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So I've got a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera coming, not exactly small but relatively compact at about 126x94x65 mm.. Stopping and getting the camelbak off and open to take a pic will get annoying after the tenth time so I was wondering if anyone here is using a chest bag? Some say the vibration in a frame mount bag breaks cameras, and I'm off road on bumpy stuff most of the time, and I don't like attaching stuff to the bike.
There's hiking focussed products like helicontex numbat or osprey archon chest rig, or something camera specific like a Wandrd Route pack, but I'm not sure the mounting options look secure on that, maybe you'd need extra belts/straps with that thing.
Preferably something that doesn't smack me in the face when I go over the bars.
Something available in UK, I wear a camelbak so has to be something round the front...
Be nice to actually stop and take nice snaps every so often
Watching with interest.
I've resurrected my compact mirrorless setup for when am heading out on a bimble - or indeed going out on a ride with a group and want to grab some riding shots.
Not yet found a great solution. So far my favourite is just carrying the camera and nothing else in my evoc hip pack pro. I also have a stage capture 16 which, while excellent, taking it off to take photos gets a bit of a chore.
Yeah, evoc hip pack could work, I guess I might end up repurposing an old bumbag which could sit under the camelbak, and swing it round when I need to open.
What about a peakdesign capture clip.....
https://eu.peakdesign.com/collections/clips/products/capture
Might not cover the otb scenarios.....
Have just got a canon m6mk2 and wondering about how to carry that
I have a peak design capture clip. Unsure I'd use it on the bike.
Years ago I tried a camera holster thing clipped between the straps but it hung down and swung around
How about a bar bag
Interested to see what you end up using.
I have resorted to just carrying my little PenF in my pack and stopping (luckily GF doesn't mind my faffing). But recent lens purchase has added weight and size to the whole setup.
I think i would rather it hit my the face than it it ending up under my chest in a crash.
Landing on ribs hurts. Putting a lump there seems like a recipe for ouchies.
I carry my film ie delicate mechanical cameras ina small bar bag when i really want to have them available. They've been fine, some of them are 100+ years old and break if you look at them funny
Peak design....But could you attach the clip to the waist strap rather than shoulder strap, but I guess both scenarios leave the camera out in the elements.
Another option is a lowepro waist pack on your waiststrap. I have one which I use on its own for skiing and it works with a big dslr. That would probs work well w smaller format attached to camelback waist strap
They also have a photosport range which has bladder storage etc. Could look to get a sports sling secondhand as well
https://www.lowepro.com/global/toploader-photo-active-tlz-45-aw-lp37345-pww/
I've tried camera bags on the waist strap.
Despite the issues I persevered for a bit. Since I wanted the camera accessible while I ride I could not go with the bag firmly attached to the strap by the pack, defeated the object. Bit it always ended the same way - the bag would migrate around to the front either by slipping along the strap or starting to move the bag. I'd notice when I took a bump and and the camera tapped my plums a bit hard.
The trick with a waist strap or belt bag is to use one of those tiny carabiners to stop it moving along. Also stops the camera bag from sliding off the waist belt when you unstrap it.
Bikepacking.com did a guide
https://bikepacking.com/plan/bikepacking-with-a-camera/
I had a bridge camera (cannon g9) in a pocket on the front straps of a rucksack for a while. It was faffy. While trying to get straps of and on.
I went up to a DSLR ( Pentax k5). I bought a backpack with a camera pocket. The extra 2kg weight sucked the fun out of riding. After I lost a load of holiday photos to a corrupted memory card I gave up on that. I still use it for walks.
https://www.lowepro.com/global/photo-active-bp-200-lp37260-config/
I keep thinking about taking the Pentax out in a hip pack. with a pancake lense as it fits in a big pocket.
Disappointing my GoPro takes photos that are the same as me taking 5 photos and spending time editing them. So I mostly just use that now.
If love to have the time to faff about, but I ride to have fun. Having to justify the weight of a lumpy camera means I have to take a photo and it has to be better than the go pro could get.
ta for the input people. I've upgraded from DSLR to mirrorless using the sole justification of being able to take it cycling so I can't just back away from this one, I think I've already caused a WAF infraction as I've already got a perfectly good camera - your thoughts are super helpful!
I've got one of those smallish boxy Lowepro bags with a slot for a belt to go through so had wondered, but I probably need something smaller as its still a bit of a lump.
so to recap:
* Get a chest bag if you fancy rearranging your sternum. Get a Capture Clip if you fancy rearranging sternum and needing major dental work
* Some sort of frame mounted bag eg on the bars or top tube, but vibration could damage the camera / lens and personally I don't want things attached to my frame if I can help it. But bar mount might work?
* Camera bag on Camelbak strap, yeah... Use caribiner to prevent it moving around, good idea. Ta for the lowepro links, mine is a bit bulky, I'll see if there's one nearer the right size. I had a quick look on their site earlier with my phone but didn't see those ones linked above
* And bum bag. Which could end up fighting for space with the Camelbak, and the wasit straps would annoyingly double up. I like the look of these but would have to improvise with padding.. https://www.over-board.co.uk/collections/waterproof-bags-cases/products/pro-light-waterproof-waist-pack-2-litres
I use a Peak Design capture clip most of the time for biking or mountaineering. There’s an adapter that lets you use it on a waist belt, which I’ve not tried. I don’t tend to take my camera when I’m doing anything gnarly on the bike - generally stick to my phone or GoPro for that context.
* Get a chest bag if you fancy rearranging your sternum. Get a Capture Clip if you fancy rearranging sternum and needing major dental work
But if you're riding around with an expensive relatively large (compared with gopro) camera on your chest you're not going to be taking risks with the type of riding you're doing. It's going to be a ride where you're more focused on photography surely? Might not necessarily mean you can't have fun, but fun that's within (or assessed and close to) your comfort zone.
yeah I'm a careful rider but accidents happen
Deer hunters use a chest pouch for binoculars that could be tightened and adjusted for off road biking
Decathlon do a £25 version
“The elastic harness absorb the weight of the binoculars, preventing them from jolting around as you walk” which may still work when applied to your context
Think Tank do a bag called the Digital Holster, which they used to sell with a harness type thing that it clipped to, or it also clipped to other bags they sold.
I used mine a fair bit when riding. It worked pretty well, but was pretty cumbersome. I used mine with my Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens though, so not exactly small. They do a much smaller one for mirror less compacts.
Ta again. Might go with a Lowepro SH115 on the camelbak waist belt, looks about the smallest without being ridiculous
I used to ride with a fairly bulky Fuji Finepix bridge camera stuffed into a padded camera bag I got out of Jessops and clipped to the front of my camelback with a pair of carabiner. It meant it was super quick and easy to access on the odd occasions when I got ahead of my riding buddies and wanted to grab the camera for an action shot of them.
Didn't die, and sternum still the same although my pouchy bits are probably getting on for a C-cup in size nowadays.
C.
I use a Mindshift trail.
sounds like it might be what you’re looking for.