Traveling to New York safety tips...

You couldn't pay me enough to venture into NYC alone with a camera. And all my stuff IS insured!

Although I'm considering talking a photography friend into making a trip together.

Boston works, Chicago works, LA works, NYC..no way!

bratkinson wrote in post #15407975
You couldn't pay me enough to venture into NYC alone with a camera. And all my stuff IS insured!

Although I'm considering talking a photography friend into making a trip together.

Boston works, Chicago works, LA works, NYC..no way!

I cannot figure out why you would say this. Have you had an incident in NY that has influenced this comment?

If NYC is so dangerous, why do we get so many tourists every year, and why are there so many people that call this their home?

Edit: Check out the crime rate stats of your chosen cities versus NYC.
http://en.wikipedia.or​g …ates_cities_by_​crime_rate

Yes, NYC has less murders (totals) and less violent crime (per capita) than your cities of choice.

Heath wrote in post #15408746
I cannot figure out why you would say this. Have you had an incident in NY that has influenced this comment?

If NYC is so dangerous, why do we get so many tourists every year, and why are there so many people that call this their home?

I think he or she watched too many movies from the 70s and 80s...hehehehe...

Just for reference, few days ago I was walking around in my neighborhood (outer Brooklyn) with my Mamiya c330. It was only an hour walk since I only have 12 shots. I was stopped by an older gentlemen. Well...he figured that I was shooting films, he wanted to know where I develop them. He, himself too, has a Mamiya 645 system. However, he hasn't shot with it because he didn't know where to get the film developed. I told him I develop both color and BW myself and I told him couple of places online to send his film out developed. He wasn't too happy about the 1 week turn around time. If I were to walk around with my 1dmarkIII, no one would really care. Just another DSLR....

Just got back from Manhattan (we were there on Sat-Sun-Mon AM). On Monday morning, my wife and her friends were at the first skate of the day at Rockefeller Center and I was there with my 5D2/70-200 without issue. If I wasn't shooting, my camera was in my bag. Sat and Sunday were nuts with people but early Monday AM wasn't bad at all.

It was also cool to visit the mothership (B&H).. Adorama was just too far of a walk for me that day (having walked from 60th and 3rd to 34th and 9th)...

Gomar wrote in post #15404571
oh boy, I've lived in NYC 31 years, means on average I should've gotten mugged 31 times. Strange, the only thing that was stolen from me was my girlfriend... and good riddance to her I say.

I guess wearing my Navy uniform was like putting a target on my back. Also, it was the early 1970's....New York was a different place then from what it is today. Much nicer today, I must say. Still... I would be extra aware of my surroundings while there, especially while carrying expensive camera equipment.

PineyWoodsPhoto wrote in post #15408860
I guess wearing my Navy uniform was like putting a target on my back.

Seriously, this is NYC. No one cares what you wear. You may not get a handshake from the public if you are a veteran, if you are looking for a token of appreciations from the public..... Oh, just don't bring your guns to NYC regardless if you have a permit or license. It would be an automatic felony charge.

bratkinson wrote in post #15407975
You couldn't pay me enough to venture into NYC alone with a camera. And all my stuff IS insured!

Although I'm considering talking a photography friend into making a trip together.

Boston works, Chicago works, LA works, NYC..no way!

I have photographed in all of the cities you mention, and many others, numerous times, with very expensive equipment, and can offer this. Every major city in the world has "bad" areas with higher crime rates. Some are much worse than others. Manhattan is among the safest big cities anywhere, so there is no reason to avoid it at any cost. Whether you're shooting in Manhattan, another big city, or just about anywhere else, use common sense at all times. Don't get so engrossed with what you're doing that you aren't paying attention to the security of your gear and other valuables, your surroundings, the people around you, etc. If your shoot demands total concentration then bring along someone to help who can be responsible to keep an eye on your equipment.

NYC is safe to walk around with a camera.

Can't do that in Buenos Aires, for example.

nothing to worry about, take ur gear like you'd take to anywhere else.
just dont be 'stupid'. u'll only be 1 of 100 people with 5d's

Nothing to fear walking round NYC BUT like every other major city use your head and exercise common sense.

Having done a fair amount of travelling i would say i feel safer in NYC than my own capital, London.

Ok, thanks for the nice comments, Everything went SUPER SMOOTH.
I was in the Murray Hill area, which is a coupled of yards from the Empire State Building.
Very true, there is tons of people with Canon 5D mark ....III
I think I was the only sucker with a mark II hahahahaha
I even saw a man with a 1d mark x

Anyway, I had real fun, tons of places to shoot, specially Central Park, it's gorgeous ....
B&H is a mental place, there is 62 counters to serve you, it's huge, and I live the way they do business.
It's fast, and a very cool experience, been to Adorama too, lot smaller but still a nice place to go, and good prices!

sega62 wrote in post #15413263
Ok, thanks for the nice comments, Everything went SUPER SMOOTH.
I was in the Murray Hill area, which is a coupled of yards from the Empire State Building.
Very true, there is tons of people with Canon 5D mark ....III
I think I was the only sucker with a mark II hahahahaha
I even saw a man with a 1d mark x

Anyway, I had real fun, tons of places to shoot, specially Central Park, it's gorgeous ....
B&H is a mental place, there is 62 counters to serve you, it's huge, and I live the way they do business.
It's fast, and a very cool experience, been to Adorama too, lot smaller but still a nice place to go, and good prices!

Wow, you are still alive and to talk about it....

sega if you are down near the city hall area not far from ground zero . The city hall park has folks playing chess around noon . Several blocks north east of there in china town there is a great peaceful park where you may get great shots of many elder Chinese playing all sort of board games that have large followings and intense games . In the same park many practice Tai Chi . and play old school instruments. ....As far as Harlem is concerned , I would take a pass on this part of the city , as well as the parts of Brooklyn & the Bronx . The five Boros are my home and I know them as well as anyone . Feel free with any ? you may have. While down in the City hall/ wall street area there is also a great camera store called J&R music world that will not fail you >http://www.jr.com …d-optics/digital-cameras/

12Rock wrote in post #15414224
sega if you are down near the city hall area not far from ground zero . The city hall park has folks playing chess around noon . Several blocks north east of there in china town there is a great peaceful park where you may get great shots of many elder Chinese playing all sort of board games that have large followings and intense games . In the same park many practice Tai Chi . and play old school instruments. ....As far as Harlem is concerned , I would take a pass on this part of the city , as well as the parts of Brooklyn & the Bronx . The five Boros are my home and I know them as well as anyone . Feel free with any ? you may have. While down in the City hall/ wall street area there is also a great camera store called J&R music world that will not fail you >http://www.jr.com …d-optics/digital-cameras/

thanks for all these great infos, maybe next time, I'm back in Montreal, with a cool welcome of 45 cm of snow (damn it)