Camera Security When Traveling (Page 2): M4 with a grenade launcher.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

DaveO wrote:

Also, a bodyguard armed with a machine-gun would help.

M4 with a grenade launcher.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SteveLew wrote:

We will be leaving for Portugal and Spain next week for 12 days. I will be be carrying my camera and lenses in a small backpack. Most of the time I will have my camera and a lens around my neck. I have listened to several youtube videos about camera theft and viewed many Hog inputs about security and stolen cameras and lenses. Is a side bag more safe than a backpack that I will be taking on and off? What other precautions should I take while traveling? Your advise is appreciated.

A backpack without a rear-facing zipper would be a good start. You have to remove the backpack and unzip from the side that faces your back. You can also get straps with a steel wire embedded inside them. Look what can happen in just twenty seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YWaloz-Duw

These are security links I've accumulated.
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/06/protecting-yourself-from-gear-theft
http://www.clickinmoms.com/blog/10-tips-for-traveling-with-your-camera-equipment-by-jen-cooke/
http://www.naturefocused.com/articles/traveling-with-camera-gear.html
http://hairygoat.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Staying-Safe.pdf

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

SteveLew wrote:

We will be leaving for Portugal and Spain next week for 12 days. I will be be carrying my camera and lenses in a small backpack. Most of the time I will have my camera and a lens around my neck. I have listened to several youtube videos about camera theft and viewed many Hog inputs about security and stolen cameras and lenses. Is a side bag more safe than a backpack that I will be taking on and off? What other precautions should I take while traveling? Your advise is appreciated.

INSURANCE.

wylieone

Just home after 7 weeks in Spain and Pourtugal with Canon 5d mk3 and L series lens around my neck and regular backpack without any near misses...exercise normal caution and you'll be fine. I did use a generic strap to minimise risk as already suggest. Smart equals safe

wylieone

Just home after 7 weeks in Spain and Pourtugal with Canon 5d mk3 and L series lens around my neck and regular backpack without any near misses...exercise normal caution and you'll be fine. I did use a generic strap to minimise risk as already suggest. Smart equals safe

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Keldon wrote:

I've traveled extensively throughout both Western and Eastern Europe and never had an issue of any sort. Just use your camera the way you wold at home. People are getting too paranoid about what they see and hear on social media, the world isn't as bad as people think.

And consider insurance on your gear. will give you peace of mind.
Mark

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have carried a lot of gear throughout Europe and South America. Use common sense and you'll be fine. I always know where I am and what's going on around me. I never isolate myself in strange places. There's also insurance.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

jerryc41 wrote:

A backpack without a rear-facing zipper would be a good start. You have to remove the backpack and unzip from the side that faces your back. You can also get straps with a steel wire embedded inside them. Look what can happen in just twenty seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YWaloz-Duw

I saw that video before I visited St. Petersburg and it made me paranoid, but even though I had a Nikon D800 with the Nikon 24-120 f/4 on a cross shoulder strap, no one surrounded me and I did not notice any threats. Similarly, after watching videos about theft in Barcelona, I got very worried, but, again, I had a Fuji X-T2 on a strap, hanging my my side and another one in a cloth briefcase that I carried in my left hand, and no problem anywhere. Maybe I'm just lucky or maybe I don't look like a victim even though I'm almost 80.

Feigert

The above advice is quite good, but as a paranoid I have an unusual take. Two small beaner hooks attached to very lightweight chain; one looped to the camera's strap lug and the other around my belt. Get a length of chain about 6" longer than the drop from your belt to the ground, and loop it around your belt. A Peruvian policeman saw it and pronounced it "Seguridad, muy bueno." I was approached at high speed by two seedy looking characters in Geneva when they stopped, one pointed at my belt and chain, broke out laughing and gave me a friendly salute. I don't know or care if they were laughing at me which would be fine, or the fact that they didn't have a quick way to make off with the camera. The alternative is, as several have said, is to carry a cheap zoom camera. My photos from that trip were just fine.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I do not see a way that you can get into trouble traveling with your camera bag. The country you visit could be a problem depending on where you are.
I do not expect that you will run into problems in most places in Spain and Portugal but always ask locally for advise on the places you will visit. If you are to be traveling with a group and you stay with the group you will not run into any problems.
Do not go alone to photograph at night unless the place you are photographing is busy. In Spain I have heard of people that had their cameras and lenses stolen in Barcelona and Madrid. If you always keep your gear with you those incidents are minimized. I have traveled to Spain with no issues. Something interesting I have found out, if I use a mirrorless without taking it to my eyes (using the monitor to focus and shoot) I tend to do better than when a dSLR is used. It all seems to indicate to me that people believe I am using a p&s camera and less attention is focused on what I am doing.
Simply use caution and your travel should be uneventful.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I think the backpack should work out well for you. The key to security is to keep a watchful eye on your bag at all times. Many thieves look for targets of opportunity. When in Europe my wife and I saw many people put their cameras or bags on a bench and then walk away a few feet to take a picture. While we never saw a theft one of the people in our group had their bag stolen when the thief simply ran past, grabbed the bag and kept going. I always kept the camera(s) around my neck and the bag between my legs when shooting. As with anywhere being cautious and aware of your surroundings pays off.

Dennis

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

I used a Tamrac Velocity 8 sling bag in Italy. I could swing it around from my front, side, or back. Beside the sling strap, it also has a belt strap to secure the bottom of the bag. Will hold two camera bodies and lenses, one attached. With one body two lenses and a Speedlight it is perfect.

Duane

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I use a Lowepro sling bag in those environments, and keep it at my side with the belt strap hooked. Easy to get the camera out though the side zipped flap, and right under my arm for security.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Duplicate (sorry)

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Not always the case, thief broke into my locked trunk in Amsterdam and stole all my camera gear. Be careful when putting your gear in the trunk in residential areas that have rentals buildings that have two and three stories rentals.