@@sophietucker1255the cell phone zombies make for some fantastic people watching. I live in a “tourist city” and it’s fun to just grab a coffee, sit on a bench and just watch them walk into each other or into light poles.
Very grateful to be living in Iceland where this isn’t a concern for me now. When I lived in London my head was constantly on a swivel even without my camera gear. Stay safe everyone!
I was entering a high end store and was asked to leave my bag. I opened the bag and showed him 5,000 of gear and asked him if he was going to responsible for it. He let me in with my bag. 😮. Great vid Omar
If you feel like you might be getting jumped, pretend to (or actually) livestream. Asking someone to not interrupt your livestream sends them away. I’ve used the trick twice and I’m 2-0 baybee.
When I'm asked to leave my bag, I always ask, "why should I trust you anymore with my property than you trust me with yours? You have cameras everywhere. Monitor them. If you see me stealing anything, call the police". I refuse to leave my bag with a store employee.
I think this is some of the best advice. Don't have a bag that screams "pro photo gear inside". I've left an expensive camera in a car, in a brown paper grocery bag. (hatchback where I couldn't put anything out of site)
Some people recommend putting a used diaper in clear view inside the car. Use Nutella if you have to. As well as being completely unscrupulous, thieves have a low disgust response and are likely to leave your car alone.
Solid advice. I usually take my older back-up camera with me when photographing in "the city". I also always recall what my old football coach told us during linebacker training to avoid a blind side block - keep your head on a swivel.
All good advice - I used to travel developing countries extensively - places the tourists don't go. Best advice is dress appropriate - not expensive - and don't under any circumstances look like you have valuables (leave the gold watch and rings at home) and be very aware of your surroundings being vigilant for being followed. Don't stay at big expensive hotels as it automatically marks you as a target. Remember your camera is expendable if threatened - hand it over. - offer them an easy escape (don't block the exit). I've been robbed a few times at knifepoint, gunpoint etc but never harmed
Friend of my buddy (both are pro photogs) almost got mugged in Eastern Europe back in the early 2000s. Big burly guy (comparatively since we are Asians and much smaller in build) grabbed his arm and tried to drag him from the street into an alleyway. Fortunately, he had a massive tripod (this was before the days of lightweight composite travel tripods) that weighed over 10Kg with the head slung across his back. He managed to grab the tripod sling and successfully took a swing that connected with the mugger's head that knocked the fella out for a bit and he managed to take off into the streets before the guy could recover.
As a small woman who often travels alone, when I'm shooting at night I've learned to walk around with my tripod semi-extended and the head pointed away from me in case I need to use it as a weapon. It is carbon fiber but I figure the head at least hurts enough to maybe buy me some time.
While my main reasons for using a monopod more often than a tripod are maneuverability, they make a great baton. With a solid monopod head, there's enough to make a jarring impact.
I had a bag containing an expensive telephoto (plus my car keys and glasses) stolen from a locked company event where I was the event photographer. This was the company where I worked. I had placed the bag behind the backdrop so no one would trip on it. A co-worker tried to use it to stabilize the backdrop and I explained that was my gear bag. I placed it on a shelf to my right and continued shooting. Half an hour later, I had to momentarily walk 20 feet away to take a single photo and when I returned it was gone. Since that time I lock bags to poles or posts as well as locking the bag itself--regardless of where/what I am shooting.
We should be lobbying the camera manufactures to add security to their cameras, similar to that of phones, code's, fingerprint, facial recognition, tracking. All possible, and all or some could be added as an option. Yes, I know there are draw backs, it might take a few seconds longer to go from camera off to shot ready, but: when shooting you should have your camera on anyway, and security should be an option that you can turn off while when not needed on that landscape shoot in the middle of Alsaka! Our phones are largely protected, our cameras should be too.
I never leave my gear in my car, ever. After shooting an event like a race or a portrait session I like to unwind with 100 pool laps at my sports club, and I’ve been tempted to just stop on my way home but I’ve heard too many horror stories about car thefts.
I’m living (was born) in the capital of germany and we have a few "wrong districts" I got a feeling for every time of of the day, situation/ppl because i’m used to it, but i see a lot of tourists with expensive gear running around like headless chickens My tip: Before visiting any big city check out which are the wrong districts, don‘t look at your phone all the time, if you think "Hey, that’s a dark alley", don‘t go there, if you see a group of "not so nice looking" ppl, avoid them asap, allways listen to your tummy and walk in groups. But don‘t underestimate normal looking locals. Eyes on the gear!
no joke...I had to leave bus at Berlin main station at late afternoon due to a break and was more sketched out then (was offered stolen/fake goods twice during that time), than while waiting nearly all night waiting for the bus at Göteborg...it was better at Sudkreutz but still not a place I felt comfortable
@@kalinmirrn we are having a horrible migration crisis like many other european countrys. A lot of violence, robbery and knife attacks. Right now i would not recommend visiting big citys in germany to be honest. This week alone 3 knife attackers were shot by the police. Europe is no longer the same Europe from 10 years ago. It‘s sad
@@HalbkanadischesAhornblatt yea it really quite sad...the funny thing with migration is that I was originally "barely" let into the country (just transiting) since the border guard at Czech border probably didn't like my ID photo and demanded a passport that I didn't have
@@HalbkanadischesAhornblatt I wouldn't say that as a general rule not to visit big cities. I was in Berlin recently (also in New York ...) and nothing unusual happened. Follow the advice in this video, use your common sense, be aware of your surroundings, ...
Very good advice. Always use a Pacsafe security bag when I take my gear anywhere. They absolutely cannot open it, cut it, or cut the wired strap. Pretty camera bags that cannot be secured with locks or latches, are an invitation for someone to open them and run away with your gear.
Great video! Love the characters as well. And all great ideas. Love the speaker removal, will try that one. My horror story and a reminder to get GOOD insurance is this. I took my D90 kit to downtown Detroit concert (not on purpose) and left it in my Wranger parked on the street. It was in the backseat on floor. They broke in to steal the truck and almost did while I was approaching (but not seeing them) and hitting the chirp. So they ran off with the bag, but I kept the wrangler. Then I called AAA homeowners and they tell because I had photos on Flickr that it was a "professional" kit and not covered. So don't trust your homeowners insurance even with the rider itemized as I did. I now use Hartford.
I only have one camera that I'd cry for days if I lost it and that is a Hasselblad 500C that my mom used to take my senior yearbook picture with. It belonged to family friends and they made me a great deal when they got out of the portrait business. They let my mom use their studio and the camera with the 150mm f4 lens to take the pictures for the yearbook. I used it while my kids were growing up. It has taken so many great images of the family over the years. It rarely leaves the house anymore. I've never had anything stolen but I have lost stuff. The worst was a lens that rolled down an embankment and into the deep fast running river. Thieves are looking for that easy mark and hopefully something that doesn't stand out in the crowd. I only ever take one camera at a time out on a walk or hike. I also have several old beat up bags that I carry my items in. A bag that screams cameras is a big no no anymore. Also try to be in a group rather than by yourself if you can.
