Which kind of tape to go stealth?

[RF’sDelight]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

once a while i come across this "stealth topic". using an M camera is already a very stealth way of doing street photography - in comparison to the DSLR biggies - but there is this culture of taping the model number and the red dot to be even more discreet. and every time i read about it i wonder which black tape could be the best choice. because i would be afraid to get glue residues on my M9. any recommendations?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

None - it oes not make one whit of difference imo...

[RF’sDelight]

None - it oes not make one whit of difference imo...

 

i don't expect to be invisible with a taped camera but it gives every black M this rough on duty look, doesn't it?

[Frank Sprow]

I do mainly street photography in difficult areas of the world and suggest that "stealth" is a great way to get berated, beaten up or worse. Best approach is to get eye contact and evident willingness to be photographed.

 

Tape might be useful to bandage ones nose after photographing someone without their direct or implied consent.

[Walt Calahan]

Try some black gaffer tape, and hit the street to see if it makes any difference. Personally I do not think the red dot makes a difference, but I do notice the large white M# when friends use their Leicas on shoots. The white always draws my eye, but then I might be too aware compared to average, non-camera types.

 

Many times it is not about the subject feeling comfortable, but the shooter needing the tape to ease the shooters mind. I have a friend who always tapes over the Canon logo on all his SLR bodies.

[2Bébèrt]

I just use a small piece of black electrical tape to cover the white M8 or M9 lettering. Then it looks like any other old Leica-M.

[turner]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Forget the tape.

I also agree 100% with Frank S in that a willing subject

is much better than a need for a plaster being

applied after a dust up!

 

Most folks approached with respect and finished

with a polite nod of the head are more than

willing to have their picture taken.

[noah_addis]

Search the forum.

 

But be aware that if you cover the white M9 lettering with tape, the paint may come off when you remove the tape.

 

I prefer the look of the camera without the white lettering, but it doesn't make any difference while shooting.

[RF’sDelight]

thank you very much jaapv, frank and walt for you fast answers. i think my question implied that i would like to take photos of people secretly but that's definitely not the case. i'm sorry. i thought if describe it that way i would get answers from the "tape lovers" i'm just after the look of it ... or perhaps i don't want to walk around the streets with a "$ 7,000" sign around my neck. anyway, except some leica connoisseurs most of the people i met do think i'm using a camera of my grandfather or at least my father and they are very suprised if show them the picture i just made.

[jaapv]

In that case a black dot is more effective.

[Frank Sprow]

Understood. And I agree with Jaap re the dot. I'm not sure, with the "new" finishes Leica uses over metal, that the effect of heat and sunlight on tape would not degrade the finish over time.

[larryk34]

If someone has never heard of Leica cameras, the red dot won't make any impression at all. The M9 will still look like an outdated film camera to most people. If someone knows Leica quite well, like we do, then we go immediately to the lenses to determine if it's a Leica RF or not. The lenses can be seen from further away from the dots. I've had a few people over time come up to me and say "Nice Leica, is it a M8" or something like that. But these people are already quite acquainted with Leica cameras. I assume that very vew people are, so I treat it like any other camera when I use it. [To hide the lens, I put the whole camera back into its bag!]

[Vlad]

I just got some 3M Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape from the local hardware store. It matches the black M9 quite well. Good temp. solution before I get the black dot.

[Hey You]

I use ordinary electrical tape. When it peels or moves, I simply replace it. It does not disfigure or leave residue. In fact, I find that taping over the symbols keeps them clean and prevents them from fading.

[viramati]

I use electrical tape on red dot and M9 lettering

[Jelico]

I also use black electrical tape, for more then 10 years, changing them once in 6 months. Never had any paint coming off...

[bill]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

 

Rangefound: Hell, no, we won't logo...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[SJP]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

 

Rangefound: Hell, no, we won't logo...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

Good read, even for the second time;)

 

I liked this "After all - who actually takes pictures with anything other than a cameraphone these days...?"

 

True, I was at a wedding last weekend and this must have been the best documented wedding of all time as all cameraphones were being used continuously. Enter me with this weird looking contraption...... which pics will the happy couple like most I wonder? Sometimes it is fun to be different:D

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[noah_addis]

I also use black electrical tape, for more then 10 years, changing them once in 6 months. Never had any paint coming off...

 

The M9 hasn't been out for ten years. I have two M9s. I taped over the logos with gaffer tape. When I removed it a few weeks later sections of the white paint "M9" logo came off with the tape.

 

I didn't mind that the paint came off. In fact I planned to remove all of the white logos once I knew the cameras were tested and working properly. But if you DO care about the paint coming off, I'd advise not to tape over the logos or to maybe cut out a section of paper directly over the logo and tape that onto the camera.

 

I've never had the paint come off with any of my older cameras (M8, M6ttl, etc.). Perhaps the white logo paint doesn't stick well to the black paint finish of the body.

 

The gaffer tape didn't affect the black body paint at all. Now I've removed all of the white logos from both cameras and they look great. I still like the red dot though...

[swamiji]

I checked with my dealer, and the White lettering is the same as on dice, it's not really paint. It easily comes off, it's an old problem. Especially with White. It appears that black lettering stays better. For me it's a plus.