What Camera to Bring?

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by mollydog

Great camera! What lens (lenses) did you get with it?

The B&H Photo Kit prices have good 2 lens deals ... but man, some of those Sony lens are pricey!

Let us know how it's working for you! I decided to wait a bit on the new Lumix and see how the reviews start stacking up. I may end up with one of the Sony cameras as well.

I got the package that came with a 16-50 mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens and a 55-210 mm F4.5-6.3 OSS. I think these two lenses will do nicely as a beginner.

Once I get to know the camera I’ll do a little amateurs review!

Can’t wait!

[Lovetheworld]

Have fun with the new camera!

I now have the new Samsung S9+ and I must say, I really like the photo quality.
Playing with the dual lenses is fun, because it acts like a real f1.4 or f1.8 on a proper dslr camera.
I've made some photos in daylight, that do not show much difference with that of a dslr when viewed on a big screen. Printing is maybe a different story.
I also like the fact that I can edit the photos on the phone itself (Lightroom for example). I can also do this on a big screen, by connecting the Samsung to the screen using Samsung Dex.

I want to do some night photography with a small tripod, to see how it can perform with long exposures.

[mollydog]

I'd like to hear more from travelers who have had their cameras fail from intrusion of dust, water or sand, or from vibration or being dropped. From my reading, I see many cameras break down ... some even not abused much.

Traveling on a bike ... one key problems for cameras is VIBRATION. Some store camera in a Pelican type case, some wrap up camera in side pannier. Or me ... I carry my camera in the top pocket of my riding jacket. Not so smart in a crash or heavy rain, but camera holds up pretty well.

Must say, for years I was a Big CANON fan. But since year 2000 I've had 3 Canon Cameras fail ... ALL very expensive cameras including one DSLR (D20). The other two were top of the line Point & Shoot ... all broke down traveling but NONE ever abused, all were in a case and packed up pretty well ... still failed to hold up.

My Lumix cameras have been 500% better. After 3 years one of my Lumix got a scratched lens ... MY fault. No other problems! And these cameras do not lead an easy life. Lots of dirt and dust.

Who out there has rough treated their cameras and either had them survive ...
or break down? Which ones are some of the tough ones?

[Lovetheworld]

We just had two issues with our Nikon cameras. One was a zoom lens I bought second hand (maybe a dumb idea, don't know the history). Anyway, it was working when we left, and during the trip you could hear to go rough when zooming. In the end it was still usable but only with manual focus, which meant a lot of photos failed. But still could get some nice ones, even though it was zoomed in.

The other thing was that the camera bodies had difficulty focusing after a while. This was resolved by having the camera cleaned at a photography shop. They clean the sensor and then it was working properly again.

Oh I almost forgot, last year we dropped a dslr from not that high, but it fell on the lens which was then broken. (not the glass, but the zoom mechanism) Fortunately that was only a 18-55mm lens.


My new phone is supposedly waterproof, but I wouldn't like to test it :P

[Island Hopper]

The best camera for me has been the Canon G series, very robust and has a good quality sensor that works well in low light... It also takes decent video and you can shoot in RAW image format if your into playing and editing... They offer a waterproof housing similar to what wraps the Go-Pro for people who want to take their camera into very wet zones or underwater, though I live in a wet climate and moisture has never been a problem... The best part of the Canon Gs is that they are fairly compact which means that not a lot of room is needed, I keep mine in the tank bag ready to go..

I first purchased a G-15 about 6 yrs back and it has been a flawless performer for the whole time even though it has taken a beating... On one trip we were up a very steep mountain road and we had ridden as high as we could go for some scenic mountain shots... I had took a bunch of pictures, set the camera down somewhere on the bike {not in the tank bag where it should of been} and road down the steep rocky shale path that we had ridden up... I got down to a flat area and waited for my friend Mark to catch up.. He rode up beside me and asked if I was missing something and held out my camera... It turns out that the camera had fallen off under the bike and Mark watched it get kicked up in the air after my rear wheel ran over it... It was crushed hard enough to break the battery compartment door off the camera but still seemed to function fine once I taped it in place... That was 4 yrs ago and the camera has functioned perfectly the whole time but the usb plug connection has worn out from plugging it to the computer so many times as to where I just pull the card out to transfer the pictures... A couple months back I purchased a new G5X to take over the picture taking and it has not disappointed me in the least, it does everything the older G15 did and more, in a slightly smaller package... It has so many extra features, most I will never use, but still remains simple to use and of coarse it also has outstanding video quality...

[stevedo]

I sold all my Canon DSLR stuff as it was frankly too big and heavy. We're 2-up on a RTW trip so space is limited.

I now use an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark ii mirrorless camera and couldn't be happier. It's rugged, rain and dust proof and a whole lot smaller than my old Canon stuff. The lenses are just excellent. I have the Olympus 12-40 F2.8 PRO, Olympus 40-150 F2.8 PRO and a Panasonic 7-14 F4

Image quality is excellent. Noise can be intrusive at ISO 3200 and above but it's manageable. The in body image stabilisation is just awesome. At shorter focal lengths I can pictures at 2 seconds hand held and they're tack sharp. It really is spooky what it can do.

We also carry an Olympus TG-5 for snorkelling and riding in the rain. It's completely waterproof to a depth of 15 metres.

For reference, we have a complete list of what we're carrying - clothes, camping equipment, tools, spares, camera etc over at Bike and Kit Lists - Two Brits and a Triumph Tiger 800 Round The World

Happy shooting :-)
Steve and Janette
Tiger 800 RTW - Two Brits and a Triumph Tiger 800 Round The World

[Chris Scott]

A bit late to the party as usual, but for others’ benefit allow me put in a good word for my brilliant LX100; a great travel camera unless you have lengthy zoom requirements.

