On Feb 25, 2011, at 8:08 PM, John Sessoms wrote: > From: Paul Stenquist >> On Feb 25, 2011, at 3:26 PM, John Sessoms wrote: >> >>>> From: Stan Halpin >>>>>> On Feb 25, 2011, at 12:13 PM, John Sessoms wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> The REAL Holy Grail of photography ... a camera bag >>>>>>>>>> that will carry as much as you need to carry without >>>>>>>>>> being too cumbersome. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Add to that it shouldn't LOOK like a camera bag so as >>>>>>>>>> not to encourage thieves and you really would have >>>>>>>>>> the perfect bag. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I'm still looking. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>> I have never understood the assumption that thieves are going >>>>>> to be more attracted to camera bags than to, say, a ladies >>>>>> purse (which might contain cash) or my guy's purse (which >>>>>> contains my passport, cash, guidebook, directions to my hotel >>>>>> room and key to said room, etc.) or a laptop bag or whatever. >>>>>> Does a camera bag make me look more like a tourist? (I don't >>>>>> exactly blend in most places I travel, whether carrying a >>>>>> camera bag or not.) Is it that thieves are usually >>>>>> photographers looking for an equipment upgrade? [I've >>>>>> sometimes wondered if the thieves weren't the ones on the >>>>>> other side of the retail counter from me, but that is another >>>>>> story.] >>>>>> >>>>>> Are there any data showing that camera bags are particularly >>>>>> vulnerable? Interviews with convicted thieves concerning >>>>>> their target preferences? >>>>>> >>>>>> We may have spent a lot of money on the gear in our camera >>>>>> bag, but can the thief realize more than a dollar or two per >>>>>> pound when fencing the equipment? >>>>>> >>>>>> For me, I will worry about whether a bag will accommodate the >>>>>> things I need (?) to carry, whether it will provide >>>>>> reasonable access to the gear whilst shooting, whether I can >>>>>> use it as a carryon, and whether it is comfortable to carry >>>>>> for long periods. Life is too short and already sufficiently >>>>>> complicated - I will leave concerns about possible theft off >>>>>> my list. >>>>>> >>>>>> stan >>>> >>>> Thieves are looking for items they can readily sell. And they're >>>> looking for items they can get more for from whoever they're >>>> going to sell it to. >>>> >>>> Which do you think they can get more money for - camera equipment >>>> or tourist clothing? >>>> >>>> You've got many bags on the baggage claim carousel. Which bag >>>> appears more likely to have something worth stealing in it - a >>>> readily identifieable brand name camera bag or a nondescript bag >>>> that looks like what everyone else is using to carry dirty >>>> clothes? >>>> >>>> Even if you're not concerned, why make it easy for thieves? >>>> >>>> >> Checking cameras in a soft bag is a very bad idea to start with. I've >> checked them in a locked Pelican hard case. When I do I make sure >> I'm at the baggage claim before the baggage starts coming down, and >> I'm first in line after the down ramp. Bags get tossed all the time. >> Cameras in soft bags are dead cameras. >> Paul > > > So, what do you do if you get to check-in and the airline informs you they > don't care what the rules are, you are NOT going to carry that bag on the > aircraft?
I never bring soft bags on aircraft, evan as carry on. Only the Pelican case with the airline-legal combination locks. That way, if they make me check it, I'm okay. > > You can check it; you can leave it behind; you can go find a post office, > FedEX, UPS and mail it ahead then come back to check in ... but you are *NOT* > carrying the bag on! > > BTDT-GTTS > > Checked baggage isn't the only place your camera bag is vulnerable to theft. > You can't keep your bag in hand 23:59:59x7, and any time it is not physically > in your possession it's vulnerable to theft. When my equipment isn't physically in my presence, it's locked in a secure area in my secure house. The only time I've equipment in jeopardy is when I've had to leave it in a hotel room, while I'm out. But I've only had to do that a few times in the last 35 years. There's usually a workaround available. > > It's not even safe when you do have it in hand. If a thief thinks he can get > away with it, he'll knock you down and take the bag by force. Then, I'll pull my sidearm and plug him. > > I prefer my gear not to advertise it's value in such a way as to attract > unwanted attention. Agreed. > > It's less likely to be stolen if it doesn't look like it contains anything > worth stealing. True, but the protection of the Pelican case makes it a winner vs. an ugly old bag. > > Camera bags that LOOK like camera bags say "STEAL ME" to a thief. > > YMMV. > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3466 - Release Date: 02/24/11 > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
