Camera In Disguise

[Calvin Palmer]

I saw a picture of someone's M8 camera the other day, on some forum or other, and they had applied duct tape, or insulating tape, to the "M8" and "Leica" logos on the front.

It just made me wonder, given that the camera's forte is street photography, whether any other M8 users went to these lengths to hide the identity of their camera when out and about taking photographs.

 

[Mark Demeny]

Yup.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdemeny/1182881023/ (larger version here)

 

[Calvin Palmer]

Might I ask for what reasons, given that some M8 users on here have stated that most people's reactions to the M8 is, "What is that old-fashioned camera?"

 

[Mark Demeny]

I like the all-black look.

Also, there are some people that know what the Leica 'red dot' means, but may not know the exact style and look of the body - and I like to keep it that way.

 

[Jono Slack]

Hi Calvin

In almost a year of carrying around the M8, I have had 2 people who noticed it and knew what it was - both of whom were professional photographers, and who would almost certainly have known what it was WITH black tape over it.

I don't believe that anyone who isn't a photographer even knows what a Leica is these days - let alone an M8.

Mind you - you can get black dots from leica to replace your red dot, and they do look quite stylish.

If you want comments and notice - stick a Nikon or a Canon around your neck - THEN you'll be noticed!

best wishes
--
Jono Slack
http://www.slack.co.uk

 

[Calvin Palmer]

Hi Jono,

Thanks for replying. I take it that you carry your M8 cameras round in all their glory.

As for me wanting to seek attention, I am your proverbial "wallflower" of the photographic world and with a talent to match.

 

[Jono Slack]

Hi Calvin

Hi Jono,

Thanks for replying. I take it that you carry your M8 cameras round
in all their glory.

Emma has told me in no uncertain terms that having two cameras around your neck is 'not okay'. So I only carry one in all it's glory - but there isn't much glory, they're small, and now a little beaten up looking, and over a shoulder, nobody gives them a second glance.

As for me wanting to seek attention, I am your proverbial
"wallflower" of the photographic world and with a talent to match.

Snap!

My personal feeling is that a camera with a bit of masking tape stuck on it is more likely to grab attention.

best wishes
--
Jono Slack
http://www.slack.co.uk

 

[Joe Mondello]

My personal feeling is that a camera with a bit of masking tape stuck
on it is more likely to grab attention.

Have to agree. I don't really get it -- unless shooting close to glass and trying to reduce unwanted reflections which is something I used to HAVE to do with an old Nikon once upon a time.

The very first M8 I saw "in the wild" was a silver one with silver tape over all the markings. I asked the gent, "How are you liking your M8?" To which he replied "Love it!"

Shooting a job over this past weekend one person in 100 noticed the M8 and knew what it was (mine is not taped) and asked the exact same question of me. And I replied in kind.

--
Cheers,
Joe

 

[Irakly Shanidze]

i've done that before. it is not just for hiding a camera from crooks, but also makes it even more obtrusive. does not work with chrome bodies, though

a friend of mine, who lives in israel, once taped his nikon f100 and wrote "****" (in russian) with white-out instead. he said that it has become his best tool for spotting russians on a street.
--
Irakly Shanidze
http://www.shanidze.com/en

 

[BanderSnatchReverb]

I can remember jokes about black taped Leicas and Nikons, going back to the early 60's, mid 60's, early 70's. Black tape F's and M2s or M3s... maybe M4 dunno.

I know it was being done - to some extent by reporters - basically to hide brand interest from the public.

