Getting Photos While Riding

[ny biker]

On the rare occasions when I have brought my camera on rides, I kept it in my handlebar bag along with my cell phone, ID, keys, and other stuff. But I like the bento box idea. I'm planning to bring the camera with me more in the future, and since I always stop in order to take a picture, it will be faster if the camera is easier to access.

[Grog]

The Bike Doctor bike shop in Vancouver BC has a "tripod" one can attach to the bike's handlebars to attach a camera. Most cameras have a threaded hole to attach to a tripod.

Google bicycle camera mount to find interesting ways to build one yourself!

[GLC1968]

I have a small cannon that I can pull out of a jersery pocket while riding. It's ok, but the shots can get blurry if the road isn't smooth. I'd love a more expensive point and shoot with a stabilizer built in (I'm not even sure they make one!).

One problem with the jersery pocket is that during the summer, my body heat often fogs up the lens. That's when I started using my bento box! (plus, I'm faster getting it out of the bento box than I was the jersey pocket).

It really helps to practice and take LOTS of photos. The photo of me in my avatar was taken by someone who takes TONS of on bike shots - 1/3 of which don't come out and 2/3rds of which are amazing!

[Grog]

I have a small cannon that I can pull out of a jersery pocket while riding. It's ok, but the shots can get blurry if the road isn't smooth.

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!!

[7rider]

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!!

Why...I'd love to take out a small cannon against bystanders sometimes!

[Aggie_Ama]

Grog- I thought about a Gorillapod they sell at REI because the camera does video but again the tiny handlebars. I still want a Gorillapod for hiking so I might just try it on the bike too.

GLC- This camera has image stabilization. That was the number 1 priority for my mom when shopping since I have a neurological tremor. Hopefully since Texas is the chip seal capital of the world it will help with that too. The purple was icing on the cake!

Zen- I wonder if I lined the Bento Box with foam to absorb shock if that would help? With our 90 degree weather arriving late March and staying until October I hate sweating a bunch on the camera from it being in my pocket. I was kinda liking the Bento idea but I do wonder about bumpy and jostling. This isn't a super pricey camera but still I can't afford to break it being careless.

[Blueberry]

My bento is made out of foam. I usually just put it in there in a baggie. Hasn't bothered it yet (Canon SD 400).

CA

[OakLeaf]

I would think if you line the bottom of the bento box with foam, it should be fine. Those little cameras don't weigh that much. Then you could tether the camera to your handlebars or top tube, just make sure the tether isn't so long that the camera will go into your front wheel if you do drop it!

Craft stores usually have foam rubber... in a variety of densities including a density to match the foam that lines Pelican and Halliburton cases that protect heavy camera equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The way I sweat, I'd never put a camera in my jersey pocket. Once my Ziploc bag has gotten a little bit of wear and a few microscopic holes in it, I'll typically soak through whatever cash is in there. I haven't fried a phone yet <touch wood> but I keep waiting for it to happen.

Lightweight helmet cams (that can also be mounted to frames etc.) are widely available, just Google. I know the Aerostich catalog has at least one. AFAIK they only shoot video, but it's easy enough to capture still images from your video.

[GLC1968]

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!!

Yes, yes...the Canon is for the photos...the cannon is for the crazy drivers. Duh!

[li10up]

One problem with the jersery pocket is that during the summer, my body heat often fogs up the lens.

I second that. I carried a camera at the Hotter n hell hundred and all my pictures during the ride had a big fog spot right in the middle! Really ticked me off that I carried the extra weight for nothing!

[ny biker]

The only thing I want in my jersey pocket on a hot summer ride is a sandwich bag full of ice.

[martinkap]

Getting pictures can be tricky in winter (due to heavy gloves) but in summer I just pull my very old canon from the back pocket and snap picture either forward or over my helmet back (those often are quite crooked ). I always make sure to put the camera back with the lens facing out (not towards my body). I actually trained to take the camera out of the pocket and put it back so it would be always exactly in position as I want to.

Here are some of my pics I took while riding:


( I like this one because one can see the motion on the side of the pics but the center is somewhat sharp )




And of course, one can take pictures of herself (so vain!)


There are many helmet cams - mostly advertise on motorcycle forums - which do take pictures (remote control) or videos. They are sold as a whole setups and the last time I looked, it was around $300 for helmet cam, wires, the actual camcorder and everything else.

Martina

[crazycanuck]

I've tried to take photos whilst riding but it never works!

Ian has a helmet cam & if i can ever figure out how to post them on photobucket, i'll link it here.