CYCLINGABOUT.com

Tag: cameras

  • Keeping Your Valuables Safe

    Keeping Your Valuables Safe

    When it comes to keeping your valuables safe, it's all about minimising risk. We have different locations on our bike for our gear depending on when we are in low or high crime rate areas. If a robbery is most likely to happen while we're riding (eg. Central Asia), we store most of our valuables in the hard-to-access places such as the rear pannier under our rackpack bag. If we believe it will be while we're not attending our bike (Eg. Europe), we store our valuables in our easy-to-remove handlebar bag.

    Cash / Credit Cards

    – Try not to carry more than a few hundred dollars at all times, although sometimes it will be essential to carry more (Iran).

    – If you are a travelling heterosexual couple, it is recommended that the lady carries the cash, as the assumption is normally that the guy will be carrying the money.

    – When in higher crime areas, keep your cash stored in a stuff sack with your clothes. Having the cash mixed in with your clothes is great for if you're camping or staying in dodgy hotels as it is hard to find for those dishonest enough to look for it.

    – It is also worth spreading your cash about your bags a bit, we leave a bit in my clothes bag, and a bit more in Kat's.

    – If you need to carry cash on you, it is best to have it in a money belt concealed under your clothing. Make sure you have your money in a plastic sleeve so that sweat doesn't get to it.

    – If you're in lower crime areas, leave your cash in your handlebar bag. You can then take it off the bike whenever you go to a supermarket, shop, restaurant etc.

    – If you carry a wallet, store it inside a closable bag. It is far too easy to get pick pocketed or have it pinched from inside an open bag.

    For more cash management tips, click HERE.

    Don't leave your cash laying about like this…

    Passport

    – When we're travelling through countries with higher crime rates, we like to store our passports at the bottom of our rear pannier bags. As these rear pannier bags are strapped down underneath our rackpack bag, there is little to no chance of rear bag theft on the road.

    – Make a copy of your passport page and laminate it. Store it in your handlebar bag and if asked to show your passport, you can show a copy rather than the real thing. For more read our detailled article HERE.

    – If you need to carry your passport with you, it is best to have it in a money belt concealed under your clothing.

    – If you're in lower crime areas, leave your passports in your handlebar bag. You can then take it off the bike whenever you go to a supermarket, shop, restaurant etc.

    Computer / Tablet

    – Keep it stored in a pannier bag which is hard to take off quickly. We use our rear rackpack bag.

    – Take it with you whenever you go into a supermarket/shop/restaurant.

    – Try not to use it in public areas if your destination is known for theft.

    Cameras

    – We store our cameras in our handlebar bag for easy access, and so that we can take them off the bike when we stop at supermarkets, restaurants etc.

    – Cameras are worth a bit of coin on the second hand market, so these are one of the most likely things to get taken from you. We recommend backing up your photos regularly. Remember, in the event your cameras do go missing, there is no way to replace all those precious photo and video memories.

    – Try not to wear your camera. Keep it hidden in a bag when you can.

    Do you have any other theft prevention tips for us?

     

  • New Camera Equipment

    New Camera Equipment

    For the new year, we have decided to step up our film making game. We are enjoying film making so much, and we believe that you (the reader) get a much more accurate feel for our experience on the road with videos. In addition, our family and friends back at home seem to feel much more connected with us through film, which makes our 2+ year bike tour much easier for them.

    We have been filming on a basic compact digital camera for the past three months now. Although we have received great feedback on the videos we produce, we can't help but feel that our little digital camera is holding us back.

    The things we want to improve on include:

    Stabilising our images better – Given that we are riding a bicycle on rough roads in remote locations, stabilisation is always going to be an issue. Although we would love to carry around a “steadicam”, the size, weight and cost of the device is just not practical. We have therefore purchased a camera with a far superior optical image stabiliser (OIS) than our current compact.

    Recording higher quality sound without wind hiss – We hate that our voices cannot be heard clearly on windy days, and that the microphone hisses from even a slight breeze. An external microphone with a wind shield should give us what we want.

    Using a zoom – We are excited to use a zoom on our new camera! Although the compact can zoom and film, it was just not practical.

