Your Camera NEEDS a LOCK! END CAMERA THEFT!

[@Rikiworo]

Im pretty sure it has to do with manufactureres being mostly japan-based. I never felt worried about carrying my setup - it is a lot cheaper than most of mentioned things, 2k$ at most, but whenever i forget something somewhere - im 100% sure i'll get it back safely. I leave my mac that i use for work in the open and noone gives a crap. Whenever i forgot my phone, i always had it in the same place untouched or at register.

[@skyscraperfan]

I got the same impression. The fear of getting robbed seems to be quite American. In Japan you do not even have to lock your bike.

[@lisajohansson4329]

Thank you for doing this, I have been the victim of camera theft twice and it’s been horrible. Like you’ve pointed out, there’s so many easy things manufacturers could do yet so far they’ve done nothing about this. The first time it happened to me was in San Francisco, thousands of dollars of gear that took me years to save up for, and I still haven’t recovered from that. The second time only 6 months later I had my remaining backup camera body stolen along with a 600mm lens. The financial hit has been so much that I have almost stopped doing photography altogether as the risk keeps me from even wanting to try anymore. So from my perspective the industry is losing a lot of money due to people like me who don’t even want to take the risk anymore. I’ve been saying it for years, first big company to step up and do something will get my money.

[@dennischapin]

How did your equipment get stolen in San Francisco? I live 90 mins from SF and I used to go there to walk around and take photos but I stopped doing it when I started hearing about all the theft and people getting robbed at gun point.

[@scottstrang1583]

@@dennischapin Crime is no longer "crime."

[@CO8848_2]

How about catching thieves instead? LOL.

[@Alex-gb8lg]

Sorry for your loss. I know the feeling as my first theft incident happened in San Francisco as well. They know to target the vehicles that are rentals. I thought because the trunk was locked, my gear was safe. I was wrong. Lesson learned.

[@AlexT1212]

Eye ball scanner in the view finder! If its not your camera you get poked in the eye and the camera flies off into the sky and returns to a predetermined home point :D

[@Pflichteingabe]

Made me laugh, thanks 😂

[@ToddPangburn]

I recently upgraded my phone, and now I've found myself making the decision to not take my actual camera out with me into the world for this precise reason. It's not worth the risk of me and my family being targeted for theft. Now using my camera less I find it harder to justify buying a new lens or body.

[@f.iph7291]

Asking the companies won't cut it. They don't do anything about it. When you review a camera body, point a big negative con towards that camera for not having antitheft measures! In the conclusion you can say don't buy this camera until they add antitheft measures. Do it for all the brands. Maybe that'll work

[@jesphillips2193]

Sadly i can't use this trick, as i shoot aviation with a 600mm lens, which phones just can't do. Although my gear is quite cheap so wouldn't be much of an issue anyway.

[@scottstrang1583]

The fact that this is even an issue is because no one fears the law anymore. Is some scumbag watns to steal your stuff they think taking your (or a member of your family's ) life is worth it. God help you if you successfully defend yourself. This channel will never allow a posting of potential self defense options.

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

@@scottstrang1583 Stop being so paranoid.

[@robertbrown6060]

That is very sad. I don’t know where you are from. In the US there are so many guns and shootings but in the UK where I live fortunately that is very unlikely. So I’d need a bloody big knife to persuade me to give my camera over, even then, I’m not sure I would.

[@jefflewis428]

Thanks Tony and Chelsea for keeping this important conversation going and continuing to put pressure on the manufacturers to do what's right!!!

[@Px4164]

And what is right exactly? Every security feature on the phones can be unlocked by the pros, they are added for privacy reasons, not anti theft. I was robbed twice, and the most frustrating thing is that you still can't search photos by serial number properly, websites stripe information totally so finding the gear is impossible that is the direction that should go.

[@Eikenhorst]

Sounds like a simple solution would be to add a third function to the power switch. Instead of just on and off also add a 'lock' setting. Basically, after you put it to lock, the next time you turn it on, first only the screen turn on and you must enter a personal code via the touchscreen. Only then the camera turns on and you can take photos. You should not have to unlock whenever you turn it on, as you often want to be able to turn it on and shoot asap. You put it in the lock mode when you pack your camera away in your camera bag and you anyway decided that you didn't want to make a picture in an instant. Of course the camera can still be ripped out of your hands while you are making photos. For this it could be made that if the camera is off for over 1 day (could be reduced in the settings), it is automatically locked and the thief can't unlock it.

[@subwarpspeed]

I have an EOS R8. It has Bluetooth low energy chip, it's always on even if you put away the camera for a week. If I start the app on the phone (so it's not 'dead' but running in the background) the camera will connect to it each time. So they could have a lock that if the camera looses contact with that Bluetooth device (phone) it will require the pin at start.

[@Eikenhorst]

@@subwarpspeed It is a posibility, but this forces you to always bring a phone with you that is charged with bluetooth on. I have been in plenty situations where I didn't have my phone on (since there is no signal anyway) and keeping it on it would have died after the first day of the trip. But it is certainly an option that you should be able to enable in the camera for the majority of trips where this does make sense.

