Not a question

[tom_tong]

This is not really a question but something I want to share here.

I just cover up the "Leice M6" and the "red dot" logos of my chrome M6 with some tape of silver color with matt surface - this is the tape normally used by the air-conditioning engineers. The logos just disappear and the camera doesn't looks odd with the tape on it. I now look more humble carrying these expensive gear without inviting anybody to "steal me!"

[dennis_couvillion]

Not to be a smart-aleck or anything, but don't you think a thief who

knows expensive merchandise can spot a Leica, with or without a

conspicuous logo? I just have this image in my mind of thieves

chuckling over having to remove all that tape from their new-found

Leicas before they take them to their fence. Silver duct tape and

black electrical tape have many uses, but not on my Leicas, thank you.

[msitaraman]

The converse thought does come to mind as well. A thief who does not

know Leicas will not be deterred either, since he won't notice that

the red dot is missing.

 

<p>

 

Speaking of which, why have that massive Leica M6 engraving on the

front at all? Surely the red dot suffices to identify the camera? The

same applies to the manufacturers of the Nikon FM3A etc. What else

could those cameras possibly be? And why does the subject (who stares

at the front of the camera) need to know the model?

 

<p>

 

This is a relatively recent (10-15 years) phenomenon, methinks.

[andy_piper2]

Tom: Good idea. May not deter thieves, but may make YOU feel more

comfortable shooting, which is fine. Since (to me) Leicas are cameras,

not jewelry, I'm not worried about taping them up. Of course I have

beater M4 clones - one with no red dot at all. 8^)

 

<p>

 

Mani: "This is a relatively recent (10-15 years) phenomenon, methinks."

 

<p>

 

Putting names AND model designations goes back a long way. But Leica M

WAS late to hop on the band wagon. Maybe manufacturers substituting (or

adding) SLRs to their original RF lines felt a need to really

distinguish the "new technology" cameras from the older lines.

 

<p>

 

Nikon F - had "Nikon" and "F" on front of prisms from introduction in

1959.

Leicaflex - had "Leicaflex" on front from at least 1968, possibly 1964

Canon - had Canonflex, FX, FTb, F-1, AE-1, etc. on front from 1960 or

thereabouts

Leica M - had Leica M4-2/P/6 on front since 1977 (no red dot until

1980-81)

Minolta - had SR-1, SRT-100/101/102 from at least mid-'60s.

 

<p>

 

etc. etc.

[msitaraman]

Andy, I stand duly corrected. Your knowledge is encyclopaedic, as

always.

[andy_piper2]

Mani - I apologize if I came across as 'bitchy' in previous response.

Didn't mean to sound critical.

 

<p>

 

Mine is an 'idiot-savant' talent at best, and about as reliable.

[msitaraman]

Not at all Andy. No offense perceived or taken. I hope I did not

sound like I was complaining :-)

[dave3]

The civility of the members of this forum continues to amaze me ...

[jacques_balthazar1]

Discretion is the essence of M.

 

<p>

 

Black is more discreet than chrome (or snake covered gold or brown

leather covered titanium). Black tape on the logo and on the

brand+model name makes a black M6 more discreet than uncovered red

dot and flashy white fonts. I even advocate blackening the markings

on the front of the lens (and would prefer gray to white for other

lens markings).

 

<p>

 

That said, I also profoundly dislike the idea that I should

automatically be considered as an unpaid advertisement board for

Leica or anyone else. I do not mind promoting brands in the framework

of a fair sponsorship contract. There should be a discount price for

cameras sold with visible logos and brand names. By taping my M I

also do the finger at the Solms marketing team !.... ;-)

 

<p>

 

Regarding thieves: if you forget those eventual few elitist thieves

that might be specialising in Leica, any normal thief will focus on

stealing what is easy to steal (a gear bag on the floor or on the

seat of the car, a camera on the table); if in a position to choose,

he will prefer the items that look expensive (an EOS 50 with grip and

zoom will be MUCH more tempting than my taped beater); and he will

favour brands with local marketing value (a Sony walkman will also be

more tempting than my M). Taping the logo and other branding makes my

beater look even more beaten.

 

<p>

 

Not sure I should be saying all this in public though...

[stefan www.randlkofer.co]

first: is there any other camera that states its name three times on

the body, two in the front, one in the back, plus the one on the

lens, that makes it four, one on the winder (five), on the lens cap

(six) and of course two on the strap (eight!!!) cool, you get what

your paying for. just in case you might forget the brand of you

camera.

 

<p>

 

then: the electrical tape, doesn't it deteriorate in time? is it hard

to get off after a while?

