The other day I rode my mountain bike up Mt. Tamalpais, in Marin county here in northern California. The views were marvelous around 6pm, the low light filtering through the layers of mountains, with Bon Tempe lake in the foreground, a touch of orange in the tendrils of fog from the ocean. Once at the top, my partner and I turned around to make it back before darkness. On the way down, the sun was a deep orange, splashing bright red wine all over the trail as it filtered through the trees. Soon, another view presented itself: the city, right after sunset, and before street lights come on. As if asleep, the white buildings serene under the dark, blue-gray sky, topped with a layer of magenta.

And of course I didn't have my camera. The trail at times was rocky and bumpy enough to challenge two-leggers, let alone a bike!

Question: what's the most vibration you've ever subjected your M6 to? I have a nifty handlebar bag that I could carry it in, but I fear the vibration of the ride might be a bit much for it. Our arms got itchy from all the vibration!

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), September 11, 2001

Answers

Yes, I'm a cyclist too and have often wondered about this, especially off-road. I think if it's wrapped in a sweatshirt inside a bag, probably no problem.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), September 11, 2001.

In the carry shelf on a child's stroller, over rough stone pavement for 2 miles. Result?

5 of six retaining screws on the stainless steel mounting flange/plate on the Summicron 50 had worked themselves loose and were rattling about the light box of the camera body. The lens itself was hanging by a single loose screw from the mounting plate which was of course held secure by the mount on the body.

Vibration works its evil in unexpected ways.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), September 11, 2001.

Took an M3 on a 800-mile motorcycle trip, wrapped in a towel inside a padded tank bag. There was a stretch of Hwy 61 in west central Mississippi that was so bumpy/brutal, I had to stop every 20 miles to readjust the bungee cords strapping a bag to the rear seat to keep it from shaking loose.

There was no noticeable adverse effect on the M3 or the DR Summicron mounted to it.

I routinely carry a camera and lens or two around town in the tank bag with no problems so far.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), September 11, 2001.

I've been carrying Leicas (and others) for many years now with none of the aforementioned problems. I've read often that it is a good idea to tighten all external screws (with the proper size jewellers screwdriver) routinely, and have done so for years. I remember reading a story in the old Leica Fotographie (1986 I think) about a photographer who spent weeks in the North African desert with a Leica R bolted to his motorcycle with a long release attached to the handlebars. Claims there was no problems at all. Then again - I've known someone who after one trans-Atlantic plane flight had a couple of screws laying in his camera bag. Go figure.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), September 11, 2001.

I regularly carry my M6 with lens attached - and sometimes a second lens wrapped in a Domke lens wrap - in an unpadded hikers travel/fanny pack while riding my mountain bike. I have had no problems of any kind. I too, however, make it a habit of checking screw tightness on all of my camera gear periodically. I purchased a quality set of jewler's screwdrivers a few years ago for that purpose -- I think I bought them from micro-tools...

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), September 11, 2001.

Try using a small photo waist pack. It is not a good idea to have very much weight in a handlebar bag as it adversely affects the handling. A Moulton would be another solution as well.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), September 11, 2001.

A ten miles trip on a jeep over a beach looking for tourtles coming out to put their eggs, leave my M3 finder unajusted verticaly and the lens pack of my 35/1.4 pre asph loose, both were carried in a Samsonite waist pack without other protection.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), September 11, 2001.

A Moulton would be another solution as well.

which is...?

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@yahoo.com), September 11, 2001.

Fully suspended since 1962:

http://www.alexmoulton.co.uk/ambikes/

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), September 11, 2001.

Took a dirt track from Gambella to Dembidollo, Ethiopia, in an old Land-rover during the rainy season last June, with two M-6's bouncing on the floor by my feet. More of this punishment on assignment in Dembidolo. No problems!

-- John Layton (john.layton@valley.net), December 23, 2001.