James Long
Forum Enthusiast
I believe that Saiwing was looking for factual information, not your BS fantasy
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Europe safe for photographers?
- Thread starter Saiwing Yeung
- Start date
Mishkin
Senior Member
mark kay
Veteran Member
I have carried stuff around Europe and not had a problem. I brought my stuff in a Nova Bag aswell. I would just be careful and suggest you get insurance to be safe.
I did have a winter jacket stolen from a pub in Sweden and someone tried to pick pocket me in Amsterdam but in all my trips overseas, I have been fortunate. mark
I did have a winter jacket stolen from a pub in Sweden and someone tried to pick pocket me in Amsterdam but in all my trips overseas, I have been fortunate. mark
H
H. Meijer
Guest
In every big city all over the world you have to watch your gear.
The Lowe logo is no problem, cause they also make normal daypack or bigger bags.
Just take care at the points of interest where there allways people are hanging around with wrong intentions.
Since i live in europe and been to most capitals, i can advise you take care in Rome taking the underground or bus, same with larger cities in Spain or Portugal. Living in the Netherlands i would say for Amsterdam, be carefull where to go, Red light districts also are a nice place for Junkies with no money. A quick grab and a D60 with lens will bring em soon an extra 100$.
London and Paris also have their spots, like every place in the world, but normally dont worry and enjoy the trip.
Take care at busstops and airports. Just keep your gear under control.
Cheers,
Harry
from the not so very dangerous northern part of the Netherlands
The Lowe logo is no problem, cause they also make normal daypack or bigger bags.
Just take care at the points of interest where there allways people are hanging around with wrong intentions.
Since i live in europe and been to most capitals, i can advise you take care in Rome taking the underground or bus, same with larger cities in Spain or Portugal. Living in the Netherlands i would say for Amsterdam, be carefull where to go, Red light districts also are a nice place for Junkies with no money. A quick grab and a D60 with lens will bring em soon an extra 100$.
London and Paris also have their spots, like every place in the world, but normally dont worry and enjoy the trip.
Take care at busstops and airports. Just keep your gear under control.
Cheers,
Harry
from the not so very dangerous northern part of the Netherlands
Stephan F.
Active member
Honestly, after living some 30 years in Europe, it's the first time I read about this. I think it's a bit of a urban legend. First it would be very difficult for them to get the gas and second, it would require a huge amount of it to put an entire train compartment to sleep. 
Stephan
Stephan
Graham Snook
Senior Member
Let’s be realistic, if you walk round with a camera in full display you’ll get noticed, same goes for a snazzy new camera bag, get a tatty bag, a few jumpers for protection of your equipment and you’ll be fine. Get a long jacket and a long camera strap, put the strap over your shoulder, on your right side, all you do is hold the camera, raise it up, take the pic and let it fall down buy your side.
Alternatively walk along with a casual, but meaningful attitude, don’t doodle around, work with a purpose. If you see a shot and need to change lenses, put your back to a wall, better still a doorway and change your lens. Don’t stand in the middle of the pavement rummaging through your bag.
I’ve been round may European cities, I live in London, as long as you take sensible precautions and remember that to some you camera is like big wad of money and if you think of it that way you’ll be fine.
On a final note, I’ve walked around Lisbon, capital of Portugal with all my cameras, 67 and 35mm in a Domke camera bag, with padded shoulder, a few strange looks but no problems at all. I didn't go into any quiet areas and didn my research before, places to avoid etc. At the end of the day if you feel nervous get in a licensed cab and get out of the area.
Alternatively walk along with a casual, but meaningful attitude, don’t doodle around, work with a purpose. If you see a shot and need to change lenses, put your back to a wall, better still a doorway and change your lens. Don’t stand in the middle of the pavement rummaging through your bag.
I’ve been round may European cities, I live in London, as long as you take sensible precautions and remember that to some you camera is like big wad of money and if you think of it that way you’ll be fine.
On a final note, I’ve walked around Lisbon, capital of Portugal with all my cameras, 67 and 35mm in a Domke camera bag, with padded shoulder, a few strange looks but no problems at all. I didn't go into any quiet areas and didn my research before, places to avoid etc. At the end of the day if you feel nervous get in a licensed cab and get out of the area.
Saiwing Yeung
Member
Thanks for everyone's pointers, I think I am better prepared than I was yesterday 
Hopefully I won't be one of the few unlucky ones.
