Okay, I'm curious about this one... In my travels, I always pay note to other photographers and their equipment. I often see high-end cameras with the manufacturer's name and/or camera model number taped over. The other day I saw a shooter with an M6 that had tape over the "Leica M6" and the "red dot". When I queried him as to why, his response was he does it for security, so that a potential theif won't notice the brand and be tempted to steal it. Does anybody else have an opinion about this? I have never taped my cameras, but I am curious what others think -- am I "tempting" potential thieves? I have heard that HCB sometimes covered the RF window on his M because the extra "square" in the viewfinder bothered him... Is there perhaps a hold-over assumption that since HCB taped his camera, I tape mine?

Thanks,

Jack

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 03, 2001

Answers

Jack, I have found that except for avid photo enthusiasts, most people I encounter do not even know what a Leica is these days. I think a potential thief who was brazen enough to grab a camera from a stranger's neck wouldn't be fooled by a piece of black tape. You may be on to something that perhaps it makes people feel connected to the Leica heritage by doing some of the rituals like taping names and such.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), February 03, 2001.

Seems a shame to disfigure such a beautifully engineered piece of equipment! I hope im not stepping out of place here but the average street thief is not going to know a Leica from a Brownie right? An expensive looking cheap SLR probably is a greater attraction than an old fashioned looking ‘probably-only-worth-a-few-quid' looking camera. Thinking about it the Leica colour and logo might just do you some favors, if your subject is aware that you have committed his or her image to halide and they know a little about photography they may even be honored that you are taking their photo with the legendary Leica? I do like the idea of blanking out the RF window though. I might give this a go myself.

Cherrio!

Jason Vicinanza London, England

-- Jason Vicinanza (jcvicinanza@btinternet.com), February 03, 2001.

I think we might be wrong if we think we know what thieves look like. A punk who knocks over a 7-11 might not know a Leica but your fellow travellers might.

-- Jim Shields (jim.shields@tasis.ch), February 03, 2001.

Some people feel the need to do this. I've never bothered. Seems like a waste of time. Some casual thief wants to steal your camera they generally have no idea what it's worth. They get $30 at the fence for a camera... A pro, out to acquire valuable equipment, wouldn't be fooled.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey DiGiorgi (ramarren@bayarea.net), February 03, 2001.

I, and I'd bet most of the other user's of this site, can pick out a Leica from a TV screen full of press photogs at a news conference, or in a movie, or at a tourist location... the shape and design can't be "disguised" by a small piece of tape.

A "know-nothing" thief would likely target an SLR based on an assumed potential value. A knowing thief, one that knows "high-end" items, will grab your Leica, tape or no tape. unless you cover it with a garbage bag with an eye hole and lens opening... it will be seen as a Leica by those that know what a Leica is.

Get some insurance, and enjoy your camera.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), February 03, 2001.

I tape over the red dot just because it's distracting for me to look at. Therefore I assume it could be distracting for subjects. It's a well known axiom that any point of red in a photograph will immediately draw the viewer's eye. I'm applying the same principle. I'm not trying to emulate HCB or anybody else. I just do it because the lowest possible profile is what I want.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), February 03, 2001.

I think the astute thief (if there is such a person), knows a Leica, tape or not. The kind of person who doesn't know a Leica from a hole in the ground, but is out to steal camera for quick cash is going to steal whatever is available, tape or not. I personally have this feeling. If you can afford a Leica, you can afford insurance for it. Same thing with the Porsche owner who parks his car in such a way to take up two stalls so no-one will scratch it. If you can't afford to get it repainted once in a while, what are you doing with a $90,000.00 car?

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), February 03, 2001.

I do not "black tape" my cameras but I can understand why some people do. The black finished cameras are paired with white lettering which, along with the red dot, really stands out. It has been proven that a black camera is less likely to attract attention than a chrome one. People and crows have something in common I guess. Black taping your camera makes it less likely to attract unintended notice; whether from a disgruntled protester or, worse, a sniper. I do not make my living with my Leicas, nor do I frequent war zones or police barricades, so i use a chrome camera and keep a sharp eye out for crows.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), February 03, 2001.

Thanks to all for your input! On the issue of insurance, which many of you addressed, rest assured ALL of my camera gear is well insured! Selling insurance is how I make my living... photography is my therapy. Thus, I have an "all-risk, no-deductible" inland marine policy on my photo gear. This means that even if I am stupid or klutzy, and drop or even lose an item, it will be covered. And yes, the cost is almost insignificant for this coverage and the peace-of- mind it buys! (It is also another reason I do not tend to bother with protective filters -- see the earlier filter posting on LUSENET.)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 03, 2001.