[msitaraman]

You forgot-once on the lens hood, too!

[stefan www.randlkofer.co]

and one on the flash: ten

[msitaraman]

I count two on the front of my SF 20 and one (admittedly microscopic)

on the back.

[msitaraman]

:-)

 

<p>

 

This is getting ludicrous...

[david_cunningham2]

I too tape over the logos on my M6. I'm not so much worried about

theft as I am by people saying "Oh, is that a Leica?" as I'm about to

take ther picture. But then again, I don't wear jackets that say

Tommy Hilfiger or hats that say Nike. I resent being expected to be a

walking billboard. Rant ended. Instead of black electrical tape buy a

set of 1 1/2" black vinyl numbers from Staples or Office Depot The

center of the "8" is perfect to cover the red dot and the "1" is

perfect for the logo.

[dennis_couvillion]

I understand 3M will be marketing a new tape next year specifically

for Leica owners. The tape, in either scuffed silver or beat-up

black, will simulate dents, dings and scuff marks on your new Leica.

Not only can Leica owners hide those unsightly Leica logos, but they

can pre-age their cameras in the process in minutes. For those Leica

owners who demand greater authenticity, an industrial strenghth

version of the tape will be offered in limited markets that will dim

the viewfinder and disturb all shutter speeds, as well.

[damond_lam1]

Come on, Mr. Tong! Leica is just another piece of camera with some

moving parts, where you can attach your favorite Leica optics on it.

Most young people in Hong Kong don't know what Leica is. Most people

recognizing my chrome M6 are usually over 40 and are usually rich

enough to have their own. Do watch out when you have a Nikon F100 or

a Canon EOS-1v. I get more attention if I am flashing my F100 with 17-

35 AF-S or my Hasselblad 2000FC. Cheer up, remove the tape and shoot

proudly.

[andrew_schank]

I find that most people in general these days do not know a Leica

from a digital Olympus.

[cosmo_genovese]

Black electrical tape eventually slips and slides and leaves a very

sticky film. Instead, I use "Scotch Photographic Tape" (12.7mm

version, Product Code: UPC 021200-60639-7; 25.4mm version, Product

Code UPC 021200-60643-4).This tape is flat black so it blends in more

with the background texture of a Black Leica. It's also opaque and

lasts a long time without slipping and sliding.

[joel_matherson]

I agree with the letter above, I think the tape thing is just

grandstanding that with a Leica in your hand the whole world looks at

you. Here in Australia all but the keen photographer wouldnt even

know the name or have heard of it, To expect a theif to wander the

streets just picking off Leicas is obsurd cause they will go hungry

waiting! An M6 looks like and old camera (although stylish) a thief

is more likely to look out for modern looking motorized SLR's. They

are more likely to recognise and pinch your Nikons. If a friend sees

my Leica's they usually ask is that a good brand like Canon or Nikon!

[godfrey]

You guys worry too much about what other people think of your

camera. For the vast majority of people in the world, it's a

camera not a Leica. For those that know, well, they're gonna

know whether you tape it up or not.

 

<p>

 

A camera is a good pawnable bauble whether it is worth $5 or

$5000. The thief takes about the same amount of money from

the fence regardless, usually about $10-30.

[dennis_couvillion]

I understand that the Los Angeles Leica Association (LALA) recently

sponsored a drive to protect M6s from Leica thieves by conducting

a "Disguise Your M6" contest. The winner, announced this weekend,

was Beth Boasburg of Anaheim who disguised her M6, "Skippy", as a

Yorkshire Terrier. The runner-up was Chad Levine of Fullerton whose

M6 was cleverly disguised as a bottle of Passion Fruit Gatorade.

Take that, you red dot thieves!

[roberto_watson_garc_a]

Nikon documentalist users do the same, and HCB at not permiting

beeing photographed too; and what about Koudelka ducumenting

Prage´68 with a paper bag on his head, may a tape cover a logo, but

if your atitude to your camera is like holding a presious jewel, no

one needs to see a logo to be curious about it.

[douglas k.]

Methinks most folks, including thieves, pay little attention to the

brand. The only comment received by my Leica was from a woman

friend who pointed to it and said "That's a cute camera!" My ego was

so bruised that I had to bring motorized Nikons next time I saw her

:-)

[michael_devoue]

The Leica has such an understated exterior, I don't think they'll

ever look nearly as attractive to a theif as the nikon f series with

a zoom attached, black tape or not. Crazy as it may seem, I'd rather

the thief see me with the Leica, chances are he doesn't know it's

value.