Sorry if this topic has already been discussed but I wanted people to see it.
Please watch this video:
Stealing Camera Equipment

Scott

I had a dream just last night that had happened to me- but I managed to find the full CF cards in that weird twisted dream way... whew!

I think of that all the time. I guess I will continue to bring an assitant with me even if it might not be needed.

that's scary....

oh man, that is frightening ... need to always keep an open eye, but even then ...

Just another example of why you should never leave gear unattended! I hope those guys get caught and share a cell with Bubba, if you get the drift.....

Robert, your eyes are kinda creepy

This is scary. I always think about this at weddings. I have left my bag with the D.J. (under the table or next to the table) or once I put down one of my 5d's with my 70-200L on it to so I could lay down on the dance floor to take some photos. At the time I thought to myself that it was risky because anyone could have grabbed it. Now I don't do that anymore. Packing the stuff around is worth not taking the risk. I am really considering hiring an assistant to save my neck/back though

Anybody know the guy who got his bag yanked? Did they get it back?

I remember hearing about this sort of thing before. I always keep my memory cards on me, not for that reason, but it's nice to know that even if my gear is snatched, the photos aren't with it. Another reason to keep your backup gear in your trunk or something, rather than in your camera bag right there. Yikes. Hope it was all insured at the very least!

I was the assistant on that wedding!



One of them was Tim Hord. He got his Mark II, 5D, several lenses, flash cards, etc. all stolen. It was about 12K worth of equipment. He hasn't gotten it back yet.

Hey Hillary Welcome to OSP and thanks for the info - Do you know if he had insurance on it or if he's having to come out of pocket to replace it.

Ooh, good thread.

I JUST got my new Boda bag by Jim Garner (who won WPPI's album competition) and think that will help protect most my expensive gear (body, lens, cards). It wraps around my waist, or over the shoulder, and has a bunch of mini compartments. Light stands and umbrellas won't fit but those are pennies compared to gear. LOVE it!

wow... that's freaking INSANE!!!

well, I'm insured with my gear, so I'm not too worried about the gear being taken (it'd suck, but I wouldn't cry...) but, this makes me think I might start carrying my cf cards on me at all times. I WOULD cry if all of the cf cards I'd shot for the day just up and walked away.

I agree, I am glad that we have our stuff insured, but defiantly keep CF cards on you at all times so your not really out of money by having to reimburse the couple their money since there are no wedding photos.

Time to get a fanny pack to store those CF cards!



or

Absolutely NOT

I'm serious about Boda bags. What a relief!

I have a Lexar Memory Card wallet. Can't find a picture of it but found a simular one. You can hook it onto your belt.

I have that one too... but I'm really thinking about the monkey fanny pack now

The Boda bag is too big. The monkey fanny pack is a much better idea.

Thanks for the link, Shannon. It looks so great that I purchased one.

But isn't it too heavy when fully loaded?

Mario

Depends on what you're putting in it When I have my 70-200 in there it IS heavy but any bag would be. The bag itself is light and I like that it can wrap around my waist to better distribute the weight instead of slung over my shoulder(s).

For me, I have my body & a lens (70-200 f2.8 heavy sucker) around my neck then load the Boda bag with incidentals: 50mm and 100mm, cards in the provided slots, my car keys (if those were stolen I'd be stuck), bottle of water, granola/protein bar, business cards and pen(s). It's designed for shooting, not storing, so not everything I put in my storage bag goes in the Boda bag.

I hated having to try and juggle swapping lens' then setting them down and walking away (I mostly shoot solo so handing them to an assistant isn't an option). Having everything I normally use to shoot with ON me is a time & stress saver (knowing that it'd be hard to steal my stuff when it's ON me heehee).

Hope you like your purchase!

Thanks, Shannon.

I will try it. I think it is the right bag for me. What's about inside? Is it padded? And how stably is it?

Thanks

Mario

Nicely padded... not too much, just enough. It's made VERY sturdily - I'm impressed!

I have the Lexar wallet as well - My CF cards never leave me.

I also just picked up the lock below so I can help deter any crimes of opportunity.

I try to find a place near the DJ or sound guy to loop this through my Tutto bag (the best!) and something substantial.

http://consumer.schlage.com/products/Produ...p;FunctionID=60

Sean

I bring a bike lock with me and ask the DJ if I could lock my stuff up on one of their pieces of equipment such as a table or light stand... But that is only to keep honest people away. If someone wants something bad enough then they will find a way to get it one way or another.

The only real reason for an assistant (except for making slideshows).

You forgot latte fetcher, emergency flower pinner, 'holy crap, the groom lost his belt' hero and backrubs for the primary.

Here's one of the best approaches...carry everything at all times! (Dan S....where are you, buddy????)

Last I heard, he was headed East. Had to see a man about a horse.

Man that's lame. I hope it was insured.

I use a big black pelican case (1600 series) to stash all the gear I'm not lugging at the moment. I can cable lock it to anything and it doesn't say 'I'm a camera bag, steal me!' when you look at it. It doubles as something to stand on when I need to be taller, and a seat when the venue doesn't have a chair for the photographer during dinner... ;-)

GET INSURANCE
hill & usher
your home owners will NOT cover pro gear...
sorry.

Sounds like you must be married to yours.

I put all my stuff in a big bag that has 'Nikon' printed all over it ...... safe as houses, no one wants to steal that crap.......
















of course I'm kidding - the bag actually has 'Pentax' written on it...... <------ true

Oh wow....that was cold Where are the nikonians we cannot go out like that

Best way to ensure you don't lose gear is not to have more than you need. Carry the rest locked in your vehicle. At a wedding if you scout the venue you probably will find you won't need more than a 17-55 or 28-75. You could have two bodies around your neck and the rest in a photographer's waistcoat.

For those of us with CWPs, the extra gear carried might persuade potential thieves to give up or to surrender peacefully.

This is why I have the Shootsac and use the Think Tank CF Card holder... holds 10 cards and clips unto the sac.

Yes, I go so far as to take the CF cards out of my cameras before I walk out to my car after the ceremony. I figure that way if someone jumps me and grabs the gear, they won't get the pictures.

RC

Sad that we have to think about such things, but it is the world we live in. I agree with the insurance comments, and also own the ShootSac. But I am lucky and have a technical support guy (my husband) to watch the equipment. Bummer for the guy on the video though...wow...

these are the times we live in now. If somebody wants it badly enough..they will find a way to take it. I just have to live with this assumption. that is why I purchased equipment insurance through PPA (Marsh).

I shot a wedding last Sept in a Newport Beach hotel, it was one of those areas I believe that was hit by this crew.

Talk about wanting more than 2 eyes. One eye on the viewfinder, and the other on my gear bag.