[@wedo10000]

Thank you for being an advocate of this important issue. I have been a victim of camera theft 3 times now over the past 25 years. That said, the solution to this problem needs to address lenses as well as they can easily account for the bulk of your photographic gear investment. With that in mind a PIN code to unlock your camera would be a good start but only protects the camera. An air tag built into the camera as well as lenses would make more sense to me.

[@Hyponx]

One of the reasons I bought a Sony RX1 was I reasoned it would be less likely to be noticed as an expensive camera by a potential thief. 100% agree that camera manufacturers need to up their game on theft protection.

[@LeonKolenda]

I lost 6K worth of gear by theft a few years ago. So I feel that pain! I also believe we can do things as well as, Camera Companies, and Camera Accessory companies. I'm sorry, but I don't use any bags backpacks, that advertise my gear on them. In Fact, two years ago, I traveled to Barcelona, Spain, In my research, I found that it was #1 in Camera, and Smartphone theft in the world. So I decided to leave my Canon gear at home. I used a Smaller Backpack that was Theft-proof, It had Wire mesh, throughout the bag, and steel wires in all the straps and add-ons. So glad I got one and still use it today. Thieves like to slash the bottom of Bags or Straps and grab and run. This gave me a much better feeling of security with my gear. Also, using waist straps adds another level of security. I'm all for Electronic Digital Camera security in more than one way. C'mon Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, This will benefit you as much as it would us. Make it a global Implementation. You don't hear about Banks being robbed very much anymore if at all, why, because of digital video Cameras.

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

It wouldn't benefit the manufacturers at all if they implemented a way to verify their hardware because by doing so they would facilitate the second-hand market for their brand's gear and miss out on sales of new gear. That is the reason they don't offer verification services for serial numbers.

[@ssmold]

Yes, anti thief security is wanted and needed to deter crime and provide peace of mind! Come'on Sony, be the pioneer!

[@Bladeclaw00100]

Very true. I use my phone or smaller camera/ camcorder in many situations just because of the risk factor of it getting stolen or me getting mugged. The registration and login feature should be implemented on all electronic lenses, microphones, headphones, lighting gear, and other expensive gadgets over a certain price. Bags should also have a chip built with this feature as an option, and registering a bind between gear should be optional as well for gear sharing or borrowing. The GPS feature will also help prevent event videographers / photographers from leaving behind gear in a shoot or at home. If it's added to memory cards or batteries, it can also prevent you from leaving without one as well. There are many ways tracking features can benefit photographers.

[@grumpyhighlander]

I could not agree more, don't forget DJI now owns Hasselblad so I look forward to an X2D with a pin code lock. That would be awesome

[@BigSlimyBlob]

I want an X2D so bad, but as long as it's got not security, it's as good as money and I can't risk buying one.

[@emmareporter4324]

also us amateurs and hobbyists with really old cameras from the 2000's and such should be covered by this. we probably can add passcode functionality to an older camera simply with a software update. say someone has a 5d classic or some other old professional camera. us beginners and hobbyists shouldn't be kept from these features. even if it's a crop camera from the original 5d era or whatever.

[@skyscraperfan]

Only if that PIN code is optional.

[@BigSlimyBlob]

@@skyscraperfan Obviously. It would be madness to make it mandatory.

[@tomd4748]

Dear god, isn’t DJI that Chinese company that just got their drones banned in the US?

[@MrChip1217]

How about tethering to your cell phone? Use that connection as a leash to far away and it bricks the camera. Also give cameras a find my feature so that you can use the GPS feature to track the location of your camera

[@RandumbTech]

I love love love that you keep talking about this. I routinely leave my expensive gear at home while traveling for fear of being targeted. This is why we can't have nice things. 😔

[@rayortega4831]

Unfortunately, I found myself in Manny's position in the beginning of my career and my business partner and i had our gear in a locked auditorium. We lost about 15k in gear at the time and I'm sorry to say we didn't have everything insured. I also grew up in West Texas (El Paso) and several of my family members, including my dad; are police officers, so I grew up around guns and own them as well. Aside from technology, like airtags, as potential deterrents, situational awareness is of utmost importance in keeping yourself and your gear safe. Insure everything and I know sometimes that might be cost prohibitive for some. I would say if you have really expensive gear that's not easily replaced, leave it at home or in safe and secure place. If you're on a shoot, go with at least one other person if possible, be aware of your surroundings, carry only the gear your actually need. If I don't need lights or mics, I only carry the camera I'm actually going to be shooting with, an extra lens or two, extra batteries and whatever little accessories I feel I might need and I keep it all in a cross body bag or small day pack. I also happen to carry a concealed gun on me especially If i'm going to be doing a shoot by myself out in the desert or in an area of town, that might be a little sketchy or unfamiliar to me. To carry a firearm is a personal decision and not one anyone should take lightly. I had the benefit of family with law enforcement and military training and learning how to responsibly own and fire a weapon and when to fire that weapon is important. Situational awareness is key to keeping yourself safe. Like Chelsea said trying to deescalate a situation is preferable to taking a more direct and violent action. If your gear is ensured or you have something hidden in your gear that can help you or the authorities locate your gear, let it go, you're safety and life is much more important than your gear. When we depend on that gear to pay our bills and feed our families, it's a hard pill to swallow. At the end of the day, your gear is replaceable, you're not. Using a weapon of any kind, especially a firearm, is only a last resort and only if it becomes clear that they intend to harm you regardless of your compliance. Appreciate you guys bringing this up and stay safe everyone!

