My retirement motorcycle photographic trip this summer 2014

I'm about to retire, my bike is pretty much sorted, and I'm in a pleasant quandary over what cameras to take on my trip. Call me crazy, but I'm taking more photo gear than the average motorcycle traveller, but that's what I'm going to do, because photography is very important to me and I'm not the type of person who is paralyzed by choice, or one that feels that less is more. I am taking both 120 and 35mm systems; the black and white film is already bought.

My medium format gear was certain to be a Rolleiflex TLR and a Fujica gs645w. The tlr was chosen because of the positive attitudes people have towards these "antique" cameras. The Fujica was chosen for its wide angle lens. Now I'm thinking that my Hasselblad with 80 and 50mm lenses is a good alternative. The lens apertures are faster than the Rollei and Fujica lenses, but the Rollei and Fujica choice offers 120 backup redundancy.

My 35mm gear was certain to be a Leica M2 and Leica CL with 21, 28, and 50mm lenses. An alternative 35mm kit could be a couple of Nikon SLR's, (maybe FG's or 801s') with 20, 28, and 50mm lenses. The advantage of the Nikons is built in metering and no need for external finders. The advantage of the Leicas is user satisfaction - I simply enjoy using them more. But maybe not in a demanding situation like a motorcycle tour.

Thoughts on these alternative choices?

Here's a link to my website: Dead Link Removed

I've done a lot of long distance travel with cameras over the years. My advise is to just use one system. Pick which format you want to shoot in first then choose the camera/lenses. To many camera choices just messes with your mind and muddies the creative waters imho. It's also more crap to haul around too if you take more than one system. If it were me, on this trip I would take the Leica M and CL as back up.

Just take the M2 with a 50mm, what else do you need?

In my experience, women love TLRs. So that's all you need to bring. Maybe film.

And a cute little puppy. A baby is probably as good, but they weigh more. You want to keep the weight down on a road trip. They're messier too, and tend to smell worse than the puppy.

I thought I was pretty clear that >for me<, less is not more.

cliveh said:

Just take the M2 with a 50mm, what else do you need?

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3 things: a 20mm lens, a 28mm lens, and medium format negs to print once I'm back.

My "lightweight" traveling kit is a Rollei 2.8 and a Nikon F3 with 20, 35, 50 and a 90mm Apo-Lanthar. My solution would be to buy a bigger bike

Just had a peek at your website, really nice stuff in there, and man, is that a busy darkroom...I thought mine was crowded
PS, love that classic Honda too.

First off, I envy the hell out of you!!! I have found that in my travels, which are all by car and all in Michigan so far, I see many opportunities that call for a certain format. Quick shots where timing is of the utmost importance is great for 35mm with in camera metering. Shots where there is time, but not a lot, and quality is a concern suits medium format using an external meter or built in if available. And shots where time just sits and waits and nothing but the best quality will do is perfect for large format. Unfortunately I do not travel with all three but many times I wish I had. My wife is always with me and she's NOT a photographer, she's patient...but to a degree.

My thoughts are to get a trailer for the bike and take as much as you like...it's a long trip back home to get THE camera you wished you had brought with you!

The best of luck in your travels!!

tony lockerbie said:

My "lightweight" traveling kit is a Rollei 2.8 and a Nikon F3 with 20, 35, 50 and a 90mm Apo-Lanthar. My solution would be to buy a bigger bike

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Just need a trailer. You know they gottem.

Thanks Tony.

Well at least someone understands about the use of 35 and 120 gear.

My proposed kit of camera gear all fits in a tank bag in front of me. My clothes and stuff all fits in a duffel bag which sits behind me. No need for a trailer. I'm not camping so I don't need all that stuff.

I have been contemplating the choices and say: Take them all, Frank.

Or, if it were my trip, I might take all three 120 systems and choose 1 Leica and 1 Nikon with all of their lenses.

My choice would be the M2/lenses and the FG/lenses.

Eric the Great

Since you asked us for our humbug opinions mine is this -- a agree with Eric. You're asking for a muddle with all those choices to make. Take the Leica and the Rollei. The general rule is -- take half the gear and twice the money

I travelled in Nepal a bit on a royal Enfield. Burned my leg on the exhaust too. I had too much gear with me. What I ended up using was hasselblad with 80mm lens and Pentax MX with 43mm lens. I used the pentax when I had to focus and meter very quickly or in low light. Otherwise I used the blad. I brought 150mm lens for the blad and 31mm and 77mm lenses for pentax. I didn't use them much at all.

It all depends on what you shoot as well. Sometimes less is more. I would take the rollei or the blad with 80mm lens. And 35mm camera with built in meter. With one or 2 lenses. Now you will have room for more film.

The only advice I have regarding photogear is this: if you are carrying your gear in a tankbag, put some good foam under it to cut vibrations. The vibrations from an inline 4 can loosen screws, and the constant jolting from road bumps is not good either.

