Suggestions for making my gear uglier

[RendrLab]

If you are really that concerned that someone will see you walking around with a fancy camera and target you for theft, then you must be going somewhere dangerous and nothing you do to camouflage it will make one bit of difference. I mean, if you're planning on going to Libya or Iran or some place like that, your red ringed lenses are not what is going to draw their attention anyway. What will draw their attention is a fanny pack, camera bag of any sort, or anything that makes you look like you don't live down the street from them. If you are of a different ethnic background then your surroundings, you may as well paint yourself bright pink because in a dangerous place, camera or no camera, you can easily become a target/victim regardless of what you do.

My suggestions are no bag on your shoulder, use a BlackRapid strap or something similar and keep the camera concealed the best you can.

You could always go to a sign shop and have them design you a wrap for your camera/lenses. I actually did vehicle wraps for a long time and the vinyl used for them is very conformable, so a round lens and curvy camera is no problem for someone that actually knows what they are doing. Also, wrap vinyl is designed for easy removal with little to no damage to car paint after 7 years. So, wrap vinyl on your camera for even 6 months will not hurt a single part of your camera and goo won't be a factor either as it won't have time to seperate from the vinyl. IF by chance there is a tiny bit of goo after removal, you can get Rapid Remover (sign shops use it and swear by it) and it will be gone in less then 10 seconds with no damage to your camera.

If you don't want to wrap your stuff, you could still go to a sign shop and have them contour-cut you a few pieces of matte black vinyl to at least cover up the logos on your camera/lenses.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[imkev]

is this an america only thing? I've been all over the world (except america) and never ever felt remotely concerned about being robbed for my camera gear, obviously i keep it close at ahand and dont leave it lying around for opportunistic thieves but as for being assaulted and robbed? no way

Just like everywhere else, America has its bad spots, some worse than others, and the few that you just dont want to ever go near. As far as the "bad" places, most of the people that would attempt to do you harm wouldnt know the difference between a disposable and a dslr, they would just take it from you either way. For the most part though they are going to leave you alone if you leave them alone. Just remember, safety in numbers so bring a friend or two and let someone who isnt there know where you are and when you expect to return...

Oh yeah, and dont be flashy with your gear or clothing either...

 

[Cosk]

I travel to some pretty sketchy places with my gear, and I do tape my camera. I'm a big fan of black Gaffer's tape - I cover the red rings, the canon and 5D badges, the bottom, and the prism bump to help prevent scuffing. I also put it on the grip - I like the feel and I cover the on/off switch and the diopter adjustment - so I don't inadvertantly bump them anymore.

Gaffer's tape never leaves a residue and never comes off unless you want it to. Be careful putting it over any serial number stickers - it's so strong it will pull them off when you remove it.

The bigger thing is to get rid of your Canon strap... I like Domke or Gordy's straps. Also, I use a domke messenger bag instead of a traditional camera bag.

Now, all that said, putting black gaffers tape over your camera will not prevent it from getting stolen. I do it because I just like how it looks - my personal preference. Keeping a hand on your camera and being observant are the only things that will keep it safer. And bring a point-and-shoot or two as backup.

but don't so afraid that you don't take a camera with you... some of the best photo ops are in the most dangerous places.

 

[expatinasia]

Re: Just out of curiosity

But, it is a good idea potentially for concert/event photography. Security guards know to look for the white lenses and red rings; they might overlook something a little less shiny looking.

True, but security are only looking for people that shouldn't be shooting - not accredited media. Just look at the regulations on taking pictures at the Olympics, if you are not authorised, I would imagine you will have a very hard time getting anything of size in whether it is bright pink, or as black as a ninja.

I really do not get the camouflage issue unless you are doing something a little (or a lot) iffy, or shooting wildlife (and even then) or if you are in a war zone/dangerous place. And are thieves so tech-savvy that they wander around looking for people with cameras, and just because it is has a black lens they let them pass - it could be a quality Nikon lens.

The link with the neoprene sleeve looks good, but just its sheer size would indicate it is of a certain quality.

 

[EOBeav]

My gear was stolen once. They took a Rebel with a 75-300mm f/5.6. You know the one. I doubt they even knew the difference. What's more, I was able to replace it with a 70-200mm f/4 L. Good trade.

 

[sparda79]

Re: Just out of curiosity

When a thief finds a camera, does he/she really look closely to see if it has a red ring?

IMHO, 99% of people don't know what that "red ring" means...

unless it's a "red ring on a white lens"...

 

[EOBeav]

Re: Just out of curiosity

I guess my question was meant to be taken rhetorically, as if the answer was already there. That's difficult sometimes to convey that online, though. My point was that if somebody is looking for something to steal, they're going to take it whether you've got an L lens attached or not.

When a thief finds a camera, does he/she really look closely to see if it has a red ring?

IMHO, 99% of people don't know what that "red ring" means...

 

[archangelrichard]

Seriously

either a thief knows you and your equipment (and where it is and what it is worth) or they most likely don't know a dam thing about cameras but that they are hockable for money and / or drugs. They would as like steal a Rebel XS (film, worth about 40) as a Digital XS (worth around 3 - 400); They just see a camera

I don't use a camera bag when I am not able to lock them up unseen / unviewable; the cheapest trick is to buy what looks like a kids backpack, gymbag, things that do not look like they would hold anything of significant value that can be hocked easily -- make it look like "not worth the effort" to steal

Get a bag that fits in with the surroundings, make it look less like you are a dumb tourist who doesn't know the customs (note: I pack equipment inside towels, etc so the shape isn't obvious // added protection)

 

[briansquibb]

If I am being a tourist I always have the camera hooked onto my BR and tucked under a loose coat.

This is when I roll out the 7D and the 70-300L as the cheapest and lightest.

 

[Marsu42]

Re: Just out of curiosity

I have taped red rings with hockey tape before, it worked well. Any sticky residue that might be left behind is easily removed with Goo Gone.

Same for me - and taping your lens even protects its edges if you bump into something. I did this to my 70-300L to make it look less like a "red ring big white here comes the money lens".

My point was that if somebody is looking for something to steal, they're going to take it whether you've got an L lens attached or not.

But taping the lens does it make it look amazingly cheap, so it at least lessens the chance of theft a bit. It's like with bikes - make your bike look bad, get a good lock and always put it to a more expensive one with a cheap lock...

 

[Z]

Thanks for all the replies to this thread - even a reply from CR guy himself... I'm a little starstruck.

I'll go ahead with gaffing up my lens(es) and post a photo when I'm done, if anyone cares

 

[EOBeav]

Conversation that a camera thief has with himself:

Hey, a camera! Oh, it's just a Rebel with a 75-300mm f/5.6. Clarity and chromatic aberration are both notably poor on this glass. I guess I'll just leave it alone.

Or how about this one?

Hey a camera! And it's a 5DmkIII with a 70-200mm f/2.8 L, non-IS. Exceptional IQ, and the bokeh quality is to die for. I'd better grab it before somebody else does.