It is safe to use a Leica?

[hector_jorge]

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It´s a pity, but since some time I refused to take my Leicas with me along the most beautiful public places of Buenos Aires, because the unsafe situation we live here. So I won´t to run the risk of a thief in the street while I´m taking pictures. If someone in the Forum is planning to visit Buenos Aires, must be aware of that situation. I don´t like to said that, but the tourists must be very careful specially in the City center when walking alone. In fact, I only use my Leicas when travelling far away from Buenos Aires.

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[Skeletor]

So maybe you should sell your leica and buy a cheaper cam.

[like_no_other]

Oh, I'm a little bit surprised to hear that. I felt comfortable when I stayed there for some weeks a few years ago. You live there and should know better than I do. Did the situation change in the last few years?

 

By the way, I saw a lot of photo reporters on the streets shooting demonstrations with Bessas, more than I have seen anywhere else. These cameras must be very popular in Argentina.

Nevertheless, take care of yourself and your Leica in Buenos Aires.

 

Philip

 

edit: corrected 3rd sentence;-)

[spylaw4]

Being a frequent visitor to Buenos Aires, I have never felt uneasy about using my D2 there, and have seen Portenos using Leicas on a number of occasions. I do however generally keep my camera as unobtrusive as possible. I also recognise that there are areas where one must exercise a greater degree of care.

[kameraguy]

In college we often taped up our cameras in gaffer's tape to make them as unobtrusive as possible when we shot on the street for PJ class. It is unfortunate we live in a world where one must worry about such things, but reality dictates necessity.

 

As much as I love the feeling of owning a camera with the "red dot", asthetics of the gear should be secondary to the imagemaking process IMHO. Gaffers tape used to cover up brand names and logos is an easy and effective way to keep attention away from te gear. Granted most may not be fooled, but the uglier you make it, mybe it'll be less interesting. And fortunately it's only temporary. It's easy enough to remove

[elgenper]

In college we often taped up our cameras in gaffer's tape to make them as unobtrusive as possible when we shot on the street for PJ class. It is unfortunate we live in a world where one must worry about such things, but reality dictates necessity.

 

As much as I love the feeling of owning a camera with the "red dot", asthetics of the gear should be secondary to the imagemaking process IMHO. Gaffers tape used to cover up brand names and logos is an easy and effective way to keep attention away from te gear. Granted most may not be fooled, but the uglier you make it, mybe it'll be less interesting. And fortunately it's only temporary. It's easy enough to remove

 

Although it may sadden some people, I fear the days are long gone when the Leica logo meant anything to the average thug; they´ve just never heard of it. Any tourist means "valuables", and is at risk automatically.

 

If they do look for cameras, they would look for those heavy, noisy SLR´s with big zooms, not small jobs like a Leica M; they´ll think it is just another cheap digicam, red dot or no.

 

(I have to admit I´ve indeed taped my own Digilux 2, but that´s for protecting me from the endless patter from Leica lovers I may meet, not from being mugged...)

[hector_jorge]

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So maybe you should sell your leica and buy a cheaper cam.

Yes, I agree with you, so most of the time I take pictures with my Minilux Zoom (not so expensive as M´s or R´s), or with a cheap digital Sony SW1.

[hector_jorge]

Although it may sadden some people, I fear the days are long gone when the Leica logo meant anything to the average thug; they´ve just never heard of it. Any tourist means "valuables", and is at risk automatically.

 

If they do look for cameras, they would look for those heavy, noisy SLR´s with big zooms, not small jobs like a Leica M; they´ll think it is just another cheap digicam, red dot or no.

 

(I have to admit I´ve indeed taped my own Digilux 2, but that´s for protecting me from the endless patter from Leica lovers I may meet, not from being mugged...)

 

I´m not talking about Leicas only. You can lost cellular phones, I Pod´s or anything else.

The difference is that Leicas are very expensive, so the lost will be greater than if you are deprived of other gadgets.Of course thiefters don´t know the Leica prices, but they are interested in things that can be changed at least for a ridiculous amount of money.

Regards.