I recently aspired to up my game with a Fuji mirrorless similar to the OPs tasty A6000.
Quick turn-on/off was the main reason. But barely dared use it while desert biking (lens changing? - forget it) while on a week’s city break I still found it just too darn bulky and conspicuous. And at a glance, image quality was not notably better. I’m not that much of a pro.

Had the LX 3 years, shoot mostly desert; yes it sucks in dust as all these types of camera do.
Sticking a hoover over the lens via a plastic bottle then working the zoom will suck back most of it.
Failing that, a pro clean from the official UK Lumix repair shop this year was only 60 quid and a couple of days. Well worth it. (I also carry an ancient FT2 burner as a back-up and tent mallet).


Like

• Size
• M43 sensor - the first camera in this size to use one, afaik
• Solid build compared to your average Lumix P&Ss
• Good battery life - 300+/a week
• Photo quality and res good enough for magazine full pages
• EV dial - use it every time
• Viewfinder - I missed that too
• Like all Lumixes, errs towards wide angle - my pref
• Fully manual - handy for very low light
• External dials/switches for most-used functions (don’t miss a touch- or hinged screen)
• Amazing in low light - what holds back your average P&S camera
• Probably does good video
• Loads of settings. I really ought to RTFM one time
• Doesn't play the ridiculous zoom range game
• Machine-gun like fps (I found recently while shooting others)

Like less

• The dust issue - for that I have the FP2 I suppose
• Slow lens deployment. Getting slower and needs a push back in sometimes. Annoying when you see a quick shot. The end could be nigh but it’s had a hard life
• Occasionally freezes on switch off but so far comes around with a battery-out

When it does finally pack up (as most of my cameras do) I really can’t think what else comes close to ticking my prefs at any price. I have looked and looked.

Lens cap thing, spare batts and card, microfibre cloth, Lowpro ‘Portland 30’ pouch and you’re good to go.

Some examples of a recent trips report using the LX here, here and here.
On the Mauritania one, 2 or 3 of the others' compact zooms died of the dust.

Nov 2018: LX100ii. Main differences are more res (21MP), touch screen and USB charging

[Chelmi_ouest_coast]

During motorcycle trip i use small camera, small cameras go everywhere and are not scary to people

Sony RX100 mark III wonderfull small camera
Panasonic DMC-FT5 also a wonderfull real anti shock waterproof camera for the bad weather day or beach party.

For this two camera i have USB charging unit and and 220V charging unit. On my motorcycle i use a 12V>5V converter on to charged the battery when i run.

Ciao,

[JMo (& piglet)]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

A bit late to the party as usual, but for others’ benefit allow me put in a good word for my brilliant LX100; a great travel camera unless you have lengthy zoom requirements.

I agree, a great example of all you really need (professional or otherwise) when travelling - unless you want to do a lot of long-lens stuff (ride closer ;o) or action/sports where a DSLR is still going to give you the speed you require.

Until about a week ago I was using the precursor to this, their LX7 - nice fast lens (f1.4) for low light, not a super long zoom, but great quality.

Unfortunately, twice now it has ended up with a System Error (lens/zoom issue) - I sent it back to Panasonic the first time ($200 flat rate repair), but am wary of doing that again on what is now a 5 year old model.

Currently I've got access to a Lumix ZS60 (that's what they call it here in the US anyway) which although is slightly more plasticy in the body seems to have similar functionality and a longer zoom range, albeit not the fast lens that the higher end LX7 had.

I'd have thought any of the mid-price (by that I mean the $400-500 USD mark) compacts ought to serve the motorcycle traveller well - no need for loads of accessories and extra lenses unless you are specifically on assignment in a professional capacity... As someone already pointed out early on in this thread, it's more about what you point the camera at than the machine itself.

Same with your bike choice really ;o)

Jx

[rapheal glynn]

I carry a Canon G12 old but rugged, along with 2 spare batteries and a couple of SD cards, that lives in my tank bag in an old leather carrycase, I also keep a small Canon Powershot A2500 in my jacket pocket, cheap as chips, light and takes decent images, also useful when walking into town for a meal, having to so handy ,means I often snap things that are passing quickly or when I dont have time to undo the tank bag
for many years I travelled with an Olympus trip 35 compact camera and a bag of films, that took amazing images, its now gone to a new owner and is cherished

[JJay51]

Hands down the best all round lens for t he sony a6*** cameras is the 18-105g f4
Constant f4 and doesnt extend when zooming in, agreat all round rugged lens that's excellent for video as well

[Chris Scott]

Funnily enough was just looking at a 6300 in Jessops and eyeing up a 16-70 to go with it (prefer a bit more wide).
Do-it-all range means you never have to remove it.
Similar size to my old LX100 but without the pepper grinder lens dial effect.
Being weather sealed, will hopefully stay that way for longer, too.

Fyi: found this handy list of weather-sealed mirrorless.
https://www.switchbacktravel.com/wea...s-cameras-list

I see regular P&S cams die on every desert trip.

[Samy]

Originally Posted by JJay51

Hands down the best all round lens for t he sony a6*** cameras is the 18-105g f4
Constant f4 and doesnt extend when zooming in, agreat all round rugged lens that's excellent for video as well

At full frame Sony Cameras its equivalent is 24-105 mm f/4
A very good all rounder...

For overlanders I think a 6000 series Sony camera with such a lens is perfect solution together with some spare batteries and external HDD SSD

[Sathimpiou38]

I have the a6000 with the kit lens, compact enough but I've had issues with the battery so I'm thinking of buying spares. Also eyeing a GoPro which might be easier as I am not very knowledgeable about cameras yet.

[Warin]

Yes to at least one 'spare' battery'.
That way when you battery goes flat you can quickly swap batteries and carry on shooting.