Camera for travel in high-theft area?

January 5, 2008 8:41 AM

I'm going to be traveling to Rio, where the chances of my digital camera getting stolen are, by all accounts, pretty high. What's the best solution given that I'd really like to be able to take pictures and bring them back with me?

I have a Canon Digital Elph that takes nice pictures, but I'd prefer not to lose it, especially if I lose all my photos along with it. Does anyone know of any good solutions to this problem? I've come up with three possible solutions:

1. Using disposable film cameras. But the cost of developing and printing will be high, plus the image quality is not so great. Plus I hate things disposable. And I'd prefer digital . . .

2. Using the Elph with several smaller SD cards that I can take out every day. This way, if I lose the camera, at least I still have the pics.

3. Buying a cheap digital camera that I wouldn't mind losing. And by cheap I mean in the $50 range--but it has to be tiny, and work with SD cards so I can use several small ones in order to be able to keep the pics even if I lose the camera. Does such a thing exist and take decent pictures?

Anyone have any other ideas?

posted by agent99 to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

Bring a back-up camera of some sort, because if your camera does get stolen, you'll still want to take photos.
posted by smackfu at 8:50 AM on January 5, 2008

I use one large memory card, and every day copy any new photos to my photographic Mother Lode. In my case it's easy because I have a laptop in my room, serving as the Mother Lode, but other people use digital photo kiosks to copy photos to CD-ROM, or buy a memory-card backup device (example result from random googling), that can likewise be used at the end of each day.

Yes, cheap digital cameras exist (and older digicams are appearing in thrift stores these days) but I suggest you take your Elph - Think of the cost of losing it as worth the advantage of having it with you on your trip. There is no point owning a nice camera if you can't use it.

You could also disguise your Elph as a beat-up old wreck of a camera, so that it appears less valuable. This won't deter in some situations, but in some, it will.
posted by -harlequin- at 8:55 AM on January 5, 2008

(caveat: I'm not sure whether Rio has widely available digital photo kiosks that print to CD-ROM)
posted by -harlequin- at 8:56 AM on January 5, 2008

You could buy a few good film cameras for anywhere from $1 to $20 each at thrift stores, or on eBay if you have time. Buy film in bulk, and have it developed and put onto CDs. Don't print them all, just get the CDs, then print only the keepers.

A non-disposable film camera will take better photos than a disposable or a new $50 digital camera.

I have never been to Rio, but this might be useful, particularly the 3rd answer.
posted by The Deej at 8:57 AM on January 5, 2008

Wrist strap when in use, not a neck strap.

When walking about, leave it in a front pocket, and when back in your hotel room, somewhere out and noticeable to you and anyone who might come in - its absence would mean it would be noticed as gone immediately, which might reduce the temptation for someone at the hotel to take it.

If you carry a bag, keep it in a black ankle sock, perhaps, instead of a touristy camera bag, so someone walking by while you're perusing the menu at a cafe can't glance over and see what's inside the sock, then get the bag an hour later when you're walking down the street.

In fact, perhaps you shouldn't bring a backpack/daypack with you when out and about at all - if you reduce the number of available targets (wallet in the back pocket, purse, multi-zippered backpack, plus those of anyone you're with), you'll be inherently less attractive to thieves, who perhaps might choose to move on to easier, uh, prey.

Furthermore, the theft factor might be really concentrated among individuals who have been watched/tracked for some time. If you're only there for a few days and are going to all kinds of different places, I wouldn't worry about it. It takes a pretty brazen thief to either grab something right out of your hands, or reach into the front pocket of some jeans or trousers. If you're traveling with someone else, perhaps they've got the map, you've got the camera, and you've both got enough money for your day out, and to get back to the hotel if you both get lost or something, but not all your credit/ATM cards, which you might want to leave behind in your hotel room or with reception. Perhaps you can get duplicate ATM cards made by your bank or credit union which you can leave with a family member back home; should you need a replacement ASAP, they can overnight it out to you.

(Wow, this answer sounds really scary. Sorry.) Also, I've seen those DIY digital photo processing machines all over the world. Ask your hotel where you might find a mall, and you'll probably find a camera/film/passport photo shop that will have one.

Have a great time!
posted by mdonley at 9:31 AM on January 5, 2008

If it's really that bad, take a digital you can afford to lose (never travel with anything you can't afford to lose), upload your photos to a server every night, and buy insurance.

Or get a bodyguard. He can take your picture, too.
posted by pracowity at 9:45 AM on January 5, 2008

When I went travelling throughout Latin America two months ago, I was impressed with how every internet cafe (and they are all over the place) has its computers equipped with USB/mini-USB hubs for you to connect your gadgets, and also headsets for Skype. And many camera stores offer a "photo upload service" whereby they plug your memory card into a reader upload the contents to wherever you wish.

The fact is that, despite the poverty and petty crime, tourist destinations in Latin America offer terrific services that will cater to your every need (for a price).
posted by randomstriker at 9:58 AM on January 5, 2008

but I suggest you take your Elph - Think of the cost of losing it as worth the advantage of having it with you on your trip. There is no point owning a nice camera if you can't use it.

Agree, and I think #2 is a good option, although you'll have to be pretty diligent to remove the SD card every day -- again, that might be money better spent on a backup camera. Electronics seem to be more expensive in Rio than they are in the states.

I was in Rio about 5 years ago, and while it was clear there were parts of town that were dangerous, the parts I walked around during my week stay didn't strike me as any place where one would be any more likely to lose a camera than any other major tourist destination.