Regarding the trip: I you have not done so, take at least a one-day trip first. That will help sort out issues you might have. I've had a seemingly comfortable bike seat become very pain-inducing after 6 or eight hours, even with stops. Those look like the original shocks. If I were in your position, I would put better shocks on it. They can make a big difference in comfort and handling.

lxdude said:

The only advice I have is this: if you are carrying your gear in a tankbag, put some good foam under it to cut vibrations. The vibrations from an inline 4 can loosen screws, and the constant jolting from road bumps is not good either.

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You are very correct. Yes, I've got that covered.

I just laid the MF cameras out. The Hasselblad with 80 and 50mm lenses take up more room and are heavier than the Rolleiflex 3.5E and Fujica wide. The Fujica has a meter. That's decided then.

It would be cool to hand a Leica M2 to a grandson or daughter and tell them about the motorcycle trip. Not so much with a Nikon FG or 801s. (Sorry, that's just my sensibility, and it is my reverie, not yours.)

lxdude said:

Regarding the trip: I you have not done so, take at least a one-day trip first. That will help sort out issues you might have. I've had a seemingly comfortable bike seat become very pain-inducing after 6 or eight hours, even with stops. Those look like the original shocks. If I were in your position, I would put better shocks on it. They can make a big difference in comfort and handling.

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More good advice, thank you. I've done many one day trips on this bike last summer: 6-7 hours one way to visit my parents in another city. I've read about the poor shocks, even when new 39 years ago, but I don't seem to have a problem with them. No doubt new shocks would improve the ride but theft aren't inexpensive and I need the money for the trip.

I find that when traveling or doing something that I enjoy where I want to document stuff inevitably one camera gets used more and its generally the one that is the most versatile and easy to use. I would honestly say a film SLR with autofocus could be the best choice...when I dedicate being somewhere to photography I can sit and play with focus and what not all I want but when I want great pictures while I'm enjoying wherever I am I just want the picture to be taken....sounds like a task for digital but I would say that a Nikon F1 or a Canon EOS 1 would fit the bill. If your dead set on Medium Format maybe a Pentax 67 SLR....not an expert on MF SLR's yet but the SLR is always a reliable choice...Id hate to find that the range finder mechanism was knocked out of place when I went to develop 20 rolls of film...but I suppose that depends on how careful you are with your camera and what not. The Fujica 645 sounds like a solid choice if it has a meter...personally I would pic a reliable 35mm system that I could easily snap away with with a normal lens and a maybe slightly telephoto one and then a MF system with a wider type lens...you could cover allot with that.

I have done a tour on a bike over Europe annually for the last 13 years. Usually lasting 2 weeks and cover an average of 2000 to 2700 miles each trip. I have come to the conclusion that one camera and a long zoom will be more than adequate. I don't expect to get or take any masterpieces so a slight drop in lens quality is acceptable but with the Nikkor I can if I am careful enlarge up to 10x12 without a problem..

If the bike riding is your priority, (it is with me during those weeks) travel as light as you can. My kit I take is 1 SLR and a 28/200 Nikkor zoom, although anything similar would do. I have found that taking more with you means a lot never gets used and only takes up space. I also camp en route so the space has to compete with a tent and whatever else i need.

As there is always a chance of coming off, I take my least valuable body I have - A Nikon F801. It is sturdy, reliable and does all I need it to do. If I were to come off the bike and it is damaged, it can be written off without breaking the bank. With the camera I take 2 sets of AA batteries, and as much film I think I will need in 14 days - at least 10 x 36 exp cassettes of Fuji C41 200. I also pack a table top tripod and a remote release, a changing bag in case a film jams in the camera and a lens brush. That's about it. I look on bike touring as an adventure all the time but am always conscious that weight is not a problem but bulk is so take as little as I can get away with.
Although unlikely when away from home there is always a possibility that it may get stolen so anything seemingly old and uninviting for a thief, gives a little bit of security.

I always take notice of the weather, and take this into the equation so use a large waterproof holster type bag, so that wet weather will not be a problem. The holster bag is, I have found the best compromise there is, so when you stop off, you don't have to dig around in the side boxes to get the camera out and can even actually use it when sitting in the saddle (but not moving of course). Have a good (and safe tour).

P.S.
I have just seen the picture of your bike and read your bit that goes with it. The Honda, whilst an able bike, has one Achilles heel for touring long distances - the chain drive! Yes they are a reliable, but they do need maintenance over the distances you intend to travel and you are sure to encounter dust and grit. A killer for a chain in what can be a relatively short time. I would go for the R100/7 every time. Your R90S whilst a great bike, is probably not as comfortable as the Honda or the R100, but the shaft drive of the R100 is totally maintenance free. You don't want to spend time keeping the bike up to par when you could be riding or taking photographs. I use a 1986 BMW K75S, which over the years has proved to be entirely reliable so I am bound to suggest the Beemer - but then it doesn't have a chain final drive.

frank said:

I just laid the MF cameras out. The Hasselblad with 80 and 50mm lenses take up more room and are heavier than the Rolleiflex 3.5E and Fujica wide. The Fujica has a meter. That's decided then.