I put a Apple airtag in my MB-N10 grip off my Nikon Z6II Wrap the airbag in a small plastic bubble. It will slide in if you use just one battery in the grip and it works! It probably work with other grips to.
Never store your camera bag in the overhead compartment on a train. I lost mine years ago while traveling from Milan to Rome with Tren Italia. The thieves were quite clever, they replaced my black bag with a different empty black bag. I didn't realize anything was wrong until I reached Roma Termini.
I got an airtag tripod plate after watching that video too. 😅 I've always been satisfied with just one hidden in my bag, but that video makes a REALLY great case for having one on your camera.
My tips for camera gear are: register your gear with your renter's / home owner's insurance, or if you must, buy a supplemental insurance policy just for your gear and expensive valuables. Second, don't ever check camera bodies and lenses when flying. Third, keep your gear with you whenever possible (travel light if you have to, and that's my new preferred way to travel so you're not leaving gear in the hotel). If you must bring more gear, bring a Pelican case and lock it while it's in your room (and hide it if you can). But it's mostly best to (a) not be flashy with your camera gear, particularly in poorer countries where a camera body might be worth someone's annual income, and keep a eye on your gear all the time. When I walk around in other countries, I keep my sling in front of me with my arm over it most of the time. When carting my bag around I actually have a loop that goes around my hand so if someone tries to snatch the rolling bag, they can't (I have heard horror stories of people having bags swiped off trains while people were exiting, or in one case, someone reached in and snatched a bag not even getting on the train and then the train left and the person lost all their gear). But it's bet to travel with as little as possible, and as cheap as possible. I don't generally travel with my expensive Nikons unless I"m doing a job. Otherwise if it's for personal work, it's my cheaper camera kit (which does the job for my travel and landscape photography stuff, but it's like a fraction of my big camera kit). A few other tips: cover up the name of the camera and don't use any straps or gear that advertise the make or model of your camera. A good nondescript camera bag can go a long way (I rip the tags off most of my bags especially those from LowePro and ThinkTank since everyone knows what those are). Some will say this impacts resale value -- fine -- but I'd rather loose a few dollars on resale value than lose my gear because someone saw a bag screaming ThinkTank or LowePro. So I remove all traces of the brand name that I can (that are visible to the public, or if I have to, I sew another patch over it). One tip that David Hobby gave in one of his videos was to not have duplicate cameras on you if you can avoid it, because usually you're using one, and someone can come up and swipe a lens from the other one without you knowing because most people carry them at their side or behind their back. If you must carry your camera behind your back, aim the lens inward (*towards your back) so it's harder to steal the lens. But it's best to not have cameras out and exposed like that. IF you must have two bodies, then either use a backpack, or a large sling. Harder to snatch a camera when it's in the sling (unless someone grabs the entire bag).
Great advice! I use a black marker to black out all bag branding on my bags and black gaffer tape on my camera body and lenses to cover the branding etc. I want to get a camera body baseplate for a Samsung SmartTag 2 but as far as I know no-one makes them as yet.
I was travelling on the Rome metro with my camera slung around my neck when a nice Filipino couple advised me to put my camera away out of sight. When the train stopped at a station, they actually pointed out to me the criminals who worked the area, hanging around the platform. All teenagers. I don't use a dedicated camera bag, I use a more standard backpack to which I've added some padded inserts from Amazon.
Omar, phone photography is good, but in London, can make you a target with thieves on motorcycles, and your use of Fanny packs that’s funny, Fanny is a nickname for a woman’s privates here in the UK!
I’m a full time photographer and do a lot of street photography. I always remove my grab from my r5 before venturing out into the streets. The grip makes it look expensive lol
Situational awareness is vital and carrying minimal kit helps. The thieves are watching you in advance so having a bag that doesn’t look like a photo bag doesn’t really help if you keeping reaching into it to put your camera away or to change lenses. I’m loathe to carry an old camera that you’re happy to lose - if you bought a nice camera it seems odd to never use it when you go travelling. As you say, AirTags are primarily for finding things you’ve misplaced rather than tracking down stolen kit. If you use a plate with one built in, maybe have a second one dangling on the camera (on a metal cord?) so that thieves might not take it because they can see it’s airtagged but also it hides the fact that there’s a second one in the plate. Also, take a few SD cards and rotate using them in the camera each day so that if it gets stolen you haven lost all your photos.
Yup, I also left a bag with lenses in my trunk while I carried light for the 1st event of my night. Back window was bashed in, and bag with lenses was gone. I never made it to the 2nd event.
I carry an x-a3 with a cheap manual lens. The whole setup is around $200 or less. Plus, I repainted my camera and added a lot of scratches, making it look old and beat up.
Got a hard case that is lockable and when travelling that case is locked to the vehicle. At a location I had to leave my hard case in a room, so the case was near the back and locked to a table. Small things but easy to do.
I barely want to use my phone for photography now. I don't care what people say, computational photography still can't beat a bigger sensor and glass. And great video! I have spare cameras for walking around and secure my more expensive gear.
My trick is to never take anything with me that if I loose it I would be in a bad place on trips. But the danger is also not only on cities. As landscape photography is getting more and more popular, there are photographers that take huge backpacks and tripods and whatnot to remote places. Sure there are less people on these and therefore less probability to get a thief lurking around, but on some popular places, to the more "professional friend of your stuff" its an opportunity to get someone in an isolated place with a lot of expensive stuff. Finally on events and parties etc, I've known of people getting their stuff stolen, as they left a bag on the floor and in seconds it was gone. Because on those places there are a lot of people and noise, its also easy to get a nasty surprise. I dint had stuff stolen from me, but on a recent trip do Normandy, at Mont Saint Michel, when entering and leaving some of the churches and landmarks, I notice quite a bit people forcing passage and going against other people. It was not mistake or accident. They use this technic a lot. And the funny thing is that I did noticed at least twice my side bag of my camera open, and I was sure to have closed it. I never felt it being open. I was quite amazed by this, but I was expecting it. I had the camera withy me and the bag was empty. But i'm sure that if there was anything in the pocket they had open without me noticing, I would probably be robbed. Its always a good idea to be aware of the surroundings
Great video Omar! I was just thinking about this yesterday and you addressed a lot of the thoughts I had. I have an insurance policy for all my gear. I also use Apple AirTags on my camera when I travel. Thanks again - I want to see that Fanny pack on you though 😅.
True but when there's 3 of them things change! In Paris I was acutely aware that one on one or two on my Wife and Son and I we could probably make life tough enough for them but I figured if there was more than 2 we would be stuffed so acted accordingly I also had my Wife have the dirty washing in her bag, me with the expensive stuff and my son had his clothes and souvenirs.