I actually had several opportunities to have my camera stolen while I was there (much alcohol was consumed, and I would've appeared as easy-pickin's to any thief), and it did not happen. Obviously, YMMV, but that was my experience.

Rio is absolutely beautiful, so it makes sense to take the best camera you feel safe taking with you.
posted by fishfucker at 10:03 AM on January 5, 2008

I would rule out option #1. I did that route last year, only it was because I didn't have a digital camera. It's something I regret as most disposal cameras take shitty pictures, particularly at night (even with flash) and at any distance. I had various brands, and all of them were grainy and blah in general. I would never use disposables again for pictures I actually care about again.
posted by jmd82 at 10:13 AM on January 5, 2008

I have a couple of suggestions. First, get homeowner's insurance (or adjunct homeowners if like me you're a renter) to cover your camera. I have an expensive pro-sumer camera insured for $3k and it costs $15 a year.

State Farm covers its loss if it is stolen, lost due to my negligence, or damaged by me. What could be better? That, for me, takes off a lot of the pressure. I'm no longer super-anxious about my data. A camera is replaceable, while agent99 and friends are not. I just enjoy traveling more. I haven't ever had anything stolen (and was in Rio two years ago among other crazy places) but am more relaxed.

Second, bring two memory cards and switch out every time you return to the hotel. If you're comfortable bringing a laptop, upload the pics every day onto your laptop. I always have my laptop backed up and insured by State Farm, so I usually bring it with me.

If you don't want to bring a laptop, bring a little USB adaptor and either go to an internet cafe every day or two or use the hotel's internet to upload the pics to Picasa.

And for theft prevention- always wear your camera over your neck and arm with the camera settled on your stomach. Ideally, this is the only thing you're wearing to protect, so one hand can settle easily on it most of the time. Why not replace the strap with a slash-proof strap? They're just 19.99 and are lightweight with a steel core- you won't notice anything different except it just feels a little more comfy than the stock one you got with your camera.

Also, I'd bring a little camera in addition to your more noticable one. I like the pics I get with my super-dooper digicam, but it also prevents me from having a low profile. I like to dress similarly to the locals, when possible, and just blend in- it makes me feel like more of the experience, less of a target, and I find it much more fun. When I'm going out to dinner or for a walk or whatever, with no expectation of seeing anything big, I often leave the camera in my suitcase with my laptop, which, incidentally, is chained in place with a lightweight and very worthwhile Pacsafe and just slip my Optio (the lowest profile camera I could find for <>
Good luck!
posted by arnicae at 10:17 AM on January 5, 2008

Oops! Formatting got me. The last sentence was supposed to read . . . camera I could find for less than $150) and go!
posted by arnicae at 10:19 AM on January 5, 2008

First, get homeowner's insurance (or adjunct homeowners if like me you're a renter) to cover your camera.

For a consumer camera, the deductible is going to be higher than the value of the camera, regrettably. So while this makes sense for a $3k camera, not so much for a $200 camera.
posted by smackfu at 11:57 AM on January 5, 2008

Above comments answering the specific question are great. I just wanted to add to please not panic about Rio; just be less obviously and attractively wealthy than the next guy, and keep your wits about you. Rio's a lovely city and overall the people are great, so don't let the anxiousness about crime rates keep you from having a good time.

(Having spent a lot of time in Rio, I go with the multiple flash card option, and use a backpack or shoulder bag but tend to carry it at my side or in front of me, not behind me. Carrying it on a camera strap makes you #1 obvious tourist. Oh, and this was for living in Copacabana and working in some rougher neighborhoods, for context.)
posted by whatzit at 2:29 PM on January 5, 2008

For short money you can get a couple of nice used film cameras. Olympus Stylus are small. Good lenses etc. Now compare and contrast: losing a $250.00 ELPH and memory card and hundreds of pictures to the cost of film developing and putting the images onto CD... I think we have a winner!
posted by Gungho at 6:38 PM on January 5, 2008

In addition to safeguarding the pictures themselves, my girlfriend says an ELPH should be small enough to fit in a money belt (bring your camera belt shopping with you to double check this) which would make you less of a target than if you were carrying a camera bag or even a backpack.
posted by saraswati at 10:25 AM on January 6, 2008

Yeah, I've spent time in Rio too, and i think you might being a little overcautious. The multiple flash card option is a good idea. Just be careful, keep it on you with a wrist strap, and you are fine. Keep it in a discreet bag with the rest of your stuff and you'll be fine.

The advantage of Brazil is that Brazilians really look like anything. I'm of asian descent, and while I stood out in Bolivia as a clear foreigner, there's many asians (and people of many different races in Brazil), and till you open your mouth, it isn't real obvious that you're a tourist (and hence, a potential target)
posted by waylaid at 10:35 AM on January 6, 2008

I had my camera stolen in Brussels, of all places, so I think it's wise to take general precautions on this kind of thing. Otherwise you run the risk of losing your photos, which are often more valuable than the camera.
posted by smackfu at 10:56 AM on January 6, 2008

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I'm not as nervous about potentially losing my camera as I am about potentially losing all the photos, and I think it's just as likely that I'd literally lose the camera as I am of getting it stolen--hanging out late at night and drinking and dancing tends to make me more careless than usual about where I've put my stuff, and I much prefer to enjoy myself than to worry about where my bag is. Given all this, sounds like the multiple SD card option combined with downloading photos periodically at a public kiosk is probably the best strategy.
posted by agent99 at 11:33 AM on January 6, 2008