Traveling to New York safety tips...

In a few days I'm leaving for Manhattan NY, and I was wondering about how safe it is for a tourist to take a Canon 5D MKII which is big for everyone to see.

I was wondering if I should travel light and to take a small lens such as the 40 mm pancake or using my 24-105 which is not small.I'll leave my 70-200 F4 IS white lens at home I guess.

It's been 20 years since my last trip to NY and I had my stuff stolen in my room, and some people on in the same hotel had Leica stuff stolen.

So if anyone recently went to NY give me some tips, I will be shooting day and night, but will remain in the center of Manhattan, in Murray Hill and the next neighborhoods.

New York has more tourists with cameras than any place I have ever been. Every place you go you will see someone with a camera taking shots. You will be just another camera person there.

I walked through Manhattan with my entire photo backpack, with the 5D MKII.

I kept it all tucked away for the subway ride.

I wouldn't worry about it. Isn't that what insurance is for.

And get away from Times Square/Murry Hill. Get out of the touristy areas. The city is so much more interesting than those few limited blocks.

RandyMN wrote in post #15387716
New York has more tourists with cameras than any place I have ever been. Every place you go you will see someone with a camera taking shots. You will be just another camera person there.

I walked through Manhattan with my entire photo backpack, with the 5D MKII.

I kept it all tucked away for the subway ride.

Thanks, I will take my 24-105 and Tokina 11-16 for sure!
But I'm not shure bout the 70-200

One place I will visit is the camera stores, :O)

sega62 wrote in post #15387738
Thanks, I will take my 24-105 and Tokina 11-16 for sure!
But I'm not shure bout the 70-200

One place I will visit is the camera stores, :O)

Stay away from the camera stores in the heart of tourist areas! Those guys are rip off artists... The well known stores are no problem.

Heath wrote in post #15387736
I wouldn't worry about it.

Yup, people with cameras everywhere in Manhattan.

Just use common sense.

Definitely take the 70-200. If you are only going to take 2 lenses, take the 11-16 and the 70-200. I used to shoot my 24-70 a lot in the city, now I shoot my 16-35 and 70-200 mostly.

I am in NYC almost 5 days a month shooting with my 5D3 - 16-35 and 70-200 - mostly the 70-200. But it really depends on what you are looking to shoot. NYC is very safe, you will see all kinds of cameras and lenses. On the Top of the Roc or Empire State Building, you will see a lot of tourist with multiple cameras and lenses. Those are also good location for both of your lenses I mentioned earlier. The wide angle is a lot of fun to shoot at night too.

Good luck and have a lot of fun, that is what NYC offers the most of.

sega62 wrote in post #15387738
Thanks, I will take my 24-105 and Tokina 11-16 for sure!
But I'm not shure bout the 70-200

One place I will visit is the camera stores, :O)

Make sure to visit the BH Store

We went for a week last year and carried camera gear everywhere. Even the subway. No problems at all.

pbelarge wrote in post #15387782
Definitely take the 70-200. If you are only going to take 2 lenses, take the 11-16 and the 70-200. I used to shoot my 24-70 a lot in the city, now I shoot my 16-35 and 70-200 mostly.

I am in NYC almost 5 days a month shooting with my 5D3 - 16-35 and 70-200 - mostly the 70-200. But it really depends on what you are looking to shoot. NYC is very safe, you will see all kinds of cameras and lenses. On the Top of the Roc or Empire State Building, you will see a lot of tourist with multiple cameras and lenses. Those are also good location for both of your lenses I mentioned earlier. The wide angle is a lot of fun to shoot at night too.

Good luck and have a lot of fun, that is what NYC offers the most of.

Thanks

Fricks wrote in post #15387783
Make sure to visit the BH Store

Maureen Souza wrote in post #15387792
We went for a week last year and carried camera gear everywhere. Even the subway. No problems at all.

sure I will go to B&H, thx Maureen

sega62 wrote in post #15387813
sure I will go to B&H, thx Maureen

... and then you'll leave with an empty wallet.

El Duderino wrote in post #15387776
Yup, people with cameras everywhere in Manhattan.

Just use common sense.

Yes good old common sense is always a good thing.
How about harlem???

Never had any problems in NYC. Please is crowded and I swear I saw a cop on every street corner. Rode the subway all over, even all the way to Flushing Meadows in Queens, never had a problem. The police presence was palpable and very visible. I am sure there are questionable neighborhoods but on the whole, Manhattan felt as safe as or safer than any other big city I have been in.

sega62 wrote in post #15388508
Yes good old common sense is always a good thing.
How about harlem???

Harlem is fine, I used to live at the corner of 113th and Riverside and would often go up above 125th St, there were a couple of good places to eat up there. I never worried wandering around Manhattan, some area of the Bronx and Brooklyn were a little scary but were easily avoided.