Best way to carry digital SLR camera on motorcycle?

[testrider]

Hi all,

I have a Canon 1D and several lenses as my main camera. When I was riding, I like to carry my Canon S10 for its size. However, it really doesn't do what I want to do so I'm thinking of carry my 1D with me next time out (just take some scenery and motorcycle shots for fun.)

I ride a CBR-1100XX with Givi bags (usually just the top).

- what's the best way to carry a DSLR on a motorcycle without it being shaken to death by the bike's vibrations? I'm not sure it's a good idea to put it inside the Givi top case?

- Will it be better if I get a tank bag for the camera?

- Carry it in a backpack seems the best but I'm not sure I want to carry weight on my back for a long ride.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

-mike-

[G8ESCAP]

I usually carry my camera in a tankbag, or fastened to the shoulder strap of my Camelbak. You might get some soft foam to fit a tank bag, and trim it to fit in the tank bag then cut out the center for the camera. Poor mans electronics case! Makes it easy access for fast shots too.

[whitelocust02]

If I am getting into an area where I know I'm going to be using it a lot, I will usually just keep it around my neck. Otherwise it's in the tank bag or a backpack.

[Fastfar]

I formerly carried my 1DmkII inside a Tamrac Velocity shoulder bag, inside a top trunk on my FJR. No problems with vibration affecting the lens or electronics. But the total weight of the cam and lens (EF35-350 L or EF100-400 L IS) was a bit much to allow fast and secure handling, it was slow to access the cam for pics, and I worried constantly about toting around $6K worth of stuff...I have settled on the Canon Pro 1 as an acceptable substitute as it fits in a medium sized tank bag, allows instant access to shoot from the seat of the bike, and moves the weight off the high and rearward platform of the top trunk...which I now no longer use.

I know many riders who carry 20D, and similar DSLR's, but none of them are using the big long lenses I favored, and most carry them in the tank bag or in a back pack. If it's well padded, I don't think it will be a problem, as long as you keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down that is...

[motowriter]

I carry my DSLR in a Lowe Pro bag bungied on the bike. Have done a few thousand miles since acquiring the camera in February. So far so good... I can't tell whether the camera is suffering any damage, but nothing is evident to date physically or with the images produced. I don't have any lenses beyond the factory standard so I just pop the camera in and out of the bag with the lens attached. It's as convenient as it gets and much like accessing my old point and shoot from the tank bag. But I really need a throttle lock so I can use the DSLR while on the move.

On the V-Strom taking on the gravel back roads


On my wife's Triumph Sprint

[testrider]

Thanks for all your good suggestions and I appreciate them all.
John, my 1D is the same size as your 1DMII. Most of the time I have the Canon 17-40L on it. Even though I like my Bigma (Sigma 50-500mm) a lot but I don't think I want to take it on my bike (the lens weights 4 lbs by itself!)
I do have a Lowepro Toploader. May be I can find a way to strap it on my tank or find a tank bag that fits the toploader.