A noob question about stealth camera.

[kyonthinh]

Hello,
I'm sorry about this question, but i am curious. I am somehow new to photography, so my experience is not much. I see people make their camera stealth by hiding the manufacturer and camera name. What is it for? Why must they do that? Is that necessary?
Have a nice weekend everyone.

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

i don't know others but i blacktype the logo and white letterings on my m6 simply because i find the camera looks better without them.

if i wanted to hide the camera, i would have started by hiding myself first (black suit and sunglasses etc.)

 

[btgc]

Buy one of those demo models with transparent body!

But, seriously, your behavior (see - I'm taking pictures!) and natural handling and use of camera is best way to become invisible in crowd. Unless you go into specific areas like battlefields and slums where different rules may apply.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

It's an affectation. A few photographers used to black tape chrome cameras, to make them less conspicuous. Now that most cameras are black, it's a way of pretending to be "professional",whatever that means in this context.

🙄

 

[Muggins]

It seems to be a particular affliction of Leica owners (though I did know someone who covered the logo on his Contax SLR), covering their red dot logo. Personally I've never seen the point, but until recently I didn't have a Leica.

Now I have a Leica MDa, which has no Leica badge on the front at all, I'm wondering if I have to buy a red dot to put the piece of black tape on?🙄

Adrian
(dons asbestos pants, ready to have his backside flamed)

 

[ray*j*gun]

It's an affectation. A few photographers used to black tape chrome cameras, to make them less conspicuous. Now that most cameras are black, it's a way of pretending to be "professional",whatever that means in this context.

🙄

Plus 1.....

Not needed in Phila and most people don't know a Leica from a bucket of ice cream.

 

[brainwood]

It's an affectation.

+2

But also there is a fear of the camera being stolen if the Leica Logo is visible particularly if shooting in 'dodgy' areas

 

[Richard G]

I've heard of people having an improvement of their experience covering any label. "Hey you know your camera has 'Contacts' spelt wrong." Bad start to a portrait session.

 

[nightfly]

Some people, myself included don't like logos on anything. I already bought the thing, I don't need to continue being an advertisement for it. Looks sort of garish and tacky to me.

Also it keeps other photographers from asking questions or talking about your gear on the street. No one else really know or cares about a Leica logo.

And I do find it less conspicuous having a matte black box with nothing to reflect the light or catch someones eye.

It's your camera do whatever you like.

 

[sanmich]

I'm not sure but I feel something, anything written on a camera, specially inside a red dot (what were they thinking?) may draw people attention and will to read it.
I prefer to shoot a generic camera, unlabeled. I have filled black all the lettering on my M6, and prefer it like this.

 

[dabick42]

I've seen photographers with their Leicas covered with black tape, yet at the same time sporting camera straps and bags emblazoned LEICA for the whole world to see and admire and possibly steal.

There's nowt so queer as folk, as they say in northern England...

 

[notraces]

Yeah. I tape mine up to pretend to be professional. Whatever that means. Please.

 

[mfogiel]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/books/review/31KENNED.html?_r=0

http://iliketowastemytime.com/2012/01/09/cold-war-soviet-era-kgb-spy-equipment

http://rafcamera.com/still-image-ca...submini/f-21-russian-kgb-button-camera-type-2

Get a black camera, tape it black, and in case not sure, wear black dress, and paint your hands and the lens black too.

An alternative strategy, is to have a normal camera, and use this:
http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/candid-photography-spy-lens/

I normally don't do any of this. When I do not want to be bothered, I use a wide angle and behave as if it was a tele, never looking the subject in the face, pretending I was shooting something beside him.


20095513 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[raphaelaaron]

mfogiel, great shot. love the way the shadows fall. the open book on the left is a treat!

i would say everyone said a little of everything as to why i black tape my cameras.

first, i don't black tape my silver m6....because yeah...

second, the main reason is because i want to hide the logos. in the city where i am, i go shooting every chance i go out, and the last thing i want is attention. my primary dress tends to be black clothing so it complements when i have to pull the camera out and shoot. i also don't want people looking at what camera i'm using (they definitely stare, especially if it's not a chunky DSLR or P&S).

and finally, it looks cool "murdered out" as they say. perhaps i just like the color black?

 

[jsrockit]

But also there is a fear of the camera being stolen if the Leica Logo is visible particularly if shooting in 'dodgy' areas

People have no clue what a Leica is generally speaking.

 

[jsrockit]

I've heard of people having an improvement of their experience covering any label. "Hey you know your camera has 'Contacts' spelt wrong." Bad start to a portrait session.

😱😱😱😱😀😀😀😀:bang::bang::bang:

 

[daveleo]

If you're in a battle zone and reflections off your camera may get you shot, I can understand blacking out the chrome, and whatever else may reflect light.

I think blacking out your camera to be "stealthy" on the street ( among 50 other people with cellphone cameras, P&S, huge DSLR's, cars taxis and buses, crowds scurrying about) is kind of a questionable practice.

Covering a logo so a thief won't steal the camera ? . . . please !

 

[Greyscale]

In the past, people would try to obfuscate the brand on their Japanese or German cameras in an order to bring them into foreign lands (such as the USA) where they were not properly licensed to import them. Perhaps the whole silly affectation grew out of this.

 

[kbg32]

An alternative strategy, is to have a normal camera, and use this:
http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/candid-photography-spy-lens/

If memory serves me well, I believe Helen Levitt used one of these quite often.

 

[Lawrence Sheperd]

It's well known in certain circles here in Charleston (one of the most visited cities in America) that "Red Dot = Big $."

Camera theft of the snatch-and-skeedaddle variety is one of the most common street crimes in my city.