Why do some people black out branding on their gear

[minoltist7]

A good about bessa R3A is that it doesn't carry name Voightlander, or Bessa in front
just "R3A" - nobody knows what is it. and people rarery look to the top plate.

Some curious people (especially young who never seen RF) asking is it an oldtimer, and I answer to them - yes, it it my Grandfather's FED 🙂 - to not disappoint them

I even consider to get a FED or Zorkiy logo and slap it over (idea for Leica owners 🙂 )

 

[ruben]

I don't like to make promotion for free. Too foolish. Too narrow minded. Too vulgar.

Therefore I not only tape the names of my cameras, but tear out the logos in my clothes. It is not the clothes that make me. I am the one giving honour to my clothes.

Kiev rangefinders, of course, the exception to my rule.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[crawdiddy]

I drive a Lamborghini, but I don't like to advertise, so I pried the logo off the rear deck with a screwdriver.....

NOT!

 

[crawdiddy]

how many of these tapers tape the vinyl stickers that car dealers attatch to cars sold?

how many tapers remove all ford / gm / bmw / mercedes / jeep / whatever logos from their car?

seems silly to me

memphis-

I always insist that car dealers remove their dealership logo from a car I am about to purchase. Of course I give them the option of leaving it on for $1000 or so. No one has ever taken me up on that.

However, I do not remove the manufacturer logos.

 

[ferider]

Yeah, it's real silly.

Luigi cases are a must though. 🙂

I wonder if Luigi has a case to offer for my car ...

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Why do some people black out branding on their gear

Been surfing around some of the various "Show your XXXXXX gear" threads, and I've noticed something that seems to be solely a RF kinda thing. Many people black out or tape over or cover up in some way the branding on their lens's and bodies.

And I thought this was a health advisory thread. 🙄

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I suggest that Barbie gets that Zorki, or Leica, or whatever it is, tested for lead, before she poisons herself.

i'm 5'10", weigh in at about 270, shave my head and have a white beard...not many people stop me on the street to chat...camera in hand or not

OK, turns out it is. 😱

For the record, I ballooned the past month to 195 lbs, and I'm a bit shy of 5'9".

Damn these rangefinders and their branding.

I'm gonna black out now...

 

[landsknechte]

My wife likes to use a Holga every now and then. She's had to cover the logo with black electrician's tape to keep "holga geeks" from constantly pestering her.

🙄

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

🙄

That is hilarious.

Hilarious!!

I'll suggest to one of my bu...well, not-so-buddies anymore, to put a Holga "logo" on his taped M8 and R-D1

LOL

 

[brachal]

That is hilarious.

Hilarious!!

I'll suggest to one of my bu...well, not-so-buddies anymore, to put a Holga "logo" on his taped M8 and R-D1

LOL

I thought the Leica H-series were extremely rare collectibles ... originally produced in the 70's for the Hungarian Air Force. Man, I paid WAY too much for that camera ...

😀

 

[zenhead]

I have used 5ds, fm2s and now have a bessa, i generally black out model and branding and ive found it works rather well. sure, there are markings on the lenses for all these cameras, however they are far less obvious than CANON blaring out from the top of the prism housing.

but lets not get so anal about it folks...

 

[zenhead]

the mp is void of most markings... at least model and brand on the front.

count as a small fee?😛

 

[DavidC]

Why did Leica switch from low-key to blaring red dot and in-your-face logo?
Sales were hurting in the mid-70's more than likely they listened to their sales people and started advertising their name big time in order to attract business. Look at the M4P --an ugly red blotch as big as the camera can stand. When most people would prefer to just focus on picture taking in an quiet way, logos do get in the way. The fact that many photogs prefer to cover their logos should indicate to Leica that getting rid of the red dot should be good sales policy. Just look at the MP--simple yet beautiful and it is selling like never before.

 

[Chris101]

🙄

HA!! I have a very similar camera! Here's a picture:

 

[minoltist7]

A funny reason for blackening out is to hide from camera fetishists and gear talkers 🙂
Casual people do not pay attention to camera brands at all .
Most my friends (not photogs) firstly ask - how much megapixel does it have? Does it have long ZOOOOM? 🙂 and if it doesn't, it isn't worth to pay attention

 

[nksyoon]

To avoid being associated with the latest Leica ads on their website...

 

[Didier]

Many people black out or tape over or cover up in some way the branding on their lens's and bodies.

I taped my M6 because I did not want people to point their finger at me and say "oh, look, this is a Leica" while I try to shoot discreetely. Happened several times.

I doubt taping adds to prevent thieves to steal it. They anyway believe this is something "old" and "worthless". A retired photographed who I know well has a cabinet full of Leica stuff - IIIG, M2, M3, M5, M6, many lenses and accessories, plus lots of medium format gear, but the burglar he had in his house once ignored it all. The only camera he took was a Nikon Coolpix.

Didier

 

[danwilly]

The whole taping issue makes as much sense as a "baby on board" sign in the window of a car. Just makes the owner feel safer.

 

[Spider67]

Just one week ago...I noticed a Japanese Tourist handling his camera in a very ....conspiciously unconspicious manner. When I saw that it was completely blackedned out I was sure that it was a Leica.....

 

[BNF]

No one has ever approached, talked , double took, showed any interest or apparently cared about what kind of camera gear I was holding or using. (I'm not a PJ or a pro, and may one day reach the level of "photographer hack" if I continue at the rate I'm marching.)

Maybe if I made an attempt to have it create more attention...