Would you take your kit on holiday without a safe?

Change your habits and just take a pocket camera instead.
 
Just echoing all the other comments, always left in the room in countries around the world, never had a problem... Always ensure all the gear is away in a bag and then if possible I'll throw that in the suitcase and throw some dirty pants on top - get past that they're welcome to it.

Gear is made to be used and capturing a few memories is important. Also travel/specialised insurance is cheap and reduces stress.
 
Last edited:
FWIW
Pacsafe exo meshes perhaps? NB 3 sizes available

pacsafe.co.uk

55L Anti-Theft Backpack & Bag Protector

Featuring our patented 360 degree eXomesh locking system, the Pacsafe is an adjustable high-tensile stainless steel locking device, designed to cover and protect a variety of bags and packs from tampering.
pacsafe.co.uk pacsafe.co.uk
 
Why not get an ultra-inexpensive older DSLR (Nikon D3300 or similar) with some cheap DX lenses, and take that instead of your pricey kit ? Just keep your SD cards in your wallet.... If it does get stolen, you are out only a couple hundred £...
 
I would definitely get travel insurance, those safes I used in the past are awful
 
JohnX said:
I've seen, but don't have, steel mesh bags for day/ruck sacks with draw string style throats, that once filled with the day/ruck sack and closed are then attached by a steel cable to something secure, maybe heating radiator, balcony framework, other pipework in the room, etc. Can't think what these are called, but outdoor shops should know about them. Effectively a highly secure string bag.
Click to expand...
You buy one then & I'll come round with high tensile cable clippers in my pocket & test it for you, free ... ;-)
 
All the people suggesting getting an extra cheap camera or a compact for travelling; what is the actual point of all your usual expensive gear?

Genuinely, what's wrong with you people?

I previously bought a small mirrorless kit, with a decent set of lenses for travelling, and it was frustrating to use every single time because it wasn't as good as my usual kit.

We've generally invested a shedload of money in kit we really want to use, so lets enjoy using it.
 
Phil V said:
All the people suggesting getting an extra cheap camera or a compact for travelling; what is the actual point of all your usual expensive gear?

Genuinely, what's wrong with you people?

I previously bought a small mirrorless kit, with a decent set of lenses for travelling, and it was frustrating to use every single time because it wasn't as good as my usual kit.

We've generally invested a shedload of money in kit we really want to use, so lets enjoy using it.
Click to expand...

That’s what I thought to be honest, going away to different countries is the one time that I’m able to see and photograph something that you just won’t see in the UK , I definitely always want to have my gear with me
I just make sure it’s insured, maybe I’m lucky I’ve never had anything stolen while aboard
 
DSOTW said:
Why not get an ultra-inexpensive older DSLR (Nikon D3300 or similar) with some cheap DX lenses, and take that instead of your pricey kit ? Just keep your SD cards in your wallet.... If it does get stolen, you are out only a couple hundred £...
Click to expand...
I should have thought of that. My old D70 and D5000 took pictures as well as my D7000 and cost less money! I've also had my share of after market lens's and no complaint's.
 
Don Fischer said:
I should have thought of that. My old D70 and D5000 took pictures as well as my D7000 and cost less money! I've also had my share of after market lens's and no complaint's.
Click to expand...
Well that's cos cameras don't take pictures, photographers do. And some people don't push the capabilities of their gear. But in my case, a decent modern camera was no match for a good modern camera. fine for being out in the sunshine taking photos of objects. But falls apart rapidly in low light or when shooting moving people.
 
I wouldn't put too much stock in apartment/hotel room safes, I've regularly seen how easy they are to reset by removing the keypad battery, simple master key etc.

If you are really that worried then put your good gear in a locked suitcase as suggested (perhaps wrap in a towel to avoid rattling etc) and also take a really cheap camera and lens and leave that in an easy to find place as a diversion.
 
There isn't an easy answer I don't think. Some will depend on where you're going, what the luggage handlers are like ( I don't know anyone that's had anything stolen from their room, but I do know a couple of people who've had stuff taken from luggage), what the location is like and the type of accommodation you're in. For instance, I'd feel safer in an apartment/Air B&B than I would in a hotel. Just feels like there are fewer people in your room on a regular basis. I have no stats or basis for that btw.

I took the best kit I had available to Cuba as I thought I might get some good/interesting shots there. But I did ask the question before I went as to what it's like because I was concerned.

And once I moved to FF, I did keep my crop sensor camera for a while with a view to taking it on holidays, as it was smaller. But to be honest, it wasn't so much smaller it made THAT much difference and then raised the question of why not just take the big one? So I sold that and got a bridge camera. Which is mostly great, but does struggle at times with a 1" sensor.

And in almost every instance, I have a smaller compact which I take for nights out. Therefore leaving the 'big' camera in the room. Perfectly acceptable for the type of shots you're likely to take. Not as good as a FF camera, but way better than an iPhone.

