Carrying Expensive Camera Equipment

[Steve H]

Hi does anybody carry there expensive camera equipment on there Tenere. I would never put it in the top box or panniers purely due to the vibrations they gear would have to endure.
I had thought of a tank bag but as to what make or model I've no idea.
I know I could carry it all in a rucksack on my back but would prefer not to.
Cheers Steve

 

[Checkswrecks]

I regularly carry a nice Canon and laptop in the top box.


I know the hard way that the box was can set up enough vibration to wear through an aluminum Coke can. I can also say personally that if a laptop corner gets to the wall, the laptop can be killed with a single 37 mile ride from the office.


Because of this, for a long time I absolutely always have some foam, leather, &/or thick amount of padding between the box walls and anything vibration-sensitive.

 

[camco85]

I've been thinking about getting some pick/pluck foam to line the top case and make it a dedicated camera box for trips.
I would think that the foam should cushion it more than enough as that is how my Pelican cases are lined for my gear when I throw it all in the jeep and go 4-wheeling.

 

[trikepilot]

In my opinion, the only way to do so is if you look at your gear as disposable or how you define expensive

Foam really only protects from impact. The biggest problem with expensive cameras are the micro-vibrations and what they "can" do to your optical elements and senor arrays.

I spent 20 years as a pro photog and have a ton of SUPER expensive glass that has never seen time on a motorcycle of any kind. It is just not worth the risk in my estimation

As such, I left it all at home and only took my cell phone when I recently did the TAT.

But all that notwithstanding... I have heard some people postulate that the best place to put expensive optics is well padded in a tankbag atop the fuel tank as the mass of liquid below help dampen the vibes considerably.

 

[Steve H]

Thanks for all the replies they very much appreciated.
The gear in question is a Canon 5D mkiii and four L lenses so I need to look after the whole package. I think I may just be better off going down the camera rucksack route and I have a few of them as any photographer will tell you we all seem to collect them.
Cheers Steve

 

[aage]

I use a Nanuk Case, its waterproof and has plenty padding. I usually carry a Nikon D800e in it along with few lenses. Have had no problems with this combo.

 

[FrontRangeRider]

Over the years, I've used the same padded Tamrac case to carry a Nikon D70, then a D300, now a D750 with a wide angle to zoom lens attached with no problems. I usually carry the case in my tank bag for quick access but occasionally the case will be in my left pannier.