I want to use my gravel bike to transport me to locations to take photos. That means carrying 5-10kg of camera kit including a tripod along with my normal load. I'm thinking that I need some sort of pannier type frame thingy, and the immediate idea was an Tailfin. However, I remember seeing a video about an ultra distance race (Cornwall to Wales, Celtic theme) in which one of the riders was in trouble because their Tailfin broke, so maybe they aren't as robust as I'd like. What other options can you recommend, or what experience do you have of the Tailfin in these circumstances? Thanks!!
Have you thought about conventional racks? The Topeak super tourist is very robust and combined with some Ortlieb waterproof panniers it should cover your needs. The weight is low down with room for padding too, nothing wobbling around and rubbing your frame as is the current fashion!
10kg?!
What are you rocking?
I would be inclined to split it up.
Cameras in a proper clip on bar bag you know the things. Rigid padding and stuff. Possible even one of those wide front racks with a bag.
Tripod on the back.
10kg?!
What are you rocking?
I would be inclined to split it up.
Yeah, 10kg is probably an exaggeration, but a large body with 3 zooms plus tripod plus bits'n'bobs is easily 5. Splitting it up is a good shout.
As stated; 10kg is an awful lot, what are you carrying?? Large teles? I have a Nikon Z8, not the lightest camera, but also not huge. Even If I took a bunch of lenses, spare batteries etc and my hefty old Manfrotto tripod, I’d be struggling to get anywhere near 10kg. 5kg is not as bad, but for travelling I use a little Nikon Z50ii, plus a couple of small DX lenses. Gives me excellent image quality without the bulk and weight. I have a lightweight Sirui carbon fibre legged tripod, although I do’t take that with me too often. Recently bought a tiny Oben CF mini-tripod that can still hold my Z8 with a sizeable zoom.
For an ultra light set up, it’s the Z50ii plus a 12-28mm zoom (18-42mm equivalent on FX), in a little pouch I can clip to my backpack straps. Or I can have that combo, plus a 24mm prime and a 24-70mm f4 zoom, in a handlebar bag. I can get a decent lightweight kit with that mini tripod under 2kg. I’m not really one for doing photography whilst biking though; most of my work is at venues so I stuff various bags and pouches into a scruffy old rucksack, or if I really need a load of gear inc tripods, in a granny style shopping trolley! But I’m using a cab/uber to the venue, not riding up a mountain. Having said that, the last time I did lug a camera to the top of a mountain on a bike was in Spain some years ago; chunky Nikon DSLR plus 24-120 zoom, something like 1600m+ climb. Thats when I decided to get a smaller, lighter camera.
Can you strap the tripod to the top tube somehow?
Are you able to rationalize the zooms so you only have 2 max, 3 feels like there will be a fair bit of overlap.
I'd be tempted to carry the body in a rucksack as there will be a lot more vibration and big bumps if it's riding on the bike. Have used a Lowe Pro sports sling which allows a body and couple lenses and can be tightened up to resist movement on the body. Also a LowePro pouch, but that's a body and lens only.
Off the bike have often taken 2 bodies along and just-n-case lenses and all the bits and bobs, and it's heavy, but when I get down to it, i actually need 1 body, 1 lens, and all those other lenses and body and just in case bits n bobs are just ballast i could have left at home
There is a reason why most long distance tourers use tubus racks and ortleib panniers.
I have a Nikon Z8, not the lightest camera, but also not huge. Even If I took a bunch of lenses, spare batteries etc and my hefty old Manfrotto tripod, I’d be struggling to get anywhere near 10kg
Coincidentally I have the Z8, and with 14-30, 24-120 and 100-400 plus tripod and batteries and whatnot it comes to a heavy load. I took it out with a 24-200 in a PD sling today and found it really uncomfortable. I did have a Z50 at one point but sold it. I am in a constant state of indecision whether "the best camera is the one you have with you", or if there's no point in not taking the best image quality possible. hence my current inquiry into what it actually takes to carry my highest quality kit. Maybe it's not worth the hassle, and I should separate cycling and photography!
