Not obvious camera bag

[user111]

1. use plastic bag
2. backpack carry in front

lol

 

[cheechee]

I am going to London and a couple of places around there, probably Scotland and maybe France. Actually, I feel the main danger would not be at the destinations where you are doing the shooting as they are usually the touristy areas which are fairly crowded, but rather, the danger would be during the process of travelling in the subways, train, dark alleys etc.

Carrying an obvious camera bag around those areas will make you a fairly tempting target for muggers because a lone asian definitely looks out of place.

Hi.
My suggestion is Crumpler Weenie with inserts. I had been lugging ard this with my canon gears, cum passport, cash & etc for the past eight mths in weekend excursion trips in europe countries, definitely safe.
I always make sure that after putting cameras/stuffs back into the insert, is zipped and well inside the bag.
To me, the insert is like a double protection, as you know that after the potential thieve cut through the outer layer of the crumpler bag (which is if they managed to do that and i doubt that it will be with ease), there is another protection of the thick insert. Double protection!
Plus, crumpler is less obvious as a photography bag that other photography bag.

My latest trip had been in london backpack trip alone last weekend with the crumpler and also had been taking photos ard till midnight alone at places such as the tower bridge, london tower, waterloo metro area, etc. No worries. London is safe, especially inside the tube. And as a tourist, there aint much dark alleys for you to go around in london.
So if you are careful enough on where you travel, you can eliminate the risk of being robbed. But i cannot assure you on the risk of thieves, this is where the insert of crumpler comes in handy.

Scotland is safe too. Paris metro are generally very safe, but if you happen to get on one of the train during your transit through the underground metro, just stick with the crowd. Occassionally there are some suspicious looking ganster type youth at the end of the carriage.

If you happen to be in Italy,
Be EXTRA EXTRA careful when you are inside the metro in ROME!
NEVER EVER show your valuables in the visible inside ROME METRO, there are few groups of notorious gypsies gang operating inside the METRO, disguising as woman with babies, normal looking man, kids, etc. Just look out for those gypsies looking suspicious character.
Anyway, i survived with my crumpler inside ROME Metro :sweat: But that aint true for the girl who went with our group, she put her camera inside a pouch hanging outside her chest. And till now i still couldnt figure out when and how the digicam is removed from the pouch with the zip still intact after she discover the loss of camera.

Just sharing my experiance.
Have a nice trip in europe. Cheers :devil:

 

[Belle&Sebastain]

STOP, STOP, STOP

recomanding any Camera bags to carry the cameras please!!!!! domke, crumpler, as long as you know cameras so do thieves. what ever bags that is common knowledge of photographers, thieves will target.


get a tenba inserts and buy cheap (but durable) canvas bags or expensive fashion bags like freitag (which uses used canvas and car seat belts, very fashionable in europe esp germany. Anything you can find even plastic bags, please do not think that people do not know domke! If i'm a camera thief i will target domke or billingham first, comfirm got expensive gear cos owners are so rich to buy expensive camera bags.

ANY bag, sports bags are great as the qualilty is tested, fashion bags go for good workmanship ones, i use a hong kong fashion label 5cm canvas bag, like a old army bag, got character, looks cheap, is cheap ($20), no one notice. Can fit pro SLR with short prime lens (up to 85mm), flash and another 2 lenses Once i left $5000 worth of gear in bugis junction foodcourt for 15 minutes. The bag? A very dirty and used projectshop sling bag with tenba insert. If Domke confirm the bag will get stolen one. :sweat:

i also use porter bags but they are dead expensive (like Prada). Get anything expect camera bags if you want to be discret, i only use camera bags when i got a offical job.

 

[eow]

LOL! I'll take your suggestion if you carry your camera and passport around in a NTUC shopping bag.

i do carry my camera in a plastic bag during the last trip at Batam :devil:

 

[Xing]

OT a bit here, I think the camera strap need to be disguised instead. The new camera straps from either Canon or Nikon has the word DIGITAL boldly sewn on - Nikon's even identify your camera model . Unless the snatch thief is blind or illiterate, anyone would know that it's an expensive gear.

 

[Yildun]

Don't use a bag meant for carrying camera lor.

I don't know how big a bag u need, to carry what equipment.

I use a slingbag bought in Bangkok when I only need to carry minimal equipment. Size roughly abt 30cm x 20cm x 10cm depth. It has a sort of a rounded rectangular face so it hides the shape of whatever's inside. The depth is just nice to fit a small SLR/DSLR body so it does'nt look like u r slinging a box.

Price: 190baht.

