In 2020 we published our list of recommend cameras to carry and use whilst cycling. and we have other articles covering camera bags and lenses. In the last couple of years, we've ran many cycling tours and photography workshops and taken thousands of photos. Here's what we're currently using and why. We've mostly stopped carrying full frame gear on the vast majority of rides, unless we're specifically planning to take landscape photos with a view to printing or getting absolutely the best image quality we can. It doesn't mean we've stopped using our full frame kit, but rather, we're using the right tool for us on the bike. This means we're using small or compact cameras, that we carry in a small bag or rear jersey pocket, to allow fast access, carry less weight and produce more than good enough image quality, without getting in the way of our ride. We're not carrying a 70-200 2.8 full frame lens on a road bike. We do use our mobile phones but making photos with a phone is not the same. Whilst modern phones are fantastic, the process and experience of shooting is different, it's less physical and less engaging; dare we say that it feels, less creative? We often shoot in RAW format, as well as wanting to choose our own settings and exposure, as well as the composition. Editing files from bigger sensor cameras is more fun too.
Our current crop of cameras
1) Ricoh GRIII
The smallest camera we use offers the highest image quality, with fantastically malleable RAW .DNG files, perfect for editing on the go with Lightroom mobile or Snapseed, as well producing really good jpegs out of camera for published to instagram and facebook.
With it's 24Mb APS-C sensor and 28mm focal length, it offers enough resolution for in camera crops of 35mm or 50mm. For web publishing, you can crop further in post too and get decent enough IQ. It's fast, easy to use and one handed operation is a simple and intuitive, with comprehensive customization to fine tune the shooting process. The lens is razor sharp too.
Not many compacts shoot wider than 24mm or 28mm, so for the Ricoh we use the 21mm wide angle converter lens.
We absolutely love the RIcoh GRIII and it's our daily walkaround driver, but we do find ourselves using it far less than we might wish to on the bike. We're comfortable with the wide focal length, love the Image Quality and are also happy to carry an additional camera with a longer lens for telephoto purpose; however, we have real concerns regarding its durability, not least because it's an expensive camera.
The camera offers no weather proofing, so we're reticent to leave it in a cycling jersey despite being based in sunny Valencia. The camera is also infamous for getting dust on the sensor, requiring an expensive service. So we mostly carry it in an Evoc Hipster bag, along with another camera to provide telephoto coverage. As for the 21mm lens. we hardly ever use it, as it's a faff to istall and adds a lot of bulk and weight to an otherwise tiny setup.
The lens is fast enough at F2.8 and the camere has a max shutter speed, of 4000 plus a built-in 2 stop ND filter, allowign for shooting in bright sunny conditions. It's a great setup for environmental portraits, landscape photos and generally telling the story of the ride and riders. High quality IBIS makes one handed shots whilst cycling easy too,.
GRIII Samples
GR IV Ricoh Wishlist:
We'd be happy with a 'sports model', at exactly the same focal length, sporting a 40Mb sensor, weather sealing, no retracting lens mechanism and a built in screw in lens filter mount to prevent dust ingress. Everything else could stay the same.
2) Olympus Pen E-P5
We previously owned an E-M10 Mk III for cycling use but sold it for several reasons. The AFC autofocus is slow, the mini DLSR camera style is quite bulky compared to rangefinder style bodies making it impossible to fit in a jersey pocket and also bulky in a bag and it's functionality is limited/disabled due to its beginner friendly design bias. We do love the image quality you get from the sensor, despite it being only 16Mb.
We initially replaced it with an E-M1 Mk2, which is a much better camera and barely any bigger in the bag. However, this year we also acquired a new old camera in the shape of an Pen E-P5. We liked that so much, we bought a second one and now regularly take both cameras out with us..
It has fully featured controls, 1/8000 shutter speed, fantastic build quality and being an old camera is very cheap. With the right lens, it fits in a rear pocket too and one handed operation is easy.
