What Camera do you own?

[kulwen]

I currently own a Canon G5 camera, and love it. I get some great photos when I am stationary. However, when moving on the FJR Michelle is unable to take pictures. It seems the G5 takes a little too long to focus and we get blurry PICs. Of course, there might be a setting or two I need to change, but I have not found them yet.

So, what camera do you use while your bike is in motion?

By the way, my S.O. was reading a bit on the forum and has let me know she has a name, and S.O. is not it. So, I will call her by name now instead of S.O.

 

[twowheelnut]

Big Canon fan here: G1 (most ancient) for the stills and Elura 80 for the vids. Currently that unit resides atop JDog's stem mount as his fried (literally) on our last run. I'm looking to replace the G1 with the S3IS (12X optical zoom! Woot!).

 

[DucatiSSsp]

Just bought the Sony Alpha dslr 10.2mp to replace my not so old minolta Maxxum HTSI.

Also have a Sony Mavica MVC-cd500 5mp. Need to find a helmet or bike cam....not the highest priority though. <_<

Bryce

 

[Silent]

Canon D50 stationary. :yahoo:

Nothing when moble. :blink:

 

[05fjrman]

Nikon S3 for stationary.

I just use my imagination for moving vids. :dribble:

 

[teerex51]

Big-ass Canon EOS 5D...that takes up most of the tankbag if extra lenses are carried, too

 

[Rentaroo]

Canon S3IS, purchased just over a month ago. Julie and I are very happy with the camera. Produces really nice pictures, it's easy to hold and work the controls, and the 12X zoom means I'm able to take nice close-ups of far-away stuff.

I picked up two sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries (2500 mah) and a 512MB card when I purchased the camera. With the camera set to largest file size and best resolution, I can take ~ 175 pictures...way more than I would likely ever take on any type of trip.

Not sure how many photos the batteries will last through...right now we have around 150 photos on one set of the rechargeables. One of the reasons I purchased the S3IS, is because you can put regular 'ol "AA" batteries in it...batteries that are available pretty much anywhere.

 

[C&C]

Stationary: Cannon S1 1S 3.2mp, 10X zoom, great color rendition. Fully automatic or manual.

 

[Opus]

Stationary only.

I use an Olympus Evolt E-500 SLR, with 3 separate lenses.

A 1 Mb card can store over 500 high-res images, but I have never taken it to the limit.

 

[85turbo]

nothing while moving (yet) and a canon EOS 350D 8MP SLR.

i have 2 lenses. 18-55 and 75-300. with the conversion factor of the CMOS sensor,

the 300mm lens is equiv to a 580mm with 35mm film. that's more than enough for me...

this photo was taken with the 55mm lens.

same location but with the 300 mm lens fitted.

look closely in the first pic, you will see the bridge (just)

it was a little hazy the day the pics were taken, and i didnt have any filters fitted at the time.

the 350D takes glorious photos, even with a ham like me behind it.....

jason

 

[ionbeam]

Most moving pictures are taken by camera platform A1 Fearless Pillion™ I can’t keep up with my wife’s camera du jour so this is her reply to my query:

This is quick and dirty, sorry...
For the Kancamagus trip, which was my first attempt, I used the Nikon 5600 (the one I gave to Terry). It is only 5 megapixel, has usual slow shutter response. Focus is fine, most of my pics are in focus if I just take the milisecond to focus before I shoot. It is small enough to hold easily and sticks in a pocket.

The Vermont trip was a combo of Nikon 4800 and Nikon D70. The Nikon 4800 has the same delayed shutter response and it's only 4 meg. It has an 8x zoom - I don't find the zoom very useful on the bike, by the time you see something and react it's gone. Focus is fast. The camera is a bit thicker than the 5600, so it doesn't fit in a pocket as easily. If I had a choice between the 5600 and the 4800 I would bring the 5600. Aside from the shutter delay it is perfect.

