How safe do you feel

RoryW

Notwithstanding taking precautions how safe do you feel walking around Dublin with your camera gear ?

Out of 10 with 1 being least safe and 10 being most safe

Effects

Some places 1, other places 10.

djgaillimh

9

I'd say 8 or 9.

But that's probably coloured by the fact that I'm very, very cautious when I'm out with my cameras. I'm constantly aware of who's around me and I never let a camera or lens or bag out of my sight for ten seconds.

Scumbags look for easy targets. People who are distracted and aren't paying attention to their gear. If I stop for coffee or anything, the bag is always on the table or the next chair, in plain sight, with the strap wrapped around my forearm.

As long as they can see you're not an easy mark you should be safe enough from the opportunists. Common sense will usually save you from bumping into the other sort.

I'm going to get my gear stolen now that I've said all that, aren't I?

Leftyflip

djgaillimh wrote: »

I'd say 8 or 9.

But that's probably coloured by the fact that I'm very, very cautious when I'm out with my cameras. I'm constantly aware of who's around me and I never let a camera or lens or bag out of my sight for ten seconds.

Scumbags look for easy targets. People who are distracted and aren't paying attention to their gear. If I stop for coffee or anything, the bag is always on the table or the next chair, in plain sight, with the strap wrapped around my forearm.

As long as they can see you're not an easy mark you should be safe enough from the opportunists. Common sense will usually save you from bumping into the other sort.

I'm going to get my gear stolen now that I've said all that, aren't I?

Like djgaillimh said there, 8 or 9 for me too.
If my camera is out of my hand, it's still attached to my body. If I stop anywhere, for whatever reason and I put my bag down, I put my foot through the strap and keep the bag right in front of me. It's all about keeping your wits about you and not being an eejit.

RoryW

7

Not quite sure why this poll was moved from the main forum to the workshop forum...

trooney

I've never felt threatened anywhere I've been out while out and about with my camera (or any other time for that matter). I've always been of the opinion that if you look like a victim you leave yourself open to that sort of thing. If you have an 'air about you', so to speak, that intimates that you'd be more trouble than it could be worth then you're less likely to be an invite to the types that might be trouble.

Telchak

10

I'm an unintimidating, skinny guy that barely looks over 18 and have never been approached by anyone in Dublin in a threatening manner while having my camera around my neck. I've often walked around town or the Docklands with my 60D and even something as noticeable as my 70-200mm dangling from my neck. That being said, I know what areas to keep my camera away (on the bus for instance), or will put it away if I'm on a street that isn't particularly busy.

Stopping anywhere for coffee or food, I'll take the bag off but make sure it's touching my leg at all times. I tend not to do this anywhere particularly busy though, so it's more of a reminder for me to take the bag with me, rather than a fear of someone picking it up without me noticing.

I've never felt afraid that I was going to be robbed, though I am still careful Although, to be honest I'm more careful with my phone, which I keep wrapped around my wrist with a wrist strap while I have it out.

djgaillimh

9

trooney wrote: »

I've always been of the opinion that if you look like a victim you leave yourself open to that sort of thing. If you have an 'air about you', so to speak, that intimates that you'd be more trouble than it could be worth then you're less likely to be an invite to the types that might be trouble.

There's a bit of truth to this, alright.

I'm not an intimidating-looking guy, but it's all about your bearing. It's sort of an animalistic thing, but if you do things like staring at your feet when you're passing by a dodgy group, you're marking yourself out as weak or scared.

Like the guy above, I've lived in Dublin for a good while, I've lived near a couple of dodgy areas and went to university near a couple more, and I've never, ever been hassled or mugged or bothered.

Maybe I've just been lucky, though, I don't know.

ThOnda

9

Not going out with my camera almost at all made it much easier. Common sense was enough so far.

jonneymendoza

ThOnda wrote: »

Not going out with my camera almost at all made it much easier. Common sense was enough so far.

Might as well sell your camera then.

A camera left at home all the time is a waste IMO.

i always take my camera out with me in most places i go.

a couple of weeks ago i took my dslr with me when i went to tesco's lol

AnCatDubh

9

Thankfully no issues thus far. I think that I have a reasonable increased sensitivity to my surrounds when being out and about regardless of being with camera or not.

To be honest, I worry more about making a phone call on an iPhone when out and about than I do with having a DSLR about my arm (i tend not to wear it about my neck where possible).

Fingers crossed into the future though

christmas2012

6

its like any town or city,it has its roughspots,stick to the main drag and dont go shooting off down little alleyways and streets you know you should usually avoid..