How does vibration effect my equipment?

[bnnrcn]

I have a motorbike and I prefer to go shooting on it. Actually I'm also planning to travel some long distances on it in time and I just wonder if the vibration of the motorbike effects my equipment badly. I have a good camera backpack but I don't carry it on my back while riding my bike , a usually put it on the back seat and strap it to the box at the back side of my motorbike. The roads I ride on are not very smooth all the time as I like being in nature.

Thanks for your help in advance

[Dave Humphries]

As you can guess Binnur, vibration is not good for electronic or fine mechanical devices, so the more you can do to isolate the kit from vibration, the better.

Obviously, you'll want to avoid having hard items able to rub against each other in transit, if only to avoid surface scratching.

'Double layering'; e.g. camera and lens(es) inside separate padded protection and then that inside the backpack, which I assume is also somewhat padded.

If you don't have separate cases, but do have access to say; discarded bubble-wrap from shipped goods, perhaps use that. Perhaps even line the backpack with bubble-wrap if it is a simple 'canvas bag' variety.

Pack with heavy items at the lowest point (when on motorbike) and lighter stuff on top.

Cheers, Dave

[Mike Buckley]

I'm not an engineer, but my guess is that your camera equipment will be able to withstand anything your body and motorbike can withstand so long as you take reasonable precautions such as those explained by Dave.

[NorthernFocus]

Extended exposure to vibration and jarring/impacts are not good. Even in a camera bag I would add some padding as suggested by Dave. Foam padding is preferable. One thing in your favor is that landscape gear isn't real heavy thus easier to isolate by padding it. If it is safe to do so wearing the backpack would help isolate from vibration also.

[Manfred M]

Binnur - having dragged my camera equipment across the world many times, usually in places where the roads (where they exist) are rather terrible, I would suggest that you have little to worry about as long as you take the usual precautions of protecting them from major shocks.

Let's face it, you will be driving your motorbike along these roads, and it is a precision mechanical device too. What generally happens on a rough road is that we slow down, and that reduces the forces on the vehicle as well as well as any passengers and equipment on that vehicle. Then, as at other times, the vehicle's suspension system; pneumatic tires, springs and damping (shock absorbers) will do their job by absorbing the energy from the road. Frankly, I suspect I potentially do more damage to my gear when I carry it as it bounces around the tracks and trails I am walking along as well as things that I bump into.

My bigger worry on a motorbike would be the lack of environmental protection; dust, dirt and water (rain). Proper protective packaging to keep those out is probably going to be even more important than the bit of shaking the equipment will be subjected to while riding. That being said, another issue is that your equipment will have less protection during any mishaps - accidents, the motorbike falling over, etc. Likewise, unlike a car, you can't lock the gear away out of sight, so you are going to have to drag everything along every time you decide to stop somewhere and leave the bike alone (unless you have rigidly secured and lockable bags or panniers).

[bnnrcn]

Thanks all of you for sharing your opinions about the matter

Here is the backpack I have.http://www.manfrotto.com/products/ba...backpack-large I think it is good and strong enough. It also has a rain cover. I usually don't ride my bike in rainy or very windy weather for safety reasons. Having an accident on a bike is a very risky and bad thing and I hope I won't have any And unfortunatelly I will have to take the backpack and my other valuable stuff with me if I decide to stop somewhere and leave the bike alone But I like riding my motorbike, so I think I can stand up the difficulties for the time being as my bones and my muscles don't ache yet

[shreds]

Whilst I dislike insurance companies and their inevitable snake like wriggling from claims, I would certainly consider this for taking your kit on this kind of adventure.

Bear in mind that accidents may occur that are beyond your control, but if that is the case, I would be more inclined to worry about the effects on you, rather than your gear.

Finally, I don't know the kit you currently use, but the better quality kit will be better weather sealed and can take more punishment especially the metal v plastic body/lens considerations.

Having said that I once lost a Fuji metal bodied camera off the back of a bike whilst on holiday, and whilst the insurance paid up, it didn't really compensate for the loss of the camera and the state of the body afterwards was shocking. No chance of repair even though the camera had a relatively slow speed fall from the bike in a so called 'protected' bag.

[bnnrcn]

I'm sorry about the bad experience you had Ian I strap my backpack to the box at the back of my motorbike. So it seems impossible for the bag to fall down the bike unless my bike falls over. I haven't thought of the insurance but I might inquire about it . Thanks for your suggestions

Whilst I dislike insurance companies and their inevitable snake like wriggling from claims, I would certainly consider this for taking your kit on this kind of adventure.

Bear in mind that accidents may occur that are beyond your control, but if that is the case, I would be more inclined to worry about the effects on you, rather than your gear.

