Carrying an SLR camera on a bike

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

aberal

Veteran
Location
Midlothian
Does anyone have any recommendations about the best way to carry an SLR camera on a bike - any pointers to specialist bits of kit/bags/panniers which are purpose made for the task?
 

GrahamNR17

New Member
Location
Norfolk, UK
For my use, I've found the Lowepro Slingshot just about perfect. It's like a single-strap rucksack but with a not-slippy-round thingy :angry: but designed to slip round so you can gain access without removing it completely. Also has the usual built-in rain cover the unfolds from a concealed compartment.

http://products.lowepro.com/product/SlingShot-100 AW,2034.htm

Graham
 

gaz

Cycle Camera TV
Location
South Croydon
Just a normal camera bag will do you good.

I have carried mine in it's normal small carry bag in my back pack with no issues.

I believe there aren't any specific cycling related bags for the task, and if they are they are more than likely no better than a standard camera bag.
 
I think someone does a bar bag/camera bag, used to anyway.

If I'm touring I put a soft foam in the bottom of my barbag and use the foam seperators you get in camera bags to create a snug little nest for it. Make sure it's cushioned from vibration, especially lenses and make a seperate waterproof bag just for the area the camera lives in.
 

Norm

Guest
GrahamNR17 said:
For my use, I've found the Lowepro Slingshot just about perfect. It's like a single-strap rucksack but with a not-slippy-round thingy ;)
+1 (but you have found the second strap which can completely secure it, haven't you, Graham? Or does the 100 not have one of those?)

I've got a Slingshot and love it but I'd have bought a bar bag if I didn't. Quick and easy access and it's possible to get them padded. :ohmy:
 
I use an Ortlieb bar bag with camera insert does everything you need... space for a spare lens and flash as well.
 

GrahamNR17

New Member
Location
Norfolk, UK
Norm said:
+1 (but you have found the second strap which can completely secure it, haven't you, Graham? Or does the 100 not have one of those?)
Yes, it has that, I just couldn't remember what to call it (fried brain this evening) hence I called it the non-slippy-round-thing :ohmy:

Normal service will resume... I hope ;)
 
OP
OP
aberal

aberal

Veteran
Location
Midlothian
Thanks everybody. I've done a fairly comprehensive internet search and haven't been able to turn up anything particularly specific. You might have thought that the various camera bag companies and/or pannier companies might have dreamt something up by now. I suppose my concern about carrying the camera in a bag on the back is I could see it causing real damage in an accident. Carrying it on the bike on the other hand opens the SLR to damage from vibrations etc. It's a tricky old thing trying to combine two hobbies...:ohmy:
 

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
There is a specific bar-bag for SLRs, but personally mine goes into a neoprene case with a waterproof jacket wrapped around it and sits quite happily like that in a pannier.

It survived a LEJOG like that, which should lend some confidence. :-)
 
Have you seen the Ortlieb camera insert for their bar bags? Provided you get the padding right, you won't have a problem. I've carried an SLR in a barbag for thousands of miles. Once, in the early days, I failed to adequately protect a lens and the internal diaphragm stopped working when all the screws vibrated loose. It was a cheap lens, badly protected. Since then, no problems.
 
OP
OP
aberal

aberal

Veteran
Location
Midlothian
Crackle said:
Have you seen the Ortlieb camera insert for their bar bags? Provided you get the padding right, you won't have a problem. I've carried an SLR in a barbag for thousands of miles. Once, in the early days, I failed to adequately protect a lens and the internal diaphragm stopped working when all the screws vibrated loose. It was a cheap lens, badly protected. Since then, no problems.

That looks like that might be the best answer I reckon. A bar bag makes it easily reachable as well and Ortlieb gear is usually well made and waterproof to boot.
 

Fixedwheelnut

Senior Member
Have to vote for the Lowepro Slingshot 200 here, I was wearing mine last Monday with my Canon 400D and a Tamron lense in the bag and knocked off on the way home doing about 20mph, I flew over the bonnet and landed fifteen feet down the road, all my camera gear has survived and only a small scuff on the bag and I rolled a few times on landing.
Shame my cycling kit wasn't made of the same material :ohmy:
 
OP
OP
aberal

aberal

Veteran
Location
Midlothian
Fixedwheelnut said:
Have to vote for the Lowepro Slingshot 200 here, I was wearing mine last Monday with my Canon 400D and a Tamron lense in the bag and knocked off on the way home doing about 20mph, I flew over the bonnet and landed fifteen feet down the road, all my camera gear has survived and only a small scuff on the bag and I rolled a few times on landing.
Shame my cycling kit wasn't made of the same material :ohmy:

Good grief! Glad to hear that you and (your camera kit) survived. Hope your bike survived too - sounds as though you'd have been lucky if it did.
 
Top Bottom