 

[sORe-EyEz]

OT a bit here, I think the camera strap need to be disguised instead. The new camera straps from either Canon or Nikon has the word DIGITAL boldly sewn on - Nikon's even identify your camera model . Unless the snatch thief is blind or illiterate, anyone would know that it's an expensive gear.

true, but if its sewn it can b unpicked = removed. if its printed it can b scrubbed off.

in d end a cam strap (neck 1) will still look like a cam strap.:sweat: thatz y i do w/o it!! i use cam grip instead, that way i dun hav 2 contend w/ d long neck strap.:think:

i hope all this chat wont get every1 too paranoid.;p ;p

 

[Zplus]

I use a cheap deuter backpack with a Lowepro nova 1 stuffed inside for padding when I was in bangkok walking the streets - back alleys and all. Contains a wide tele, a fast prime, dslr - no grip to keep it compact, flash, batteries and cf cards. Also contains a towel, map, and water bottle.

 

[mighty_mouse]

maybe can take a look at Domke F802, F803 or J-802 lor

 

[+evenstar]

http://forums.photographer.sg/showthread.php?p=41076#post41076

Take a look at this

 

[centuryegg]

For crumplers, be careful. I have one now and I noticed that even after strapping down the velroce and clipping the clips. U can easily lift the flap at either sides..... Referring to the bicycle messenger bag series such as complete seed .

 

[runes]

SAF backpacks :sweat: :bsmilie:

Ayah.. most photog can spot a cam bag in any guise. Anyway, unless you "bakzhang" your cam, you might be "targeted" the moment you take the cam out of your bag loh.

You juz need a bag (mabbe a normal school bag) that dosen't look too flashy/bright coloured/new.

Agree, the purpose of bringing a camera is to take pictures, no point keeping the camera inside the bag all the time. I presume your camera is not a compact one, otherwise even a handbag will do, right?

Maybe you can provide more information, like where you're travelling, is it tourist destination, etc. Many tourist destinations have tourist (what else?) so it's natural to have many people taking pictures (so you're just one of them). Unless you're travelling to a quiet corner, which I don't think you want to whether you're bringing a camera or not.

E.g., When I went to London last year, I just have a mini Lowepro bag, which even contain my passport (well below the camera). Since it was cold (December), the bag is small enough that I can tuck it inside my jacket and I keep it in front of me all the time (my stomach look pregnant like that).

 

[wiz23]

maybe can take a look at Domke F802, F803 or J-802 lor

Wah, how come got sudden revival of this thread? LiquidFX, have u gone for your trip already?

 

[smallaperture]

Thanks guys! I'll definitely check out your suggestions.

Apart from daylight hours, I'll be going around at night as well

Of course, you wish to maximise your tour by moving around by night as well - but use common sense and stick to places with bright lights - and avoid areas where you see immigrant workers (they were the ones who started the riots in France just weeks ago)

 

[schon]

uh... how about travel insurance?

 

[solarii]

I am going to London and a couple of places around there, probably Scotland and maybe France. Actually, I feel the main danger would not be at the destinations where you are doing the shooting as they are usually the touristy areas which are fairly crowded, but rather, the danger would be during the process of travelling in the subways, train, dark alleys etc.

Carrying an obvious camera bag around those areas will make you a fairly tempting target for muggers because a lone asian definitely looks out of place.

Haha you've obviously not been to Europe much have you? You won't be the lone asian there. The communities there are fairly cosmopolitan, especially in the cities. Furthermore there are plenty of tourists from all over the world. And they use public transport as well, cos its about the cheapest way to get around europe.

Avoid staying out too late at night. Besides most places close shortly after sundown, so there isn't much reason to be out, unless you're a pub crawler, in which case you're better off calling a cab at the club rather den wander the streets half drunk.

 

[photobum]

Unless I am going to a ghetto, I usually use a travel bag with my t-shirts as padding. Oh.... about ghetto. Never walk into a ghetto with a travel bag or the "bros" may mistaken it as coke or meth.

 

[LazerLordz]

I've got this Aussie Army commander's sling bag..no one's the wiser and I can fit a prosumer and an iBook inside..

also fits a SLR and a 70-300.

 

[Chiang]

how abt product similiar to this
H2O Fanny Packs

http://www.outdoorproducts.com/prodlist.aspx?catid=12&pcatid=2

 

[plato]

Yes I agree with a couple of comments that if safety is your concern, then choose something that is totally not camera-bag related. Even crumplers and domkes are obviously camera bags to the experienced thief.

I use a waist pouch from Outdoor (from sports connection). It may look small, but it can fit my 10d with 24-70 (or 16-35) snugly. If I need to carry more gear, then I normally go for a combination of waist pouch around my waist for camera and one lens (for easy shooting access), and the rest of my gear in a small backpack containing my water and goretex jacket (which doubles up as rain protection for me and the gear in emergency).

So far with this combination, most people I know get a surprise when they find out that I have a camera in there.

Important question is how much gear are you going to bring? Best to choose one, max 2 lenses and leave the rest at home, esp if you are going to be on your feet all day cos you are going to get sore feet!