I unfortunately had a fire at my place over a decade ago. It was the coldest night of the year. I grabbed what I could, which was a couple clothes to keep me warm and my laptop. The fire dept. came and put out the fire. During the whole ordeal, some lowlife managed to steal my laptop. One of the worst night’s of my life.
When I was very much younger I was a volunteer firefighter. At a fire scene we actually had someone take the chain saws out of both our engines. After that they were in a lockdown holder inside the cab of the engine.
A lot of good tips here. 👍 Yeah, I don't think I'd try to confront a thief even if I had an airtag or whatever tracking the item. It's a dice roll at that point. It is strange that camera companies haven't offered built-in theft deterrents making it useless or near useless to take (but then that will get into right-to-repair issues because the electronics hardware inside will not be interchangeable as it needs to be locked-able).
Whenever I left the cameras in the car while traveling (very, very, very rarely) then Kascha, my Chou Chou German Shepherd companion, also stayed in the car. And as angry as he sometimes was when I returned, I could imagine a few things.
I got the Canon 5D when it first came out and used it with the 50mm 1.2 L (back then $2,000). Total cost roughly $5,000. My family joked around with me because when that camera left my house, it was on my physical body at all times everywhere. While driving, eating out, church, visiting family, going to the movies, literally everywhere if I left my house with it. Never even came close to loosing it.
I know, right? They all have internal wireless hardware that blows away an AirTag. I believe they all could quite easily have an IP address, as well, making tracking not even require an AirTag... it all comes down to complacent manufacturers that don't have any motivation or financial justification (or possibly not even any understanding of the problem...) to do anything about it. We really need famous people with some pull to start pushing them to do something about it.
@@bubbajones5905 maybe they need a new camera company to disrupt with the safety and tracking features they are too lazy to do and let them scramble for 10 years to catch up!
@@cristibaluta many DSLRs did have internal GPS up until a few years ago… I believe that GPS has been cost-reduced out in most all models at this point, but it is definitely in their historical technical wheelhouses as doable. What’s something different would be using WiFi and Bluetooth for tracking, which is similar to how AirTags work. Now, pretty much all current cameras have Bluetooth and WiFi; even the budget models. All it would take is a bunch of software development, hardware system reconfiguration / optimization for beacon operation, and some extra memory to fit those specific BT and WiFi profiles / software stacks to hold the extra code required…
Taking my drone to Prague this autumn. Wanted to take my zf also but tbh for city photography the Iphone is almost as good.. Don't actually like to travel with my work gear if it is not work related, but these are great tips for sure!
Pop the memory cards out of the camera if you're not going to use it for a little or have important shots. Get a small card holder (or 3d print one). If they get your gear they may not get your shots
We live in South Africa ( which trumps any dodgy area mentioned here) …travel the country flat..camera gear is usually worth more than the 4x4 we drive in… As a couple, we have 2 of everything…400 2.8, R5, R6, 100-500, and so much more…never had an issue.. In fact I was walking around with Fuji x100vi today.. no worries. We do have a separate insurance policy with every serial number noted..so will only lose gear…and that memory card. We do sadly avoid certain areas as criminals are getting creative, even booking shoots at an address and robbing photographers…we do know people who have had gear stolen, but are the Minority… Our attitude is that we are going to live our lives in fear and choose to not compromise what gear we carry…hence the insurance…. We do have an upcoming visit to UK and Italy..really going to be keeping our wits about us 😂😂 I concur that cameras need phone type software and security features to deter thieves..the really good ones can crack any device anyway, but the security will make cameras less desirable to steal…in a Market where less people are buying cameras, the demand is dropping, so less cameras seem to be being stolen….. Thanks for a great video.
I was at Shenzhen auto show few years back at a packed crowd with my D810 sling besides me when someone cut the attachment without me realizing it. Fortunately, I have the habit of always thetering the camera with another string as precaution if the sling failed to pritect the camera. Thus, the canera grab failed as it pulled me to aware and there was my camera still with me dingling to that theter with sling obviously cut. Still using that theter everytime now.
Many years ago I was traveling alone in Tunisia and was walking around the pretty crowded medina in Tunis with a backpack on, like a rookie. In the backpack I had a Canon DSLR (it was a Rebel 300D, that's how long ago this was) in the main compartment along with my wallet and a small point and shoot in the exterior pocket. When I got back to my hotel I realized my point and shoot was gone. Nothing else, just the point and shoot. I felt absolutely nothing while being robbed, just shame and embarrassment later.
Only one story. I was in Rio de Janiero, early Saturday morning, left my hotel very close to Copacabana beach to go for a walk. I exited the hotel cautiously, looked up and down, nobody seemed to be around. I started walking towards the beach and heard the sound of fast running feet and a moment later a very young guy tried to snatch my camera. It was on a wrist strap, he failed. Next thing, I heard raucous laughter from a bunch of boys who had appeared on the other side of the street. Laughing, I presume, at the failed attempt.
i’m actually going to NYC for the weekend. i’m not sure if it’s a city where things often get stolen while your bag on you. Let me know, it is my first time going and im a little worried about my camera or stuff getting stolen
It would be cool if SmallRig made two plates for the air tags, one where the compartment opens out and the other where the opening is against the camera base. We know it's there but the thief would not even see a compartment.
Thieves will often watch and shadow you for a while, before getting the all clear in their minds now is the time to swipe. Be aware who is around you, and if needed, dip into a shop to cool down the situation, and stay until the coast is clear.
They stole my fuji xt20 with my 10-20mm and kit lens. My bag also had my airpods, wallet, among other things I'm forgetting. Life sucked in that period but it did teach me to be more careful.
One thing I do if I HAVE To put something in the trunk is.. put it in there AWAY from where Ill park. I go down the street put it in THEN park where I need to. Also I have kids I usually put my kids toys over the top of it with diapers. lol Always add an airtag to your carryon too..
Have your gear in an old car, so old it is not worth to steal anything from, same with the car radio. Use a cheap old one. Btw. Omar you need to wear a Wig so the thiefs dont recognize you
The plate with the hidden air tag is such a neat feature. Unfortunately, I don't use iPhone so it's kinda useless to me. I know I can use an Android to see if there's one nearby but as for programming it and using that's a no.
@@JamesKerwin I know there's Samsung, Pebble Bee and Chipolo. The thing is the plate is made to hold an air tag hidden inside and the other trackers won't fit. Possibly the Chipolo will maybe fit but unfortunately that's a one time use battery tag. The neat thing abut the plate is that you need a tool to remove the plate as well as open the hidden compartment. The chances a thieve will have the two different sizes of Allen keys is less likely. Not impossible but unlikely.