[@PhotowalksTV]

As a victim of camera theft in San Francisco, I'm with you on this all the way.

[@SanPedro22]

Here’s one trick I use. I lived in Honduras for20 years. Using a camera bag in ANY country is dangerous. It basically says - BIG money in this bag! Come and get it. In Honduras I buy these large plastic vegetable bags in the market. 50 cents. Anyone seeing these looks like you only have onions and tomatoes in your bag. Not worth stealing. I usually put soft towels on the inside to soften the cameras, and no one has ever bothered me. I still use these bags the same way in the US.

[@StonyLaneFarmhouse]

Definitely have my signature! It’s a shame you have to always look over your shoulder. As a female photographer, I always bring my husband with me if we go somewhere with my better camera gear, and his job is to just strictly people watch so I can focus on what I’m trying to photograph. And if he can’t come….i just don’t go, and it’s a shame it’s come down to that.

[@jim-t4q]

This sounds all well and all but I don't want my cameras tied to some cloud provider that may or not be available down the road and then my camera potentially becomes a brick. Would much rather see a system where I have a key that plugs into the usb port that I use to unlock the camera, for specified amount of time, etc.

[@jim-t4q]

Actually could be pretty simple, using digital certificate that you copy onto your own usb drive and keep in a safe place. Minimal effort, no cost for the camera manufacturer. You provide the USB drive, generate certificate in the camera, save to the usb, back that up etc.

[@jeffrey3205]

Yea, I don't like DJI style but having local protection like a fingerprint sensor or password screen is way acceptable

[@skyscraperfan]

That is an important point. The idea that the manufacturer could brick your camera is frightening. Even car manufacturers can remotely disable your car today against your will. It is still YOUR car.

[@glenpearson8277]

Finger print scanner on the shutter button 🤯BOOM🤯

[@okaro6595]

Fingerprint is not that good. If can fail. However, a camera protection does not need to be as aggressive as a phone protection. It is good enough that it asks a code once a day. The idea is to prevent the use of the camera, not to protect any data inside.

[@OliverReinhard]

I prefer finger print or eye scan any day over PIN.

[@glenpearson8277]

Retina scanning on the view finder 🤯BOOM🤯BOOM🤯

[@cristibaluta]

@@okaro6595 a code once a day is 10000 times more than needed. fingerprinting is best, it does not fail and it does not need to be checked at every shoot, but only once when you turn on the camera

[@Lofote]

@@OliverReinhardAs a secondary option, yes, but there needs to be a fallback to PIN when your fingerprint isnt recognized out of ... any reason (dirty sensor/finger, cold finger, hurt finger, wearing gloves, etc. etc.)

[@classic.cameras]

I have all my "good" gear insured. I have lots of vintage lenses and such not insured but my camera bodies and AF lenses are all covered. I have them insured as "Personal Floaters".

[@gamebuster800]

Yeah but insurance doesn't prevent theft. You are still a target for armed robbery.

[@TimHunold]

I take memory out of cameras and place in my pockets in storage cases so if they grab the gear, I don't lose my income. Auto cloud uploading is another piece of gear to steal but something. Most camera thefts are bag snatch and grabs when you are not paying attention. If it is around your neck that is a different defensive posture, and a more brazen thief that doesn't mind letting you see their face. Phone theft is super profitable by dropping them off at phone recycling vending machines. Some are worth $300 a piece

[@okaro6595]

The protection should also apply to the lenses. They often are worth more than the body.

[@ThermalWorld_]

Yeah nice Appol style anti repair idea.. In this way the camera company can lock your lens to the camera body so if you want to sell it you can't because the gear need to perform pairing before work..

[@BigSlimyBlob]

I gave up on buying a Hasselblad because it's basically like carrying thousands of dollars on you (openly so, if you work with people). If you have a home studio, a thief can simply book a session with you to get into your house and get you to take you camera out of its safe or hiding place. This is incredibly dangerous. It's infuriating that photographers don't seem to care. Most of them that I've talked to about this have mocked me for my concerns. But if DJI is implementing security features, perhaps Hasselblad will as well.

[@DJProPlusMax]

Especially when DJI owns them!

