Theft of LF vs 35 mm cameras

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I am considering getting into LF photography. I find it very interesting that almost everyone who doesn't do photography as a hobby or profession seem to think that a LF camera is ancient, old, and even worthless. So, don't you guys feel or even experienced that perhaps LF equipment is much less prone to theft than 35 mm gizmos? The market for stolen LF equipment is probably much smaller too, I would guess.

-- Carlos Co (co@che.udel.edu), January 11, 1999

Answers

Wierd question, but I guess you're right. Although when given the opportunity, I suspect some folks will steal anything if it's not locked up... I wouldn't count on some junky to be that discriminating.

Decoys do work, though. Someone moved my box of large format equipment (about $3500 with a handle on it) to steal a $150 TV. They can probably get more crack for a TV than a Linhof...t

-- tom meyer (twm@meteor.com), January 11, 1999.


One of my classmates went to visit a friend at college. While they were out, this guy's apartment was robbed. The crooks stole all of the 35mm equipment but left the guy's hassleblad.

-- Stuart Goldstein (satgre@worldnet.att.net), January 11, 1999.

Well, it's not that wierd a question. Although thank God, it hasn't been an issue for me yet. My wife always worries I'll get konked on the head while I'm under the dark cloth. Then again, I don't shoot in Yosemite either. How fast can a thief run with a large format camera, tripod & lens....

-- Sean yates (yatescats@yahoo.com), January 11, 1999.

The one time I have been burgled (sp?) they took a large format lens but left the camera and the lens mounted on it; took a color temp meter, but left the flash meter next to it; stole my Norman P2000D but left the heads (which had been plugged in to the pack). Stole a tripod head but left the tripod. (I am still wondering about that one). I don't think most thieves are capable of or if capable of are interested in analysing what they are stealing, or about what the market for stuff is, unless they are "shopping." with a specific list. They just grab it and go and if they can't get some money for it dump it.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), January 12, 1999.

Hmmmm, so that's why no LF stuff shows up at the local pawn shops....

-- Gary Frost (gfrost@nospam.home.com), January 13, 1999.


Yeah I hadn't thought about field work, but I have quit doing my industrial landscape stuff in the city. Maybe I could hang a sign on my butt when under the dark cloth that said "no radio"...t

-- tom meyer (twm@meteor.com), January 15, 1999.

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