Concealed Carry Camera

Diapositivo · Mar 12, 2016

Yashica T3. Fairly waterproof, very small, lens very well protected, great optical quality (besides a certain vignetting at full aperture, as all Tessars). It also has a small secondary waist-level viewfinder (for waist-level it's too small, but it works wonder for candid shots or for macro). I sold several pictures through a photo agency taken with this camera, it can deliver serious quality in a very pocketable format. It also has a small flash that is forceable in day light for fill-in and you can also disable it in low light.
Only problems are no manual mode, and noisy motor rewind (non-stoppable).

I also bought a Canonet QL 19 and I find the optical quality serious, but the camera is not as light and not as incospicuous as the Yashica T3. More versatile (manual mode) but definitely less concealed.

ciniframe · Mar 12, 2016

Thanks for the link Ricardo. Another good stealth technique is to be obvious. Get yourself a big 4X5 press camera, six or nine film holders and have at it. Not cheap to feed that beast but by now I think folks would just figure that with a rig like that you must belong there.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 13, 2016

If I'm wearing a Utilikilt, either one of these will suffice. Pocket will bulge, but, either camera setup will fit just fine. Since I no longer own a Nikomat body, my FM2n would get used in place of the FT2 shown.

In the winter, if I'm wearing something that doesn't have pockets below the waistline (which is frequently), I'll typically just hang the camera from my neck and zip the jacket up over it. In the summer, I just do it how I'm shown doing it in my avatar.

-J

Theo Sulphate · Mar 13, 2016

guangong said:
...
There is no better concealed camera with better quality than a Super ikonta b hanging openly on the chest. Since the late 70s this has been my favorite. You would be surprised how many people are ignorant of its abilities. This was my camera to take to places "no cameras allowed".

Do you have it folded? To me, the Zeiss Super Ikonta is... well, iconic in what a camera looks like.

Theo Sulphate · Mar 13, 2016

Ricardo Miranda said:
...
Have a look at this short documentary.
See how this great photographer concealed his camera.
...

Nice to see that, thank you. Also, the cinematography was excellent.

cooltouch · Mar 13, 2016

guangong said:
Second thoughts. Yes, always with me, a Minox. But concealed can sometimes be like the purloined letter. There is no better concealed camera with better quality than a Super ikonta b hanging openly on the chest. Since the late 70s this has been my favorite. You would be surprised how many people are ignorant of its abilities. This was my camera to take to places "no cameras allowed".

The Super Ikonta B (with the late coated lens and Syncro Compur shutter) is my favorite folder. I've owned two and stupidly sold them both. Never used them for concealed carry, but they're so antiquated looking people don't pay any attention to them, yet they deliver superb results. I call the SIB a "pocket Hasselblad."

Hatchetman · Mar 13, 2016

Couple options I use: Kodak Signet 35 which is much quieter then my Leica III/Summitar. My Rollei 35SE is broken, but not that useful indoors anyway. Contessa folder would be a possibility but needs a CLA in a bad way.

mhcfires · Mar 18, 2016

HiHoSilver said:
Paul H. I think the P&S is usually the way to go. 'Preciate your thoughts on what's worked for you.

Luckless - being unnoticed is not small, but MF has a strike or two against it - longer focal length = less DOF. So you're either back to focusing each time or having to enlarge alot. I did try this method w/ the 'blad. About 3 1/2 shots turned out on the roll (naturally practice would up that amount). One of the shots is in the gallery. Maybe a bright day would make it work better - which would be about 6-8wks in soggytown here. You bet it can work - wouldn't say it can't. It just needs alot of conditions to be in place to work well.

Your friend's use of the phone as cover is brilliant! I've heard from other shooters that the WLF is a benefit - which is why I tried the 'blad. Today, I was largely in place, exposure set, pre-focused, anticipating pedestrian traffic. 'A couple might be okay. The main purpose for the location was to shoot the dreaded 'OPA' (other people's art). This restaurant has a fun bit to their architecture & I wasn't happy w/ my shot w/ the Retina. 'Went back w/ the FE2 & the 300mm F4 so I could get futher away & higher up in relation to the subject.

'Would have responded sooner, but did the hour drive each way to shoot downtown. 'Have the multi camera roll film blues - 4 cameras w/ partially completed rolls.

I've been using an old Rollei 3.5 Automat in just this way for years. Nice thing about it is that if you get noticed, people see that it is an old camera and will even pose for you. I love using it at the San Diego Comic Con convention. I have yet to attend the affair, the freak show on the street is entertainment enough. Unlike the drudge of hauling about the Nikon D700 and its heavy lenses, I can stealthily shoot to my heart's content. I shot mostly TX400 and Portra 400, with a few rolls of Portra 800 late in the day. The only drawback was the processing of the C41. It is worth it, I had a lot of fun and met some interesting people. I thought of using the Speed Graphic, but I can't carry that much stuff all day, I took the trolley because what little parking was prohibitively expensive.

m

MattKing · Mar 18, 2016

Every time I see this thread pop up I am so tempted to post the question:

"Do you need a permit to use a Concealed Carry Camera?"

For me, I range between an Olympus XA and a Retina IIIc and an Olympus OM body with a 35mm lens.

I like to use really small camera bags - the sort that used to be used for point and shoot cameras - as long as they have a strap.

John Bragg · Mar 18, 2016

MattKing said:
Every time I see this thread pop up I am so tempted to post the question:

"Do you need a permit to use a Concealed Carry Camera?"

For me, I range between an Olympus XA and a Retina IIIc and an Olympus OM body with a 35mm lens.

I like to use really small camera bags - the sort that used to be used for point and shoot cameras - as long as they have a strap.

Hi Matt, there was indeed a sense of Irony when I penned the title to this thread. The implication being that the best weapon is indeed the one you have with you. As I have found, fortune and opportunity favour the prepared. Some of my best shots have been with those diminutive cameras that I carry just in case.

HiHoSilver · Mar 18, 2016

Matt, 'sitting w/ a big smile at:
"For me, I range between an Olympus XA and a Retina IIIc and an Olympus OM body with a 35mm lens."

I do love the retina, and with any luck, I should have an XA on its way in the next few days. My slr is a humble FE2. Once again, 4 cameras - all w/ partially completed rolls.

bergytone · Mar 20, 2016

I just picked up this little Minolta 16PS on the Bay. Cost more to ship it than to buy it. Complete with film cartridge and flash. Has anyone ever played with one of these? Now I have two 16mm "spy" cameras. Glad I have 2 100 foot rolls of expired Eastman 7222 to try in them. Using about 8 inches at a time, I'd say I have a lifetime supply. Says it's from 1966, I don't think this thing was ever used. Two speed shutter and the full range of aperture. Focus is fixed at 16 feet, I guess you use aperture to get more depth. There are some shots on Flickr that didn't look too bad, about like a 110 camera.

Lee Rust · Mar 20, 2016

Half frame 35... Olympus Pen-S, Pen-FT or Mercury II.

Maybe it's just my imagination, but I do feel more of need to be furtive these days. Somehow the act of putting a camera up to your eye marks you as a possibly suspicious character, while holding a phone at arms length is not a problem. After being accosted by a mall security guard for taking photos, I asked him about cellphone cameras and he just shrugged... they're not restricted.

Concealed Carry Camera

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