    Manual focussing – Our current compact is a bit too automatic for our liking. We are looking forward to using a manual focus to capture pro-shots!

    What camera did we buy?

    Although it looks they will be extinct soon, we purchased a camcorder! The model we are working with is called the Panasonic V700.

    The Panasonic V700 must be one of the best value for money camcorders out there!

    We opted for this camera for a few reasons:

    – It's dedicated to filming. I compared many youtube videos between this camcorder and many compact/super zoom fixed-lens cameras and found that the way that the lens focussed, handled colour and light was of a much higher standard.

    – It's small and light. Although I would love to film with a DSLR with some nice glass, the size and weight of the gear just isn't practical for our trip! The Panasonic camcorder isn't even 350g. If weight and size were not an issue, we would probably film with a micro four-thirds camera (Panasonic GH2/3).

    – It has a hotshoe for an external microphone.

    – The OIS and zoom are off-the-charts good on this camcorder.

    – Camcorders are such good value these days! Sub-$500 will get you something great.

    Improving sound

    One of the key reasons for buying a new camera was to make our sound quality better. An external microphone will sit on top of our camcorder and when needed, will have a “dead cat” cover on it to reduce wind noise on the road. Being a directional microphone, it will also improve interview sound quality as well.

    We will be using a Azden SMX-10 stereo mic with a dead cat cover

    Better colour

    Other than using a better quality video camera, we plan on video grading our clips more regularly to give you much richer colours.

    Filming from new angles

    In addition to the camera we picked up an X-shot. We will be riding a tandem soon, so it will be important to get us both riding in the frame. This monopod should do the trick.

    The Xshot monopod will extend 1m further than we can to get some new on-the-bike camera angles!

     

  • All About Cameras for Travel: Compact vs DSLR

    All About Cameras for Travel: Compact vs DSLR

    Cameras for Bicycle Touring and Travel

    People assume that if they buy a DSLR, they will be able to take good photos. Wrong. You have to nail the photography principles first. Read all about them HERE.

    Compact cameras are awesome these days…

    The way I put it to most people is that DSLR cameras will allow me to produce 10% better photos over my compact. Compact cameras offer really, really good sensors and adjustability these days in a super lightweight and bulk free package. Rarely are they over about 250 grams and never cost over about $800AUD. Most high quality compacts can record video in HD as well!

    My current five favourite compact cameras for travel are:

    1. Sony RX100: Although I haven't used this camera, I can only assume it is amazing; it gets a hell of a lot of praise in photographic circles. This camera has the biggest sensor of any compact camera, meaning higher quality photos, and a faster camera as more light is able to be used. It's light and adjustable, the sweep panorama is a great feature too.

    2. Panasonic LX7: I use the older version of this camera, the LX5. I use it in conjunction with a filter tube and polarising filter. It is really light, fast and adjustable and has a great quality wide-angle Leica lens. It is able to produce images with a short depth of field (f/2.0). The images and video are fantastic, check for yourself on our Flickr or YouTube pages!

    3. Olympus XZ-1: The Olympus is also really fast and adjustable, using a lens with the shortest depth of field available on a compact (f/1.8).

    4. Canon G15: The G15 is probably the most adjustable camera of the lot. It has a really useful fold-out screen so that you can take photos above or below what you'd normally be able to.

    5. Canon Powershot S110: The S110 is the smallest and lightest of the lot. It is still really adjustable and takes great quality photos and videos.

    Tough-compacts: Kat uses a tough-compact. We liked the fact that her camera can be used for water sports such as snorkelling and diving, in rain and just generally in horrible conditions. It will be really cool to record what it's like to get caught in a sandstorm if that ever occurs! Check out Sony for our favourite tough compacts, but also Panasonic, Olympus, Nikon and Canon.

    The things I miss most travelling without a DSLR, in order, include: shooting in low light, a really short depth of field, ISO above 400, the crispness and clarity of the photos and the ability to switch lenses.

    Micro Four Thirds Cameras

    A relatively new style of camera are the four thirds type. They are essentially half way between compact and DSLR, offering a bigger sensor and interchangeable lenses over a compact. They are still quite small and are pretty great for travel. If I were to quantify the difference compared to a DSLR, I'd say the DSLR can take a 5% better photo over a four thirds.

