Do black cameras still have an edge in stealth?

J

jett

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I figured that people mostly select the color of their bodies/lenses based off aesthetic preferences and ofcourse availability/price.

I'm wondering if black cameras are still considered stealthier (in your experience/observation)?
 
MIkhail said:
What is stealthier?
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drawing less attention.

Ofcourse it is difficult to quantify and so I'm interested in something more anecdotal.

I have found that TLRs draw a lot of attention from personal observation...mostly due to their design and not color, I'd imagine.
 
No.
The photographer's behavior makes the event stealthy or . . . (?) . . . not-stealthy.
People just like black cameras.

EDIT: as I commented in a previous thread . . . black non-reflective cameras may save your life if you are in a combat situation. I assumed that you are thinking of commonplace street and barroom style picture-taking.
 
Similarly, many people apply graffers tape on their leica's and I'm wondering if these efforts realistically improve the "stealth factor". I personally think blacked out cameras look cool...
 
daveleo said:
No.
The photographer's behavior makes the event stealthy or . . . (?) . . . not-stealthy.
People just like black cameras.
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That's exactly right.
If you are hiding, jittery, feel awkward - people will read your body language and respond accordingly.

In this respect, actually, larger camera is better.
 
jett said:
Similarly, many people apply graffers tape on their leica's and I'm wondering if these efforts realistically improve the "stealth factor". I personally think blacked out cameras look cool...
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Makes 'em look MORE obvious to me. If I notice someone's camera at all, and it's got tape on it, my immediate reaction is "pretentious twerp", "wannabee" or "hipster". Not always true, of course.

Perhaps we could turn it around. I've been taking "street" pictures for over 40 years. I've very, very seldom been challenged. On those few occasions I have, I really, sincerely doubt that it would have made a blind bit of difference whether I'd taped up my Leicas or Nikons. Who here is convinced that taping up their cameras has made the slightest difference to their being noticed?

Cheers,

R.
 
jett said:
Similarly, many people apply graffers tape on their leica's and I'm wondering if these efforts realistically improve the "stealth factor". I personally think blacked out cameras look cool...
Click to expand...


My simple advice (take it or leave it): forget all this crap. Tape, black camera, ninja outfit....
Just take picture, picture is the goal, not the process or how you look while taking picture.
 
Thanks.

I personally don't own any black cameras except for my Nikonos. I was just wondering because most all of my cameras are chrome (they're cheaper). I'm not a street photographer and so I don't really have a need or anything, I was just wondering.
 
From my experience, the most stealthy camera is a 25-35mm rig, with which you pretend, it is a tele, so you NEVER look at your subject, but always at something that is further away. This way people do not notice you are photographing them, even in the most obvious cases like this:


20095513 by mfogiel, on Flickr

I was always pretending, I was shooting the landscape beyond the window...
 
mfogiel said:
From my experience, the most stealthy camera is a 25-35mm rig, with which you pretend, it is a tele, so you NEVER look at your subject, but always at something that is further away. This way people do not notice you are photographing them, even in the most obvious cases like this:


20095513 by mfogiel, on Flickr

I was always pretending, I was shooting the landscape beyond the window...
Click to expand...

Awesome shot and thanks for the advice!
 
Roger Hicks said:
Makes 'em look MORE obvious to me. If I notice someone's camera at all, and it's got tape on it, my immediate reaction is "pretentious twerp", "wannabee" or "hipster". Not always true, of course.
Click to expand...

I derive some amusement from the occasional guy I see with two 5Ds, battery grips, and telephoto lenses with the logos blacked out. I know it's not meant to make it look stealthy but less 'expensive camera', but still probably isn't effective...

I've blacked out the logo on my Leica only because I've gotten more remarks from camera (or expensive product) enthusiasts in the last month than I ever remember before. Mostly people who ask about the price, compare them to their Canon, or in one case, accuse me of being a 'purist' (??). Not that I don't like talking shop, I just don't want to be distracted.

I also suspect that, with huge DSLRs being more commonplace, I look more professional and less like a tourist or snapshooter, thus inviting attention.

It's more about body language in the street. Or in any situation, really. The only times I've found the camera itself an issue is mostly shooting events where people expect me to be there, but having a DSLR mirror flapping away at 6fps a foot from your face turns heads.
 
In a situation when you photograph any shiny surface a black (and ideally matte) camera body and lens will be less visible in reflections than something shiny and colorful as the latest I-phone with extra VIP bling case ;).
 
It is almost always more interesting to see people's faces than backs, to my experience :)

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People are stealthy, cameras aren't :D

I have a friend, great photographer who shoots in NY. She's barely more than 4ft tall and looks like a 12-year-old. Despite carrying a 5dmkIII and 50 f1.2 as a "street" kit, she shoots amazing head-shoulder portraits of total strangers, and people smile benignly when they notice her taking shots.

I'm almost 7ft and can never get away with the kind of shooting she does, even with a film rangefinder. Never mind the fact that I look like a movie stereotype of an Asian college professor...people just notice.
 
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