Lenses we mostly use it with a Panasonic 15mm 1.7, which provides outstanding quality and also a Panasonic 35-100 F4/5.6. Whilst not fast, it's plenty sharp enough for good landscape photos.
We've also dabbled with cheaper Chinese made lenses from 7artisans, such as the 35mm 1.2 and 18mm 6.3, as well as the Olympus 9mm Fisheye
And we still sometimes take out a large lens, usually in a cycling bottle case, stored in a rear jersey or our Evoc bag.
Overall, no other inter-changeable les system offers the same balance of size, portability and quality that M43 does, allowing us to cover: fast price to telephone zoom, in one small setup.
We're also more than happy with the results we get.
If you're prepared to let go of technical image quality, even the tiny 18mm 6.3 pancake lens can get you good results.
3) Fujifilm X-A7
Even smaller than the GX9 but with a superior APS-C 24Mb sensor. Video is not its strongest point, although it will do 4k and Full HD. However, most photographers buy this to use with the fantastic selection of small Fujifilm lenses. It doesn't have IBIS but will provide shots at the same quality as top of the range Fuji cameras such as the X-T3, X-H1 and X-T4, which often can't be said of other brands midrange options.
The camera also has an option to shoot at an effective 2x crop, thus giving the 18mm or 27mm pancake lenses we'd recommend for cycling a longer 36 or 54mm focal length. This camera is not weather-sealed and you'd need to move up to the X-T3 or X-T4 for weather sealing. How to carry: Large jersey pocket, handlebar bag, shoulder sling, camera strap or trunk bag
4) Panasonic TZ200 / ZS200
This is definitely cycling jersey possible with the right lens. Personally we prefer camera's with an EVF and IBIS where possible, which helps with shaky bike hands as well as low light. It's not weather sealed.
How to carry: Regular jersey pocket, handlebar bag, shoulder sling, camera strap or trunk bag
5) Olympus E-M10 Mark III
This camera probably sits between the GX9 and GX880. It has simple IBIS and a 16Mb and comes with a decent, if old EVF. Olympus have their own range of prime lenses, but we'd still recommend the 15mm Panasonic lens or an Olympus pancake zoom lens. It's not weather sealed.
How to carry: Maybe a large jersey pocket, handlebar bag, shoulder sling, camera strap or trunk bag
It takes amazing photos, professional level video and has an array of options including the ability to shoot 80Mp. For many people it's all the camera they'd need and discounts in 2020 has made it a bargain.
It can be still be paired with the fantastic tiny MicroFourThirds lenses like the 15mm Panasonic, but it matches brilliantly with high quality and larger Sigma and Panasonic primes and zooms. For general use, we love using it with the Olympus 40-150 2.8, which when paired with the 15mm makes for an incredible two lens combination. For cycling, we'd probably stick with a smaller lens like the Panasonic 35-100. We'd consider using this camera with strap on the bike. This camera is comprehensively weather sealed. How to carry: Handlebar bag, shoulder sling, camera strap or trunk bag
7)
It's tiny, has a very sharp, fixed 28mm lens and can work in several crop modes for effectively longer focal lengths. It has no weather sealing. There really is no excuse not to take this camera anywhere with you.
9) Sony A6400
Perhaps Sonys best value APS-C camera. It gets the amazing AF and high quality sensor of the top Sony models, small form factor and access to a great ranges of lenses as with other FE Sony cameras,. It has been super-ceded by the A6600 which offers IBIS and much better battery life, but is fractionally larger and significantly more expensive.
Unless you're already a Sony APS-C shooter and have compatible lenses, it's difficult to recommend this as a primary camera over and above an A7III, price notwithstanding. Many photographers that already own an A7 or A9 of some sort, may well consider this an excellent second body to use on bike rides and in this regards, you will not find a better option available. They're among the smallest APS-C cameras on the market. This camera is not weather sealed.
How to carry: Handlebar bag, shoulder sling, camera strap or trunk bag