What's your preferred camera for touring?

[TCFA]

When I did my last trip I lugged my dslr around. Had it in its case (just a camera and two lenses but took up space for sure) which I stuffed into the bottom of my waterproof backpack (well, it WAS october).

As a result it never came out and the iPhone reigned supreme. But even then not many pics taken as had to dig the phone out, get gloves off blah blah blah. And my memory was basically full.

I also lugged a tripod around as I had planned to go up to Scottyland and wanted to shoot the northern lights - but changed route!

So I've just bought a good, well reviewed "compact" (actually it's bigger than a lot of compacts but it's deffo tank bag size) Fuji X30. Got a nice (cheapo) leather case on order and hoping this leads to more active picture taking on my trip down through France in a couple of weeks. I'm hopeful it will become my touring friend.

So, for those what like to take piccies, what's your choice? Do you take a bigger camera, put up with the extra size and weight, and spend time getting it out and setting it up for the right shots?

Do you have a reliable compact that you're a fan of (and if so, what is it?)

Or do you just stuff a bunch of those disposables that you nicked from your cousin's wedding in your textiles?
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Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[Dave V4]

Not overly fussed about quality tbh. Either use the drift cam for stills as I'm riding or use phone when I've pulled over. Most have turned out ok. I have enough junk to carry as it is without adding to it. It all depends what you are doing with the pictures when you get back, mine are just for memories.

[G]

It's pretty old now, but around Europe I had a LX3 mounted on the left of my bars in a waterproof case on a quick release mount.
I had two keyring recoil chains, so if need be I could drop the camera and it would hang just below the bar.

Can easily take pictures while riding, or have it to hand in seconds any time you stop.

[bamt]

I tend to use an old Nikon compact that was Mrs Bamt's before she upgraded. It's small enough to fit easily in a pocket, takes decent picture (not aa many megapixels as more modern kit, but decent optics counteract that) and if it gets wet/dropped/otherwise killed I don't care as it would otherwise have rotted in the back of a drawer.

The DSLR is way too much faff, the phone isn't as good at photos and is generally mounted in a peli box on the bars so awkward to get to for a quick shot.

[TallPaul_S]

Size is king for me, but as I've done some 'proper' photography a few years ago a crappy compact won't do. I'll be picking up a Canon EOS M this summer, along with the the 22mm lens it makes for a very small package than can take DLSR quality shots. The focus is a little slow but that's not really an issue when shooting mountains, they don't tend to move that fast...

Oh and they can be picked up on the bay for £150-180 with the 18-55mm kit lens, the 22mm is less a hundred notes on it's own used.
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00 Honda VFR800 | 09 Aprilia Tuono Factory
CBT 06/03/2014 | Mod 1 and Mod 2 passed 15/10/2014

[MCN]

[doggone]

I have canon S100 (latest version will be S120 I think) which is the size of a pack of cards but photos from it are often hard to distinguish from my SLR

I've been surprised by how good gopro stills and even screengrabs from the video can be - At least comparable to good phone shots.
Downside is poor battery life. Spares are affordable and easy to carry but you need to be organised to keep on top of recharging.

Hard to justify an SLR unless the whole purpose of the trip is an excuse to use it.
The photos from it will be technically better but carrying it about is a chore - and unless it fits in a tank bag getting out will be 5 minutes every time.

[chickenstrip]

I carry a Nikon S3700 compact in my jacket pocket. I still haven't got to grips with the DSLR, which is not huge but still a bit too large to be pocket-sized. The Nikon gives me good enough quality for out-and-about shots, and can have it out ready for shooting in seconds. It has a cheap soft case, but I'll wrap that in a poly bag if rain is expected.

I prefer the camera pics to stills from a video camera, going by what I see from folks here. They don't seem to do scenery much justice, and if I'm on my own, I'm happy to stop to take quick snaps anyway.

