Photography Thailand Forum

[gu]

Hi,

I am going to travel in thailand during next month.
I can't decide if i should take my photography gear with me or not.
I have Canon 350D + some lens + flash.

Is it safe to travel with 5K$ worth of equipmet in thailand?

Thanks.

[David Salmanowitz]

I have traveled with more than 5k of photo gear in a pack on my back many times here in Thailand with no problem, and you should not have any as well--just use common sense as you would anywhere. If you do not bring the gear you will miss many wonderful photo ops.

[gu]

Thanks you David.

[Renato]

David is right, Thailand is safe for everybody carrying expensive cameras as you would notice when you are in the country. Just don't got to places where you are not supposed to be shooting around, at the end of your trip you will have a lot of pleasant memories. Enjoy your forthcoming visit.

[AmazingThailand]

You would regret not bring your photo gear.  There is sooooooo much to photograph here in Thailand and the Thai's are very friendly and usually do not mind you taking their photos.

Thailand is one of the safest places I have ever been.  I commonly wander around with my dSLR and/or video camera without any problems, both here in Bangkok and when up country visiting my girl's family.  Never had a problem.  As another poster mentioned, just use common sense.

Have a great trip.

[texpatriate]

I always carry my gear in daypacks rather than camera bags, or the so called photo backpacks. When you are not shooting keep your camera in the bag. A quality day pack can be turned into a camera bag by adding Domke inserts.Replace the factory closed cell foam padding  with the high density foam used for the sleeping pads used by campers. The pad  used by the US Military is cheap, dense, and durable. Carrying you gear in a day pack is also more secure than just slinging a bag on your shoulder.A sternum strap and waist belt is even better. I have seen thieves on motorcycles pull purses and shoulder bags right off farangs walking down the street.

When I'm traveling by moto-taxi I carry my camera in a small Pelican case placed in my pack. Add some silica gel and your gear is protected from moisture and minor traffic mishaps.

[thebelge]

Just take care in big shopping mall, bus station and especially train station where i get stall all my camera stuff 3 years ago (hualongpong station) in front of me. But police didnt react and the burglar run faster than me. I love thailand but there is thiefs here too.. .for sure.
These days they were lucky having stolen me more than 6000 € of camera stuffs.... hopefully I get insured and i'll advice everyone to do the same if they scared to been stolen one day anywhere. at least you'll travel without worrying to much. It cost me 10 % of the value of my stuff each year but i'm much more confident to travel now. At least i know i can still work when get stolen and will have money back.

Hope my experience can help.

Fred

[Digitalvoice]

Insuring your gears is definitely the way to go especially when travelling to places where you're not too sure about the security there.

Call it fear or what but I seldom venture into dark deserted corners or streets. Maybe I lose some photographing opportunities but then, I may have avoided unnecessary misfortune.

[thebelge]

As I told before it can happen every where. A train station is not really a place you can avoid if you have to take a train

A friend of mine get stole his camera bag on sukhumvit, in the lobby of the landmark hotel when he was registering for a room. He see nothing.. it take seconds and his bag vanished.
He's another friend of mine who'll not shout everywhere that thailand is one of the safest place of the world.
I'm not paranoiac since i get stole and friends too, just i'm aware more and stop to dream that thai people are so nice and gentle.. some of them are very skilled thiefs too. So.. take care of your belongings if they are valuable... great care

Regards

Frederic

[willow]

Apart from this episode I consider Thailand extremely safe, so have added it, only as a precautionary tale to a area..

I will venture into dark alleyways - until something happens there is no point in worring - you wouldn't get to cross a road... saying that - thats a risk in itself in BKK! 

The one and only time I have felt truly intimidated was at the Orchid Market, at Sing Khon border pass with Myanmar, near Prachup Kiri Khan.
I had wandered off from the “Family” and was happy taking shots, soon I noticed I had gathered a audience of 20 or so young local men watching me intently – maybe I had been targeted for robbery, fortunately there was a couple of official looking guys with guns nearby, they seemed to be following me also – I am sure their presence helped.
When I was joined by the “family” and it was apparent I wasn’t a lone farang, the officials wandered off, and the men dispersed.


Willow
 

[ginaellen]

Hi! You should take your camera for sure. You will be sorry if you don't because Thailand is such a beautiful country with endless photo opportunities. Maybe you could get some insurance.

I just signed up with a company called World Nomads...it is quite cheap and covers a lot of situations.

[celtasia]

Yes basic common sense the main thing. When in the more sulubrious areas, take a cheap camera, I use a yashica, with maybe only two lenses.. the quality of film and lens is far more important than the expensive body, and contax lenses can be cheap now if bought used. Of course yashica lenses even cheaper. But generally, Thailand is safe. Never has problems in Myanmar or Cambodia either, but take more care there.]
Steve

[David Salmanowitz]

I once had a police officer/military man get upset during a visa run at Poi Pet in Cambodia. I had photographed a big stone arch that was there, and he kept trying to remove my month old 20D from my hands but I refused to let go. He was shouting that I could not take a photo, so I apologized and offered to delete the photos--he was still intent on trying to get my camera, and I figured once it was in his hands it would become his and not mine. I deleted a photo for him, he smiled, and walked away--then turned and motioned that it was ok to take pictures! Later  I ended up deleting the few shots I had of the arch as they were not keepers.

[kinginexile]

Glad you fended off his intrusive behaviour, David. Most important,as many know, is to rely on the touristic playfulness behind the act of taking pictures (no claiming one's tourist Civil  Rights), plus being courteous, smiling, and apologetic while self-acknowledging that if you have not done anything wrong (important!), dragging the exchange on in these relaxed terms will put time on your side quickly.     

[Mike Horner]

Very safe - but if you were really unlucky and lose you Canon, you could always treat yourself to a real camera - Nikon - at a very good price !

Mike