Saiwing
Hopefully I won't be one of the few unlucky ones.Saiwing
Adam-T
Forum Pro
If people see you wandering around with a big camera here (especially in the north) they're also likely to think that you're a police snoop (and will attack you if they're up to something), Casing a joint for a robbery (and will tell the police), the Press (and follow you to see that the scoop is) or could even accuse you of photographing kids !!!, imagine what telescope owners are likely to get accused of!!
The UK has turned into a Nanny state, People get suspicious about just about anything their tiny minds can imagine.. Getting attacked by drug dealers is more likely than addicts ..
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Olympus C21OOUZI +B3OO +A28, Canon D6O, EOS7 and Half an S3O ;-)
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=27855
The UK has turned into a Nanny state, People get suspicious about just about anything their tiny minds can imagine.. Getting attacked by drug dealers is more likely than addicts ..
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Olympus C21OOUZI +B3OO +A28, Canon D6O, EOS7 and Half an S3O ;-)
My Ugly mug and submitted Photos at -------->
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=27855
[email protected]
Forum Enthusiast
Big tourist cities like London and Paris I would be carefull. I think if you keep your eyes open, specially in crowded areas like buses, subway etc., you should be safe. However it can happen. I would think Paris the ridk might be little higher than London.
I own the Lowe Pro S&F and am very happy wioth it. Also I think it doesnt look too too much like a photo bag.
Have fun in Europe!
I won several expensive cameras but think it doesnt make sense to leave them at home because of the value and risk.
However Iwould not leave them in the car.
Regards
Tom
I own the Lowe Pro S&F and am very happy wioth it. Also I think it doesnt look too too much like a photo bag.
Have fun in Europe!
I won several expensive cameras but think it doesnt make sense to leave them at home because of the value and risk.
However Iwould not leave them in the car.
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Regards
Tom
Bakman_29
Senior Member
And who did this research ??? "Research by the US Department of
justice shows.."
Always clean your own road...
Not a very trustworthy source....IMHO.
As already said by others : use common sense, you never know what kind of crazy people are walking around you. It can happen anywhere.
Don't make it obvious what you are carrying. (including yourself)....
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Canon D30
Sigma 24-70/2.8 EX ASP DG DF
Sigma 180mm f3.5 EX IF HSM APO MACRO
Canon IXUS330
justice shows.."
Always clean your own road...
Not a very trustworthy source....IMHO.
As already said by others : use common sense, you never know what kind of crazy people are walking around you. It can happen anywhere.
Don't make it obvious what you are carrying. (including yourself)....
BaKMaN
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Canon D30
Sigma 24-70/2.8 EX ASP DG DF
Sigma 180mm f3.5 EX IF HSM APO MACRO
Canon IXUS330
EdwardH....
Member
I spent last Summer in Vienna, walking around with my Olympus 2100 (which isn't a compact camera). No problems.
In fact... I was more worried than I should have been.
Here in Sweden you won't have any problems at all. Just avoid the clubs and night spots where drunken teens hang out...
In fact... I was more worried than I should have been.
Here in Sweden you won't have any problems at all. Just avoid the clubs and night spots where drunken teens hang out...
Graham Snook
Senior Member
Personally I've left my camera equipment in the back (boot/trunk depending on your whereabouts
of a car overnight many times!The thinking behind it is that unless you take the camera equipment out of the boot, no one knows it's there. No one knows you're a photographer, you look like just another person staying in a hotel.
I am the only person with a key to my boot, unlike a hotel room, where anyone can have a copy. My car is a company car, nothing special, I park it next to an expensive car, which do you think the thief will break into???
If I do leave my stuff in a hotel room, I leave the lights and TV on, and leave a pair of shoes on the bed...if it's one of those light switches that needs a card, use a business card or a reward cards works well.
I know a snapper who had his car stolen with his camera in the boot. The cameras were worth more than the car, but the thief/joyrider didn't look in the boot all his stuff was recovered untouched....but wait, this is the best..... I also know another snapper who used to leave his camera and lights in his hall way...the thieves walked straight pas to steal his TV and Video!
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Shoot on 35mm Canon and 6x7 Pentax
a co-worker of my wife. She said her daughter was robbed on a train in Poland with the robbers using gas. Though, of course I wasn't there so ???
W
William C
Guest
If you take out your camera, do you think the mugger will not figure out
what the bag is for? Do you think muggers will even know that Lowepro
makes camera bags?
Best advice for not being mug is not looking like a tourist.
