Cameras for cycling

[Suze]

There are so many beautiful photos in the links to the "Getting to Know You" posts! Am returning to the Pyrenees Atlantique in France soon and considering upgrading my camera (now a Canon PowerShot A590.) What camera do you carry when riding? Advantages? Problems? Thanks!

[PamNY]

I have the Canon SX40 and love it. The image quality is great for this type of camera.

Like any point and shoot, it has limitations -- mainly low light. The 35x zoom is lots of fun, but again has the limitations of a cheap zoom lens. Especially with bird photography, chromatic aberration is sometimes an issue (the blue/purple fringe phenomenon). The autofocus is a little slow on the Canon.

You can see some examples on my Flickr.

Panasonic and Nikon have cameras in the same category. My friend is getting great results with a Panasonic Lumix (not sure which one).

A good source of information about all cameras is dpreview.

[thekarens]

I have the Canon SX40 and love it. The image quality is great for this type of camera.

Like any point and shoot, it has limitations -- mainly low light. The 35x zoom is lots of fun, but again has the limitations of a cheap zoom lens. Especially with bird photography, chromatic aberration is sometimes an issue (the blue/purple fringe phenomenon). The autofocus is a little slow on the Canon.

You can see some examples on my Flickr.

Panasonic and Nikon have cameras in the same category. My friend is getting great results with a Panasonic Lumix (not sure which one).

A good source of information about all cameras is dpreview.

I also have this camera and use it for birding. Love it, but it does have its limitations like you mentioned. It's also in the bigger side so that's something to take into consideration if space is an issue on your bike.

[pll]

The next small camera I buy will be waterproof so I can have it handy in my jersey! Maybe a Panasonic Lumix.

[malkin]

Pentax Optio
Don't remember the model, but just got a new one after I gave the last one to DD to take on her summer adventure.

[beagldog]

Panasonic Lumix cameras are great. Affordable and great image quality. I am a professional photographer and when I don't want to carry my big camera, the Panasonic is with me.

[Suze]

Hi everyone ... I can't figure out how to answer individually, but this is a big help, both the camera suggestions and the site links. Your photos are gorgeous, thanks...and also for the camera site. I didn't know it and it is very useful. I had been thinking about something small enough to go in a jersey pocket, and waterproof would be great, but on the other hand have been frustrated with miserably unacceptable bird images. It may be impossible to get everything in one small package... BTW, a friend who is an excellent birder would love some of your images, I'll pass them along to him.

[Becky]

Canon PowerShot S90/S95 with the aftermarket grip. Small, light, and very good low-light and action performance for a point & shoot.

[indysteel]

Panasonic Lumix cameras are great. Affordable and great image quality. I am a professional photographer and when I don't want to carry my big camera, the Panasonic is with me.

This is what we use. DH also has an Ortlieb handlebar bag for carrying his Nikon DSLR.

[Pip]

I just use my iPhone. I'm not aiming to showcase my photos though.

[tzvia]

I used to carry a small Olympus camera, it was ok except the card size was only 2gig and it did not have a wide angle lens. Most these small cameras seem designed by Marketing, not by the photographic engineers. More and more zoom - 12x, 16x. Marketing hype. My suggestion, get one with a wide angle lens that zooms.

Let's face it, unless you are into birding or shooting surfing from the shore, you are like most people, taking pix of family and friends, scenery and buildings. That is me to a 'T'. So I bought a Canon with a wide angle zoom a couple of years ago and could not be happier. Got 2 32gig cards and two extra batteries, and two small neoprene slip cases and put the accessories in the second case. Both cases fit in a seat bag and offer some padding/protection. I've been on 4 MTB vacations with the Canon in my seatbag and it's none the worse for wear.

The wide angle is great for pictures inside buildings and scenic shots and I still have some zoom for close up photos. Image quality is great and it's light weight and easy to slip in a purse too. While it does not match my DSLR in quality I'm not lugging a monster around so it's a good trade off.

For videos while I am riding I use a GoPro HD. It can also be set to take stills at intervals, but its fixed wide lens makes it less than ideal as an off the bike camera. So I've been taking both on my bike-ations and end up with lots of great shots and videos. I've even used the GoPro in the waterproof case, in the hotel pool.