When I purchased my M6 used, the red dot was not red. The previous owner had scraped off the red paint, so it was more of a scratched silver dot. I don't mind. Maybe some day I get the real red dot to put back from Leica.

-- Masatoshi Yamamoto (masa@nifty.co.jp), February 03, 2001.

I use tape, I have tape over the red dots on the strap, and over the red dot on the body. I also have tape over the bright chrome top, to cut the glare off of it, and to protect it. Somehow, I feel that it isn't as curious looking, and more discreet. Maybe I'm wrong. I also put a piece of tape over the battery cap, to keep it from coming loose.

P Nelson

-- Paul Nelson (clrfarm@comswest.net.au), February 03, 2001.

I doubt whether a street thief would know what a Leica is in this part of the world, therefore I don't black tape. In New York etc. it may be a different story.

As an aside, I personally find the red dot very 'tacky' looking, a black one would IMO be a lot more aesthetically pleasing.

-- matt veld (mahv@xtra.co.nz), February 03, 2001.

The black dot on the LHSA version of the M6 is a really nice touch. I hope Leica adopts this on a larger scale, as with the black paint finish option.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), February 03, 2001.

I keep looking for this offensive red dot on my M3 but I can't seem to find it. On the other hand, I LIKE the big red lensmount index dot. Does anybody tape that?

(Seriously, I doubt it's an issue for those who are accustomed to the later Leicas. I've yet to hear of someone pony up for an M6J just to avoid the dot.)

-- John O'Connell (boywonderiloveyou@hotmail.com), February 04, 2001.

Last night at San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade, one of the photographers who got inside the police lines (my home-made and well- laminated badge turned out to be the wrong color) had a camera with about thirty red dots on it. It took a minute to realize that they were markers so he could keep his film in order, he took them off as he popped out the rolls and put them on the canister.

Seems like a great idea to me, since I'm always using a sharpie when I pull the film out and it's hard to write neatly. I'm gonna buy a sheet of those dots.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), February 04, 2001.

"I keep looking for this offensive red dot on my M3 but I can't seem to find it. On the other hand, I LIKE the big red lensmount index dot. Does anybody tape that?"

No need to - mine fell off when I was assaulted by a drunk in Bombay while photographing. He smacked my cameras together like cymbals and the index dot fell off. The next day he came up to me and apologised very politely: "Sir, I was drinking too much that time"! Ah, India...

Rob.

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), February 05, 2001.

I think we over react before our cameras, hardly any regular citizen will think a Leica M with a small lens is a highly valuable camera, specialy if you use early chrome bodies, it is more the way we carefuly handle them what makes them look expensive or highly valuable, I think Nikons are more prone to be recogniced by thiefs than leicas even with red dots. Any way I have had mine taped since I remember.

-- Robert Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 05, 2001.

like robert, the red dot fell off my m6 as well. does anyone know of a place i could get another ? do you think leica sells those? i hope they are not too expensive....because its an essential part of that camera...

-- grant (g4lamos@yahoo.com), February 06, 2001.

grant - I have only one thing to say to you: nail polish.

Rob.

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), February 06, 2001.

Robert, can i borrow yours? i seem to be out...

;-)

-- grant (g4lamos@yahoo.com), February 06, 2001.

I've heard that Leica in New Jersey will send you a strip of "red dots" for free...I haven't confirmed this. Maybe they will send the black ones used on the LHSA black paint model too?

-- Jeff Voorhees (debontekou@yahoo.com), February 06, 2001.

Yes they will send them for free but there are only putting black dots on cameras that came with them. They want to keep the fakes to a minimum.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), February 07, 2001.

I always cover up the Nikon logo on my SLR's and have covered both of my chrome M6's with black tape. I do think that M cameras look classier when not butchered like this, but people tend to notice my camera less when it looks less classy. And for the Nikons, fewer people say things like "Oh a Nikon huh, nice camera" and want to talk to me when I'm trying to concentrate on shooting. Thieves, I'm sure won't be fooled, but that isn't really the point.

-- Josh Root (Rootj@att.net), February 07, 2001.

Talking of recognising camera brands, there's that extremely convincing scene in Jurassic Park 2 where the two pro snappers meet on the island and one of them says to the other - Oh, is your's a Nikon too?

I used to put a bit of tape on my cameras but my wife laughed so much (pro for 20 years) that I had to stop. When I met Johnny Deadman in London in December he had so much tape on his box that you couldn't tell what make it was when holding it in your hands, let alone from 5 yards away.

As for HCB taping over the rangefinder window! That explains why so many of his pictures are out of focus...

-- Robert Appleby (laintal@tin.it), February 08, 2001.