I lived all my life in N.Y.C and I take the N.Y.C. subway system almost
everyday and I see many tourists. I am amazed how easy they are making
themselves to standout in the crowd. They are carrying signs that shout
"Hey I Am A Tourist" by carrying a tour book of N.Y.C. Some
tourist think they must have brand new clothing when going on a trip.
I have even seen tourists from head to toe in brand new cloths.
At least every smart traveler know you want shoes that are broken in.
Been to Paris twice last year, never one felt threaten even carrying my
Lowpro Magum Camera bag and my D-60 around my neck. During the
day and late at night. I been to London many times too never felt
threaten.
I remember how silly has become when I was I Rome and meet up with
some local photographers. They all had camera bags, they had their
cameras around their necks They even had the "BALLS" to wear t-shirts
with the word "Fotografo". That's photographer in Italian. They were all
locals and I know they never thought they might be mugged for their
camera. Like me when I taking photos in N.Y.C. with my camera bag and
camera around my neck. I feel safe and not concerned about being
mugged.
My biggest concern I going through security at the airport and someone
walking off with my bag or the airlines loosing my luggage.
Bill
Graham Snook
Senior Member
I know photographers who have all all their stuff stolen from thier bags (flying from South Africa), and Lenses go missing then turned up in the end after the job was over!(internal flight from London to Scotland)
Since 911 the airlines have clamped right down on the weight of hand luggage..mine was upto 20kg...They weren't too impressed when they found out !! Now I put 1 body and my 28-70L in my hand luggage. the reasoning is that I can still do the job, and haven't wasted time or money...Everything else (2 EOS 1vs, 17-35L, 70-200L,1.4x, 2 550ex's with Quantum, Pentax 67, 105mm, 45mm and 35mm) goes in a Pelicase flight case. Breaks my heart to see it trundle away, but it's always come out the other side (touch wood) and that's after around 30 - 40 flights a year...Tho I've only been charged once for XS baggage.
At the end of the day there is nothing else I can do I need my cameras so I have to take the risk. They are insured that's the only precaution I can take.
ps..noone could walk away with 22kg of cameras, stagger yes, walk...not a chance!! ;-)
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I shoot on 35mm Canon and 6x7 Pentax
zidar
Senior Member
I thought junkies could get heroin for free in Amsterdam. The idea being that if they got it for free they'd quit bopping Chinese tourists over the head for their camera gear.
Zidar
Alaska
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It's not about stuff.
http://www.pbase.com/zidar
Zidar
Alaska
--
It's not about stuff.
http://www.pbase.com/zidar
David Pichevin
Senior Member
I don't know about London but in the Paris metro you should be careful. And of course it will depend on what line/station and what hours of the day (or night).
Just don't take photos in the metro, leave the hardware in the bag, and get a bag that is not easily recognizable as a photo bag. I have the Bob Kryst (Krist?) bag and it works very well for that, although it's too bulky and heavy for the hardware that I have (2 lenses at the max with my D30). For light travel I have a Lowepro Linx LX220, which works well. Although, this kind of bag (one shoulder bag) should probably be carried on the belly in the metro instead of the bag.
David.
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Canon D30
My photo gallery: http://www.pbase.com/davidp
zidar
Senior Member
probably a bigger problem than getting your camera gear ripped off...
zidar
Alaska
--
It's not about stuff.
http://www.pbase.com/zidar
zidar
Alaska
--
It's not about stuff.
http://www.pbase.com/zidar
G
Gillis Danielsen
Guest
depends really exactly where you are going, but yes my fathers camera got stolen when he parked hes car under a bridge in nice, wel lthats not the funny part, the funny part is my cousin parked hes car under the exact same vbridge, and he also got hes car broken into!
as long as you arent going into "those kind of districts" you should be just fine, and incase you get mugged youl lget a shining new set of equipment from your insurance. in case you get mugged be sure to tell teh insurance it was a 1ds
ps. in europe theres atleast less of a chanse that the police will confiscate your camera as a "terrorist threat"
as long as you arent going into "those kind of districts" you should be just fine, and incase you get mugged youl lget a shining new set of equipment from your insurance. in case you get mugged be sure to tell teh insurance it was a 1ds
ps. in europe theres atleast less of a chanse that the police will confiscate your camera as a "terrorist threat"
glowluzid
Senior Member
There's a rash of Anti-Americanism in much of Europe these days. Seems a fairly intolerant continent of late.
(sorry, couldn't resist)
(sorry, couldn't resist)
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