    My view on four thirds is that you may as well go a DSLR if you're wanting a bigger sensor and interchangeable lenses over a compact. It's really all or nothing for me.

    Check out Sony, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus for a few awesome four thirds cameras.

    DSLR Cameras

    If you are going to go all the way to a DSLR for the best shots, the most important feature of the camera is the lens. Lenses are what give you the best photos; the bodies have much less of an influence. In my opinion you should be spending half your money on the camera body and the other half on the lens.

    DSLR Camera Brands: I like Canon and Nikon cameras, but Olympus and Sony also do some pretty good stuff.

    The most useful lens for travel: A lens between 18-100mm. Unless you are doing particular types of photography, a zoom lens will gather cobwebs. I don't even own a zoom lens for my DSLR!

    Get yourself a nifty fifty: The Canon 50mm f1.8 is incredibly good value lens ($150AUD) which produces better photos than lenses 10x it's price. You cannot zoom with it, but it is fast, light and crisp. The photos you see where the image is blurry in the background and the subject super focused can be produced with this lens.

    Good value DSLR lenses: If you can't afford, say, the top end image stabiliser or “L” series lenses from Canon – I can highly recommend lens options from Sigma and Tamon.

    Conclusion

    Whether you're satisfied with a compact camera or wanting to use the best DSLR, there are so many great cameras out there. Most have amazing automatic sensors, so if you still aren't taking good photos – it's not the camera, it's you…

    For travel photography and especially when bike touring, check out the latest crop of compact cameras. They rock!

     

  • How to take really, really good photos, plus a top secret tip!

    How to take really, really good photos, plus a top secret tip!

    I love photography.

    I have been passionate about it for a long time, getting my very own camera as a wee lad. When I had enough money I purchased my very own digital camera, setting up the ultimate photography education. No longer was film a concern!

    I am not the best, but a lot of people seem to really like my photography. I think we all (including professionals) get better with time and experience.

    I use a few common principles that if followed correctly, will produce amazing travel photos.

    For more info on cameras, click HERE.

    1. Shoot in thirds:

    – In my opinion, if you use the rule of thirds, you will set up photos to look great.

    – Imagine your photo is cut into nine pieces; there are two evenly spaced lines going vertically and horizontally. Your camera might even have a feature to get this grid on your screen. You want to locate your points of interest at the intersection of the lines, and you want to put the horizon or dominating lines of your photo along any of the four lines.

    2. Shoot horizontally or vertically:

    – Don't shoot on any angle other than 90 or 180 degrees to the ground. It looks stupid in almost all travel photos.

    3. Shoot during the early morning or late afternoon:

    – With the sun behind you and the light low, you will achieve the best natural lighting for your photo.

    4. Shoot with the sun behind you:

    – Shooting into the sun should be avoided as it causes excess light to go into the camera lens and poorly illuminates objects in front of you.

    5. Spend time framing your photo so you don't have to edit it later:

    – Make sure the horizon is perfectly straight

    – Remember to use the rule of thirds to set the image up well so you don't have to crop the photo to make it look right.

    6. Focus on the main subject of your photo:

    – Most compact digital cameras will allow you to do a 'spot' focus, that is, pin pointing your focus on a particular spot. If you choose which part of your photo you want to be in focus, then hold the button half way, you will be able to frame your shot and shoot when the time is right. Using this in conjunction with the 'automatic' setting will grab the best light level for your point of focus.

    7. Take a tripod

    In order to make the most of low light situations, you should carry a tripod. Tripods can be lighter than 100 grams for compact cameras and will allow you to capture early morning, evening and night shots. We like the Joby Gorillapod tripods for travel.

    Alex's Super Top Secret Travel Photography Tip:

    This is something I worked out through extensively travelling with a camera.

    If you are not a professional photographer, the chances are you aren't as good at photography as them. That is why I use their work to inspire my own!

    Whenever I reach a point of interest in a touristy place, I look out for postcards and books. Why? Professional photographers have already taken some great photos from interesting viewpoints.

    Try to recreate the photo, finding the same location, shooting at the same time of day and framing the photo in the same manner. I can guarantee great results.