[@DJProPlusMax]

Well, I actually have an issue with DJI’s bound vs unbound thing. The same goes for older iPhones and iPads, which have been reset but not unlinked from their respective accounts - tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands go into e-waste just because of that, and linking those lenses would be even more annoying since those you often keep for longer than the camera body. I think cameras are still more durable and worth keeping for longer than an iPhone or iPad or something (don’t get obsolete as quickly) and relying on the cloud seems like a disastrous idea, especially when it is already happening with those older iPhones and iPads. And linking those components - what if they were to break? Especially on the camera bodies and or lenses, which are notoriously difficult to repair (atleast newer ones). I think just the lock screen or as I described it last time, “boot screen” would be the most viable option as of now, and maybe those AirTags could be integrated into the batteries, since they are consumables anyways, but as always - this needs to be thought through more and it is a good thing we are talking about it :).

[@SpencerLupul]

this ^

[@batuhancokmar7330]

Thank you for bringing this up. If there is enough demand, its shockingly easy for manufacturers to add SOME security to cameras. Storage encrpytion, and pin is a good start which can be implemented by adding like 20 lines of code in and pushed through a firmware update. Then a more comprehensive software update to both camera and lens firmware which a) adds a feature to bind your lenses to your body(s) and have option to lock lens/body and ask for a pin if its mounted to a body/lens it doesn't recognize. b) checks for individual serial numbers of components. For example, if sensor's or screen's serial number doesn't match what is stored on the motherboard, it locks the camera permenantly. This would prevent theft for parts. All of this is doable to even 10 year old DSLRs without ANY hardware modifications. Finally, add fingerprint sensor to new cameras for added concinience. Sensor itself costs like what? 5$? Personally, I don't bother upgrading my D800 to anything new, but a proper, cellphone-like security alone would convince me to switch.

[@Lofote]

It's a bit more. It should be possible to say "ok don't ask the next 24hours again", or 2 days, or... , because on a wedding I would not accept it to lock down, because moments are important there, and any delay in startup is simply not possible. Also for fingerprint, there needs to be a secondary login, like PIN, if finger login is not available (finger hurt, cold, dirty, wearing gloves, etc.)

[@batuhancokmar7330]

@@Lofote If we are diving into details, it should be possible to delay or completely turn off every setting, and do so for specific functions. Not only I hate starup delays, as an amateur photographer, I share my camera with friends often. So I'd want to configure it as such everyone can use my camera to take pictures and save to my SD card without PIN. Just ask for a PIN when previewing or transferring photos, change my settings or change lenses/memory cards. Personally, I don't really care THAT much about equipment itself, I care about my privacy more.

[@phoenixr6811]

This is a great conversation 👏🏾 camera security is well needed. Whether we like it or not the camera is like a phone,car or even home that needs security now🤔

[@jeffrey3205]

What camera companies can do is heve a fingerprint reader and password since most of them are now touch screen. Before the finger print on the phone screens there use to be a little finger screen at the back of the phone. This could be implemented in the power button of the camera so once you turn it on your finger would register as you having authorisation to use the camera, of course it would need to have a fair amount of users than can access the usage of the camera since cameras are used in schools and photography and film companies normally have multiple persons using the gear. An app can control the users just as the door lock do. All they would have to do is make the power button a little bigger and place it in an ergonomic location. For the time being I believe firmware can create password protection from the touch screen.

[@mila_and_i]

I have a beat up 12 year old Panasonic micro four thirds camera and a cheap ass pancake lens that I bought to take with me to high risk places. It still takes better pictures than a smartphone. And I loved this setup so much for its discreetness and compactness that it became my pocket everyday carry camera.

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

Expensive camera gear needs anti-theft built into the camera's programming, like biometrics authentication used in cellular phones. Tony & Chelsea, this was an incredible video presentation

[@josephyang3260]

How about a biometric fingerprint scanner in the shutter button. Or if they want to implement something in all cameras is to have just a simple passcode lock. For cameras with touchscreens they could allow entering in the passcode with the touchscreen, without you could use the d pad. Then just have a setting for how often you need to login. And then like an iPhone or android if you can’t enter the password correctly the camera gets disabled until you can enter the password correctly. Also include a timer for wrong passcodes. Lastly, include something like an AirTag inside the camera that runs off an internal watch battery that needs a special key to change the battery. At a minimum the whole passcode option can be added to all cameras via an update. Biometrics and internal AirTags are for future camera updates

[@-AtomsPhere-]

Ugh, I hate thieves. It’s wild to me that people think it’s ok to just take other people’s stuff. Real low life loser behavior.

[@CO8848_2]

Well, the left thinks it's called social justice.

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

They don't regard us as humans. To them, we're just a self-help store 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tomd4748]

Been a thing for the past like 2 million years

[@VictorGee]

I had a camera stolen at an event. FYI, the basic level of Photo Care insurance from PPA won't cover instances of theft where there is no physical evidence of the theft. Someone just walking off with your camera if you set it down won't be covered.

[@jhenry248]

No security feature is going to stop physical theft. Thieves are not going to check for lock out PIN or tracking chips. Your equipment will be gone it's that simple. Gear insurance is the only viable option for financial recovery. And uploading your photos to the cloud while you're taking photos would be a great safe guard against losing your files. If we're discussing recovering your gear if it's been lost or misplaced then a tracking chip makes more sense.

