Which tape for "stealth Leica"?

[jesse_kramer]

Please pardon me if this is a repeat query.

 

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For those times when I want my leica in stealth mode with no logos visible, what tape do you use?

 

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Are there any choices of tape that will leave no adhesive residue when removed??

 

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Thanks in advance

 

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Jesse

[mike dixon]

I'm not sure of the best tape, but remember: you need to make sure the

lens and viewfinder are also covered--those glass surfaces are very

shiny.

[richard_ilomaki3]

If the demand is sufficient, I will market a special roll of tape

commemorating the 100th birthday of Donald Duct, the inventor of the

eponymous tape.

 

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I will go to my local hardware/DIY shop and get a roll or 1/2 in.

wide 3M black tape, stick it on my M6, pull it off and see what

residue is left. If any, I will take a drop of lighter fluid and

remove it.

 

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Then I will get a Leica stencil & black spray paint and spray the

logo onto the tape, inch by inch, then sell it for $10 an inch.

 

Then I will sell movie camera blimps to cover the camera to mute the

stertorous clatter of the shutter, as compared to the Black Hexar.

 

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I will, at some time in the galactic future, be rich.

 

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TFIC

 

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R:>):>)

[ken4]

i heard that hcb taped up his viewfinder. true or false?

[jesse_kramer]

Hoping for a serious answer, but I always enjoy a good gibe. Some

cool leica websites like Hans Pahler's show their M bodies with the

logos taped over

[badris]

I'm still trying to hold back laughs, so while I'm at it I'll contribute

a serious answer...

 

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I recommend using black gaffer's tape. It's basically a cloth tape

with the holding ability of duct tape, but unlike duct tape, it

doesn't leave a sticky residue. I don't tape up my Leica (at least

not any more), but my Nikon gear is covered with it, nameplates

and exposed ports etc. I also use to secure tripods and hold up

remote strobes in weird places.

[jesse_kramer]

Just to clarify, I was asking this question to prevent street theft,

not for stealth photography. I was trying to hide the value my gear

[jacques_balthazar1]

There have been 2 zillion threads on this with serious and sarcastic

answers..

 

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Just use any doggone (black) tape, knowing that after time there will

be some glue residue that will be hard to clean up after you pull off

the tape.

 

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That said, and acknowledging how "uncool" it is to take such a

question seriously, a black taped black M hanging over a dark t-shirt

is darn hard to spot. If you want to go as unnoticed as possible as a

photographer (or as a leica user), black tape does help, red dot,

white logos and/or silver chrome do not help. A minox 35/ricoh gr1 in

the pocket help even more.

[richard_ilomaki3]

Another sort-of serious answer.

 

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HCB, IMVHO taped his Leica logo more for reasons of his ego than

anything alse. I wish he would open up and explain why. Has anyone

ever heard from him on that?

 

<p>

 

Who in Shanghai in 1949 knew the difference between a Leica and a

pice of Blue Cheese; both equally uncommon in China then.

I have both my M6 and FM3a in grotty Nikon CF27 cases, wrapped mummy-

like in black duct tape for camoflage. I have the M6 cloaked in clear

tape, all over all the painted surfaces just as the bottom is from

the factory, obviously for scratch protection.

 

Taping over the Logo reminds me of what an ex-Catholic priest once

said to me: Try forgetting about, and suppressing, your sexual urges-

walk around holding your hand over your crotch all day.

 

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Serious enough?

 

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Cheers

[al_henry4]

Tell uh what sunny boy ifin uh gets urself a real lika she dont got

nun fo them logo things. Aint got no stinkin batteries nether.

Seriously 3M electric tape will work great on any of the chrome

bodies. Dont rocomend it if you have a black paint though and would

not use any type of solivent on it.

[dave_doyle2]

Drop the camera, lens and all in that rubber goop that you can dip

your tool handles in, comes in different colors. Non reflective and

will help protect the camera from knocks and dents.

[jesse_kramer]

thanks for the tip about the solvents and the black paint. My M body

does indeed have the black paint finish.