The Panasonic DMC-FZ7 6MP Digital Camera with 12x zoom - the one I got last fall before the one I sold to Cheryl - I loved the pix but it was soooo slow. Even the LCD responded slower than the Nikon 4800 - hold them side by side and move them, the Panasonic was way slow to respond. Not suitable for shooting off a moving bike.

The D70 is heavy but oh so quick, and the zoom is more usable. Disadvantage is that you have to have it up to your eye all the time so you miss the trip itself - or you can point and shoot if you have good aim. Focus is instantaneous, never have to worry about that. Basically "youseeityoushootit". The digicams are nice if you can use the LCD, which is difficult in the sun (and who takes pictures in the rain...!) I usually just hold the camera up and shoot blind (can you tell?)

If you are planning to make big blowups, like 16 x 20 inches the 5600 and 4800 won't do the trick. But if you are planning to display your shots on the web they are perfect, and that is what most of these pics are good for. Color is adequate, I don't have it turned up but I could.

Battery life on all 4 cameras was fine, never ran out of juice before I filled the 256 meg card.

I would like the same package as the 5600 with faster shutter response and more pixels.

More Pillion Pixs from last fall’s New Hampshire Covered Bridges ride. (Note that all these pictues are very reduced which hurts quality.)

I shoot a Canon 20D Digital SLR. I’ve confabulated a shoulder holster sorta thingie that I park the camera in when shooting on the move. When the road is clear, relatively straight and in good condition I will set the AVCC 100, draw the camera and shoot. I find that a 50mm lens is about right. Auto focus and exposure calculations are virtually instantaneous; I don’t bother with the viewfinder. Like any long time shooter, you get to the point where you don’t have to use the sights to have good aim. I've never drained a battery, use a 2 gig card and as previously mentioned shoot a 17-50mm lens from the bike. Once stopped for photo ops I've got a pretty well stocked camera bag to select lenses from. The 20D is a big, heavy camera that takes great pictures.

Three samples of ‘over the handlebars’ snaps taken with the Canon 20D

 

[Scab]

Canon D10, SLR.

 

[frayne]

Older Nikon Coolpix 885, still takes a nice still photo.

 

[Geezer]

Film - very old Canon AE1 - takes great pictures but it is heavy and lenses are hard to find.

Digital - Fuji Finepix S5200 - Takes great 5M pictures, easy to use for normal mode and has plenty of settings for more advanced picture taking. Fairly inexpensive, compensates for shaking, and has an option to take a set of pictures in quick succession so you can catch an action shot. Cons: Although it is light weight, it is bulky to carry, about the same size as my old AE1.

 

[Scab]

Film - very old Canon AE1 - takes great pictures but it is heavy and lenses are hard to find.

I may just have an old bag with one of those in it. I'll check for ya.

 

[donaldb]

Pentax Optio W30..............use it because it is pocket size, easy to operate for dumb asses like me, takes pretty durn good piccies...........see below and it is waterproof... oh yea, and also affordable!

on a cloudy rainy day in the smokeys

on a sunny day in the smokeys

 

[gr8eyes]

I have a Canon 10D digital body, hooked up to a retinal camera. Takes pics of the retina. But, I was told I could buy regular lenses and take regular pictures. Any suggesrtions on lenses to fit. I might start taking pictures with it..

Glenn

 

[chornbe]

I just bought a digital rebel eos XTi.

LOVE IT. Before that, I had a Canon S1-IS. Great little feature set on that one.

 

[Carnifex]

Film - very old Canon AE1 - takes great pictures but it is heavy and lenses are hard to find.

I have 2 AE1s and an A1 that I still use for taking film pictures when the mood to be artsy strikes. For day to day picture snapping, I have a Nikon CoolPix 4500, and today my new Nikon CoolPix S10 arrives. You can't beat Nikon for optics.

I've still not moved to a digital SLR - can't justify the money for the kind of picture taking that I do. The CoolPix S10 is 6MP and has 1 10x optical zoom (about 38mm to 300mm equivalent) so it'll do me for now.