Finally, I don't know the kit you currently use, but the better quality kit will be better weather sealed and can take more punishment especially the metal v plastic body/lens considerations.

Having said that I once lost a Fuji metal bodied camera off the back of a bike whilst on holiday, and whilst the insurance paid up, it didn't really compensate for the loss of the camera and the state of the body afterwards was shocking. No chance of repair even though the camera had a relatively slow speed fall from the bike in a so called 'protected' bag.

[Steaphany]

Have you considered adding padding to your camera backpack comprised of vibration isolating/dampening materials ?

There are many manufacturers who produce such materials, but as an example, you may want to contact Sorbothane. Their website's Engineering Solutions Showcase includes isolation protection solutions for NASA Space Shuttle cameras shielding them from the violent vibrations experienced during launch. ( I doubt your motorcycle's ride would be that hard )

They also offer an off the shelf standard product line so you don't need to worry about funding a custom engineering project.

[bnnrcn]

Thanks for the suggestion Steaphany We might have some similar isolating materials here in Turkey too for the extra padding, I will inquire about them.

Have you considered adding padding to your camera backpack comprised of vibration isolating/dampening materials ?

There are many manufacturers who produce such materials, but as an example, you may want to contact Sorbothane. Their website's Engineering Solutions Showcase includes isolation protection solutions for NASA Space Shuttle cameras shielding them from the violent vibrations experienced during launch. ( I doubt your motorcycle's ride would be that hard )

They also offer an off the shelf standard product line so you don't need to worry about funding a custom engineering project.

[bnnrcn]

Although I have a strong backpack, it seems that extra padding for my camera backpack is the best solution as it was suggested by most of you. When I get to the city centre I will visit some shops to look for materials for padding.Thanks again

[Dave Humphries]

Manfred's points are valid, there shouldn't be too much to worry about.

The one place I am extra careful is when I take the camera bag in to a supermarket*, I never put it in the trolley until I am on a smooth surface, the car parks have stone dimples at crossing points for the visually impaired and these shake the heck out of the trolley, groceries and my wrists.

Of course the trolleys don't have pneumatic wheels, suspension, et al

* To avoid leaving it unattended in car while parked and shopping after shooting (for temperature and/or possible theft reasons).

[Black Pearl]

How does your photographic equipment get to your door?

It is put in a box in a factory in the far east (usually) then into a lorry, then to some docks, then a container, then on a ship and battered half way across the globe. It is then dumped on another dock, another lorry, some warehouses, a van to two and a handful of warehouse staff who don't give two hoots what is in the box they are throwing about. After this it probably went on another few vans and into a storeroom where it was knocked about until you bought it.

Guess what - it it still works.

Take care of your gear but don't treat it like a fragile ornament.

[Mike Buckley]

Good points, Robin!

[bnnrcn]

Thanks for the further comments which made me laugh and feel relaxed I will keep your advices in mind. BTW, this morning I called a friend of mine who runs a special cargo business for delicate stuff and asked about the padding material for my backpack. He said he has a kind of polyurethane elastic material which can be used in the backpack. It is a 1 cm thick sheet and I can cut it into whatever shape I want.He is sending it to me today. So, all I have to do is just to use it and be very careful on my bike

[Manfred M]

Agreed Robin, but during the shipping process, the camera or lens is packed in low density polystyrene foam. On leaving the factory, the equipment is palletized and handled by mechanized equipment at a pallet level from the point it leaves the factory until it gets to the local distributor. Serious damage at this stage will be pretty obvious with damaged packaging materials.

The only time in the supply chain that the part is not handled in a pallet basis is when the local distributor sends the product to either the bricks and mortar retailer or directly to the client if it is coming from a web based retailer. Both use courier companies to do handle that part of the shipping process. In preparation for courier shipment, individual items are repacked with additional material to protect them from damage; in fact this stage is probably where the highest risk of damage to the product likely occurs (I've been inside the Amazon and different courier operations a number of times, so have a very good understanding as to the risks at that end of the business).

All that being said, I would maintain that the highest risk to our gear is when we are out in the field moving the gear around or preparing to take pictures.

[joebranko]

Binnur,
Is it a Harley?

[bnnrcn]

No, I'm not that rich Joe It's a Pulsar 200 NS produced by Bajaj which is a well known Indian Company.

This is my motorbike

https://www.google.com.tr/search?q=p...HwYvX0Sjhgk%3D

And this is the info about Bajaj

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bajaj_Auto

Binnur,
Is it a Harley?

[AlwaysOnAuto]

That's a pretty sporty looking ride you have there Binnur.
Keep the rubber side down, as we say here in the States.

[bnnrcn]

Thanks Alan

That's a pretty sporty looking ride you have there Binnur.
Keep the rubber side down, as we say here in the States.