bicycle camera and gear

[Skip Abadie]

Hey. I haven't posted in quite a while, but I've finally got some free time again and my darkroom will soon be back in service, so I'm looking to dust off my gear and get back in the field. I normally shoot 8x10, but I've recently taken up bicycle riding and I'd like to put together a 4x5 kit to take with me on bicycle trips. My Deardorff is too big for cycling.

I have the lenses covered already. I already have a couple of 4x5 cameras, but they aren't suitable for bicycle touring. One is a Toyo 45CX, and the other is a Cambo Legend. Both are monorails, and neither is compact. The Cambo is quite heavy. I have a Speed Graphic too, and I'd be tempted to just take it along with me, but it needs some TLC and maybe springs on the back to put it in good working order.

The qualities that are important for a bicycle camera are probably about the same as for backpacking, albeit perhaps not to the same degree. Low weight, compact, quick setup and tear down. A camera that lends itself to quick setup and that is secure and compact when folded is a little more important than the weight, but the lighter the better.

I'm looking to buy a used camera in good condition, not a new one. The Toho FC-45X is one camera I'm considering, but they don't come up used very often and they generally fetch a better price than I want to pay. The Canham DLC would be a dream, but I've never seen one for sale at a price I could afford.

What are some other good candidates for a bicycle camera?

[Greg Lockrey]

Graphlex press cameras are tough enough.

[Skip Abadie]

Yeah, I'd probably use my Speed Graphic if it were in working order. Having it repaired might be the most cost-effective solution after all, if I can locate someone who can do the work.

I see your sig says this: "Happiness is pedaling +25 mph on a smooth road." Do you ever carry a LF camera with you when you ride Greg?

[Greg Lockrey]

Yeah, I'd probably use my Speed Graphic if it were in working order. Having it repaired might be the most cost-effective solution after all, if I can locate someone who can do the work.

I see your sig says this: "Happiness is pedaling +25 mph on a smooth road." Do you ever carry a LF camera with you when you ride Greg?

Yes I do, but on a touring bike with panniers and racks. I know a lot of guys trying to carry on a backpacks but all they have are sore backs.

[Skip Abadie]

Yes I do, but on a touring bike with panniers and racks. I know a lot of guys trying to carry on a backpacks but all they have are sore backs.

The touring bike is what I'm planning, Greg. I'm leaning toward building a touring bike based on a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame with panniers and racks. I don't want to wear a backpack while cycling.

[Greg Lockrey]

The touring bike is what I'm planning, Greg. I'm leaning toward building a touring bike based on a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame with panniers and racks. I don't want to wear a backpack while cycling.

Good plan. You sound like you want to do long hauls. One of those kiddie carts that add on the back of bike would work too. Or if you want to spend some real cash, those single wheel cargo towing carts. At any rate, some foam rubber to absorb the road shock would be smart too. I have an older Trek 520 steel bike that works for me.

[Vaughn]

The touring bike is what I'm planning, Greg. I'm leaning toward building a touring bike based on a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame with panniers and racks. I don't want to wear a backpack while cycling.

Sounds like a nice bike (I just checked out their website...I had not heard of them before). For my long tour 20 years ago (and used a lot locally for photographing after that) I had a Trek 850 mountainbike. Actually a lousy mountain bike...but a great tourbike. It actually seems more like the bike you are looking at (long chainstay, etc). They were still made in the USA then...no longer the same bike now (design and quality).

One thing I did appreciate on my tour was the wider tires (I think I had 1.9" hybrid tires). Not the most efficient, but I weighed 220 pounds and had 80 pounds of stuff on the bike...more if I had to stock up on food. All that weight and gravel roads made having that extra air volume nice. It also meant that if I was in one place for several days, I could do some single-track riding to get to some nice places to photograph.

For some of the quick short trips, I did carry the camera gear in a pack...probably weighed no more than 10 pounds or so. It was nice just to grab the pod, dump the bike and go photograph. Usually this was within 5 miles or so from where I was staying.

I was using a Gowland Pocket View 4x5 (2.5 lbs with the lens) and had a 300 series (Studex) Gitzo pod w/ a #2 ballhead. I could have gotten away with the smaller 200 series (Reporter) pod easily enough. I carried 6 film holders, Pentax digital spot, darkcloth, and a small bag of odds and ends.

[Greg Lockrey]

They are nice bikes. I normally use 25mm tires on the touring bike but if I'm planning to run on a lot of gravel and dirt roads, the 32mm tires are better and I like them for winter riding here in Michigan. I've seen whole families on their 4 person tandem's. If you are looking for some really nice light weight tripods, look at the Feisol brand. They are shipped directly from the factory in China and the customer service is the best. I got mine in 4 days to Michigan. I will say they are comparable to Gitzo's for half the money. http://www.feisol.com/english/feisolen.htm

[Thomas Greutmann]

I have done some bicycle touring with LF gear (a tour of a couple of days with lodging in hotels), and I take my LF gear regularly out in the field on a bicycle.

On longer tours I have taken along a Wista DX Field camera, plus three lenses. A very compact yet very sharp APO Ronar 150mm, a not-so-compact 90mm Super Angulon plus a 240mm APO Ronar. I shoot black & white and I used TMax 100 in Readyload holders. All this plus a Gossen Lunasix plus a loupe plus a filter or two fits into a very small backpack which, again, fits into a watertight Ortlieb rear pack. A Manfrotto tripod goes on the rear rack. For extra protection I wrap the camera in an old black t-shirt which serves as a darkcloth, too. All the other non-photo gear (including clothings for all kind of weather) goes into another Ortlieb rear pack plus two front packs on a lowrider carrier. I own a heavy-duty touring bike, as you can guess.

On daytrips I take more photo gear, including film in regular holders or in Grafmatics, but no extra clothing etc. So I manage to go with one rear pack plus the tripod.

Another camera that might work well on bicycle trips is an old Super Graphic. Very compact and light. I also got hold of a Linhof IV recently and probably will take this box along in the future. A bit more heavy than the Wista, but more compact.

I also tried a Gowland Pocket View but I didn't like it. Too difficult to handle (for me, at least). Field cameras are easier to set up.

I think that the camera is just one factor to consider. I find the selection of lenses plus film holders equally important. Compact lenses such as APO Ronars save space and weight (more space than weight I guess, and space is more critical than weight on a bicycle). And the Readyload films and holders also help to save space. But of course there is some extra $$$ involved.

I could even save more space if I would be using a 90mm Angulon instead of a Super Angulon lens but that would be too much of a compromise - no room for movements left. With the APO Ronars there are no compromises for me in normal and longer lenses.

Greetings, Thomas

[Vaughn]

..snip...I also tried a Gowland Pocket View but I didn't like it. Too difficult to handle (for me, at least). Field cameras are easier to set up...snip...Thomas

I really like my Pocket View...but I agree, it is not for everyone. It probably takes me twice as long to set up compared to the average wood field (60 seconds instead of 30 sec). But like any camera...use it long enough it becomes second nature. The Pocket View offers the lightweight compactness of a field camera and handling of a monorail camera. But there are no indents and some folks might feel strange walking around with an 5/16" allen wrench around their neck (what strange cult do you belong to?!) LOL!

The oyster buckets are a neat idea -- as good as the old plastic milk crate I used to have strapped to the top of my rear rack...and more weatherproof!

Vaughn