and location keeps it pretty well protected, even from laying the bike down.

Another option is a f-stop backpack. I use this to carry around all my camera stuff. The ICU's allow customization based on how much camera stuff you want to bring. It's very well padded and seals well from dust. With the waist belt and chest strap it fits very securely. They have a few different backpacks, maybe there's a smaller one that would better suit the riding you're doing.

 

[jnelson4x4taco]

That Joe Rocket Manta and the Clik carrier are pretty sweet.

Anyone who knows Chase Jarvis has heard this before and I believe it to be true, he says, "The best camera is the one you have with you". Ive been thinking a lot about that and think that I will get more pics by taking an inexpensive P&S instead of worrying myself with expensive DSLR gear. I may take it with and leave it in the truck, so if we find a great spot, We can return and pack it in more carefully.