Had my old Fujifilm stolen out of a car along with GoPro gear. Kinda heartbreaking and soured me on photography for a while because I had like $2000 into that stuff (it was a lot to me at the time). Just got back into it again in July.
While photographing, I always have a camera strap onto my neck. In the meanwhile camera in shoulder bag with a zipper. It's also a positive factor, if your body length is over 1,90 m. 😉
Thank you for the super informative video Omar! However I have to be honest - I’d rather have my gear stolen than carry around that 4th grade backpack. 😂
Have recently done 4 trips to Europe , no issues. Camera & lens are with me, maybe a second prime in my fanny pack. 2nd camera & lens are back at the hotel. I have a list in my computer of my camera , lens , accessories , filters , etc , etc for insurance purposes. Saw a video by the largest camera chain in Canada where a pro photographer was showing a new bag for your camera , lenses, accessories, wallet , passport , keys etc in one bag .WHY ? He was really offended when I replied to his video as to why you would put ALL of your valuables in one bag.
Right? They steal your camera gear and get your phone too, so you can't even call for help or to cancel your credit cards. Not to mention you have no wallet or means to pay for transportation. I brought this up on a DPR discussion a few years ago when someone was looking for a bag to carry everything. I was told I was paranoid 😒
Most occasions I just use an army style backpack without and brand name on. When the camera comes out it’s always strapped to my wrist. If after that my camera gets stolen by some scrote I can detonate it via an app on my phone.😳
As said, highly dependent on where you are or the situation, but if I'm local...I'm carrying some form of protection and no one is taking anything from me without incapacitating me first. Otherwise, either my bag or my camera is always tethered to me in some way. When using it I'll use a Peak Design leash or whatever it's called, which can still be taken off easily but like I said if someone is trying to take something from my person then they're getting a face full of whatever I'm carrying for protection. There are some anti theft bags/straps that have metal wire in them so they can't be cut easily. Normal bag straps can be cut easily and then it's separated from you taken. Also, don't even leave anything in trunks of cars that would be out of site. I had an entire camera bag of gear stolen because while at a convention I had to run back in to grab something, left my bag in the trunk(nothing visible on inside seats). Someone had been watching several cars and smashed the windows, popped the trunks, and stolen everything inside. 5-7 cars got hit all at once and I was unfortunate enough to be one of the cars they were watching in the garage. Camera gear does not leave my person unless I am home or inside a locked accommodation room while traveling.
If you are worried use a diaper bag with clear baby branding. There used to be a lot of garish and frankly hideous colours/combos for many camera models. If you look around the used camera stores in Tokyo you see a lot, camera companies should bring back the option. I know Lenny Kravitz Leica with the snake skin is questionable in the looks department but we need neon pink camera bodies again.
On most occasions I use a non branded army style backpack. When the camera is in my hand it’s always strapped to my wrist. If some scrote still decides to steal my camera it can be detonated via an app on my phone 😳
I always use a wrist strap on my Fujifilm x100vi and although i have never felt threatened walking around London with it if someone tried to take it i would fight them like my life depended on it. I'm sorry but i paid for it with my own hard earned money and no way is some arsehole taking it off me without a fight.
@@robmas57 I only waited five weeks so I think I was fairly lucky compared to some people but I reckon I would be waiting a lot longer for another one.
this reminded me of an incident where a thief took someone's phone and after a while returned it because it was an older model or something (yes, it was definitely made up, but still) 😅
Here's a product feature tip for free, dear camera & lens makers: Build Airtags right into Cameras & Lenses. The electronics required for that are tiny. Use a small holdover battery in the camera, so that removing the main battery does not turn off the airtag for 1-2 hours. Bonus feature: That could make battery swaps quicker because the camera does not need to do a full cold boot, maybe?
It's a stupid failure, with Airtags, that they can't be registered with a specific phone. Notifying any nearby iPhone pretty much defeats the purpose! And any RFID tag can be assigned a unique code, so it's not hard to do. As for the rest, well, I travel light (for camera gear) and keep my gear in a cross-body bag that I wear across the chest. It's never out of sight, basically. And, obviously, insurance is a must, not just for camera gear but for you in general on a trip! Oh, and I will draw the line at defacing my gear with marks that can't be removed. I might want to sell the gear at a future date!
I've never understood why people walk around tourist hot spots with pricey camera gear in Billingham or alike expensive camera bags. It just shouts I've an expensive bag with even more expensive ger inside. I've never carried my camera in a neck strap either. Having trained professionally in self defense, it becomes a liability as the thief grabs the strap, and you end up being dragged around like a dog on a leash.
As a professional traveler, the best thing you can do is keep your head up and not stare at your phone. In any city. Situational awareness.
Isn't that the truth. I've so many cellphone zombies in the airport and the streets.
@@sophietucker1255the cell phone zombies make for some fantastic people watching. I live in a “tourist city” and it’s fun to just grab a coffee, sit on a bench and just watch them walk into each other or into light poles.
Yah...edited out the basic travel stuff for time. Thanks!
Absolutely
Yes! Look around, look people in the eye. Make them aware that you are aware of them.
Very grateful to be living in Iceland where this isn’t a concern for me now. When I lived in London my head was constantly on a swivel even without my camera gear.
Stay safe everyone!
I was entering a high end store and was asked to leave my bag. I opened the bag and showed him 5,000 of gear and asked him if he was going to responsible for it. He let me in with my bag. 😮. Great vid Omar
If you feel like you might be getting jumped, pretend to (or actually) livestream. Asking someone to not interrupt your livestream sends them away. I’ve used the trick twice and I’m 2-0 baybee.
When I'm asked to leave my bag, I always ask, "why should I trust you anymore with my property than you trust me with yours? You have cameras everywhere. Monitor them. If you see me stealing anything, call the police". I refuse to leave my bag with a store employee.
@@steve7210what kind of store are you going to?
@@bngr_bngrI was wondering that, I’ve never been in a shop or heard of anyone who has been asked to leave their bag.
@@traceybartlam7737depends on the country. It’s the norm in many places.
A photographer buddy of mine, when traveling in questionable areas carries his camera gear in a pink diaper bag. So far so good....Great video thx
I think this is some of the best advice. Don't have a bag that screams "pro photo gear inside". I've left an expensive camera in a car, in a brown paper grocery bag. (hatchback where I couldn't put anything out of site)
I like that....and put diapers in it!
Some people recommend putting a used diaper in clear view inside the car. Use Nutella if you have to. As well as being completely unscrupulous, thieves have a low disgust response and are likely to leave your car alone.
The tried and true thug repellant is the color pink. Aint nobody zesty enough for that
Solid advice. I usually take my older back-up camera with me when photographing in "the city". I also always recall what my old football coach told us during linebacker training to avoid a blind side block - keep your head on a swivel.
