A lesson in anti theft and invisibility

01-30-2006

Just to pass it on:

Quite some time ago I started covering all my cameras with black duct tape to keep them in nice condition.
I soon learned that this had the added benefit of fooling would be thieves into thinking the camera was an old piece of junk (as the tape became ragged).

I carried my Contax G2 all around Asia for 3 years like that and was only ever 'spotted' as a fraud twice:
once by a fellow snapper in China with a sharp eye and then by someone who thought my voigtlander was a Leica of some kind.

Once the tape is peeled off and the sticky mess cleaned up with isopropol alcohol; the camera looks like it was bought yesterday.

brightsky · 01-30-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by desmo

Just to pass it on:
Once the tape is peeled off and the sticky mess cleaned up with isopropol alcohol; the camera looks like it was bought yesterday.

I believe many use gaffer's tape for the same purpose and it's not as sticky as duct tape.

Wonder how old vulcanite would hold up to an alcohol bath.

pvdhaar · 01-30-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by desmo

.. this had the added benefit of fooling would be thieves into thinking the camera was an old piece of junk

A would be thief worth his/her salt now considers any film camera an old piece of junk (as in hard to fence)

It's camera cell phones that are most vulnerable to theft nowadays..

varjag · 01-31-2006

IIRC this trick was used by reporters since the advent of 35mm cameras.. nowdays they just make pro cameras black

I sometimes use black electric tape on my Kiev and chrome lenses when shooting protests, makes your hanging around a tiny bit less obvious.

taffer · 01-31-2006

I'm thinking of building myself a velvety velcro jacket, then cover all my cameras with punchy velcro, I'll be able to carry many cameras with me, always ready and no straps at all !

Socke · 01-31-2006

If I were a thief, I'd steal diaper bags from middle aged US tourists. 90% chance you'll find a couple expensive cameras in there :-)

hoot · 01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightsky

Wonder how old vulcanite would hold up to an alcohol bath.

Badly. The vulcanite will immediately lose its luster. Keep a small bottle of glycerin handy and dab it onto the vulcanite generously with cotton wool if you accidentally get alcohol or benzene on it. As a matter of fact, a helping of glycerin every year or so is always a good idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socke

If I were a thief, I'd steal diaper bags from middle aged US tourists. 90% chance you'll find a couple expensive cameras in there :-)

As long as they're too old to have babies...

Kim Coxon · 01-31-2006

There is a warning at the bottom of this page about the dangers of tape "staining" the chrome.

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page3.html

airds · 01-31-2006

GBP325+ for re-enamelling, then covering it in tape - MAD.

Flyfisher Tom · 01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by taffer

I'm thinking of building myself a velvety velcro jacket, then cover all my cameras with punchy velcro, I'll be able to carry many cameras with me, always ready and no straps at all !

Will it be blue velvet, Oscar?

SolaresLarrave · 01-31-2006

I never went paranoid about anyone stealing my cameras because, at at given moment, thieves want money, or something easy to sell for a high profit. Cameras rank low in the list, and if they pick one it's because the owner was careless enough to leave it unattended.

Now... if covering the camera makes you happy, by all means, go ahead. Otherwise, just make sure your gear is always with you, and never pull out a camera or set it on a chair or table if you're eating or having coffee at a place with outdoor sitting. Why? Thieves on the move will simply swoon by and snatch it!

But then... they'll probably will be more attracted if it was your wallet on the table.

allthumbs · 01-31-2006

If thieves are as smart as some of you think, that's great news for me. I used to worry that some idiot will think one of my $20 ebay finds is worth something and end up stealing The Shot.

RML · 01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

If thieves are as smart as some of you think, that's great news for me. I used to worry that some idiot will think one of my $20 ebay finds is worth something and end up stealing The Shot.

Indeed. Of course I'm worried someone might rip away my R-D1 but I think my fine looking FED-2 is more likely to get stolen.

DougK · 01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socke

If I were a thief, I'd steal diaper bags from middle aged US tourists. 90% chance you'll find a couple expensive cameras in there :-)

Your signature fits this observation very well, Socke.

David Goldfarb · 01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolaresLarrave

I never went paranoid about anyone stealing my cameras because, at at given moment, thieves want money, or something easy to sell for a high profit. Cameras rank low in the list, and if they pick one it's because the owner was careless enough to leave it unattended.

Once I made the mistake of leaving my laptop computer in my checked luggage and baggage handlers at LaGuardia Airport in New York stole it. They didn't touch my Canon F-1N and three lenses that were right next to it, of course.

Zack · 01-31-2006

I think the rule of thumb is just pay attention, and youll be ok

egpj · 01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Goldfarb

Once I made the mistake of leaving my laptop computer in my checked luggage and baggage handlers at LaGuardia Airport in New York stole it. They didn't touch my Canon F-1N and three lenses that were right next to it, of course.

The TSA do not want us to lock our bags and look at what happens. The TSA people live in a dream world outside of reality.

David Goldfarb · 01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by egpj

The TSA do not want us to lock our bags and look at what happens. The TSA people live in a dream world outside of reality.

My bag was locked, and the locks were broken by the thieves who work at LaGuardia Airport.

01-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Goldfarb

Once I made the mistake of leaving my laptop computer in my checked luggage and baggage handlers at LaGuardia Airport in New York stole it. They didn't touch my Canon F-1N and three lenses that were right next to it, of course.

David,

Think about it a minute. Why would you bother with the cameras?

The laptop is much more valuable (potentially). Not for the hardware per se - but for what info you may have had on the hard drive!

That's why we always have to remember to "strip" out the HD of computers BEFORE we discard them!

Regards,
George

David Goldfarb · 01-31-2006

I know. I backed up everything before the trip, as I always do, so I didn't lose anything, and there was probably not much on the hard drive that would have been of interest to anyone else.