[stefan www.randlkofer.co]

i am not so sure about the tip with the gaffer tape. having spent

some time in the music business, i still have lots of stuff around

with nearly unremovable pieces of gaffer tape stuck on it.

[lucien1]

IMO, the Leica red logo is ugly.

 

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Vive le <a href="http://www.nemeng.com/leica/003b.shtml">M6J</a>

 

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<img src="http://teachnet.edb.utexas.edu/~leica/Images/LEm6j.jpg">

[anon_terry]

The Leica already <b>is</b> a stealth camera. When I showed my

sister's friend my M6/90, with which I had made portraits of my

sister's cats, her immediate response was "Geez, how <i>old</i> is

that thing?" People who don't know Leicas just won't give a damn

about it tape or no tape, and people who know Leicas will recognize

it no matter how much tape you put on it. Your own manner and

composure will dictate just how "stealth" you are. Act like you

belong there and believe in what you're doing, and you'll be

as "stealth" as you can get. Act nervous, suspicious, guilty, and

furtive, and you'll get your ass kicked one way or another, sooner or

later.

[anon_terry]

<i>I was asking this question to prevent street theft</i>

 

<p>In that case use your Leica and use it often. After a while

you'll scratch it up enough that it looks something like this...</p>

 

<p><a href=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?

ViewItem&item=1337921596"

target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?

ViewItem&item=1337921596</a></p>

 

<p>...causing even the most street-hardened thief to run away from

you shrieking in horror.</p>

 

<p>:-O</p>

[michael_darnton1]

Electrical tape doesn't leave residue, is flexible enought to go on

nicely, and looks pretty good. I once had an M3 covered with it for

several years, and it came right off when I asked it to. Buy the best

stuff you can find, though--probably 3M--not some dollar store stuff.

Masking and duct tape both will leave a mess--I don't know about

gaffer tape, though.

[Rob F.]

My camera dealer used to carry invisible tape, but they had to

discontinue it. They could never find it.

 

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Try a roll of invisible Scotch tape.

[charles_c._stirk_jr.]

I don 't know my ex girfriend said my M's looked like "grown up"

cameras " and see knew nothing about cameras

[dzeanah]

A mint M6 and 35/2 showed up yesterday, and electrical tape application was one of the first things I did.<p>

 

I <i>know</i> how hard I am on gear though, especially gear that travels everywhere with me. I even taped over the original

protective plastic on the baseplate! Covered the top plate, went around all the edges that I thought were likely to brass with use, etc.

<p>

 

I could care less how my equipment looks (all my Hasselblad gear was bought as ugly as possible as long as it was still functional),

but I might decide to sell/trade some the M6 one day, and M6 buyers seem really anal about cosmetic condition (it's a Leica! It's

suposed to be used until it's worn out looking!). I might as well go to the effort to try and protect the cosmetics as much as

possible.<p>

 

Having said that, my wife thinks it looks much less inviting to theives now that I've taped over the red dot. I don't know for sure -- I'm

not a theif. (I found a Leica IIIg in a box in my photo teacher's office in college -- she had no idea what it was. I wonder how many

people know much about Leica at all.) <p>

[david_cunningham2]

Pick up a sheet of vinyl stick-on numbers. I think either the 1 1/2"

or 2", I can't remember offhand. The oval inside the "8" is perfect

for covering the red logo and a piece of the "1" will cover the name

logo. If you really want to go nuts a piece of the "1" will all cover

the rewind "R".

[dan_brown4]

I've used black gaffer's tape without any problems.

[nesrani]

BD Colen of the LUG is the one to contact about this.

[jeremy_thomas]

I use black photo masking tape purchased at art supply stores. its

somewhat expensive, but strong and leaves no residue.

 

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jeremyT

<a href="http://www.lifeinblue.com">www.lifeinblue.com</a>

[Spearhead]

This idea is ridiculous. The reason it's ridiculous is that street

thieves steal based on a) type of product, and b) ease of theft.

Tons of useless stuff gets stolen and discarded a block away because

it was easy to steal but turns out to be valueless.

 

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If you want to shoot on the street, get good insurance and don't

worry about it.