Camera choices

[f6john]

What is everyone’s favorite device for pictures and videos when traveling on your bikes? I have an iPhone and I suppose it would work for most situations except maybe videos while going down the road. I have never made a habit of taking many pictures, why I’m not sure but I would like to record some of the memories as I explore new roads.

[scooperhsd]

It depends what your after.

Phone cameras are surprisingly good now, extremely portable, and don't take much room. OTOH, DSLRs are more versatile.

Just remember, it's not the camera that makes the shot, but rather the person taking it.

[hubcapsc]

I've used GoPros mostly. The original GoPro was low-res and often did weird stuff...



"Sports cameras" often have waterproof cases, I see using a phone as a problem 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRnLKqCkTCI

Rather than videos, I generally like to set my cameras to "picture every 5 seconds"
and then scroll through them later and pick out ones that turned out good. If you've
ever been to Smokin' Joe's Fall Color Ride, here's us leaving one morning and the
whole valley where Andrews is was filled with opaque fog... I'm glad to have this
picture to remember it by...



I'm using a Sony FDR-x3000 with hardware image stabilization instead
of a GoPro now, it takes good hi-res pictures that have enough pixels to
where I can crop-out the good part of an image and still have something
big enough to see.

What I wish I had, though, was a camera with a real zoom lens. I wish my
pictures of the bike ahead of me were more close up on the bike...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruzNxG8SHEU

I could try to ride annoyingly close to the rider I'm trying to film, but...

-Mike

[Wizzard]

Between my go pro 4K and my Galaxy S22 we git er done.

[Serk]

Other than the "Pics/video while riding" part of the equation, I've got a nice Canon D/SLR with a $1000+ L-Glass lens, other accessories, lenses etc....

And they haven't left the safe in about a year now.

The camera on my phone has replaced it for all but long distance telephoto shooting, they've gotten just that good.

(Yes, a pro could do things with the D/SLR I couldn't even imagine, but for general purpose point and shoot stuff, the modern phones will do better for the average user, other than for very specialized situations.)

[Wizzard]

A lot of today's phone cameras have specs we paid thousands for in the 70's.  
I used to have a Nikon EL with 6 different lens types including a 70-250 zoom. Not even gonna says what that cost.

[carolinarider09]

I have two cameras I routinely use on trips.   They are a Contour HD 1080p (I have two will discuss why in a moment).  It is no longer produced but can be purchased on eBay.   The link below describes the camera.

https://driftcam.com/contour-hd-1080p-action-camera-review

I also have a Fujifilm XP.   This camera is hand-held and my wife can use it on the road.  It also allows videos which can be done while riding as well.  Just requires a change in mode.  It is also waterproof to 50ft and shock proof.

We do, on occasion, use our phones for picture and videos.  For me, that only occurs when we are stopped for a look-see or lunch/dinner.   I do not ever use the phone as a camera while in motion on the bike.  To easy to drop.  My wife is the same (we keep our phones securely located in the top case or side case depending on the bike we are riding). My GPS interfaces with the phone and I can, using the Autocom communications system, answer and even make phone calls while moving.  Which I have done to determine if a restaurant is open or not.

There are two ways to mount and use the Contour HD.  One is under the nose of the bike (this is allowed on my the ST and the Wing but no so on the Valkyrie.)



The other way is to mount it on the windscreen.  This mounting location offers an advantage in that I can turn the camera on and off as we ride.  (It should be noted that I have two Contours.  Only one allows one to easily start and stop images).



I prefer the uncluttered view these two mounting locations give me.  It is almost the same as riding the road.  There are no helmets or other things in the view.  The only issue with the camera being mounted on the windscreen is there is vibration.  I have considered getting another camera to minimize that or purchase some software to resolve the vibrations. 

So, with these mounting locations you are flying down the roadways, unencumbered by extraneous objects, free and easy down the road. 

Short ferry ride - under nose ST-1300 - Older Contour 480p

https://rumble.com/vb8hnb-short-ferry-ride.html

North Carolina - Windscreen mount with a fairly smooth road. (the following videos have a default of 480p, you have to manually select 1080p to get full resolution.

https://rumble.com/virnkr-going-downhill-in-nc.html

Zion National Park Tunnel (I think) Demonstrates the cameras ability to handle changes in light. (Under the nose mount)

https://rumble.com/vlq6b0-mile-long-tunnel-2015.html

Beartooth and Bighorn (under the nose on the Wing) why I like an encumbered view.  You are sort of like superman, flying along the road, just a few feet off the ground and you miss seeing little.

https://rumble.com/vt17e5-riding-beartooth-and-bighorn-june-2015.html

Some photos the wife took while riding with the Fuji









And just an example of one image while stopped.   Not the phone. 



The reasons for two Contours is that the first version did not support 1080p and it was a little harder to use.  Still, I have lots of good videos I make with that camera.  Lots.