All good advice - I used to travel developing countries extensively - places the tourists don't go. Best advice is dress appropriate - not expensive - and don't under any circumstances look like you have valuables (leave the gold watch and rings at home) and be very aware of your surroundings being vigilant for being followed. Don't stay at big expensive hotels as it automatically marks you as a target. Remember your camera is expendable if threatened - hand it over. - offer them an easy escape (don't block the exit). I've been robbed a few times at knifepoint, gunpoint etc but never harmed
Friend of my buddy (both are pro photogs) almost got mugged in Eastern Europe back in the early 2000s. Big burly guy (comparatively since we are Asians and much smaller in build) grabbed his arm and tried to drag him from the street into an alleyway.
Fortunately, he had a massive tripod (this was before the days of lightweight composite travel tripods) that weighed over 10Kg with the head slung across his back.
He managed to grab the tripod sling and successfully took a swing that connected with the mugger's head that knocked the fella out for a bit and he managed to take off into the streets before the guy could recover.
As a small woman who often travels alone, when I'm shooting at night I've learned to walk around with my tripod semi-extended and the head pointed away from me in case I need to use it as a weapon. It is carbon fiber but I figure the head at least hurts enough to maybe buy me some time.
While my main reasons for using a monopod more often than a tripod are maneuverability, they make a great baton. With a solid monopod head, there's enough to make a jarring impact.
@@UnconventionalReasoning I've been considering a monopod for this exact reason. Extra stealth point for those walking stick monopods.
So far i have been lucky enough to keep all my gear.
Thanks for sharing.
That SmallRig AirTag plate looks cool! 👏🏻 Great tip about speaker removal, there’s a few good how-to vids out there 👍🏻
I had a bag containing an expensive telephoto (plus my car keys and glasses) stolen from a locked company event where I was the event photographer. This was the company where I worked. I had placed the bag behind the backdrop so no one would trip on it. A co-worker tried to use it to stabilize the backdrop and I explained that was my gear bag. I placed it on a shelf to my right and continued shooting. Half an hour later, I had to momentarily walk 20 feet away to take a single photo and when I returned it was gone. Since that time I lock bags to poles or posts as well as locking the bag itself--regardless of where/what I am shooting.
We should be lobbying the camera manufactures to add security to their cameras, similar to that of phones, code's, fingerprint, facial recognition, tracking. All possible, and all or some could be added as an option. Yes, I know there are draw backs, it might take a few seconds longer to go from camera off to shot ready, but: when shooting you should have your camera on anyway, and security should be an option that you can turn off while when not needed on that landscape shoot in the middle of Alsaka! Our phones are largely protected, our cameras should be too.
A built-in airtag sort of tracker thingy should suffice me think.
I never leave my gear in my car, ever. After shooting an event like a race or a portrait session I like to unwind with 100 pool laps at my sports club, and I’ve been tempted to just stop on my way home but I’ve heard too many horror stories about car thefts.
I’m living (was born) in the capital of germany and we have a few "wrong districts"
I got a feeling for every time of of the day, situation/ppl because i’m used to it, but i see a lot of tourists with expensive gear running around like headless chickens
My tip: Before visiting any big city check out which are the wrong districts, don‘t look at your phone all the time, if you think "Hey, that’s a dark alley", don‘t go there, if you see a group of "not so nice looking" ppl, avoid them asap, allways listen to your tummy and walk in groups. But don‘t underestimate normal looking locals. Eyes on the gear!
no joke...I had to leave bus at Berlin main station at late afternoon due to a break and was more sketched out then (was offered stolen/fake goods twice during that time), than while waiting nearly all night waiting for the bus at Göteborg...it was better at Sudkreutz but still not a place I felt comfortable
@@kalinmirrn we are having a horrible migration crisis like many other european countrys. A lot of violence, robbery and knife attacks. Right now i would not recommend visiting big citys in germany to be honest. This week alone 3 knife attackers were shot by the police. Europe is no longer the same Europe from 10 years ago. It‘s sad
@@HalbkanadischesAhornblatt yea it really quite sad...the funny thing with migration is that I was originally "barely" let into the country (just transiting) since the border guard at Czech border probably didn't like my ID photo and demanded a passport that I didn't have
@@HalbkanadischesAhornblatt I wouldn't say that as a general rule not to visit big cities. I was in Berlin recently (also in New York ...) and nothing unusual happened. Follow the advice in this video, use your common sense, be aware of your surroundings, ...
6:34 “Beater camera “….How dare you…!!!!😂😂😂😂😂
Very good advice. Always use a Pacsafe security bag when I take my gear anywhere. They absolutely cannot open it, cut it, or cut the wired strap. Pretty camera bags that cannot be secured with locks or latches, are an invitation for someone to open them and run away with your gear.
Great video! Love the characters as well. And all great ideas. Love the speaker removal, will try that one.
My horror story and a reminder to get GOOD insurance is this.
I took my D90 kit to downtown Detroit concert (not on purpose) and left it in my Wranger parked on the street. It was in the backseat on floor. They broke in to steal the truck and almost did while I was approaching (but not seeing them) and hitting the chirp. So they ran off with the bag, but I kept the wrangler. Then I called AAA homeowners and they tell because I had photos on Flickr that it was a "professional" kit and not covered. So don't trust your homeowners insurance even with the rider itemized as I did. I now use Hartford.
I only have one camera that I'd cry for days if I lost it and that is a Hasselblad 500C that my mom used to take my senior yearbook picture with. It belonged to family friends and they made me a great deal when they got out of the portrait business. They let my mom use their studio and the camera with the 150mm f4 lens to take the pictures for the yearbook. I used it while my kids were growing up. It has taken so many great images of the family over the years. It rarely leaves the house anymore. I've never had anything stolen but I have lost stuff. The worst was a lens that rolled down an embankment and into the deep fast running river. Thieves are looking for that easy mark and hopefully something that doesn't stand out in the crowd. I only ever take one camera at a time out on a walk or hike. I also have several old beat up bags that I carry my items in. A bag that screams cameras is a big no no anymore. Also try to be in a group rather than by yourself if you can.
I put a Apple airtag in my MB-N10 grip off my Nikon Z6II Wrap the airbag in a small plastic bubble. It will slide in if you use just one battery in the grip and it works! It probably work with other grips to.
Never store your camera bag in the overhead compartment on a train. I lost mine years ago while traveling from Milan to Rome with Tren Italia. The thieves were quite clever, they replaced my black bag with a different empty black bag. I didn't realize anything was wrong until I reached Roma Termini.
I got an airtag tripod plate after watching that video too. 😅 I've always been satisfied with just one hidden in my bag, but that video makes a REALLY great case for having one on your camera.
