Ways to protect your gear?

[silvElise]

This may be covered some where however I could not find it.

With the purchase of my new DS bike I would love to take my nice equipment on a rides with me and feel pretty save in the fact If I drop the bike my equipment will be ok. Also have to worry about the rattling and issues that can cause.

How do people transport take measures to protect their gear?

On my road bike I just dump it all into a backpack... I figure if I crash on that I have bigger issues to worry about then the camera.

-Ryan

[matikrimerman]

What kind of gear do you have?

[silvElise]

D300
few lenses.

Stands and tripod not to worried about
couple sb800s

[DFW_Warrior]

Get a point and shoot..... LOL

I know of a couple guys that carry their SLR's on the backs of KLRs and such. I just wouldn't want that kind of vibration going through a piece of equipment that expensive.

[silvElise]

Get a point and shoot..... LOL

I know of a couple guys that carry their SLR's on the backs of KLRs and such. I just wouldn't want that kind of vibration going through a piece of equipment that expensive.

Have a few of those... but what fun is exploring the road less traveled and not documenting it properly :)

[M38A1]

Get a point and shoot..... LOL

I know of a couple guys that carry their SLR's on the backs of KLRs and such. I just wouldn't want that kind of vibration going through a piece of equipment that expensive.


Two good points. I've got a Nikon S7c P&S that goes pretty much everywhere.

But on the D40x/18-200 setup, I often wonder how much vibration it can take in the tankbag of the R1150GS before bad things start to happen. Any ideas?

[ed29]

I recently bought a Lowepro backpack for my Sony DSLR. I had been carrying it in a tail bag, but the vibration concerned me as much as any potential drop damage. I figure if it is on me, it has as good a chance of coming through a mis-hap as I do.

[dukey33]

Isn't this kind of application exactly what Pelican cases are designed for?

[M38A1]

Isn't this kind of application exactly what Pelican cases are designed for?

I think the pelican case is for an impact, much like a helmet to protect the melon. It's the foam padding as an insulator that provides the shock and vibration absorption (i think.....)

[Skillet]

Some ideas were discussed in this thread not too long ago ...

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36654

Cheers,

Ben

[dukey33]

B&H Photo (and others) sell Pelican cases as the answer for everything the OP was looking for:


The Pelican 1300 Protector Case with Foam Interior is an unbreakable, watertight, airtight, dustproof, chemical resistant and corrosion proof hard case used to carry any kind of equipment that needs to be protected from the elements. It is made of Ultra High Impact structural copolymer that makes it extremely strong and durable. It has a 0.25" (6.4 mm) neoprene o-ring, ABS latches that seal perfectly and includes an automatic purge valve for quick equalization after changes in atmospheric pressure. Your equipment can fit into the high density foam of the case for total subjection and protection against impact, vibration or shock.

[silvElise]

Ok so then next topic....

I have never used pelican I have Hardigg cases and love them mainly because of the latches. Feature list seems the exact same.

Any one ever deal with both and prefer one?

[matikrimerman]

Nice set of gear. to be honest I wouldn't take my DSLR with me riding. I would get me one of this new rough compact p&s. If you still would like to take t with you, there are 2 options:

1. attach it to the bike. I would say the gas tank will be the best place. you can actually put a top-loader and lens bags on it, the question is how would you fill up gas (maybe you can use very good Velcro. I would buy the Tameron 18-270 or the nikon VR18-200 lens and forget about extra lenses.

2.carry it. you would put the gear in danger in case you fall and you might cause yourself more damage having something else hitting you when falling, but this way you can carry it anywhere . in that case you have 2 options - a sling ag or a top-loader with chest harness. I have the later and it is o.k but might be a bit bulky at times. the good thing is that I think that is the most protected area (?)

here are some images from LowePro (http://www.lowepro.com/) but you can use any company

Slingshot:
http://products.lowepro.com//CatalogImages/18-2036-IMG10.jpeg
video (http://vidego.productvideocast.com/player.php?p=t8353j52)

Toploader with chest harness

http://products.lowepro.com//CatalogImages/18-2054-IMG1_LRG.jpeg

http://products.lowepro.com//CatalogImages/18-2057-IMG1_LRG.jpeg

http://products.lowepro.com//CatalogImages/18-2057-IMG5L.jpeg
Lens case
http://products.lowepro.com//CatalogImages/18-1952-IMG1_LRG.jpeg

Another great review site : http://www.cambags.com/

Mati

[ed29]

Nice set of gear. to be honest I wouldn't take my DSLR with me riding.


If I don't take it with me while riding.... how am I going to get the shots?

This was my solution.....

http://products.lowepro.com//CatalogImages/19-2303-SWTIMGZOOM.jpeg

So far it is working better than a system attached to the bike. Your mileage may vary. Pelican or Hardigg cases will work, you just have to devise or acquire a means of attaching them and moving them from bike to bike. If it is to be a dedicated KLR case you could always bolt it straight to the rack.

There are at least twenty answers to this one question. All have pros and cons, and all are correct for one or more of us.

[matikrimerman]

If I don't take it with me while riding.... how am I going to get the shots?



I hear you, even though I was thinking of the same thing some weeks ago, and while I KNOW the 20D will give a much better image then the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0901/09012705panasonicft1.asp) I was looking into, I think the later will come into use more often. Just said what was on my mind lately.
The D300 is a great camera and will result in great pictures in the right hands. it just has to be in working condition and handy to be able to take the shot to begin with.

I would second the carrying the camera on you anyway. give that toploader a chance.

[DFW_Warrior]

Ok so then next topic....

I have never used pelican I have Hardigg cases and love them mainly because of the latches. Feature list seems the exact same.

Any one ever deal with both and prefer one?

I am in commercial audio/visual business and we do nothing but ship our gear everywhere. Pelican is the only case of that type that we trust/use.

[TexasShadow]

I can't use a backpack with a bad shoulder girdle and neck issues. So.
Camera is in a good camera case (I have three LowPro's depending on what I take and what I ride), which goes into the tail bag on the KL250. In the tail bag is a length of foam which covers the bottom and the two sides. The bag with camera gear is nestled onto that. That camera has been on nearly all my off-road rides and experienced many dumps. The only thing it doesn't like is cold.

Pelican cases with the foam are good. I have one for my laptop on long trips on the Wee-strom. That has gone through Colorado ice storms, rain and snow and a dump on the loaded Whee on iced pea gravel. If a laptop can survive all that, I'm sold on Pelican cases.

[DFW_Warrior]

I've seen a case of microphones survive a 7 story drop onto concrete while in a Pelican case. The case was toast after that, but it did it's job by protecting what's inside.

And now I know never to take an escalator with a cart full of loaded gear.

[texas_joker]

Beware of 'wearing' your camera while riding. I went down (Just tipped over) and cracked two ribs. This wouldn't have happened if I didn't have my camera (Canon 30d) slung around my sholder and under my arm.

[poser]

I'd be nervous about wearing it on my chest.
A few weeks ago I took a spill on the dirt bike and took the end of the handle bar to the chest. I would have cried had my D40 been in the way

[achesley]

I don't do dirt bikes anymore but. I had a very small tank bag with extra foam and plastic sheeting inside for weather proofing. Worked good on my various Adventure bikes. Now I have a small and large magnetic tankbag for my Bandit with a Plastic bag and a towel under the camera.
In high scenic areas I just put the strap on and wear it around my neck. But, that's not attemping to go fast in the dirt or single tracks.