[christer]

While B.A. is a most pleasant place to visit, I was almost robbed twice within five minutes just outside the main railway station almost exactly one year ago. I had my M7 with two lenses hanging on my shoulder when a young guy sneaked up, grabbbed it an ran away. I held on to the strap and my grip was better than his. He then tried the same trick some minutes later, but failed again. Then I and my wife fled in a taxi.

 

Chris

[johnwolf]

Are you sure thieves would be more attracted to a Leica than any other camera? I was recently in Lima with a group and several folks had cameras stolen. The bad guys didn't discriminate. Seems to me it's tourists and not camera models that attract them.

 

John

[christer]

In spite of the daylight robbery described above, I did enjoy my visit to BA, and I have very good memories from the stay there. Here are a few pictures I posted in the German forum.

 

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/menschen/18636-tangoserie.html

[wda]

Three years in Naples taught me to keep my camera kit simple and always have my wife monitoring me and potential thieves for those moments when I wished to take some pictures. You develop a sixth sense if you are careful.

 

There is a good case for using one of the small film or digital cameras which can be wrapped around your wrist and kept out of sight except for decisive picture taking. It calls for care and vigilance. Then escape to quieter places and enjoy a good drink!

 

David

[leicapages]

It can be a real pain to use expensive equipment of any kind in some crowded areas. I suppose that has regrettably become a fact of life in many major cities worldwide. The best one can do is to be as unobtrusive as possible. And yes, I do not think thieves discriminate in terms of brands when picking out their target: they just pick out whatever prey is easiest to get.

Having to watch your back all the time is kind of taking the fun away. Hence avoiding places with high risk.

[like_no_other]

It can be a real pain to use expensive equipment of any kind in some crowded areas. I suppose that has regrettably become a fact of life in many major cities worldwide. The best one can do is to be as unobtrusive as possible. And yes, I do not think thieves discriminate in terms of brands when picking out their target: they just pick out whatever prey is easiest to get.

Having to watch your back all the time is kind of taking the fun away. Hence avoiding places with high risk.

 

"they just pick out whatever prey is easiest to get."

Yes I think that's it. If you use a tripod in the city, the thieves know that more people are watching you which makes it not so easy for them to catch your camera with a surprise attack. Furthermore the tripod gives you a kind of professional look that differntiates you from the typical 'tourist prey'. Two factors that reduce the risk a bit even though are no guarantee for security.

[Skeletor]

Using a Leica M on a Tripod? Eehhhmmmm...ok:rolleyes:

[ibogost]

Hector is right. Bs. As. is a wonderful city but it is very easy to get robbed, no matter if you are tourist or local. A few months ago I was with some business associates -- locals -- and one of them had his bag snatched right from his side while we were eating at a restaurant. It all happens very fast. Lost his camera, phone, ipod, etc. Same location where Barbara Bush got robbed last year in fact, and that was with a phalanx of Secret Service agents nearby.

 

Best option is probably to have your gear physically attached to you. Don't put anything down. And it's not about the value of the items, just a lot of risk of theft.

[stuny]

One of the scams I witnessed (and was attempted on me, too) near the port in Buenos Aires is for miscreants to squirt some mustard on your back, point it out to you, and offer to show you where a washroom is so you can clean up. In my case that ruined a pair of pants, but scared the @#$%^! out of the miscreants when I started shouting for the police.

 

Generally, one should be wary in most large cities in most parts of the world. I never use a camera bag since it shouts, "valuable stuff to steal," and always use an ordinary backpack. One brand (PackSafe) has an inner layer of steel mesh and steel cable in the strap, as well as a lock so you can secure it to something when you set it down. I never could see one in a shop (partly to test its heft -- Add Leica gear and the backpack can get quite heavy) so I never bought one. But in big cities, do as Lilly Tomlin quipped about New York in the 1980s: "Being in New York is knowing where your purse is at all times."

[JE]

I´ve never been to BA but if anyone come over to Bogota...WATCH EVERYTING on you! I´ve SEEN more crime here in the past 9 months than I have in my entire life. When I walk around I always have a jacket over my camera no matter how warm it gets. Luckily, Bogota doesn´t usually get too hot.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[chrisweeks]

i've used my m's in beverly hills, eastern europe, the quartiere spagnole in naples ... great and horrible places.

 

i guess it's how you carry yourself. if you look like a doe waiting to be slaughtered, perhaps you will be.

 

ya' know?