It would be cool to hand a Leica M2 to a grandson or daughter and tell them about the motorcycle trip. Not so much with a Nikon FG or 801s. (Sorry, that's just my sensibility, and it is my reverie, not yours.)

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Take the Leica and lenses. From what you've said, I sense that you will be glad you did. And the Rollei and the Fujica make a pretty interesting combo for MF.

BMbikerider said:

The Honda, whilst an able bike, has one Achilles heel for touring long distances - the chain drive! Yes they are a reliable, but they do need maintenance over the distances you intend to travel and you are sure to encounter dust and grit. A killer for a chain in what can be a relatively short time. I would go for the R100/7 every time. Your R90S whilst a great bike, is probably not as comfortable as the Honda or the R100, but the shaft drive of the R100 is totally maintenance free. You don't want to spend time keeping the bike up to par when you could be riding or taking photographs. I use a 1986 BMW K75S, which over the years has proved to be entirely reliable so I am bound to suggest the Beemer - but then it doesn't have a chain final drive.

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I have owned and ridden a CB750 over long distances - Typically, 40-50K per year. Did the same with a couple of R80/7 and a K100.

Adjusting the chain on an almost daily basis, along with all the other routine maintenance tasks ends up being tiresome. Having to do this over the course of a long trip without having a workshop to fall back on would add to the pain. A round trip of some 7,000 miles is going to require quite a few oil changes...

I would also go for the R100/7 - Fewer engine services, more comfortable, no chain - If you break down, a BMW can be fixed by the roadside with the minimum of tools.

Which ever machine you end up using, I'd suggest that four to five weeks to go coast to coast and back is not going to leave much time to do any shooting. Perhaps four to five months would be a better option

Thank you ALL for your opinions and contributions! I am greatly enjoying all aspects of this anticipation phase of my trip.

frank, you haven't mentioned an essential - the tripod.

In 1979 I rode my Yamaha RD400 -- a two-stroke twin -- from San Francisco to the Ohio/Pennsylvania state line, and IIRC I had an Olympus SLR and a couple of lenses in a tank bag, and that seemed to be enough. I wasn't into medium format then as I am now. I am very sympathetic to your plight of deciding what to take and leave; I'm trying to pare down as I just feel silly standing in front of my cameras debating over what to use. In your shoes, I think I'd go for a wide-angle medium format, which you've rather got covered with the Fuji, and the FG(s) and a few lenses. I've got Leicas without built-in meters, which means carrying a meter, etc. As much as I like using RFs when walking around a city, I think the SLRs with metering would be beneficial to you in the long run.

Some interesting responses here Frank, Photography and old motorcycles... my two favorite pastimes.

First my input on the motorcycle part. The Honda will be fine. Its a nice reliable smooth running bike with what should be a nice seat to sit on. If you haven't already then before you go put a nice new modern chain on the thing. Break it in with a couple of good long day rides and then go enjoy your trip. If you get an o-ring chain it shouldn't be a problem. I think that bike takes a 630 chain doesn't it? Way stronger than needed and shouldn't need adjusting all that often. When it does its a nice way to finish a day in the hotel parking lot. Wipe the bike down, check it over, and if needed take a few minutes to adjust the chain. I've always found this is a time when other people come over to admire the bike and tell you how crazy you are to tour on something more than a couple years old.

On the photography part, bring what makes you feel good. I have a feeling that like me, you enjoy the equipment you use as much as the photos you take. There are plenty of times I'm out shooting with camera A and just really wish I could play around with camera B or C. You have space limitations but if it all fits in the tank bag then your good to go. When I've traveled by bike I've always just considered the tank bag to be my camera bag. Everything else goes in saddle bags or duffles. I've not had the pleasure to use the cameras your deciding between so cant tell you which I think is best for you so that's your choice. Only one thing, as said in a prior response, that bike has the capability to vibrate your camera into little pieces so maybe pick the camera that you feel is more able to deal with the stress, or maybe the one that you don't mind being damaged (as much).

I'm jealous. My plan is to one day get a chance for a long extended around the country tour too. I'll probably be riding my 1984 Laverda RGS. The camera choice is pending!

I'm in Loveland Colorado. I don't know when you'll be out this way or if I'll be around but drop me a line if you want, it would be fun to get together and compare bike/photography notes. Also, my garage is pretty well setup as a bike shop with lots of tools and a lift so if you get out here and need a place to do any service I'd be happy to help.

Ed