[@BigSlimyBlob]

When thieves find that 90% of the cameras they steal can't be sold because the buyer (even if it's a fence) sees a code lock when they try the device, those thieve are going to target photographers a lot less often. It's not 100%, but it does have an effect. A very significant one. For me the gear recovery is the third highest concern. A thief making money off of stealing my property is second. Being stabbed, shot or otherwise injured for my gear is first.

[@jhenry248]

@@BigSlimyBlob not true at all, the modern automobile have the most sophisticated that theft deterrent system in place and they still get stolen and shipped overseas. The same thing with a camera, they'll steal it ship it overseas and they'll have someone to break pass the security checks. Let's be real.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Re automobiles, we discuss the fact that anti-theft measures have reduced theft by like 75%. Security isn't all-or-nothing.

[@joshuamontgomery0]

I actually decided not to take my camera abroad for fear of being targeted for my spring break trip next week because of fear of theft. Thank you for addressing this.

[@iraparsons9779]

This is only a good idea if it is user enabled. Imagine missing the image of a lifetime because the touchscreen didn't respond to your gloves, or the fingerprint sensor was covered in water or ice, or the facial recognition didn't recognize your warm beanie. The simplicity of being able to escape the constant stress of everyday life, and simply flip a switch and lose myself in the moment is one of the main reasons I do photography.

[@mynameisben123]

Pro cameras allow you to change every minute detail in the menus, I’m sure they would allow it to be optional if they actually implemented this

[@-MrEVIL-]

How do smartphones take photos while being locked then?

[@gamebuster800]

@@-MrEVIL- they don't need to unlock to take photos, just to view them. Which is obviously the right solution: Don't need to unlock to take photos, but once you want to do anything else, you need to enter your pin or whatever.

[@-MrEVIL-]

@@gamebuster800 EXACTLY

[@subwarpspeed]

But the point of the camera is to take photos. With a locked phone you can change settings for the photo - the camera will need the adjustment options and that's the whole point of it. And you can remove the memory card to view/use they pictures. So no, I think you should be able to take pictures without unlocking it. But the setting for all this should be possible to disable. To get ordinary people using it though maybe it should be the default - set it up and then after some disclaimer screens you can have it disabled until you enable it again (like going on a trip).

[@OlegNikitin17]

Last year my 10K$ worth of camera gear was stolen in Italy, and if my camera and lenses had the security measures I could at least have a chance, but as the time shows - as for now there is 0.00001% chance of getting anything back. I hope it’s a matter of time when those technologies are going to be implemented, and thanks a lot guys for pointing this out!

[@Chromatomic]

Yep, had 15k in gear stolen in 2017, at the end of a trip and lost all the photos too, I did have insurance at least. I thought I was safe with my hard drives and cards in separate bags. But my car was packed for the airport and everything was taken. I've also done the same thing for casual trips where I might take my older ar7r2 and a lens and leave the expensive kit at home. I also like having ratty looking backpacks so they don't look like they have expensive stuff in them but add a tripod and that goes out the window.

[@farreach84]

7:20 Don't know why other countries don't do this. We already have that system in place from major brands, Sony, Nikon, Canon, etc, in Korea. Yes, it won't work if the person who bought the camera don't really check the serial with brands' DB (register under new owner's name) and yes it won't work if the person who bought the camera only goes to third party repair shops. Of course it won't deter thieves from stealing cameras. But at least you have a lead to catching the thief and ,if the gears are sold immediately, you can purchase back the stolen gears at least and have insurance/police handle the damages. This method requires vigorous practice/participation from both brands and each members of photography society.

[@PaulSafford]

Don't think PPA's included insurance is going to come thru for you. I had a lens stolen out of a Hyatt lobby out of a bellman's cart. Their security chief wouldn't release the video for what ever reason and PPA's insurance said without evidence of theft they could not provide coverage. I went thru my home owners but the deductible is high. This was years ago but the lens stolen was quite valuable at the time, a sigma 300-800. Worst part was it was at the beginning of a trip to the grand canyon so every time I had an opportunity to get some bird photos I kept thinking if only I had my lens... Local PD were of no help, just gave me a report number so I could file the claim with my home owners. BTW, this was in Phoenix.

[@Ra-Hul-K]

that sucks.. if they don't intend to release the video thereby making it useful, then why do they have security cameras in the first place.. should've talked to a lawyer

[@PaulSafford]

@@Ra-Hul-K It’s their video for limiting their liabilities, I doubt you could get a copy thru the courts unless there was a criminal case brought against them.

[@V8-friendly]

You guys picked a good topic to discuss - thanks! Disturbing times. Even I as only an amateur enthusiast, I sometimes feel not at total ease when I am pretty much all alone in a park at/after sunset with my Canon 5D Mk IV and Canon 100-400mm L lens. Probably not much money for you as professionals, but I had to save up for it for a looooong time. Still, I prefer it over my phone since in low light it just works better and smartphone zoom sucks. I don’t believe in carrying a gun or knife, so I am pretty much helpless if something happens - frustrating. And while I am gone, my $70K+ car sits all alone there too, out of sight in an empty lot - for which I saved an eternity, since I purchase everything new and pay in cash. But it will not stop me from pursuing my hobby. I only feel, if you are somewhat tense, it shows in your pictures. My ebike, I can lock via smartphone app, that’s at least something.