My tips for camera gear are: register your gear with your renter's / home owner's insurance, or if you must, buy a supplemental insurance policy just for your gear and expensive valuables. Second, don't ever check camera bodies and lenses when flying. Third, keep your gear with you whenever possible (travel light if you have to, and that's my new preferred way to travel so you're not leaving gear in the hotel). If you must bring more gear, bring a Pelican case and lock it while it's in your room (and hide it if you can). But it's mostly best to (a) not be flashy with your camera gear, particularly in poorer countries where a camera body might be worth someone's annual income, and keep a eye on your gear all the time. When I walk around in other countries, I keep my sling in front of me with my arm over it most of the time. When carting my bag around I actually have a loop that goes around my hand so if someone tries to snatch the rolling bag, they can't (I have heard horror stories of people having bags swiped off trains while people were exiting, or in one case, someone reached in and snatched a bag not even getting on the train and then the train left and the person lost all their gear). But it's bet to travel with as little as possible, and as cheap as possible. I don't generally travel with my expensive Nikons unless I"m doing a job. Otherwise if it's for personal work, it's my cheaper camera kit (which does the job for my travel and landscape photography stuff, but it's like a fraction of my big camera kit).
A few other tips: cover up the name of the camera and don't use any straps or gear that advertise the make or model of your camera. A good nondescript camera bag can go a long way (I rip the tags off most of my bags especially those from LowePro and ThinkTank since everyone knows what those are). Some will say this impacts resale value -- fine -- but I'd rather loose a few dollars on resale value than lose my gear because someone saw a bag screaming ThinkTank or LowePro. So I remove all traces of the brand name that I can (that are visible to the public, or if I have to, I sew another patch over it). One tip that David Hobby gave in one of his videos was to not have duplicate cameras on you if you can avoid it, because usually you're using one, and someone can come up and swipe a lens from the other one without you knowing because most people carry them at their side or behind their back. If you must carry your camera behind your back, aim the lens inward (*towards your back) so it's harder to steal the lens. But it's best to not have cameras out and exposed like that. IF you must have two bodies, then either use a backpack, or a large sling. Harder to snatch a camera when it's in the sling (unless someone grabs the entire bag).
Great advice! I use a black marker to black out all bag branding on my bags and black gaffer tape on my camera body and lenses to cover the branding etc.
I want to get a camera body baseplate for a Samsung SmartTag 2 but as far as I know no-one makes them as yet.
I was travelling on the Rome metro with my camera slung around my neck when a nice Filipino couple advised me to put my camera away out of sight. When the train stopped at a station, they actually pointed out to me the criminals who worked the area, hanging around the platform. All teenagers.
I don't use a dedicated camera bag, I use a more standard backpack to which I've added some padded inserts from Amazon.
All great tips. Yoooooooo the gray hulk and dare devil statues are FIRE!!!!
Enjoying the safety of 🇨🇭 especially after growing up in Eastern Europe. 😂
Thanks!
Omar, phone photography is good, but in London, can make you a target with thieves on motorcycles, and your use of Fanny packs that’s funny, Fanny is a nickname for a woman’s privates here in the UK!
So do they call it a cooter pack in the UK?
Love that messenger bag, but that price tag isn't getting wife approval 😂😂
I bought a Camera Protection Insert Bag from Amazon so I can make any bag into a camera bag.
I’m a full time photographer and do a lot of street photography. I always remove my grab from my r5 before venturing out into the streets. The grip makes it look expensive lol
Situational awareness is vital and carrying minimal kit helps. The thieves are watching you in advance so having a bag that doesn’t look like a photo bag doesn’t really help if you keeping reaching into it to put your camera away or to change lenses. I’m loathe to carry an old camera that you’re happy to lose - if you bought a nice camera it seems odd to never use it when you go travelling. As you say, AirTags are primarily for finding things you’ve misplaced rather than tracking down stolen kit. If you use a plate with one built in, maybe have a second one dangling on the camera (on a metal cord?) so that thieves might not take it because they can see it’s airtagged but also it hides the fact that there’s a second one in the plate. Also, take a few SD cards and rotate using them in the camera each day so that if it gets stolen you haven lost all your photos.
Yup, I also left a bag with lenses in my trunk while I carried light for the 1st event of my night. Back window was bashed in, and bag with lenses was gone. I never made it to the 2nd event.
Man. 😢
Thank you so much for this review.
I'll keep following, because you give such useful information.
All the best 🙂
I carry an x-a3 with a cheap manual lens. The whole setup is around $200 or less.
Plus, I repainted my camera and added a lot of scratches, making it look old and beat up.
Got a hard case that is lockable and when travelling that case is locked to the vehicle. At a location I had to leave my hard case in a room, so the case was near the back and locked to a table. Small things but easy to do.
I barely want to use my phone for photography now. I don't care what people say, computational photography still can't beat a bigger sensor and glass.
And great video! I have spare cameras for walking around and secure my more expensive gear.
Great tips. I’ll point out that even a cheap body might have a very expensive lens attached to it. So value that bugger, too.
Another good reason to keep your old tech.
My trick is to never take anything with me that if I loose it I would be in a bad place on trips. But the danger is also not only on cities. As landscape photography is getting more and more popular, there are photographers that take huge backpacks and tripods and whatnot to remote places. Sure there are less people on these and therefore less probability to get a thief lurking around, but on some popular places, to the more "professional friend of your stuff" its an opportunity to get someone in an isolated place with a lot of expensive stuff. Finally on events and parties etc, I've known of people getting their stuff stolen, as they left a bag on the floor and in seconds it was gone. Because on those places there are a lot of people and noise, its also easy to get a nasty surprise. I dint had stuff stolen from me, but on a recent trip do Normandy, at Mont Saint Michel, when entering and leaving some of the churches and landmarks, I notice quite a bit people forcing passage and going against other people. It was not mistake or accident. They use this technic a lot. And the funny thing is that I did noticed at least twice my side bag of my camera open, and I was sure to have closed it. I never felt it being open. I was quite amazed by this, but I was expecting it. I had the camera withy me and the bag was empty. But i'm sure that if there was anything in the pocket they had open without me noticing, I would probably be robbed. Its always a good idea to be aware of the surroundings
Good tips. As photographers we should all be paying attention to our surroundings.
Great video Omar! I was just thinking about this yesterday and you addressed a lot of the thoughts I had. I have an insurance policy for all my gear. I also use Apple AirTags on my camera when I travel. Thanks again - I want to see that Fanny pack on you though 😅.
being a 6ft5 jamaican man, they gon think twice bcoz the f around and find out will be swift
True but when there's 3 of them things change! In Paris I was acutely aware that one on one or two on my Wife and Son and I we could probably make life tough enough for them but I figured if there was more than 2 we would be stuffed so acted accordingly
I also had my Wife have the dirty washing in her bag, me with the expensive stuff and my son had his clothes and souvenirs.
Try your 6ft5 in Lima Peru 😂
They kill you for phone on the street
I only use my camera Z9 in really safe area
Literally going travelling tomorrow so perfectly timed!
