Camera for carrying in a bike bag

[Robert Brummitt]

Hello,
I know there are a lot of you bicycle/ photography folks out there and I hope you can help me out.
I bought a bike and the wife bought me two saddle bags and what I want to do is travel with a camera and small tripod. I'm looking toward Baby Speed graphic or Busch camera. Both are 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 in size. I was told that the Busch camera have swings and tilts and the Graphic doesn't. I would think that both weigh about the same. I could also look into full size versions of the cameras above and use a roll back.
My wife suggest I use my RB67 but I would think that beast would require a larger tripod then I want to lug around. I use a Ries for both my RB and 4x5.
So what type of camera, lens and light weight tripod should I investigate?
Thanks
:confused:

 

[John Kasaian]

Hmmm...how about a Gowland "All Moves" Pocket 4x5? Ultralight, inexpensive (comparatively) avalable used and you don't need a real substantial steroidal "LF" tripod---one that works for MF would be just fine. Downside---not the greatest on windy days (but what view camera is?) unless you've got a windbreak of some sort. For a lens consider a diminuative Kodak Ektar 203, Kodak 135 WA or 150mm G-Claron---all teenie-weenies.

 

[131802]

Hi Robert;
I have some experience cycling with 35mm cameras, but not medium format or larger units. You should be concerned about weight, but you also might want to think about vibration. I live near enough to Portland to know that our roads produce LOTS of vibration, even in a well-padded saddle bag. When on my bike, I leave the Leica at home and take my Nikon N65 and just one lens. The N65 (and many other plastic cameras of the 1990s) is relatively light-weight, but also reasonably sturdy and shock-resistant. The other thing to remember about weight and cycling: it's far easier to loose pounds by pushing back from the dinner table before desert is served than it is to shave an equivalent amount off the bike. I think this goes for photo gear, too. Good luck.

MB

 

[Robert Brummitt]

Well, I have thought of 35mm but I like big negs. I'm not going to great distance just around town to photograph and as you know traveling on a bike can get me there faster then by car. I also think a small LF camera because I could have better controls.
Boy, you sound like my wife. "It's far easier to push away from dinner" But I like my cooking!

 

[jeroldharter]

How about a Canham DLC (durable, compact, reasonably light weight), a Rodenstock Sironar-S 135 mm lens, and a Feisol carbon fiber tripod? That would weigh less than 10 pounds. The camera has full movements and a long bellows. The entire kit could be used for other purposes as well. Put the camera on one side, the lens/meter/a few film holders on the other and the tripod strapped to the top of the rack and you can go anywhere.

Check out this pack:

http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=106&cid=2

 

[Jon Shiu]

Hi, I've brought my Tachihara 4x5 and a 5 lbs. tripod on my bike with no problems. 15 to 20 pounds on the back of the bike is not really any problem, unless you have to carry it up stairs etc.

Jon

 

[pgomena]

Robert --
Find a good used Fuji GS690III. 6x9 negative, tough plastic body, great lens. A bit pricey, but light and fairly compact.

Pete

 

[Mark_S]

I ride a touring bike with a rear rack. I have an Arkel Tailrider bag which sits on the top of the rear rack. Holds a MF camera (I have a 'blad 501CM) nicely, and has a little rain cover. I use the handlebars as a support to steady the camera for landscape shots. I have thought of carrying my LF camera in a pannier, but have not gotten around to setting up a bag for that....

 

[kirkfry]

4X5 Crown, and small 3 section Slik tripod. A crown folded up not all the big. Bungie the tripod to the bike. Works fine. If you are going to go to all that trouble don't mess with anything smaller than 4X5. Forget about the movements for a bike deal and mostly you don't need them. A crown is mostly a point and shoot affair. K

 

[Colin Corneau]

I'd agree with Kirkfry -- Crowns are terrific travel cameras. I fit mine with holders and accessories into a Lowepro Slingshot200 bag and carried it ON FOOT throughout China.
Compared to that, a bicycle is easy.

 

[Anupam Basu]

A Chamonix 4x5 with a Feisol tripod is hard to beat for weight. I have obsessed with an ultra-light LF kit for a long time and this is pretty much the lightest kit I have come up with, although I didn't have biking in mind. Take a look here for my complete kit.

 

[Ian Grant]

For many years I carried my Wista 54DX & Slik tripod on my racing/touring bike, usually in rear panniers. I made a holder to strap the tripod below the seat. I found that the 5x4 kit wasn't that much heavier than my 645 equipment and it was a practical way to get around making images.

Ian

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I had a Gowland 4x5" for some years, and it was great for this kind of use. My ultralight kit was the Gowland, 90mm Angulon, and 135mm Symmar convertible or Sironar-N, Linhof 42mm drop-in filter set and shade (or use 40.5mm filters and shade), Grafmatics, and a little Linhof Report tripod with a small linhof ballhead or Acratech ballhead.

The Toho serves a similar purpose at more cost, but with somewhat more precision I gather.

The Chamonix would be a good choice.

Simple and self-casing, try the Ikeda Anba, which is similar in weight to a Gowland or Toho, but a flatbed design.