[@gamebuster800]

I don't worry about my car, since car theft is mostly a solved problem and people don't steal cars while you sit in it. My biggest issue with camera theft is not losing my camera (insurance covers that) but personal harm, both emotional and physical.

[@VABrowneMDPhD]

This is such an important problem! Thank you for repeatedly raising this problem to camera manufacturers. Biometrics make a lot of sense! Cameras could read your eye when you put it up to the viewfinder, or read your fingerprint. I love the idea of AirTag type technology built into the camera.

[@daqq]

I would rather physically secure my camera than to software secure it. I don't want my camera locking me out.

[@jeffrey3205]

And that's the hurdle camera manufacturer have to jump over, how to make it safe on one hand but comfortably accessible to the user also

[@BigSlimyBlob]

More robust rings would be welcome, especially for people who would keep the security lock feature disabled.

[@fanofc-adecoulomb8477]

​@@BigSlimyBlob purchase a Full cage or half cage for your camera, it would provide better mounting points. Then you can use any manor of lock off, rigging or body locks. As many have mentioned before, software security measures are mostly meaningless for cameras unless you disable the ability to flash firmware.

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

3:53 I'm in complete agreement with Tony on this. It's a silly and childish revenge fantasy to think about a violent response to theft or even robbery. As long as the people just want your property and their goal isn't to harm you, as is usually the case, why would you escalate by brandishing a weapon? It makes no sense to any adult person, only to childish people who need to grow up.

[@bobdamico1099]

sounds great but cars have fairly hefty anti-theft devices and they are still stolen all the time. For me the only thing to do is, insurance ,be more aware of your surroundings and always stay in physical contact with whatever camera equipment you take out with you. In my 50 years of shooting all over the world, I have had cameras stolen twice, both times were mostly carelessness on my part, once at an airport and the other in the middle of nowhere.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

We discuss car thefts in the podcast. But yeah it's not going to be unbreakable, we're just looking for marginal improvement.

[@Alltomhusbilen]

I love fingerprint sensors to unlock my Mac and my phone, less to remember. Should be possible to have also on a camera.

[@adamparker1676]

At some point the theives will stop stealing the camera and just steal the lenses, which can be even more expensive, it may be easier to lock down the camera,but what about the lenses?

[@TonyAndChelsea]

We discuss that. My concept is that the lenses would trade digital signatures with the camera, essentially authenticating each other and only working with registered lenses. It would probably require hardware updates to the lenses, so in the very least, stolen lens serial numbers could be registered online and the camera could notify the user if the lens had been registered as stolen.

[@adamparker1676]

@@TonyAndChelsea sorry, I started to type before you got to that point, my fault for being impatient

[@tomd4748]

I got an air tag literally inside my laptop. I took the bottom cover off, rubber cemented the thing, then replaced the cover. Done. You’re also absolutely not legally able eliminate someone for snatching your bag. Don’t ever forget that.

[@Iruinyourkdr]

Haven’t even watched yet but already know this is a need!!!

[@zaccaldwell]

The day my camera locks me out while shooting a wedding is the last day I own that camera. I really wish there was a solution.

[@okaro6595]

The camera could ask a PIN code once a day, or even once a week. It is no need to ask it constantly.

[@BigSlimyBlob]

Obviously the lock wouldn't be mandatory, you could simply disable the security lock feature at the start of your work day and reenable it at the end. Or it could read your fingerprint when you turn the device on.

[@farreach84]

After seeing DJI's bound vs unbound, I think traditional camera manufacturers can incentivize by increasing the repair cost 30% and offering 35% or 40% off *repeating* *non-expiring*repair coupons for registered/bound serial and transferable only when you unbound the serial from your account.

[@alanm.6096]

A timely video. Thank you. A good lesson not to buy any more camera equipment than you need. Some ideas for security... 1. get rid of the branded camera strap which features the 'Please Steal Me' message. 2. get the manufacturer to put the model number of the body on the BACK of the camera only. 3. get some black gaffer tape to cover the model number (thieves know exactly what to steal) 4. design password enabled entry when the camera is turned on 5. provide an electronic lock system so the lens cannot be removed (people have been distracted and have had lenses spun right off) 6. forget about camera equipment and master that expensive smart phone: at least you can place it in a zippered pocket. 7. as much as possible, if you have a bag of equipment, try to keep your back to a wall within crowds. 8. small combination locks on your zippers...especially in pickpocket infested Europe. It is too easy to be distracted. Remaining vigilant is the best form of insurance.

[@tonybaker55]

It also depends on your local laws as to what action you can take against thieves. You could be the one being prosecuted, if not careful. I use finger print security on my phone and as a password too on most apps.

