p.3 #1 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
snegron7 wrote:
This is EXACTLY the reason I'm leaving my R6 at home on my next trip to Europe! I opted for taking a Ricoh GRIII Street Edition which fits perfectly in my front pant pocket. It looks like a cheap point & shoot but packs an APS-C sensor and is fast. Granted, it only has a fixed 28mm f2.8 lens, but that's the focal length I shoot 99.9% of the time anyway.
You know there are many US cities with higher robbery rates ( gun in your face ) than European cities. I’ve travelled all over the world and the only time I was jacked was in Atlanta.
p.3 #2 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
krug wrote:
As a Brit now living in North America may I thank previous contributors for bringing some balance into this discussion. I am often amazed by the attitude of some North Americans that Europe is some sort of cesspit of danger and disastrous behaviour . Crime rates in European cities are far lower than many North American cities.
Of course there are risks and crime happens everywhere - but frequency and degrees of seriousness everywhere are blown out of all proportion by press reports and some social media.
It is so sad that some people seem to live their lives in terror of the 'what might just conceivably happen but is actually extremely unlikely ever to occur" event....Show more →
A+
A good rule: When folks from some other place tell you that a location in a city, state, country, region where they don't live is "some sort of cesspit of danger and disastrous behaviour," they are often mostly telling you about their own fears, ignorance, (and, too often, politics) rather than sharing facts about the place.
I don't know if this is an international phenomenon, but too many of my fellow Americans, bless their hearts, repeat the fear-mongering stories about both overseas locations and about parts of the US that they aren't truly familiar with.
Bad stuff can happen anywhere. But it usually doesn't.
There's nothing the least bit wrong with being prepared nor with being careful and paying attention to your surroundings and instincts. (There's also nothing wrong with carrying a more secure bag, so this isn't meant as a counter to the OP's reasonable question. )But sometimes the fear and paranoia is over the top.
p.3 #3 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
chez wrote:
You know there are many US cities with higher robbery rates ( gun in your face ) than European cities. I’ve travelled all over the world and the only time I was jacked was in Atlanta.
Which is precisely why I always carry concealed in the U.S. At least in the U.S. you are allowed to protect yourself, and you are not at the mercy of some violent thug like you are in Europe.
p.3 #4 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
snegron7 wrote:
Which is precisely why I always carry concealed in the U.S. At least in the U.S. you are allowed to protect yourself, and you are not at the mercy of some violent thug like you are in Europe.
There were six thugs that jacked me. Good luck with your concealed.
p.3 #6 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
jj1804 wrote:
Have lived in Europe my whole life, been all over Europe and Croatia (am half Croatian) and never had my camera strap slashed or a bag snatched. I'd pay more attention to pickpocketers though. And as others said, insure your gear, worry less. No, the pictures on the memorycard can't be saved but are you taking this many moneyshots on citytrips? Highly doubt it. Anyway, here is a strap I used to use until I discovered I don't like using camerastraps: https://www.sun-sniper.com/en/rotaball-pro.html This one has a "Invisible slash proof STEEL WIRE". But I'd rather not walk around the whole day with a dangling camera. But you do you
Two places I felt the most safest were in Switzerland (Interlaken) and Japan. 8 year kids (in our estimate) getting on trains and subways on their own to go to school. I think in Tokyo they would give you a camera if you asked politely Zurich and Geneva were great too but only there for a short time. We've been to Hong Kong 3 times as well.
Those are the 3 places that I completely let my guard down. London was close as well. Not to say I'm paranoid in the other wonderful European cities, I just pay a little more attention.
p.3 #8 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
I once accidentally left my camera bag with my 6MP Rebel in it, in Himeji, Japan. It was sitting on a park bench for an hour. When I returned, it was still there.
p.3 #9 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
My biggest fear traveling to the major cities in Europe such as Frankfurt, Paris and Rome is getting pickpocketed. My biggest fear traveling anywhere in the US (some places are much worse than others) including the freeways is getting shot! That’s the difference between Europe and the US.
Having said that I would rather live in the US than anywhere else in the world! You just have to avoid confrontation with any stranger, as you don’t know if he (more likely than a she) may have a concealed weapon and would not hesitate to use it.
p.3 #10 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
tsangc wrote:
I once accidentally left my camera bag with my 6MP Rebel in it, in Himeji, Japan. It was sitting on a park bench for an hour. When I returned, it was still there.
I witnessed in Vietnam a man run up to a tourist with his wallet that the tourist must have left or dropped.
I personally feel safer traveling in many parts of the world than I do in North America.
p.3 #11 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
chez wrote:
You must be good…just like on TV where the star goes in blazing and shoots all 10 bad guys without getting shots themselves.
Personally if someone wants my camera they bad, they can have it. I’m fully insured. A camera is not worth killing someone…it’s just a thing.
I have been in shootouts, knock-down/drag-down fights, violent encounters, riots, etc. You need to be aware that criminals can take your life in a fraction of a second. It's not about the material value of your possessions, it's about preserving your life. You can be as sheepish as you'd like, but if criminals want to hurt or kill you, they will. I choose to protect my life.
p.3 #12 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
tsangc wrote:
I once accidentally left my camera bag with my 6MP Rebel in it, in Himeji, Japan. It was sitting on a park bench for an hour. When I returned, it was still there.
Japan blew is away. Tokyo pretty close to population of Canada and I don't recall seeing a single person begging.
p.3 #14 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
snegron7 wrote:
I have been in shootouts, knock-down/drag-down fights, violent encounters, riots, etc. You need to be aware that criminals can take your life in a fraction of a second. It's not about the material value of your possessions, it's about preserving your life. You can be as sheepish as you'd like, but if criminals want to hurt or kill you, they will. I choose to protect my life.
I choose to live where I’m not always afraid someone is going to kill me…other than the odd Grizzly or Cougar.
p.3 #16 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
I have been in shootouts, knock-down/drag-down fights, violent encounters, riots, etc. You need to be aware that criminals can take your life in a fraction of a second. It's not about the material value of your possessions, it's about preserving your life. You can be as sheepish as you'd like, but if criminals want to hurt or kill you, they will. I choose to protect my life.
p.3 #18 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
snegron7 wrote:
I have been in shootouts, knock-down/drag-down fights, violent encounters, riots, etc. You need to be aware that criminals can take your life in a fraction of a second. It's not about the material value of your possessions, it's about preserving your life. You can be as sheepish as you'd like, but if criminals want to hurt or kill you, they will. I choose to protect my life.
Kind of funny irony here: you’re the tough guy who’s afraid to take your large camera on a trip to Europe and Chez is the meek guy who happily carries his Sonys all over the world.
p.3 #20 · Are there any camera straps that cannot be cut?
johnvanr wrote:
Kind of funny irony here: you’re the tough guy who’s afraid to take your large camera on a trip to Europe and Chez is the meek guy who happily carries his Sonys all over the world.
I'm not a "tough guy"; simply a normal human being who has witnessed and experienced too many violent circumstances. I'm wise enough to know that criminals can and will cause you serious bodily harm whether you comply with them or not.
It might seem like a foreign concept for you to even fathom the notion that I choose to protect myself. You do you, I'll do me. You can submit to the will, pleasure and mercy of a derranged violent criminal; I'll protect my life, especially after knowing first hand what they are capable of doing.
Zurich and Geneva were great too but only there for a short time. We've been to Hong Kong 3 times as well. 
