Theft - Should I be concerned?

[g00ber]

I just recently purchase a Panasonic FZ20, which isn't exactly a pocket-and-go camera.

In restaurants and other crowded areas, should I be concerned about theft?

Perhaps rather than carrying around a camera bag, a backpack would be a more inconspicuous method of carrying around my investment?

Any ideas -- i'm going to Disney soon, and I don't want to spend half my time worrying about the camera..

Thanks!

[EWins]

I think anytime you're carrying around small, portable electronics, you should always be concerned about theft. Even if you carry it around in a camera bag or backpack you shouldn't ever leave it alone.

[Rex914]

As long as it's not a huge hunking DSLR, I don't think anybody would even think twice about it. Everytime I go to the restaurant, people are always snapping away with their ultracompacts. Digital cameras are cheap enough nowadays, that they wouldn't be worth stealing. Laptops on the other hand...

[EAP]

I would absolutely be worried about theft of my camera, regardless of size or brand, in any public place and especially in such a crowded place as Disney. A backpack would be a bit less inconspicuous in that nobody knows exactly what you have in there, whereas a camera case is pretty obvious about what's in there (you do want to make sure your backpack pads/protects the camera well). That said, I would never put down either a backpack or a camera case for any reason while at a place like Disney. Keep hold of it every second. Even if people don't know what's in it, your backpack could disappear very quickly in a crowded place like that.

[aparmley]

I agree, never leave your camera, backpack, anything anywhere unattended. We live in a world where people will break into your car because they see a cd case, that may be filled with cds they don't even like. I am sure the cost of replacing 10-15 cds is considerably less than a digital camera. My sisters car was broken into just for the change sitting in the little console on the dash next to the clock... $2.50 ... Cheap digi cam or not... everythings game these days. BE leary of wearing a backpack on a crowded tram your zippers are not visible to you... some people are very very sneaky.

[Rex914]

Oh my, I misread this a little. You said you're going to have to leave your stuff unattended? Do one of two things.

1) Don't just leave it in the cubbies. Hand it directly to the attendant and tell them it's expensive equipment that needs direct supervision.

2) *gulp* Bring it on the ride as long as it's not the roller coasters. As long as you have a good case, this shouldn't be a problem.

[Geoff Chandler]

All the rides I went on in the USA in Disneyland & Universal Studios - I carried both cameras - in their compact camera bags - in a back pack which I either had on me or at my feet. Whilst walking around I usually had the camera strap round my neck or shoulder - but also camera firmly in my hand. I tried to only ever have one camera out at a time. Be aware but don't be suspiciously paranoid and end up drawing attention.

[Riddick51]

i lived in orlando florida for 18yrs. nobody at disney cares squat about your camera. they've got kids to watch. if you leave your camera on one of the bench's while you go on a 5 mile trek around the park, it might get stolen. it is equally as likely to be turned into the parks lost and found.

the people who visit disney are united in the pursuit of their experience. they want to bring home good memories. that doesn't involve stealing your camera.

[gary_hendricks]

I have the same problem with my FZ20. Essentially, try not to carry it around conspiciously. It may invite problems.

[Savannah]

If your worried about somebody stealing your camera, hide your camera case inside of a diaper bad. If you advertise Canon, you will catch a theifs eye, on the other hand, if you advertise butt wipes and diapers, you are less likely to have a problem.

[Savannah]

i lived in orlando florida for 18yrs. nobody at disney cares squat about your camera. they've got kids to watch. if you leave your camera on one of the bench's while you go on a 5 mile trek around the park, it might get stolen. it is equally as likely to be turned into the parks lost and found.

the people who visit disney are united in the pursuit of their experience. they want to bring home good memories. that doesn't involve stealing your camera.


.........Well, I wish that were true for me. My camera, a very cheap one I might add, was stolen, camera bag and all, from DW. I don't have any honeymoon pictures. The film was much more valuable than the camera!! :mad:
I hope I was just one in a million......but it doesn't feel that way when it happens to you

[Rhys]

If your worried about somebody stealing your camera, hide your camera case inside of a diaper bad. If you advertise Canon, you will catch a theifs eye, on the other hand, if you advertise butt wipes and diapers, you are less likely to have a problem.