When I did resort photography - its was mandated - black camera, 28mm lens, put electrical tape or darkroom tape over the name. Same thing on the big Braun flashes we used (provided) those were grey but taped over in black tape too. That was back from ... 76ish to about 1980
--
Livin' the blues, one note at a time

 

[Artichoke]

I have a chrome M8 & black tape looks awful on it

I have been stopped fairly frequently by folks wanting to take a look at my camera, which I do not mind at all ...the chrome version may look more like a classic Leica, so folks may recognize it more often

some have shared anecdotes with me about their father's Leica and one fairly rough looking teenager outside the Berklee School quite surprised me by saying "cool camera ...that's the new M8!"
I even had a nice chat with a photojournalist covering an event in Houston
he snapped me



and I him



a link to his blog entry describing our encounter can be found here -----> http://rcmckee.wordpress.com/page/2/

I appreciate his comment about the M8 being "elegant in the classy understated way of the true Leica"

such encounters are a good deal of fun & I have yet to feel insecure using my camera, untaped, even in environments such as NYC subways ...I do wrap the strap about my wrist and firmly hold the camera near my body
--
--
pbase & dpreview supporter
DPR forum member since 5/2001
http://www.pbase.com/artichoke

 

[sm23221]

It makes it look even older.

 

[Calvin Palmer]

Thanks for your input, gentlemen, and some interesting anecdotes.

During my time working with press photographers, I can only remember black electrical tape, duct tape, call it what you will, being used to hold a flash gun together. I never saw anyone trying to hide the identity of their camera, which in those days were always Nikons.

 

[speenth]

Its inverted snobbery; like surgeons calling themselves 'Mister' and the county set driving around in battered Land Rovers. In the same way that BMW are happy to charge you extra to remove all the identifying badges from your M Series.

On the other hand, maybe the tape hides an unsightly scratch ....

I can't think of any other reason why anyone would be so determined to camouflage a camera that costs the same as a small car. Can you?

 

[Radu Grozescu]

But in the film days, reporters used to completely cover the exposed parts of the camera in tape.

After a year or so of hard use, they could take off the tape and resell the camera looking almost as new - no dents, no wear on the buttons markings and so on.

--
Radu Grozescu

http://www.RaduGrozescu.com
Corporate & Editorial Photography

 

[BanderSnatchReverb]

Looks like Gilligan did ok for himself after being rescued... with an M8 nowdays.
--
Livin' the blues, one note at a time

 

[Kevin Omura]

I might do that if I was shooting with a prototype...

But otherwise nope, I prefer the black M's to the chrome as they attract a lot less attention. Normally folks ignore me when I am shooting street because the Leica looks more like a P&S camera. The average person doesn't know what they are looking at nor recognize the brand. Now if I'm using my EOS kit shooting with long lenses 90% of the people ask me what TV station I'm with.

Only place I have ever really been spotted is when shooting in Japan but then Japan is supposedly the biggest market for the brand.

Kevin

I saw a picture of someone's M8 camera the other day, on some forum
or other, and they had applied duct tape, or insulating tape, to the
"M8" and "Leica" logos on the front.

It just made me wonder, given that the camera's forte is street
photography, whether any other M8 users went to these lengths to hide
the identity of their camera when out and about taking photographs.

 

[printmaker]

Actually, the first thing I noticed about the M8 was the BIG WHITE M8. Tacky, very tacky. Nothing discrete like the script type on the top plate of the M4. If it had to go on the front of the camera, it could have been done in red and at about half the point size. Every now and then I'm tempted to fill it in with black paint - not for street stealth, just because that BIG WHITE M8 is the only thing ugly on an otherwise beautiful design.

Poor design choice, if you ask me. Didn't keep me from buying the camera though.

Tom

 

[Mark Smith145430]

I find it stops people noticing the camera.



They just think its an old beater (which of course it is)

Mark
--
http://www.photo-utopia.blogspot.com/

 

[markE59102]

I find it stops people noticing the camera.

I noticed it.

Since I got my M6 TTTL last March, I've been shooting on the street at least 2-3x/week, usually during the busy lunch hour in downtown Milwaukee. I rarely do anything to hide the camera, either have it hanging from my right hand with the strap wrapped around my wrist, or off my shoulder. I often have my camera up to my face, scanning the pedestrian traffic as they walk by me. I think I've had a total of three people notice and comment that it's a Leica. I just don't think that the tape would fool anybody.

--

• markE

http://www.wingsoflight.com

'Good photography is a controlled accident,
a vision of preparation and surrender materialized.'