Camera Security/Deterrent

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Stuart
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Hi all,

I am in the process of planning 3 month's travelling in Asia. I am aware that I will not have access to a safe in each place that I stay so I have been looking to invest in some security or at least a deterrent for my camera equipment.

I will be taking my Lowepro Flipside 400AW backpack and will probably be taking a wide angle (10-20), 18-200 and two small primes (28mm & 50mm).

The pacsafe protection has had my main focus so far but first of all I wanted to find out whether anyone had any experience with this equipment? I am unsure as to which size I would need, I am thinking either the pacsafe 55 or 85.

I'd appreciate all input.

Many thanks


Stuart
 
In the first instance, insure your kit.

I travel a lot and most safes will only hold a laptop, body and one lens if your lucky...

If someone it determined to nick it, they will. Maybe look at a Kensington lock for any IT you have and just be vigilant and don't leave your bag open in public etc if you can lock up and zips with a decent combo lock etc..
 
The only real way is to keep your stuff with you all the time,to cut down the risk factors,depend on the sort of places you will be staying in.

If somebody can get into your room in the cheaper rooms,they will take your stuff,even if you lock your bag to something they will just slice it open,and get you stuff out.

Your best bet is to pick the places your staying at carefully,and when your out take make sure you can keep an eye on it at all times.

If your travelling beteew places try and get the window seat,and place you stuff beteew you and the window,then wrap your arm around your bag straps,in case you fall asleep.

:)
 
I'm a fairly large, tattooed, skin headed fella, if you pay my way I'll stand beside your kit and scare off any potential thieves(not sure exactly how much use I'd be in an actual fight though)!

Although camera thieves would probably be the last of your worries when my missus found out I'd buggered off for three months though....!
 
Stick large pentax stickers on everything then they won't touch it :D
 
Thanks for the input everyone.

I'll definitely be keeping it all close to me!!
 
I use a Pacsafe 85 for my smaller camera backpack (Redsnapper Verso) and a 120 with my Lowepro Nature Trekker II.

It takes a few goes to get the hang of using them (and packing them away when not in use), but once you do it's fairly simple.

My take on them is that they are, at the end of the day, a deterrent - a determined thief will be able to get past them, but it will take extra time and effort to do so.

They stop the quick 'slice bag open' or 'grab bag' attacks (if you attach them to something secure) - you need to either get past the padlock, or cut through the steel mesh.

You could probably get smaller lenses out through the mesh, but if the pacsafe is the right size for the bag then it will be tricky to get the bag open enough to get a hand in and pull a lens out - again, slowing the thief down.
 
Make sure insured and just don't worry about it. The biggest problem is probably when its around your neck.

You could invest in a superzoom and a shoulder bag and leave it all behind.
 
Last edited:
rjbell said:
You could invest in a superzoom and a shoulder bag and leave it all behind.
Click to expand...

That's what I've just done - not for security reasons but because my SLR bag weighs in at around 8kg while my Fuji HS30 is well under a kilo. Never worried too much about security - I'm happy that the hotels we stay in are reasonably secure and I rarely leave any kit in the boot. At 6'1" and quite burly, I'm unlikely to be mugged for it and I keep the 2 zips clipped together with a small carabiner like clip to slow anyone down if they try to open it while it's on my back.
 
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