Write down those serial numbers, tag those bags

[Brian Legge]

Well, it finally happened. I've been carrying around a camera bag almost everywhere I went for years.

I left one in a restaurant today while in a rushed mood. Realized my mistake about 10 minutes after leaving. Went back and it was gone. I'll try checking the lost and found again on Monday but I don't expect to see it again.

As I'd never lost a camera before, I never thought about writing down info, etc. As a result I don't have anything I can report anywhere. I sent a few emails to camera shops with descriptions but without any solid identifying info, its even harder to tell people.

In the bag:

Leica IIIc (my first Leica, beaten and recovered in grey Griptac)
Summar (exceptionally clean, with a hard to track down 34mm Hoya filter)
Canon 35mm 2.8 (later black version)
Ablon, russian 35mm finder, 40-40.5 stepup ring, etc.
Super Ikonta IV (a project but almost in excellent shape)

It could have been worse I suppose. All told, the IIIc and Summar are what I'll miss the most. I had something of an attachment to the camera and the lens was one I was really just starting to use heavily. I'd felt really lucky to have such a nice Summar. I also had a few rolls in there I shot the previous day. Silly really as I don't think I had any precious shots but I was really looking forward seeing one of those rolls.

...

So the too long, didn't read -

For those of you who haven't, take a few minutes to think about what info you'd want to have on hand if items did disappear.

 

[johannielscom]

Sorry to read that Brian.

I hope somebody does turn it in to the lost and found so you will get it back!

This afternoon I will spend some time taking notes and shots of my gear, promise!

 

[ChrisN]

Sorry to hear that Brian. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a return of the bag to you.

I've got all my photo equipment itemised with serial numbers etc as part of the household inventory, and the major items listed as "specified portable valuables" on the house insurance. Never had to claim yet but ...

 

[35mmdelux]

tag the bag or leave your biz cards in it in case its found by an honest individual. Don't pack it with all your gear on a walkabout. Keep it where it can be seen but not grabbed by a running thief.

 

[Leica All Day]

that sucks, sorry for you man.....good luck and I hope it turns up.....I emailed myself all my serial numbers and photos of my gear so I can access the info from anywhere in the world..........

cheers, michael

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Brian,

Sympathy! There's that horrible sick feeling when you realize what's happened.

And thanks for the reminder -- I've just stuck business cards in all my camera bags.

My suspicion is that serial numbers are all but worthless -- there are just too many cameras in the world -- and that only STAGGERING rare and valuable kit is likely to have a high enough profile to be recovered that way; though there was a case in Bristol, many years ago, where an unusually stupid fence, who always held out for top dollar, was caught with an inventory of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cameras, on his own valuations.

But a lot of people are honest, and a business card (or other address in the bag) will surprisingly often get you something back. Certes, a lot more often than if they can't trace you.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Brian Legge]

Thanks all.

Roger, good point. Once I have a camera bag again I'll be putting a card in it. :bang:

 

[dct]

Very sad reading your story, Brian. I have an image inventory together with buying information and serial # for my cameras and most important accessories. Not because I think I will get it back this way, in case of... But as a detailed information for my house insurance. At least I will get some money back.

I hope the thieves realize it is only old stuff and nothing worth to deal with, because it is not a big digital SLR equipment as expected.

 

[George Bonanno]

Stupid Cupid...

Stupid Cupid...

It happened to me once... about a year ago in Chinatown NYC in the early morning hours after a picture taking extravaganza at the Gershwin Hotel. One of the workers came after me with the bag in hand yelling at me in Chinese. Lucky me... at the Lucky Coffee House on Pell Street.

Needless to say I rewarded him handsomely in my drunken stupor.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Sorry to hear it, Brian. I assume some diligent waiter/waitress didn't save it for you at the restaurant 🙁


I'll keep this lot in mind, while surfing the usual auction sites.
Business card or a 'please return if found' note are easy enough to stick in the bag somewhere....


Anyway. I hope it turns up. Not that I'll be holding my breath... 🙁

 

[cosmonaut]

Sorry maybe you will get it back. I have all my numbers wrote down as a result of reading stories on this site.

 

[rogerzilla]

I agree that the Summar is the worst to lose; a clean one is so rare. In comparison, losing a new Noctilux is neither here nor there because the insurance pays out and you just have to wait for one to be made and shipped (OK, that could take months with current backlogs).

 

[Roger Hicks]

I agree that the Summar is the worst to lose; a clean one is so rare. In comparison, losing a new Noctilux is neither here nor there because the insurance pays out and you just have to wait for one to be made and shipped (OK, that could take months with current backlogs).

You have a touching faith in insurers. Even if you are fully insured for replacement value, I'd not trust them.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Leica0Series]

Google Documents is very handy for storing info like this; then you can retrieve it from anywhere in the world (as long as you have an Internet connection, of course).

 

[redisburning]

I'm with Roger.

make sure you know your insurance company is going to pay. Lost about 700 dollars worth of computer stuff to the USPS because they basically took the line:

"f--k you and if you don't like it sue us".

when people talk nostalgically about how the world was a better place, I usually take that with an understanding that it was a better place for some people and a worse place for most. but in this case, Im pretty sure it was better for everyone when the USPS didn't outsource their insurance to just another greedy private company who will do everything in their power to deny your claim to boost quarterly earnings by the few hundred dollars your stuff would cost them to replace.

thanks for the reminder though. I never really thought about it but I would be right angry about losing a camera, least of all if I lost one of my OM-1s with my grandfather's social engraved on the bottom, or one of the other two cameras Ive bought with similar markings (my dad told me in the 1970s that it was sufficiently hard enough to get credit without proving who you were that identity theft was much rarer. what a world it must have been).

 

[gb hill]

I too carry a bag & this is one of my inner fears that I might leave it somewhere. I hope things work out in the end for you. I remember finding a cell phone in the bathroom of a Sheetz convenience store. When I turned it in to the front counter the young girl looked at me as strange. So, hoping that one of those strange creatures like myself found your bag. I guess now I should get some cards made.

 

[tjh]

Sorry to hear about your lost bag. I had something like this some years ago. My wife and I were traveling for the weekend and stopped at a McDonalds. I left my camera bag on the seat in a booth and didn't think of it until we were a half-hour away. Luckily, someone had alerted the manager and he took custody of my bag. I was lucky that the bag was safe and that I remembered where I left it. I did not have my contact information anywhere in the bag.

Don't give up, someone may yet turn the bag in.

Tom

 

[malthusiantrap]

Sorry to hear that.
I have my name and contact info inside the baseplate of my M2 but I just realized that people who find it might not know how to remove the plate. I'm considering attaching a tag on the strap - just in case. The business cards are a good idea too.

 

[Bobbo]

I always record my serial numbers. I have a spreadsheet just for it on my computer. Haven't needed it yet, but I have it.

If you don't know how to set one up, here's a couple of hints:

--Use the top row for these headers; Format, Style, Make, Model, Mount, Serial No., SN location, Purchase Date, Seller, Price paid, Other notes, Value.

--Each item gets its own row on the sheet.

--In the same file, I have separate sheets for cameras, lenses and accessories (the little tabs on the bottom-left of the Excel/Open Office window. You can add more tabs by right clicking and clicking the "add tab" or whatever button, and you can also rename them for the type of gear listed.

--It lives on my desktop so I can get to it quickly (or ask someone else to do so when I'm away).

If you don't have a spreadsheet program, go to the Open Office website and just click download.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Or, if you are like me and will never get around to making a spreadsheet, just photograph everything showing the serial number and save JPGs in a separate directory. Then you can sort it out later if you have a loss.