That’s why I love Fuji cameras. People think they are film and worthless
Olympus cameras got this bonus buff as well, especially in black and silver
I unfortunately had a fire at my place over a decade ago. It was the coldest night of the year. I grabbed what I could, which was a couple clothes to keep me warm and my laptop. The fire dept. came and put out the fire. During the whole ordeal, some lowlife managed to steal my laptop. One of the worst night’s of my life.
When I was very much younger I was a volunteer firefighter. At a fire scene we actually had someone take the chain saws out of both our engines. After that they were in a lockdown holder inside the cab of the engine.
sad
Oh baby, love that “Fourth Grade Kid” bag line. Sign me up! ;-)
my approach towards gear: i like to use gear outside that i will not have too much of a belly ache from if it gets lost/stolen.
A lot of good tips here. 👍 Yeah, I don't think I'd try to confront a thief even if I had an airtag or whatever tracking the item. It's a dice roll at that point.
It is strange that camera companies haven't offered built-in theft deterrents making it useless or near useless to take (but then that will get into right-to-repair issues because the electronics hardware inside will not be interchangeable as it needs to be locked-able).
Whenever I left the cameras in the car while traveling (very, very, very rarely) then Kascha, my Chou Chou German Shepherd companion, also stayed in the car. And as angry as he sometimes was when I returned, I could imagine a few things.
I live in South Africa and Johannesburg City Centre is a no-go area for street photography, doesn’t matter what camera you’re shouting with.
I got the Canon 5D when it first came out and used it with the 50mm 1.2 L (back then $2,000). Total cost roughly $5,000. My family joked around with me because when that camera left my house, it was on my physical body at all times everywhere. While driving, eating out, church, visiting family, going to the movies, literally everywhere if I left my house with it. Never even came close to loosing it.
2:57 "But they are gonna take me with them" 😂
Are there any of those air tag thingys for long lenses?
Blows my mind that cameras don't have a system
I know, right? They all have internal wireless hardware that blows away an AirTag. I believe they all could quite easily have an IP address, as well, making tracking not even require an AirTag... it all comes down to complacent manufacturers that don't have any motivation or financial justification (or possibly not even any understanding of the problem...) to do anything about it. We really need famous people with some pull to start pushing them to do something about it.
If your camera gets stolen, they get to sell you another camera.
@@bubbajones5905 maybe they need a new camera company to disrupt with the safety and tracking features they are too lazy to do and let them scramble for 10 years to catch up!
If your camera is stolen you gotta buy a new one... better marketing. 😂
@@cristibaluta many DSLRs did have internal GPS up until a few years ago… I believe that GPS has been cost-reduced out in most all models at this point, but it is definitely in their historical technical wheelhouses as doable. What’s something different would be using WiFi and Bluetooth for tracking, which is similar to how AirTags work. Now, pretty much all current cameras have Bluetooth and WiFi; even the budget models. All it would take is a bunch of software development, hardware system reconfiguration / optimization for beacon operation, and some extra memory to fit those specific BT and WiFi profiles / software stacks to hold the extra code required…
Taking my drone to Prague this autumn. Wanted to take my zf also but tbh for city photography the Iphone is almost as good.. Don't actually like to travel with my work gear if it is not work related, but these are great tips for sure!
Pop the memory cards out of the camera if you're not going to use it for a little or have important shots. Get a small card holder (or 3d print one). If they get your gear they may not get your shots
Cameras need password protection at least that way they can't use it
Great advice Omar as always!
Right , I show them my Z8 and enter with my bag - no problem 🤣🤣
Thank you for this, taking away a lot of useful tips! I'd like to ask what insurance company you use for your gears? Thank you in advance!
We live in South Africa ( which trumps any dodgy area mentioned here) …travel the country flat..camera gear is usually worth more than the 4x4 we drive in…
As a couple, we have 2 of everything…400 2.8, R5, R6, 100-500, and so much more…never had an issue..
In fact I was walking around with Fuji x100vi today.. no worries.
We do have a separate insurance policy with every serial number noted..so will only lose gear…and that memory card.
We do sadly avoid certain areas as criminals are getting creative, even booking shoots at an address and robbing photographers…we do know people who have had gear stolen, but are the Minority…
Our attitude is that we are going to live our lives in fear and choose to not compromise what gear we carry…hence the insurance….
We do have an upcoming visit to UK and Italy..really going to be keeping our wits about us 😂😂
I concur that cameras need phone type software and security features to deter thieves..the really good ones can crack any device anyway, but the security will make cameras less desirable to steal…in a Market where less people are buying cameras, the demand is dropping, so less cameras seem to be being stolen…..
Thanks for a great video.
I was at Shenzhen auto show few years back at a packed crowd with my D810 sling besides me when someone cut the attachment without me realizing it. Fortunately, I have the habit of always thetering the camera with another string as precaution if the sling failed to pritect the camera. Thus, the canera grab failed as it pulled me to aware and there was my camera still with me dingling to that theter with sling obviously cut. Still using that theter everytime now.
Tether a great idea
Many years ago I was traveling alone in Tunisia and was walking around the pretty crowded medina in Tunis with a backpack on, like a rookie. In the backpack I had a Canon DSLR (it was a Rebel 300D, that's how long ago this was) in the main compartment along with my wallet and a small point and shoot in the exterior pocket. When I got back to my hotel I realized my point and shoot was gone. Nothing else, just the point and shoot. I felt absolutely nothing while being robbed, just shame and embarrassment later.
I transport my guns (handgun and takedown rifle) in a Northface backpack. So yeah, I like the whole inconspicuous ratty old bag idea.
Only one story. I was in Rio de Janiero, early Saturday morning, left my hotel very close to Copacabana beach to go for a walk. I exited the hotel cautiously, looked up and down, nobody seemed to be around. I started walking towards the beach and heard the sound of fast running feet and a moment later a very young guy tried to snatch my camera. It was on a wrist strap, he failed. Next thing, I heard raucous laughter from a bunch of boys who had appeared on the other side of the street. Laughing, I presume, at the failed attempt.
i’m actually going to NYC for the weekend. i’m not sure if it’s a city where things often get stolen while your bag on you. Let me know, it is my first time going and im a little worried about my camera or stuff getting stolen
Definitely be aware especially on the subways
You’ll be fine. Enjoy.
It would be cool if SmallRig made two plates for the air tags, one where the compartment opens out and the other where the opening is against the camera base. We know it's there but the thief would not even see a compartment.
Thieves will often watch and shadow you for a while, before getting the all clear in their minds now is the time to swipe. Be aware who is around you, and if needed, dip into a shop to cool down the situation, and stay until the coast is clear.
How did you hide the logo? Mine is engraved
They stole my fuji xt20 with my 10-20mm and kit lens. My bag also had my airpods, wallet, among other things I'm forgetting. Life sucked in that period but it did teach me to be more careful.