Quality of results is certainly good enough for recording for memories; I started with a Fuji compact, then lost it. Only thing I would have preferred is a bit more zoom, but was ok:

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCF1262_zps28e742ec.jpg

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCF1351_zpsfa38240b.jpg

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/England%20Lake%20District%20Easedale%20Tarn%203_zpsr2vphn5n.jpg

Then bought the Nikon; I think I can discern slightly better quality from this camera (not that you'd be able to see it after photo-oh-fuck-it has had it's wicked way with them):

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN1780_zpse9rpb1c8.jpg

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN1782_zpsnitjupoa.jpg

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN1876_zpsa9hrfcry.jpg

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN2012_zpsj0vxirhj.jpg

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN2007_zpspkjy3v05.jpg

And making use of the zoom on the Nikon (x8 optical, Fuji was only x4):

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN1181_zpslipyezmj.jpg

Both cameras were picked up from supermarkets, so no major expense involved.

On tour, I have come to the conclusion that the last thing I want to be doing is looking for the perfect shot - just don't have the time for it, too much else to see and do. If I was looking to achieve great landscapes with the DSLR, I'd probably take the car. Easier to carry kit, and can be dressed more suitably for a wander in the hills looking for better subjects than you'll likely get from the roadside.
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[alan29]

Nikon S9500. Bought half price from Asda.
Super quality and it has GPS logging so I can see exactly where the pix were taken when I get home.
Slips in the inside pocket of my jacket. Always there.

[D_redd]

I'm amazed that an £80 camera produced pics like that! Blimey. I was thinking one would need to start around £200+ for something that wasn't total mickey mouse. This looks like just the ticket! Thanks for sharing

[TCFA]

Nice pics! I'm getting really excited for my trip now. Thinking of getting one of those dinky little tents and just winging it
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Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[spnorm]

Sony RX100 Mk3 - large-ish 1" sensor, Zeiss lens, very compact dimensions & an auto lens cap. The image quality is excellent, although not quite up to CSC or DSLR standards.

I also have a Sony a6000, but taking the lens cap off and on is a pain with bike gloves on. I just keep the RX100 in an ever ready case in the tank bag or around my neck so that it's easy to access.

I'd also recommend a Canon G-series compact or a Panasonic LX-series

[Northern Monkey]

The Eos M with the 22mm lens is also my choice of camera.

I didn't realise they were so popular.

They're slightly pointless with the 18-55 mm lens. Almost as big as a DSLR, but with the 22mm lens, they aren't much bigger than a compact.
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[TCFA]

yeah I looked at the canon G series and the panasonic LX but its a lot more wedge and you do get bigger sensor and more megapixels but the fuji actually has the fastest lens across that range of cameras and is considerably cheaper (got mine for 250 but most of the shops are doing them 280/290).
____________________
Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[Dave V4]

check out this post from a couple of years ago. Mixture of drift cam and phone pics, alot of the Alps pics were taken at 60mph+
https://s1181.photobucket.com/user/threeballs1/slideshow/Pyrenees%20July%202014
https://s1181.photobucket.com/user/threeballs1/slideshow/Alps%20June%202015
for memories and viewing on a pc i realy don't see why why you need to lug a dslr with a huge lens around with you, unless thats your thing or even a separate camera. please point out the differences because i cant see them.

[TCFA]

nice. i've got a drift so I'll give that a go too
____________________
Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[spnorm]

A decent compact will always nearly always produce a sharper image than a phone due to the sensor size and lens quality, but I'm very impressed with the colours and exposure on my iPhone 6 Plus

This Spanish album was taken with a combination of my NEX-6, RX100 Mk.1 and my wife's LUMIX TZ25 and the quality of the NEX-6 with its APS-C sensor is noticeably better

https://www.flickr.com/photos/96239791@N08/sets/72157635085741052

[TCFA]

i've stuck a bunch from my latest trip on photofucket and thought I'd try posting one or two here before I embark on a full account in a new post. So here goes:

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1129_zpsstc7gptn.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1139_zpsevfgsr2x.jpg[/img]
____________________
Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[suffolkbiker]

I have used all sorts in the past, even 2 1/4 square film but these days I struggle to justify the extra encumberance of any sort of camera when I have an iPhone 5s in my pocket already.

If you are into mountain shots then you might like to experiment with stitching several shots together to create a very wide angle view or even a panorama. I use Microsoft's ICE program which is free to stitch them and its free and easy to use. I do it on a PC but it is also possible to do the stitching within the iphone of course.