Taking a camera on a ride can be a wonderful way to slow down, get away from chasing numbers, and enjoy the scenery. Alternatively, it can be just as fun to sprint off the front of the group ride and pull out a camera to capture your friends chasing after you. Whichever approach you want to take to mixing cycling and photography, chances are one of these cameras will be the right one for you.
Sony RX100VII
Price - $1300
The seventh generation of Sony's best pocket cam is the most versatile option for riders that want all the features possible. The Zeis lens features a ridiculous range from 24mm wide-angle to 200mm telephoto. It can shoot 4k video and even plug in an external microphone. There's also built-in Wi-Fi for sharing content from the coffee shop. The only downside is it might be too much camera for some.
Get this camera here!
Panasonic Lumix LX100 II
Price - $800
The Lumix is a fantastic option for riders that enjoy a good dawn patrol or sunset ride. It's got one of the brightest zoom lenses on a point-and-shoot camera with an f/1.7-2.8 aperture range making it ideal for low light situations. With full manual exposure controls available via on-camera dials, the Lumix can help keep you in the moment and focused instead of digging through camera menus.
Get this camera here!
Ricoh GR III
Price - $900
The Ricoh GR has had a cult following amongst cycling photographers for many years and for good reason. It's incredibly portable, has a very simple layout, a great lens, and most importantly it's easy to use one-handed. Some might find the non-zoom lens to be limiting while others will revel in its simplicity and the unique look of the photos.
Fuji X100V
Price - $1400
The fifth generation of Fuji's excellent X100 camera won't be the best camera for every rider. It's the largest of the bunch and uses a fixed focal length lens. But it's the only digital camera in our selection with an optical viewfinder so if you prefer to compose photos with your eyes rather than by staring at a screen the Fuji is for you.
Canon Sure Shot WP-1
Price - $150-250
It’s hard to imagine why you’d scour eBay and shell out $200 or more for a plastic-shelled, discontinued camera, but for those looking to shoot film on a ride, it's hard to beat the Sure Shot WP-1. It's got a sharp Canon lens, large and easy-to-use controls, the viewfinder is huge for a point-and-shoot camera, plus it's waterproof down to 5 meters. More importantly, its prices have yet to hit the crazy heights of other fixed lens film point and shoot cameras from that era.
Riding With Your Camera
While cameras like the Sony RX100 and Ricoh GR are easy enough to fit into a jersey pocket, not everyone rides in a cycling kit, and it's nice to have options. Our preferred method is to use a small stem-mounted camera bag that keeps the camera close to where your hands already are for fast and convenient access. But some riders prefer a stabilized camera strap which is an excellent option for larger camera and lens combinations as well as those who don't have room on their handlebars for another accessory.
A Note About Camera Prices
Cameras like bikes are expensive especially if you're shopping for the latest models and are buying new. For those of you bargain hunting, may I wholeheartedly recommend buying used and looking at previous model generations? While the latest Sony RX100VII (for example) is absolutely excellent you can grab a VI or a V for a fraction of the cost. While the older models won't be quite as flashy and fast they will still take excellent photos. MPB is a reputable site for finding good deals on used cameras and they even offer a six-month limited warranty.