Off the bike have often taken 2 bodies along and just-n-case lenses and all the bits and bobs, and it's heavy, but when I get down to it, i actually need 1 body, 1 lens, and all those other lenses and body and just in case bits n bobs are just ballast i could have left at home
You're right but the problem is to identify which lenses are the ballast 🙂
Like Josh said. Body and most used lens in a bar bag. You could probably get some normal panniers and packing cubes / lens tubes.
As for tripods. Can you pop the central column out so it can be stored as two parts over two bags or buy a smaller pod, one with more leg sectionsor a travel one that folds back on itself?
Or get an evoc capture bag or hip pack?
To be fair one of my cameras could probably get to 10kg.
But its also made of wood and brass and takes photos on glass plates 🤣
To be fair one of my cameras could probably get to 10kg.
But its also made of wood and brass and takes photos on glass plates
That's probably not optimal for cycling applications. Just a guess ... 🙂
Any recommendations for a bar bag ? A lot seem to be designed for stuffing in a sleeping bag from the side 🙁
I've got something like this.
https://uk.ortlieb.com/products/ultimate-plus
Mine must be about 14 years old and is in the attic.
To be fair one of my cameras could probably get to 10kg.
But its also made of wood and brass and takes photos on glass plates
That's probably not optimal for cycling applications. Just a guess ... 🙂
Any recommendations for a bar bag ? A lot seem to be designed for stuffing in a sleeping bag from the side 🙁
Yeah the tripod os three separate wooden legs that attache directly to the base of the camera that contains a turntable. And a max shutter speed of 1/90.
You are looking at the wrong kind of barbag. You want a touring barbag. Something like this...
Hmm. That os actually quite difficult to find one these days. Mine is an old revolution (edinburgh bike coop) with a klix fit or whatever its called mount.
Restrap are the closest i can easily see. The rando looks perfect. If you had a front rack.
Basically imagine a LowePro AW five bag on you bars.
Infact. Maybe the better solution is to make a proper camera bag secure.
I carry my camera set up (body and 3 zoom lenses) in a padded camera insert inside a Carradice Odyssey on the front held up by a handlebar Bagman mount. I put the insert inside a bin bag to roll over it if it rains. Makes the camera easily accessible for impromptu shooting. Tripod goes in a frame bag because it’s quite heavy with a decent head.
Thanks everyone for all the replies - as usual, good advice and food for thought !!
I actually dug out a lowepro to see whether it could be mounted easily.
I reckon it could. With a bagman type frame. Brush handle for how the primary fixing might work.
Infact it would make a bloody good normal toruing barbag.
I have a Nikon Z8, not the lightest camera, but also not huge. Even If I took a bunch of lenses, spare batteries etc and my hefty old Manfrotto tripod, I’d be struggling to get anywhere near 10kg
Coincidentally I have the Z8, and with 14-30, 24-120 and 100-400 plus tripod and batteries and whatnot it comes to a heavy load. I took it out with a 24-200 in a PD sling today and found it really uncomfortable. I did have a Z50 at one point but sold it. I am in a constant state of indecision whether "the best camera is the one you have with you", or if there's no point in not taking the best image quality possible. hence my current inquiry into what it actually takes to carry my highest quality kit. Maybe it's not worth the hassle, and I should separate cycling and photography!
I also have the 14-30, but long teles aren't my thing. The 100-400 is a hefty lump. I had a 70-200 f2.8 in my F-mount days, but it seldom got used because it was so big and heavy. That said, my next lens will be either the 135mm Plena or the 85mm f1.2, and neither of those are light and compact! I don't like superzooms as I find them too compromised in terms of image quality. The 5x of the 24-120 is as far as I'll go with a zoom, but that is an exceptional lens tbf. The Z-mount lenses are all fantastic, Nikon have really stepped up their game.
The Z50ii is a significant improvement over the Z50, ergonomically at least. Better flip out articulated screen for one. Faster AF, more responsive, slight IQ improvements. I actually use it professionally even; I shoot mainly indoor events so often in very dark environments, alongside a Z6 which is outstanding in very low light. The smaller sizes of these cameras are a bonus when working in packed venues, and they don't look so 'pro', which puts people more at ease. I love the Z50ii, it's a superb camera, and the quality of the images it produces makes it easy to leave the bigger cameras at home. I totally get that the Z8 has exceptional IQ especially at low ISOs, but you have to ask yourself if that's crucial for taking with you on bike rides. I imagine you're doing landscapes, hence the tripod, but perhaps a smaller, lighter set up would help improve the rides, with only a very small trade off in IQ.