I've never put one in a safe, and I've never had any issues. Maybe I've been lucky.

The last time I went abroad was to New York. I'd been before several times and wanted to try something different, so took an old film camera and lenses and also a MKI Sony A7 to pair the film lenses with. They're probably some of my favourites shots. and the entire camera and several lenses cost less than just one second hand L lens.

I'm going away next month and will probably replicate that set up again. It is still a FF camera, but paired with older Minolta lenses is very small.
 
Last edited:
If a safe is there I'll use it, if not I'll put it out of sight and take my chances. TBH I'd be more upset about losing the photos than the camera gear, the gear is insured and can be replaced.

This being said, if I've taken my camera with me on holiday I've got it on me most of the time.
 
Chipper said:
Where are you going?
Click to expand...
Good point. In a third world country, the cops probably don't bother with things like a Crime Reference Number. Sounds like a good excuse for the insurers not to cough up.
 
I take my full frame mirrorless kit with appropriate lenses wherever I go. I don't feel a lot of anxiety around it but that's just me personally.

Usually take a lightweight zoom and a couple of small primes in shoulder bag and that's me done.
 
JohnX said:
I've seen, but don't have, steel mesh bags for day/ruck sacks with draw string style throats, that once filled with the day/ruck sack and closed are then attached by a steel cable to something secure, maybe heating radiator, balcony framework, other pipework in the room, etc. Can't think what these are called, but outdoor shops should know about them. Effectively a highly secure string bag.
Click to expand...
Pacsafe make them

https://pacsafe.co.uk/collections/portable-safes-bag-protectors

I have a couple of them in different sizes, had them for years as they don't really wear out.
They can be fiddly to fit over a rucksack, as inevitably straps, clips, etc all try to get caught in the mesh as you do so.

I use them as I have a 7 seater car, which has no separate boot to store things in, but does have anchor points which I can secure the bags to.
As with anything, it won't stop a determined thief, but will make life a lot more difficult for an opportunist.

They also make a range of 'secure' bags, but I've not tried them.
 
Having worked as a locksmith many years ago, I can tell you now, that the type of padlocks on those bags can be opened in less than three seconds by any thief who's done his research, those that haven't would just use a pair of cutters to cut through the cable.
 
Like everything, a pacsafe (or similar) will only slow opportunists down - and not by much. If someone wants your kit, they'll take it.
 
Sky said:
Having worked as a locksmith many years ago, I can tell you now, that the type of padlocks on those bags can be opened in less than three seconds by any thief who's done his research, those that haven't would just use a pair of cutters to cut through the cable.
Click to expand...
Yes - on the Pacsafe mesh nets you can always use an alternative padlock if you want to increase the resilience, but the main objective is to prevent an opportunist who just wants to grab an run, with a secondary advantage of being able to demonstrate to your insurance company that you took precautions to avoid theft is someone does actually take it.
 
Generally keep things locked in my suitcase/bag, and tuck it out of sight where I can. When I stayed in Budapest last year, the hotel room had a safe, but it wasn't actually secured to the shelf it was sat on :rolleyes:
 
This discussion reminds me that I used to haul a Nikon D3 and a couple lenses including the pretty chunky 24-70mm f2.8 on every holiday I went on! The Mrs would have likely had her 5D and a few lenses too. And spare batteries/chargers for both ! What were we thinking?! Obviously back in the days when airlines were more generous with their baggage allowances!

There's not many hotel room safes that 'll take one camera like that nevermind two plus the lenses etc. bur I never had any issues with anything going missing.

More recently I'd have been taking the Leica, maybe with a 2nd lens, no charger or anything as the battery easily lasted a week. That's now replaced with a 35mm rangefinder so definitely not battery issues, just a few rolls of film.

Last time I went away I just took my Harinezumi!

JZiRZV9pAgL8GAeArQce7oGLaeIAXmJNifAp-6KErS0IZwNtlFUdVSYivcQdPOSDSgiv08g9TXuCYwjToajUAb_3WCf5PFAKHDyU1ink1xGYJrC5KbI
 
Some years ago, we rented an open top Suzuki and one day, I left my camera on the passenger seat. It was still there several hours later when we got back to the car. This was in a town centre.
 
i usually take a camera and a couple of lenses on holidays and i dont bother with the safe not that it would fit in it anyway, ive never worried about it being stolen , to be honest im more worried about our passports being nicked
 
If flying my baggage will often be about 90% camera gear - somewhat more other stuff comes along if I'm going by car :)
I've never put any of it in a safe, I generally keep most of it with me, and if not ensure it's put out of sight (and no-one outside my group sees me hiding it).

My biggest insurance is probably not having Canon or Nikon plastered on my gear, and knowing the replacement cost of what I take won't break the bank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top