Best way to keep camera & equip

My husband and I are headed to Europe (on a tour) for 17 days

(leaving mid-April). I have been reading that it is a bad idea to

carry purses, camera bags, waist-packs, etc due to pick-pockets.

I've been to Europe once before and during our 2 weeks there,

someone tried to steal from us twice (unsuccessful because we were

very aware). I'm wondering about the best way to keep my SLR safe,

but ready for photos. I've read that some people wrap the strap

around their wrist and hold the camera, but that seems like it would

be uncomfortable and I could see someone trying to steal it and

ending up pulling me down to the ground! Any ideas would be

appreciated!

<< I'm wondering about the best way to keep my SLR safe, but ready for photos. I've read that some people wrap the strap around their wrist and hold the camera, but that seems like it would be uncomfortable and I could see someone trying to steal it and ending up pulling me down to the ground!>>

 

I wrap my neck strap around my wrist all the time and have not found it to be bothersome in the least. The only way someone could steal it from me at that point would be to grab hold of the whole body with two hands, leaving them rather defenseless.

 

My recommendation would be to never walk off alone with your gear. Have at least one person with you when you're shooting. You can take turns alternating between shooting and watching out for the "bad guys"

if you are walking around with a backpack get one with a waist belt and tuck the lens into the belt secure against your hip, that and the strap around your neck/shoulders should keep it secure. I found that to be a very comfortable hiking positioning...

You write:

 

"... someone tried to steal from us twice (unsuccessful because we were very aware) ..."

 

Something is wrong here. I have travelled the world, so to speak. Only once was I suspicious and moved on in a hurry in Sofia. But you, robbed twice, almost, in only 17 days. I spend months in China's weirdest places, in old Russian dependencies, on trains, ...... .

 

Makes me wonder what your demeanor, persona is like. Some people get messed with all the time. Others walk through East Jerusalem unscathed ... Something about your looks, walk, that makes thugs like you for your displayed weakness, or such .. maybe. It is not a matter of holding your camera more securely, no way! You might get killed instead if you do hold on too tightly ... .

 

There must be more surety in your walk, more determination. Something is missing here. Stand up for yourself or such ...

 

My two cents worth. Because Central Europe is not dangerous at all, simply a walk in the park, security-wise. But let me tell you about those ... in ... . Tough fellows know toughness and go for your sweet camera instead of mine. So there.

The fact that you are part of a tour probably makes you a target more than anything you will be carrying or what you are carrying it in. If you are older rather than younger, you will also be more of a target. Tours distract their participants perfectly (and on your left you will see...) for a pickpocket to wander through the happily chatting group and lift things here and there. But in the end, the best prevention is good insurance. If a thief is determined to get what you have, you probably are not going to be able to prevent that without risking serious injury to yourself. Make a lot of noise, attract the attention of others, scream, yell, shout, point, but let go of the camera.

 

Beyond that, carry the camera in a regular backpack to which you have added some sort of foam insert. Not a fancy backpack, one you have used before. Ugly is good here. The foam inserts come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Op/Tech makes some, Domke makes others. Most camera stores stock them - like the inside of a camera bag without the camera bag. Stick the camera in one of those, put the foam insert w/camera in your backpack and then a map or candy bar or hat or two or three on top, whatever. And if you have a backpack with the double zippers, take a handful of twist ties to secure the zippers shut until you want them open.

 

If the cathedral catches on fire due to a direct lightning strike, grab the camera from the lady standing next to you and fire away. She'll be too shocked to act. For the most part though, no photograph will run away while you are reaching into your backpack for your camera.

Try to act like you know what you are doing at all times and a person would have to be utterly crazy to try and rob you. Try to minimize the unsure "glancing around" as it makes you look vulernable. Stand up straight.

 

Well, me being the person I am, a 5" stilletto usually accompanies me to dangerous places as I usually travel alone. Though you should never carry a weapon unless you are prepared to use it. And never brandish a weapon unless you are prepared to take someone's life.

 

Best of luck

-Dan

It may be a bad idea to carry purses, SLRs, camera bags blabla. very visible here and there around the world, not only in Europe. It all depends on where are you going. Common sense usually helps avoiding 99% of all problems. Stupidity usually causes 95% of all problems.

 

Europe is not as big as NA but pretty big anyway, so giving any more exact advices is not that easy.

Don't worry too much. West European counties have a very low crime rate - compared to other parts of the world. Yes, there are pickpockets - but the worst thing that could happen is that they steal a camera or a purse. I wouldn't ruin my vacation by always being on guard - maybe its better to get an good insurance - just in case. Don't spoil your trip and the fun of taking pictures. Its not worth it. Try not to be an easy target - as you did before - and you'll be fine.

I see it that way: The more safety percautions I take, the less comfortable my journey gets. And if you go to a place known for pickpockets - just take a cheap camera that day.

And if the worst case happens and somebody tries to take you camera - let it go! No camera is so valuable to risk your health.

 

Enjoy your trip!

Johannes

Jay,

 

I usually wrap the camera strap around my wrist when walking around a safe photogenic area (i.e. where I'll be making many images).

 

I have recently equipped myself with a Lowepro Stealth Reporter 400 AW, which has a top zipper and allows me to stuff my camera into the bag and out of sight very quickly and conveniently. I used it in Cuba (although, in retrospect, Cuba was a relatively safe place) and it worked very well as I meandered the streets of Havana.

 

I wear the Lowepro across my chest, which makes it harder for anyone to zip by and lift the bag off my shoulder.

