[Leica] Touristy cameras

[Leo Wesson]

I was detained in customs in New Delhi for a half a day once; they thought
I was with CNN (I had video and still gear).  It was a nightmare.  They had
books that had the value of seemingly everything on earth in it...they
would ask me the value of a piece of equipment and then go look it up to
see if I was telling the truth.

It eventually came down to "how much money do you have"?  And that's how I
got out: with an empty wallet.

Leo Wesson
Photographer/Videographer
817.733.9157
www.leowesson.com

On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 11:08 AM, Larry Zeitlin via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
wrote:

> Ted and Nathan are right on. A friend of mine is head of security at a
> major NYC airport and tells me that new Leicas are rarely carried by
> tourists. Especially a couple of them. They will assume that you are either
> a photojournalist or intend to sell the cameras on the black market. If you
> must carry a Leica choose an old beat up one, especially with the vulcanite
> flaking off. And leave those very expensive lenses at home. Airport
> security personnel are not stupid and know the value of Leica and Zeiss
> optics. If you must carry a precision camera, choose a Canon, Nikon or an
> Olympus, preferably an older model. And whatever you do, don't carry
> anything which uploads a picture directly to wi-fi. Sorry, but that's the
> way it is.
> Larry Z
> + + + +
> Hi Tina,
> Nathan hit this right on the mark!
> Do not "Assume absolutely one iota of anything."
>
> One thing for sure, with a couple of cameras, certainly a couple not
> looking
> like tourist "selfie types you may get a little more attention than you
> expect?" Then again? NADA!
> Now remember my dear folks, we're not trying to spook you. Far from it,
> just
> hopefully assisting in a preparation thought process? Bottom line?
> We want you to come home and tell us all "IT WAS A PIECE OF CAKE!" That's
> it
> perfectly.Have a good one!
> Cheers,
> ted
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca at leica-users.org] On Behalf
> Of
> Nathan Wajsman
> Sent: February-02-16 2:03 PM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica MM
>
> I would not assume anything. Dictatorial regimes do not like
> photojournalists (or any kind of journalists), especially from abroad.
>
> Cheers,
> Nathan
>
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