I have a PD Everyday Sling (6l), and whilst it's a great bag for just walking around with, it's not so great on longer bike rides. You can quickly adjust the strap so it's very tight on your body, but it's still not as comfortable as a backpack. What I've found with taking a 'proper' camera on bike rides is that it becomes a faff to get in and out of a backpack or even bar bag; biking and photography involve some compromise, but a smaller camera in a bar bag is a more convenient solution. I've been looking at the PD Capture Clip, as this would allow a camera to be clipped onto a backpack strap, and be more easily accessible. Obviously not such a good idea in wet conditions. And although they claim you can mount a pretty big camera to it, it's always going to work best with a small lightweight camera attached. This is where the Z50ii would be better. For casual use, I often chuck the Z50ii, 12-28 and 24mm f1.7 lenses in a small, very unobtrusive Uniqlo crescent shoulder bag.
"I am in a constant state of indecision whether "the best camera is the one you have with you", or if there's no point in not taking the best image quality possible"
Everything's a compromise. I've recently been shooting high-res portraits, and obviously the Z8 stands head and shoulders above my other cameras. But my event work doesn't require such extreme image quality, so the other cameras are perfect. Much of that type of stuff is about the mood and atmosphere, so ultimate IQ isn't a prime concern. But I much prefer travelling with the lighter kit; walking round big cities like NYC and Berlin is a real chore with a big camera, and kind of spoils the holiday, because you're thinking you have to do the equipment justice. And tbh, you're probably not going to get 'better' photographs than with a smaller camera. Often, less is more.
Consider also a lighter tripod. The Sirui one I have is under a kg, and still sturdy enough for most shooting. I used to lug my Manfrotto 190 around with me on trips; that's got to be around 4kg or even more. A friend used to take the even bigger and heavier 055 around with him! The Manfrotto is definitely my 'studio' tripod now! My tiny Oben 'tabletop' tripod is around 450g, but is still fine for landscape work. Extends to a max 70cm, although it is a little spindly at that height. Great for very low level macro work though.
Many moons ago (40 years ish) Karrimor did actually do a camera specific barbag.
I guess it depends what kind of shooting you're doing, and whether you're cycling to get there, or cycling for fun, or a bit of both, how much gear you're taking. Based on that I guess you can work out what you want/need to take with.
As for a peak design capture clip.
I have one and hang a R6 on it. Normally with a ef-r converter and a 70-200 F4.
I have had the 1.4 tele converter and a 300mm F4.
All hung from an arca plate on the camera. I have some plates on the lens feet but that's so they can be tripod mounted.
Tripods I had (still have) an aluminum manfrotto 190. I was always frustrated by it's max height so I upgraded to an induro (now part of Benro) tripod. Same height as a manfrotto 55 but a similar weight to the 190 but with better FLM head, height and I got some mega spiked feet.
I keep lookin at 3 legged thing pods for low level ground clearance for macro work but struggle to justify the price with 2 pods at home already
Just remembered; I have an Ortlieb Mini O Bag for my Brompton, that has a camera insert. The standard equivalent is called an Ultimate in the 6.5l version, and attaches via a Klik-Fix clip mount. I have that on another bar bag, can't remember which brand, but it does stay secure. I can vouch that you can fit a Z8 plus the 24-120 in it, and possibly a couple of other small bits, but you will have to play around with the padding and possibly add more, to make it all snug and protected. Very sturdy, fully waterproof exterior though, and Ortlieb stuff is excellent quality. It is quite pricey though; the bag, clip and insert will set you back about £130 or so. Clips on and off very easily though, no fiddling with straps etc. Has a clip-on carrying strap, but it's not for long treks around like that. The Brompton version has a handle at the top, which imo is better than the map pocket thing the Ultimate has.
https://uk.ortlieb.com/products/ultimate?variant=50460691857708