Currently I'm using a Linhof Tech V 23b as my small view camera. The format is smaller than the Gowland, and it's heavier with a rollfilm back, but I like the rangefinder option for handheld use, the solidity and quicker setup of the Linhof, and the ease of switching between sheet film and rollfilm.

 

[Mark Fisher]

If you are thinking about roll film (not a bad idea on a bike!) that is fast to use, a Century Graphic or baby speed (with graphloc back) are good choices. A camera that I always thought was interesting is the Galvin. It is a very simple, very light monorail camera. It is would not be very fast to use, but it certainly gives all the movement you'd want.

Mark

 

[lonepeak]

I have a mountain bike with a rack and what I do is carry my Wista DX II in a Go-Lite hydration pack with other essentials... light meter, lens etc. I use the rack for the tripod and film holders. The best method for me is to determine what lens I intent to use and only carry one, bring only the amount of film I intend to use and not use a tripod head. My Berlebach 8043 is lightweight and with the leveling column it really doesn't require the head. This saves lots of weight on the back of the bike.

Barry

 

[Robert Brummitt]

OK, I bought a 4x5 Crown Graphic camera with a roll film back. It has a 135/ f4.5 Optar lens that looks pretty clean. Shutter works. I'll have to take it in for a time check and cleaning. I'm going to take the side range finder off since I don't use it. I paid over $150 and another 25 for the roll back.
I think I'll try it once or twice then maybe sell it and try to get that baby graphic camera. Did I do good?

 

[darinwc]

Dont take off the side rangefinder!!!
You can adjust the rangefinder to whatever lens you are using.
These rangefinders can be very accurate, and they are great fun to use.

 

[df cardwell]

1. A Crown is a great choice.

2. The rfdr is essential to shooting as a cyclist. You kill the buzz by stopping to fool around.

3. 2 or 3 4x5 film holders are more fun than cycling with a Baby and roll back.

4. Too bad the current fad for bike design is the 'racing bike' or ' mountain bike' which cannot carry weight on the front wheel without wrecking the handling, so you have to stop, fuss with a rear rack or panniers. On my 'old fashioned' bike which was designed to be stable with a front bag, I just stop, pull the camera out of the front bag, shoot, and tuck it away, and ride on. Here is a fine illustration of how to put a massive bag on a bike designed to go really fast, be really comfortable, and carry stuff where you want it.

You CAN have a great ride, stop for a minute to make a picture, and get going again without losing the fun from the ride, or compromising on the picture.

http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/Pereirafull.jpg

 

[darinwc]

Question: will you be using a tripod? The crown with the rangefinder allows you to shoot handheld without a tripod, but of course best results are often with a tripod.

if so, how do you plan to carry the 'pod on the bike?

 

[bhorn]

What would you all think of using a Quickload for this sort of use? I've never tried biking with one but I did find it rather convenient for carrying in a backpack with my Busch Pressman. I liked it better than carrying a bunch of film holder and hassling with a changing bag (even though I did all the film changing at home). The only thing I didn't like about it was the length. The camera and regular holders made a nice square package. The Quickload made it quite a bit longer in one direction.

 

[Polybun]

Hello,
I know there are a lot of you bicycle/ photography folks out there and I hope you can help me out.
I bought a bike and the wife bought me two saddle bags and what I want to do is travel with a camera and small tripod. I'm looking toward Baby Speed graphic or Busch camera. Both are 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 in size. I was told that the Busch camera have swings and tilts and the Graphic doesn't. I would think that both weigh about the same. I could also look into full size versions of the cameras above and use a roll back.
My wife suggest I use my RB67 but I would think that beast would require a larger tripod then I want to lug around. I use a Ries for both my RB and 4x5.
So what type of camera, lens and light weight tripod should I investigate?
Thanks
:confused:

Well, i did manage to fit (less flash gun) grown graphic into my bike bags. Mine will also hold a gallon jug with room to spair, so they aren't the biggest, but they are not small either.

God my biggest worry with this, having a down onto a wooden camera! I think something all metal, like a mamiya press, it would survive, but crap i just dont' know if the light and beutifull woods used on graphlex or anything else for that matter is going to really deal with it. That said, it would probably be repairable.

 

[Polybun]

Question: will you be using a tripod? The crown with the rangefinder allows you to shoot handheld without a tripod, but of course best results are often with a tripod.

if so, how do you plan to carry the 'pod on the bike?

I carry mine via a rack on the rear of the bike, which my bags also mount too, also the ham radio antenna. I just bungee strap it on, hold on well enough. Its an old and somewhat heavy Star-D unit.

 

[juan]

I easily carry a 4x5 Crown Graphic in my panniers. Film holders can be a bit bulky. I also sometimes use my 2x3 Speed Graphic - film holders are much smaller and easier to pack. Either camera can be used on small, lightweight tripods. My RB67 is entirely too heavy and bulky, IMHO.
juan

 

[darinwc]

Well, check back and let us know how it goes.

 

[seawolf66]

If you could find a used Toyo 45CF which is very light ,but has limited movements But the bottom line it's light ,which I have , even better find a premo pony 6 cased camera small and light and has a double extention on it : also limited movements