 

I remember reading an interview with David Alan Harvey, an experienced world-traveller and National Geographic photographer, on the topic of his recent assignment in Brazil. He explained how he hired two bodyguards to accompany him during one of the festivities he was photographing, yet someone yanked his Leica straight out of his hands and right in front of his bodyguards.

 

When he scolded the bodyguards, they cried.

 

Now, here's an experienced, professional travel photographer with enough of a budget to hire not one but two bodyguards and he still got mugged!

 

The moral is: if you want absolute safety, you should hire bodyguards who will not cry. You can apply some tests before you hire them... try stepping on their toes, if they flinch, they're no good.

 

No, wait! The real moral is that nobody is safe in Brazil! I should know, I was born there!

 

No, wait... that ain't it either. I guess the moral is that, if you travel, you should definitely not carry a Leica!

 

That doesn't sound right either. Well, there's a moral in there somewhere... ask your bodyguards, they'll tell you!

Don't look like a tourist. AKA a target. OTOH Getting off a tour bus pretty much makes you look like a tourist. People have mentioned straps etc. They can get cut . Most anything you can think of the crooks have thought of.

 

Personally set yourself up so if you get robbed it won't be a big deal. Don't carry alot of cash. Don't carry things you can't replace. Wear a money belt. Under your clothes. Keep enough walking around cash outside of it. Be more worried about forgetting your camera at dinner.

 

Big cities are big cities. When you get to Europe look around I bet you'll see plenty of natives with purses and bags. If they can manage it so can you.

There are some areas of Europe that are trouble spots . . . generally your rarely risking much by walking around though. If you look like a tourist then you're probably carrying something worth having, like a large sum of cash.

 

When travelling, try to blend in. Keep the strap of your camera around your wrist. Avoid bad areas & dark alleyways. Never get bigmaps out in public places (show's you're not awareof your surroundings) and when you don't need the camera put it away. You could get a lowepro backpack and keep the camera in that on your partners back - that way it's always within reach.

 

Alternatively befriend some locals to guard you, the bigger the better.

 

Gavin

<i>"I remember reading an interview with David Alan Harvey, an experienced world-traveller and National Geographic photographer, on the topic of his recent assignment in Brazil. He explained how he hired two bodyguards to accompany him during one of the festivities he was photographing, yet someone yanked his Leica straight out of his hands and right in front of his bodyguards. When he scolded the bodyguards, they cried. Now, here's an experienced, professional travel photographer with enough of a budget to hire not one but two bodyguards and he still got mugged!"</i>

<p>This is not entirely accurate. I saw the documentary film on NG that captured the actual incident, and there weren't really two bodyguards - one of the guys was a "fixer" who was in charge of arranging Dave Harvey's schedule. The other guy, Hobson, was the "bodyguard" but he was dancing and partying half the time, not paying any attention at all to what he was supposed to be doing. Not to mention that this guy was literally half the size of Dave Harvey! So Dave Harvey goes to photograph the official start of Carnivale, as suggested by his fixer. A huge crowd of photographers and cameramen are there, in a literal elbow-to-elbow fight for space. Harvey yells over the crowd, "I need Hobson, right here," and of course Hobson's nowhere to be seen. After the melee, Harvey discovers that one of the several Leicas around his neck has gone missing. Most of you should already be able to envision how this happened. It wasn't a "mugging" at all.

 

<p>So the moral is, if you're going to hire a bodyguard(s), make sure they at least know what they're doing.

Al,

 

I stand corrected.

 

The moral for me is: don't bother reading the book when you can watch the movie!

 

Regards,

 

Rubens.

i recommend rick steves' travel website, it is packed with useful information for traveling in europe. i found it very valuable for preparing my trip to europe last time. if you ever planned to do your own traveling, i highly recommend his guide books; i used it to travel in europe for 5 weeks.

 

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/home.htm

 

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/home.htm

 

as for my personal experiences, here are steps that i do to safeguard my camera and belongings --

 

1) i keep my camera, as well as my travel guide, maps, and lunch /snacks in a daypack. i don't like using an extra camera bag, as others had suggested, straps to my waist because (a) the extra bag might disclose your identity as a tourist, and (b) i prefer travel light.

 

when riding in a subway or bus, carry your daypack on your front. you never know what happens behind you in a crowded ride.

 

2) i would strap the camera belt around my wrist if it's not in my backpack -- you can get the wrist strap at b+h or adorama.

 

3) pay attention to the environment you are in, no matter it's a crowded street or quite lane or in subway or bus. pls also read rick steves' "graffiti wall" section which packed with travelers' advices and dos and do-nots.

 

always be alert of your surrounding, have fun sighseeing, and shooting your next masterpiece.

 

-eng

 

ps: fyi -- if you ever wanted to use your atm overseas, please make sure your pin is a 4 digit number. most atm elsewhere in the world accepts 4 digit pin number only.

Thanks for your advice!! I know I'll have some type of backpack/bag and I'm going to give the neckstrap around my wrist a fair shot. Frank--I don't know why we were such a target for pickpockets during my first trip there, but when I'm on a bus and someone is trying to stick his/her hand in my sock (I had nothing hidden in my socks)! I wonder why, also. I was a mere 20 years old way back then and certainly had nothing of value to steal... The other attempt took place in Italy by the Gypsy kids...trying to get into a waist pack of a middle-aged man with us. So it wasn't just me they were after.

When I travel with a one SLR I usually wear it over one shoulder under an open long-sleeved shirt or light jacket, or heavier jacket in cold weather. If I am not using the camera it hangs by my side hidden under the jacket. To use it I simply shift it forward lift it. I don't like to be encumbered by camera bags and feel and look less like a tourist without all that junk hanging off me.