[@bySeneca]

More people need to talk about this!

[@Seventhviper]

A simple solution to me is request a pin every few turn on's (user definable upto a reasonable amount). That way you could test it when buying used gear quite easily through a number of on-off operations, and you'd then need to enter the pin to change that number in the menu's. Simple and relatively unintrusive. I rarely turn off my camera during a shoot as the sleep function works so well to save battery anyway and it'll quickly become habit not to turn off the camera often.

[@xmay4444]

In the UK in the 90s, the government threatened to publish a list of the easiest cars to steal. That made the car manufacturers, who had no motivation to increase security on their cars, to realise their would not be attractive to potential buyers. Camera companies need to be exposed in the same way.

[@Nikita13337]

all cameras are easy to steal

[@kennycantin3872]

@@Nikita13337 unfortunately, you are right. So I think that the best theft deterrent will be having some way to disable a camera when it is stolen so that it cannot be sold.

[@skesinis]

I think that biometrics is probably the best way to go in the future. All the smartphone companies didn’t implement them for no reason. Entering just a code is going to be unsafe too, if it has to be all the time. On the other hand, if it’s done once a month or so, it could be asked from you for example when you’re shooting a wedding, and you might’ve forgotten it, which could make things go south very quickly. If it’s asked all the time though, it’s becoming a potential risk for someone to follow you before stealing your gear, and see you entering it. On a free firmware update, the password or online registrationcould be the only option for existing gear, and if you could manage for example how often you want to be asked for it, before it locks up it’d be great. The internal air-tags technology sounds also as a good solution moving forward for new gear too. Overall, copying what the smartphone companies have already done, is probably the best tactic.

[@aviatorman8]

Totally agreed. Whenever I watch a new camera review, I immediately comment asking if it has computational photography. Will be adding a question if it has anti theft features as well.

[@actionimagesphotography]

When they send you on these trips, do your interviews and ask the question.

[@jeffrey3205]

Agreed, and come with solutions also, if you convince them with a solution you're halfway there😊

[@tonyy452]

The manufactures are missing a trick with the GPS/Cellular connectivity because they could create bundles that include online storage. They're trying hard to push storage subscriptions, but it's a harder sell when cameras don't have the ease of connectivity that a Mobile phone has. A GPS/Cellular deal could be just the thing to boost their storage subscription sales.

[@dancnbear]

Tony-Chelsea! Thanks so much for all the tools and tricks you share. I truly appreciate your incredible knowledge, compassion and generosity. My wife just tuned in this video on my behalf, I was working in the kitchen. I heard you discussing the DJI drone registration process and I wanted to share with you that DJI does this registration process, as a requirement under the U.S. laws and regulations for aviation safety. I purchased an Autel 6k video drone and was required to perform the same type of online registration process, (because it's required by the FAA.) It might turn out to be a benefit to buyers/sellers, protecting owners from theft, but DJI didn't do it to protect you. The Federal Government forced them to do it. I thought that you'd want to know. Thanks Again, Dan

[@markusdammasch9108]

Thanks guys for taking on this subject. There are so many easy ways to solve this problem that it's hard to understand that no one has solved this problem.

[@michaelt1103]

I haven't had anything stolen but I still agree and want security features added. There's no excuse to not at least have screen locks, especially given they can all push them out to existing cameras through updates.

[@kle_py]

Thanks for bringing this sad topic. I had been stolen equipment while not at home, impossible to recover anything even having all serial numbers. I also often dont take my gear if i know i cannot watch all the time, or if the scene might be dangerous. Maybe the dji mechanics could be implemented between the camera app (most cameras nowadays have it) and the camera, no need for internet. Might lock/unlock the lenses too. Maybe the lenses would need a firmware upgrade for this (fix lens at darkest aperture if locked?). A pity for old and manual lenses. Ok, security incomplete, so maybe yes send gps to some server over internet when authenticating. Maybe i could stick some smart tag to everything and have a "carry bag zone alarm" - "gadget flock zone guard" if i run around on an event site with my camera and 1 lens, if someone moves my bag or some item from it the alarm with gps might go on ? But let me change lens or pick items from the bag, if i am close with the "master" camera ? Maybe if camera manufacturers allow access to some logical API, some independent hacker could add this feature to the camera, like magic latern?

[@gfawhiterose8838]

The shutter button with fingerprint, a mini gps tracker built in

[@LifeOn18Wheels]

Heart broken when my gear was stolen last year out of my semi truck. Had to slowly build back from scratch. Some of the ideas you've mentioned seem just like a no-brainer.

[@wismokey]

A good discussion but the only thing one can do is have insurance for all of the photo gear. Passwords, PINS, etc don't stop theft. Trail cameras have PINS, I had one stolen and never had it recovered. It only reduces some thieve sales. Will the lens, flash, etc have the same anti-theft tech?

