Touring and DSLRs
#52
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I find that my DSLR can operate quite a long time on one set of batteries. Maybe it's just that I don't shoot enough photos. I would just get one spare battery and take the charger along. From what I hear it's not worth struggling with solar chargers.
#53
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Why bring a tripod at all...?
FYI. This is part of what camping means to me. ( And on that note, expect more questions from me about camping by bike. ) I would find it frustrating to bring a camera, but be unable to shoot this kind of stuff:
( All of these came from camping trips by car. )
( All of these came from camping trips by car. )
#54
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Travelling I'm happier w/ an all in one solution. And if I'm carrying a larger camera I want an optical viewfinder, and the shallower dof of a larger sensor. And affordable wide angle lenses. My Oly 420 is okay, but it's not a very good fit for me. All of the things that bug me about it have been carried over to micro 4/3.
Everyone's needs are different, and what they're willing to carry is different too. I'm coming from film photography, and back then I carried my yashica t4 with me everwhere. My slr, although not that big, never got taken on vacation. For the OP, I agree that micro 4/3 would likely be a good alternative.
#55
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Nice shots, Seattle Forrest!
I have a small all metal tripod that I bought in San Francisco about 20 years ago. Total length is about 6 or 7 inches when compressed - it's small enough to fit in a fanny pack, maybe 10 inches when expanded. . Probably not suitable for a a heavy SLR, but more than enough for a small Point n Shoot like my Canon Powershot A630. Not the most flexible thing given it's short height, but it let me capture shots that would otherwise have been impossible. I'll be taking it down the GAP with me this summer.
I have a small all metal tripod that I bought in San Francisco about 20 years ago. Total length is about 6 or 7 inches when compressed - it's small enough to fit in a fanny pack, maybe 10 inches when expanded. . Probably not suitable for a a heavy SLR, but more than enough for a small Point n Shoot like my Canon Powershot A630. Not the most flexible thing given it's short height, but it let me capture shots that would otherwise have been impossible. I'll be taking it down the GAP with me this summer.
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@ Seattle Forrest- Nice shots! I agree, tripod/ mini tripod type devices are an absolute necessity.
Last edited by garagegirl; 04-14-11 at 08:00 PM.
#57
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If the weight wasn't the issue why not take a DSLR in the handlebar bag. I did that on the TA and found that It was accessible enough that I even used it while riding at times.
The weight is the reason I stopped doing that, but the DSLR and an extra lens was very convenient in the handlebar bag.
The weight is the reason I stopped doing that, but the DSLR and an extra lens was very convenient in the handlebar bag.
On my last tours my load was about 60lbs, if not more, including the camera and I didn't care much, but the bike did
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These were taken without a tripod at dawn on the rim of the Grand Canyon. I placed a rock under the lens to steady it and hit the shutter. If I'd had my SLR, I could have used my remote to trigger it.
I don't take a lot of night pictures because I'm usually knackered by the time I've made camp, cooked, done laundry, etc. I'd rather sleep
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#59
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When I had a D60, and, later, when I had a working 5D, I got about 1,500 shots per battery charge out of both of them, on average. Fewer if I used IS a lot, or did a boat load of focus tracking. How old are your batteries? You can get a knockoff BP-511 for about $10, if yours are dying.
By the way, I've been dragging a 10 pound tripod up and down mountain trails for years, and finally got a 3 pound carbon 'pod. It came right after my 5D died.
This isn't a camping photo - it's from a park at the edge of Downtown Seattle, so the only people who camp here are homeless. But it's a 45 minute exposure ( with a shorter one layered over the top to catch the moon ).
Speaking of night photos from my city ... this is my BF profile image. The bridge links a bike trail, one of the best rides in the city, with the road grid. This one is about two miles north of the last one.
#60
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I plan to take my DSLR on my next tour. I'm not sure what type of gear setup you use for carrying other gear, which might make this suggestion seem useless. I pull a trailer when on a tour, with a handlebar bag. For scooting around town with the DSLR I used the Topeak Dynapack. The camera fits inside it well, and is long enough for my 18-200 zoom. There is enough room for the camera, and a bit of padding, perhaps my rain cover and remote for the camera.
https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-DynaPac.../dp/B000ZKCL4I
If you are interested, I can post pics of the Dynapack with my Canon T1i in it when I have more time later.
https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-DynaPac.../dp/B000ZKCL4I
If you are interested, I can post pics of the Dynapack with my Canon T1i in it when I have more time later.
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- It opens like a handlebar bag when flat on the rack.
- There are lashing points underneath for tripod straps. I run a nylon strap with buckle to attach the bag to the rack.
- The mesh side pockets are great to stuff the shoulder straps so they stay away from the wheel, not to mention they're useful to carry water on hikes.
As for the CF tripod, I don't worry. Should I?
A quick pic without the lashing strap. The closed-cell foam acts as a wide fender and extra padding, and can be used as a seat in camp.
#63
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I really like that last photo you posted Erick! Your website is loaded with nice photos too, excellent work!
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Thanks! There's a little story behind that photograph, and one I'm most proud of because it was "planned". I just came back from a three day hike, it began raining just after I got off the trail and was taking it easy in town while doing the laundry. I could've stayed there but the weather called for a clearing the next day and that meant dramatic light. That little stretch of road is only 15km to a dead-end so I took off in the rain and camped just so I could take this photo the next day.
#66
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I'm carrying a Canon 5D Mark II with me on my trip from Alaska to Argentina (just reached Colombia this morning). My Body + 24-105 lens are in my handlebar 95% of the time. The other 5% is the body + 70-200 f4. I have four lenses with me, the three that are not on the body are stashed away in my (front) panniers. Yes, it is a heavy load but I can take great pics
#67
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A note on tripods. Last summer I took two small trips and didn't have a tripod at that time. I brought a small ziplock bag of rice, which most of you who camp already have with you on tours. Place the bag on any rock or stump or whatever and then set the camera on top. You can shift the camera to whatever angle you need and it's really sturdy. Downside is when there isn't anything to set the bag on, but what I would do is put my helmet on the ground and the bag on top, so that I could at least be able to look through the viewfinder without my face being on the ground.
ErickL: For some reason I had never thought of that setup. I think the camera bag I have would work great with that setup. Thanks for the idea.
ErickL: For some reason I had never thought of that setup. I think the camera bag I have would work great with that setup. Thanks for the idea.
#68
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First for the Kudos...Erik and Seattle Forrest: Wow, great shots, both of you!
Last big tour across the country I had a decent point and shoot. 2000 or so jpg pics fit on 4 2gb cards. This time I am going to take my D90 and a couple lens' when I head up to the Yukon. I am trying to decide on what type of storage: multiple SD cards or a portable hard drive. I am leaning toward Iomega 64gb solid state drive rather than the portable hard disk I already have. Anyone use one of these SSD's? Any other thoughts?
Last big tour across the country I had a decent point and shoot. 2000 or so jpg pics fit on 4 2gb cards. This time I am going to take my D90 and a couple lens' when I head up to the Yukon. I am trying to decide on what type of storage: multiple SD cards or a portable hard drive. I am leaning toward Iomega 64gb solid state drive rather than the portable hard disk I already have. Anyone use one of these SSD's? Any other thoughts?
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I did a 18-day trip with a single 512Mb card. I shot jpeg only with a 6MP camera and deleted any "meh" photo.