One thing I do if I HAVE To put something in the trunk is.. put it in there AWAY from where Ill park. I go down the street put it in THEN park where I need to. Also I have kids I usually put my kids toys over the top of it with diapers. lol Always add an airtag to your carryon too..
Got my X-T5 with the 33mm 1.4 stolen in Munich last month… still hurts.
Wow, Now I'm scare!, I'm traveling to Morocco next week, lol, nah just kidding, but great advice, thank you Omar
Peppa Pig side bag. Gear goes mixed with nappies and crisps 😅 Never fails!
Is there a way to delete everything on the memory card when it gets stolen? Or encrypt the photos?
Have your gear in an old car, so old it is not worth to steal anything from, same with the car radio. Use a cheap old one.
Btw. Omar you need to wear a Wig so the thiefs dont recognize you
The plate with the hidden air tag is such a neat feature. Unfortunately, I don't use iPhone so it's kinda useless to me. I know I can use an Android to see if there's one nearby but as for programming it and using that's a no.
Samsung Tag?
@@JamesKerwin I know there's Samsung, Pebble Bee and Chipolo. The thing is the plate is made to hold an air tag hidden inside and the other trackers won't fit. Possibly the Chipolo will maybe fit but unfortunately that's a one time use battery tag. The neat thing abut the plate is that you need a tool to remove the plate as well as open the hidden compartment. The chances a thieve will have the two different sizes of Allen keys is less likely. Not impossible but unlikely.
Had my old Fujifilm stolen out of a car along with GoPro gear. Kinda heartbreaking and soured me on photography for a while because I had like $2000 into that stuff (it was a lot to me at the time). Just got back into it again in July.
damn. :(
Great point, Omar!
While photographing, I always have a camera strap onto my neck. In the meanwhile camera in shoulder bag with a zipper. It's also a positive factor, if your body length is over 1,90 m. 😉
Bro need a comedy show 😂😂😂
Thank you for the super informative video Omar! However I have to be honest - I’d rather have my gear stolen than carry around that 4th grade backpack. 😂
Have recently done 4 trips to Europe , no issues. Camera & lens are with me, maybe a second prime in my fanny pack. 2nd camera & lens are back at the hotel. I have a list in my computer of my camera , lens , accessories , filters , etc , etc for insurance purposes. Saw a video by the largest camera chain in Canada where a pro photographer was showing a new bag for your camera , lenses, accessories, wallet , passport , keys etc in one bag .WHY ? He was really offended when I replied to his video as to why you would put ALL of your valuables in one bag.
Right? They steal your camera gear and get your phone too, so you can't even call for help or to cancel your credit cards. Not to mention you have no wallet or means to pay for transportation. I brought this up on a DPR discussion a few years ago when someone was looking for a bag to carry everything. I was told I was paranoid 😒
Great advice, bravo.
My van was stolen August 1st...I hear ya.
Most occasions I just use an army style backpack without and brand name on. When the camera comes out it’s always strapped to my wrist.
If after that my camera gets stolen by some scrote I can detonate it via an app on my phone.😳
As said, highly dependent on where you are or the situation, but if I'm local...I'm carrying some form of protection and no one is taking anything from me without incapacitating me first. Otherwise, either my bag or my camera is always tethered to me in some way. When using it I'll use a Peak Design leash or whatever it's called, which can still be taken off easily but like I said if someone is trying to take something from my person then they're getting a face full of whatever I'm carrying for protection. There are some anti theft bags/straps that have metal wire in them so they can't be cut easily. Normal bag straps can be cut easily and then it's separated from you taken.
Also, don't even leave anything in trunks of cars that would be out of site. I had an entire camera bag of gear stolen because while at a convention I had to run back in to grab something, left my bag in the trunk(nothing visible on inside seats). Someone had been watching several cars and smashed the windows, popped the trunks, and stolen everything inside. 5-7 cars got hit all at once and I was unfortunate enough to be one of the cars they were watching in the garage. Camera gear does not leave my person unless I am home or inside a locked accommodation room while traveling.
The fancy peak design strap will most likely make the camera look more attractive
great stuff, very useful...
I feel this is Ricohs GRs success. It's the ultimate trip camera. [Tom Brady Hertz:"let'ssss go"
If you are worried use a diaper bag with clear baby branding. There used to be a lot of garish and frankly hideous colours/combos for many camera models. If you look around the used camera stores in Tokyo you see a lot, camera companies should bring back the option. I know Lenny Kravitz Leica with the snake skin is questionable in the looks department but we need neon pink camera bodies again.
On most occasions I use a non branded army style backpack. When the camera is in my hand it’s always strapped to my wrist.
If some scrote still decides to steal my camera it can be detonated via an app on my phone 😳
Good tips. 👍
I only take old gear when I travel My Rebel T7i have seen many vacations
I always use a wrist strap on my Fujifilm x100vi and although i have never felt threatened walking around London with it if someone tried to take it i would fight them like my life depended on it. I'm sorry but i paid for it with my own hard earned money and no way is some arsehole taking it off me without a fight.
Yeah, they should have to wait for it as long as you probably did, LOL.
@@robmas57 I only waited five weeks so I think I was fairly lucky compared to some people but I reckon I would be waiting a lot longer for another one.
Outstanding!
So really you need away to lock your camera just like a phone and iPad , press your thumb print on the camera unlocks it.
Doesn’t seem that hard.
this reminded me of an incident where a thief took someone's phone and after a while returned it because it was an older model or something (yes, it was definitely made up, but still) 😅
Love your videos ❤
No camera is worth your life, and no thief's life is worth your life.
Here's a product feature tip for free, dear camera & lens makers: Build Airtags right into Cameras & Lenses. The electronics required for that are tiny. Use a small holdover battery in the camera, so that removing the main battery does not turn off the airtag for 1-2 hours. Bonus feature: That could make battery swaps quicker because the camera does not need to do a full cold boot, maybe?
It's a stupid failure, with Airtags, that they can't be registered with a specific phone. Notifying any nearby iPhone pretty much defeats the purpose! And any RFID tag can be assigned a unique code, so it's not hard to do.
As for the rest, well, I travel light (for camera gear) and keep my gear in a cross-body bag that I wear across the chest. It's never out of sight, basically. And, obviously, insurance is a must, not just for camera gear but for you in general on a trip!
Oh, and I will draw the line at defacing my gear with marks that can't be removed. I might want to sell the gear at a future date!
I've never understood why people walk around tourist hot spots with pricey camera gear in Billingham or alike expensive camera bags. It just shouts I've an expensive bag with even more expensive ger inside. I've never carried my camera in a neck strap either. Having trained professionally in self defense, it becomes a liability as the thief grabs the strap, and you end up being dragged around like a dog on a leash.