Travelling with a DSLR

Devrij

Devrij

Devrij

Soldato
Joined
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My gf and I are going to Rome in May, and the thread I made in GD has me worried I'll be pickpocketed and ripped off at the merest glimps of my Canon strap. I would, however, desperately love to use the opportunity to shoot the amazing city.

When you guys travel to a major city to shoot it, do you take measures to be inconspicuous with your camera? Do you keep it in a non-descript bag chained to your person with zips padlocked together, only taking it out to shoot? Or do you just rock out with it dangling in full view from your neck?

Any advice would be good, I'll be bringing my kit carry-on in the plane of course, but from there I'm a bit lost as to how I should do my photography (ninja style or full-on tourist)
 
I don't use canon strap for this reason and I can distinguish between my bodies. I have blue and brown strap for my cameras to tell which is which and when on my shoulder, from behind it looks like a strap for a bag.

Hand on camera in crowded places, I also use just a leather messenger bag, body and lens straight into that, perhaps a T-shirt as cushion.

Filter on lens and I can leave the lens cap off even in the bag and all day, no worry about scratching the lens. No battery grip, no flash to save size and weight.

Plus it is insured.

Shot in Rome, New York, Atlanta & Hong Kong (x3) all like this in the past few years.

Be aware at all times though, if you know you are done shooting for the day then put it away.
 
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It's definitely worth having a non descript bag and plain strap, so you can make your stuff disappear. I forego the strap altogether personally.

I've shot in some rough places on my own before now and you should be aware of pickpockets wherever you go. If you're averagely street wise and have your wits about you then you should be fine. Plus your GF is going to be an extra pair of eyes.

I wouldn't fret over it too much.
 
I usually walk around with the camera in my hand having the strap wrapped around my wrist. Lenses etc go in my backpack, usually under a jumper or some other item of clothing.

I used to worry about something happening but now I concentrate on having a good time and my photography.
 
Prophet said:
I usually walk around with the camera in my hand having the strap wrapped around my wrist. Lenses etc go in my backpack, usually under a jumper or some other item of clothing.

I used to worry about something happening but now I concentrate on having a good time and my photography.
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this is good advice, this is pretty much what i do
 
I have in the past walked around with a Canon strap on show, though particularly since upgrading, I decided to change to a non-marque strap. I settled on the Black Rapid, which aside from being anonymous, also sits nicely under a coat but is easy to get out and use.

I also quite like their shoulder bags for cameras, very clever though not I think suitable for DSLRs.

Have fun! And you could always buy a Nikon strap, then there's no chance of it getting stolen... ;)
 
Prophet said:
I usually walk around with the camera in my hand having the strap wrapped around my wrist. Lenses etc go in my backpack, usually under a jumper or some other item of clothing.

I used to worry about something happening but now I concentrate on having a good time and my photography.
Click to expand...

This.

If you wrap the canon strap over your wrist, it'll go aorund 3/4 times and allow you just enough room to move the camera around a bit. Plus if someone tries anything you have a nice weapon to swing around...... Well, if you have a nice mangesium chassised camera :D

I'm about to pikcup a THink Tank Retrospective 10 as it'll fit my 5D and 70-300ml attached in vertically and loads of other gubbins. It also looks very non-descript.

Check it out, not a cheap bag though.
 
Thanks lads, that's all good advice. I hadn't thought about dropping my grip off, but I think I'll be glad of the lightness if I'm out all day! Maybe I'll just chuck a spare batt in my bag or something.

I'm no stranger to big cities (I've even been to Rome years ago), so maybe I was just getting paranoid from all the horror stories. My gf was going to carry her 1100D in her handbag (she has these big cheapo bags), and I was considering carrying a backpack for mine when it isn't in use, although I don't like the idea of it being behind me so might invest in a cheap shoulder bag. The strap wrapped around the wrist and camera in hand sounds like a good plan as well, so maybe a combo of the two.
 
I have carried my camera all around the world so far (touch wood) without issue inlcuding some much rougher places than Rome! If your in the main tourist areas you will see litterally hundreds and hundreds of SLR's they are common as much these days. The only places I've ever felt a little vulnerable were Brazil (Rio not so bad elsewhere) and Egypt when walking round Cairo.

If your shooting back streets at night then your much more likely to be in trouble but then the same is ture of any town or city in the world including good old Blighty.

Be aware but don't be paranoid, make sure your gear is insured and swap you memory card every day (or so) at least then your only loosing a plastic box full of electronics and glass and not the pictures which you can't replace!
 
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