A TV company put a stack of old newspapers into a laptop case and left it unattended in a locked car then filmed a thief breaking the window and stealing tha heavy laptop case.

[aparmley]

A TV company put a stack of old newspapers into a laptop case and left it unattended in a locked car then filmed a thief breaking the window and stealing tha heavy laptop case.

Thats probably the same as saying, put a bunch of used diapers in a canon digital rebel xt box and place it on the seat of a car and watch the car be broken into for the "Box" full of diapers. --laptop case = contents are valuable.

What Savannah was saying is this: Put your digital rebel XT in a diaper box and watch your car NOT be broken into for the diaper box. Who wants to steal a diaper box out of a car... ?? Oh man, its the newest thing to hit the streets... hey guys whats up, yah, I got some diapers here man, they're hot so becareful. :D

[Rhys]

I remember in Eastern Europe somebody stole my (used) manual toothbrush. There's no telling what'll be stolen. Half the time it'll be kids learning how to steal.

[g00ber]

Great advice guys - thanks!

I realize that 99% of people don't care about your stuff, but there is always that 1% thats out there.

Better to be safe than sorry!

I'll get a backpack for my Camera, and store it in there when it's not around my neck. The FZ20 is a pretty heavy camera anyways, so I think i'll go with the backpack method.

I also picked up a good and compact tripod that i'll store in the backpack aswell.

Thanks again guys!

[Rhys]

I carry my Nikon 995 in its shoulder-strap leather case, under my jacket so it's never seen.

I carry my Nikon 3100 in my shirt pocket so it's not seen.

I have yet to work out how to carry my Canon S1 so that it's not seen. I don't particularly like the friction grip camera strap. I keep meaning to put some stitches through it so it can't slip open and drop my camera.

[Eddie]

Is it safe to bring a digicam on a rollercoaster?
I'm going to Six Flags tomorrow with my A95, and if it can possibly get damaged, I'd rather just not bring it.

[Thalas'shaya]

i've never had trouble with any camera i've taken on a roller coaster. that said, i am extremely conscientious about keeping the camera in a padded bag with zippers closed and firmly attached to my person. i either wear a compact bag that loops onto my belt, or put it in a fanny pack (all you brits can stop snickering. it's just a bum bag), or a backpack with the straps around my feet. a backpack wouldn't work on the new "suspended" coasters, though, so you should probably ensure that you've got either a spectator who will hold your bag, or that you can get your camera into a waist-pouch for those.

disneyworld doesn't have any high-thrill coasters, so you can navigate there with a backpack quite nicely. the rides are fun in other ways, and (unless they have one on the new "rockin' roller coaster" ride) there's not so much as a single loop-the-loop on disney property in america. disneyland paris does have thriller-coasters, and i have no knowledge of tokyo disney.

all that said, don't leave your camera unattended at any theme park, anywhere, ever. nobody's going to mug you at disney and rip your camera from your neck, but leaving it lying easy to hand is more temptation than some people can resist.

[Ali_baba]

First of all, don't leave your camera unattended. You can hang your camera around your neck like I do and I really don't have any problems. I keep my camera bag/case folded in my jacket pocket and in that case usually there are cards and batteries.

Also you can use student bag on your beck and use a lock on zippers. Don't be paranoid because by being paranoid, you may attract some attention. It is just like when you leave from bank, have BIG cash in your pocket and you are toucking your pocket after second to make sure if your cash is there. This moves attract attention.

Just relax, trust yourself and enjoy the moments :)

[soothsayer]

i lived in orlando florida for 18yrs. nobody at disney cares squat about your camera. they've got kids to watch. if you leave your camera on one of the bench's while you go on a 5 mile trek around the park, it might get stolen. it is equally as likely to be turned into the parks lost and found.

the people who visit disney are united in the pursuit of their experience. they want to bring home good memories. that doesn't involve stealing your camera.


kids, and alcohol. the disney police will be all over you if you bring in alcohol.