Keeping Camera Safe

I'll be heading to Hawaii in a couple of weeks and am deciding whether to take my 5D2. I am also taking an NEX, but I'm afraid I might regret not taking the bigger camera.

We are staying at a vacation rental and they do not have a safe. Is there another way to keep it safe for when I can't take the camera out with me? How safe do you find these suites?

Thanks.

I worry about that also. Most hotel, in room safes, are to small for my stuff. When I do leave my camera in my room, I generally put is deep in my suitcase, between cloths, and laundry bag.

As long as you can keep it hidden such as in a suitcase, closet or something like that, you should be okay. Use common sense about your gear and the place your staying at. If a thief is really wanting your stuff and knowing what they are doing, not much will save you from them. I've been to some places where I do worry that a cleaning person will take my stuff but never had a problem.

This is america not a 3rd world country - just dont leave it in the open and it will be fine

If the room safe is too small you can always talk with the hotel and see if they have any other options to store your gear. As others already pointed out it should be fine by hiding it in your suitcase, lock it and put it in the closet.

LONDON808 wrote in post #13011164
This is america not a 3rd world country - just dont leave it in the open and it will be fine

Please explain??

BTW,, 3rd World is no longer used since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Developing country is now the accepted term.

When I took the Road to Hana the last time there were several cars parked at the various waterfalls that had been broken into. As far as I could understand from the police it was done by locals. My point is not that Hawaii is worse than most other places but as with any kind of equipment you need to be careful and never believe that because you are in America it is safer.

For me it is always an evaluation, when I see the place I decide whether I want to leave my equipment there. If not I bring it with me in a bag everywhere.

Also don't forget the quality of your vacation, if you think that you would be worrying too much about the equipment then better leave it home and bring the P&S.

LONDON808 wrote in post #13011164
This is america not a 3rd world country - just dont leave it in the open and it will be fine

LoL... funny.... I've spoken to people who think we live in grass shacks...

But to the OP, it's typically a judgement call when you get to the place you're staying. If I don't trust the place we're at, I'll put my lenses and camera gear at the bottom of my suitcase and lock it up. But most places are pretty trust worthy.

edit: oops, just saw the date stamp on the OP's post.. must be here in Hawaii already...

I leave mine in my camera bag, zipped, but sitting out on a chair. Now the only access to the room is housekeeping, so if you have an open air room, you have a different challenge. But if it is more of a hotel style room, I wouldn't worry about it - that's why you insure you're gear. If mine gets stolen while out of town, I'll replace with bare minimums and pick up the rest when I return home.

huntersdad wrote in post #13183177
I leave mine in my camera bag, zipped, but sitting out on a chair. Now the only access to the room is housekeeping, so if you have an open air room, you have a different challenge. But if it is more of a hotel style room, I wouldn't worry about it - that's why you insure you're gear. If mine gets stolen while out of town, I'll replace with bare minimums and pick up the rest when I return home.

I agree for the most part, but the only caveat is this -- sometimes, the concern isn't necessarily losing the gear, it's losing the shots. If your gear gets stolen on the first day of your trip, then you can either make due with what you have, buy a point and shoot and replace with insurance, etc like you mentioned above. If, however, your gear gets nabbed towards the end of your vacation, the gear isn't the only value; losing the images can be much bigger deal because you can't just go to a camera shop and replace them. I know when I went to Aruba on my honeymoon I would have been pretty upset to lose a few hundred nice images of us out and about and the sites, whereas the camera itself could be replaced.

Well, I just got back a couple of weeks ago. I worried more than I should have before leaving.

All I did was put my equipment in the suitcase and locked it up. No issues. And when my cards got full, I just asked the wife to throw them in her purse.

LONDON808 wrote in post #13011164
This is america not a 3rd world country - just dont leave it in the open and it will be fine

This is Albania not America; hotel staff doesnt steal guests' stuff.
Ifcourse replace Albania with any country; such as Peru, Greece, Ireland, Japan.

America is a 3rd world country now, haven't you heard?

Truth of the matter is that any item is not bolted to the planet can be stolen. If you value your gear, and I know you do, safeguard it to the best of your ability at all times. Doesn't matter where you are, the risk is there. Key is to minimize the likelihood you will be victimized by theft.

dave

^+1 above
one accessories i take in my bag is a 6' plastic covered steel cable and lock, and zipper locks. I usaully cable my bag down to something fixed to the room or big furniture like bed as to conseal it. But cant stop everyone, but will slow them down.