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Hiding the red dot on the silver camera


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I know that it sounds like sacrilege but there are times when I feel that it is wise/appropriate to hide the red dot and have a much more anonymous looking camera. Most of the time, I'm happy to make a fashion statement with the silver camera and proudly show the red dot but there are times where discretion is more appropriate. With other cameras, I just use black electrical tape to mask off the intrusive logo.

 

I bought the silver camera partially because I liked the look of it, partially it was the only one in stock at the time, and partially because I didn't want it to worry about the black paint getting scuffed off. After the fact, I found that the silver camera can attract too much attention in some situations. Most of the time for street photography kinds of situations, I carry it in the half case and this affords it a little protection as well.

 

Does anybody have any suggestions on how conceal the red dot when I want to be even more anonymous?

 

The only idea that I've really come up with is to buy the black snap case and use the electrical tape trick but I feel like the snap cases are poorly engineered (e.g. No really you have to remove the strap to charge the camera or change the battery? WTF)

 

Aluminum foil doesn't have the right texture and reflectance. Maybe I could take some 600 grit wet dry to some aluminum and get something close to the right texture that I can stick on there when needed.

 

Anyone have any better ideas?

 

When I do get around to getting an M, I'll probably seriously consider buying the M-P just to have the anonymity.

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I carried my Silver T on a neck strap for 15 days on a cruise. Started walking around SAN DIEGO for 2 days then 2 weeks on ship ending up in Fort Lauderdale. I went thru mexico and 3 central american countries and Columbia. I never had anyone on the ship or ashore even look at the camera or ask me about it.I was worried about the RED LEICA but after awhile i just forgot about it.:cool:

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This subject leaves me bemused. Very often we see people report on here that, from the tiniest glimpse of a camera, blurred and on a tv ad, that they have spotted a Leica. Mostly those that do not have a big red dot on the front. Do we think that those who might be contemplating stealing a Leica are less able at spotting them? And that sticking a piece of black tape or similar over the logo will fool them?

Yup, bemused.

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Does anybody have any suggestions on how conceal the red dot when I want to be even more anonymous?

 

Just take it off.

 

In the meantime, you might consider getting rid of that orange T-shirt with your Social Security number on it.

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I thought this was about how not to get robbed with a Leica?

 

silver on silver is almost as good as black on black. If I get a black one and unpaint it then that might be good enough. I'm still thinking about about it. I was hoping more for a temporary mod. Something that I could stick on/take off but I'm considering a permanent mod. If I switch to a black dot and when I need it, I put it in a black snap case then it is pretty subtle. That might be good enough. Or if I get a black snap case and glue the black dot into it so it obstructs the red dot. And why does it need to even be a fancy $28 Leica black dot? Why not just a black 12mm disk.

 

Another idea that I had after watching part of the 45min polishing video was to just sand a small piece Aluminum and stick it on with some poster tack.

 

Plan C is stupidly simple to the point where I needed to ask myself, "doh -why didn't I think of that." My coworker asked, "why don't you just use more black tape? Go ghetto." ;-)

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:D

 

Ironically, that raises a serious question: Do people today genrally recognize the significance of "Leica?" (Probably not.)

 

IME, very few except for some older people with an interest in photography or the cognoscenti. Interestingly, it's in France where I receive most unsolicited comments, usually in the form of a "Quel beau appareil, madame" from a passer by.

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:D

 

Ironically, that raises a serious question: Do people today genrally recognize the significance of "Leica?" (Probably not.)

 

Who cares? Certainly not me. I've been shooting Leicas for a relatively modest 15 years. In that time, on my travels to many parts of the world, just 2 comments on the particular Leica I've been carrying at the time.

 

I'd prefer that to have been zero, actually.

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Who cares? Certainly not me. I've been shooting Leicas for a relatively modest 15 years. In that time, on my travels to many parts of the world, just 2 comments on the particular Leica I've been carrying at the time.

 

I'd prefer that to have been zero, actually.

 

Wow! I must not be discrete enough, I took the M out for a test drive weekend and got four comments.

 

Around here, the T seems rather recognizable especially when I'm somewhere commonly photographed like around the Golden Gate Bridge. People regularly come up to me for mini-reviews.

 

I don't recall which one but the T was featured on a magazine cover in that I saw in the checkout line of a supermarket so maybe that helped. SF also has a pretty big skater culture and there was that Let us Roam thing a little while back. Then there is the retro, analog loving (I only buy vinyl) hipster culture here but they are mostly buying the old M3 film cameras. Anyway, Leica is known in these parts and that could be biasing my perception of its recognizability. I haven't traved much with the T but in New Orleans two people came up to me and asked about it. One was the event's photographer though.

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Ironically, that raises a serious question: Do people today genrally recognize the significance of "Leica?" (Probably not.)

 

Not in my experience, thank goodness.

 

I was photographing a triathlon a couple years ago. It was a brilliant sunny cool Minnesota morning. All was well with the world. A bus driver of my age was waiting in the shade for his passengers. He left his seat to quietly approach with, "Ah, a good old film camera, and a rangefinder to boot." (In a Northern Minnesoota accent.) We both smiled. Then he saw the LCD screen of the M9 and said, "Ooh! What is that, then?" We laughed.

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Wow! I must not be discrete enough, I took the M out for a test drive weekend and got four comments.

 

Around here, the T seems rather recognizable especially when I'm somewhere commonly photographed like around the Golden Gate Bridge. People regularly come up to me for mini-reviews.

 

I don't recall which one but the T was featured on a magazine cover in that I saw in the checkout line of a supermarket so maybe that helped. SF also has a pretty big skater culture and there was that Let us Roam thing a little while back. Then there is the retro, analog loving (I only buy vinyl) hipster culture here but they are mostly buying the old M3 film cameras. Anyway, Leica is known in these parts and that could be biasing my perception of its recognizability. I haven't traved much with the T but in New Orleans two people came up to me and asked about it. One was the event's photographer though.

 

I've never owned a T, just lots of silly old rangefinders, so that's where I might be going wrong ;). None of my current cameras (M2, BP M4, MP or M-P) is likely to result in interest, comment or adulation either. Thank God.

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Who cares? Certainly not me. I've been shooting Leicas for a relatively modest 15 years. In that time, on my travels to many parts of the world, just 2 comments on the particular Leica I've been carrying at the time.

 

I'd prefer that to have been zero, actually.

 

Exactly... Who cares? Nobody except in these forums will notice if a camera is a Leica or not. A silver Nikon DF draws way more attention than a red dot. Last week I was in a social event with 300 people. 3 came to me to say how beautiful my silver X113 was, none ask about the brand simply because 99.9999% haven't heard about Leica. I have read posts when people Ask the same because they want to give a stealthy look to their D-Lux cameras which is funny.

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I've travelled all over the world, Leica's in hand, if the "baddies" see it and want it they will get it. They know what to look for.. Most folks unless they are Leica aficionados will never even give it a second glance... Don't flaunt it, use it and get on with photography....FWIW

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On the other hand, some cultures like to show their prestige cameras. They even have meets to show off their accessories.

 

I expect that eventually Hermes will make luxury good mens underwear and the crowd will be wearing their underwear over the top of their trousers.

.

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I like the red dot but sometimes I like the stealth look too. I've added a button to my XV which gives it a nice simple look.

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