[@veivoli]

Tony, I've made this suggestion before. Put a fingerprint reader in the shutter button. *Fairly* secure and minimal impact on the legitimate user. It's been an option on cell phones and notebook computers for a while, so the technology isn't that mysterious. Link lenses and other accessories to the bodies that are unlocked by a known fingerprint. Set up through menu options... It's something that a person with a background in IT security, like yourself, could work on. Just give me a cut of the royalties! 🙂 Edit: Oh, and a lot of cameras have Bluetooth and/or wireless networking. Include something like "find my PC." Second edit: I wrote that before I got all the way through your video. I see you've had the same thought!

[@GreenLightFlight]

As someone who never locks his car, leaves his window down, with keys in the ignition and camera on the passenger seat, I'm absolutely not interested in buying a camera that requires you to log in. As an optional feature? Sure. Mandatory feature? Sketchy.

[@AmbercoolPhotography]

Curious. Does that mean Europe sells less cameras because of theft? Or are tourists are the primary targets and local photographers have nothing to fear.

[@amcluesent]

Why does Tony count everything on his fingers?

[@dct124]

I think the camera manufacturers and customers should have registered cameras/lenses similar to owning a firearm so that when you sell your gear, ownership can be transferred over and if they work with reputable seller platforms like eBay, MPB, KEH, B&H, Adorama, etc. your gear can be found within their database if they try to list it. Also having a central system similar to VINWIKI where those serial numbers are stored so if you plan to private sell, the serial number can be transferred over or at the least a new buyer can look up the serial number to know if the body was stolen via a database reporting system. To make things simple, a QR code sticker, engraved serial number, and serial number inside the camera menu system in case those are removed or scratched.

[@mrcassioo]

Important subject. Keep pushing this guys! Considering the values we're talking about here it baffles me that the camera companies haven't come further, especially the brands that also do other things where theft is already a focused area (Sony and smartphones etc).

[@mmxcix]

This reminded of one photographer KZbinr bragging about how much money he has hanging around his neck and in his camera bag whilst oblivious about what bad actors in the real world are willing to do to steal that camera he was bragging about. 😂 It's a totally different world now these days. You can't have nice things or at least display it for the world and invite bad elements.

[@darylcheshire1618]

Small problem with AirTags is that I leave a bag in the car and walk a distance and am reminded of something left in my car, ie a false positive. But it has save me from losing my keys on a couple of occasions.

[@CRaul87]

All camera makers are stuck in the early 2000s tech wise and they so not desire to change other than more mpx and more fps...

[@istvann.huszar420]

Fully agreed!

[@Nikita13337]

All camera makers are stuck in Japan where camera theft is not a problem

[@CRaul87]

@@Nikita13337 also true :)

[@sophietucker1255]

Like so many things now you don’t know you need it until you have it. Cruise control, adaptive cruise control, AC in the car, satellite radio and rear window wipers. Didn’t know I needed those now they are must haves. The problem for the cameras is that we presently have a plethora of log ins and passwords and they are a pain to keep track of and many of us are at our wits end to keep track of them all. An eye scan or fingerprint is nice but then you can’t hand it to a friend to shoot a picture of you or whatever. Perhaps passive tracking is the answer. So many cameras already have GPS so how hard could it be to add tracking. I have added colorful lens hoods and have blacked out the names on my Canon and FujiFilm cameras. Easily removed but it also makes it less easy to identify the brand for that grab and run thief looking for that Leica or latest CanonNikonSony camera. I had a guy watching me too closely on the street until he noticed my camera was bright red because of the silicon cover I had on it and the outside of the lens hood was painted a very light shiny blue. Too easy to remove I know but it does make it stand out for the quick grab and run thieves who depend on blending in after running for a block or two.

[@dct124]

Nikon made a point to add the lock on the D6 b/c of the Brazil Olympics. They had a lot of cameras stolen, like robo cameras from all brands. They also had photographers robbed that were on buses just heading back and forth to their hotels. What I really wonder though, is why Nikon didn't add it to the Z9 as well.

[@Hodenkat]

The problem with taking cheaper gear is you don't get the shot you were after. I have a cheaper camera and lens but they do a poor job in low light. Not cool if I want to get some night shots. Fine if it were to get stolen, but not fine if my photos come out like garbage. They also need to work on protecting lenses. So many lenses are worth more than the camers.

[@matthconphoto]

Thanks for the great video and creating more awareness about the topic! I'm curious how the camera industry will implement some solutions in the future. I like the DJI approach and in addition to that, I wouldn't mind entering a pass code on my gear - you could also "authorize" lenses that way and when you don't use the lens on a not authorized body the AF would not work (on most new lenses it's focus by wire)

[@NikonDave]

Thanks for staying on this topic. I double guess my packing decisions on every trip lately knowing this is a potential problem.

[@raytaylor4199]

Most manufacturers will do nothing, stolen camera gear means you’ll file an insurance claim and they get to sell you all your camera gear again. More sales, same with many expensive items including cars.

[@Kliffot]

There are no theft in Japan and near all the companies are Japanese. Built in GPS "airtag" + internet account is a must have. Fingerprint reader could be nice too. These protections should exist for those who want the option.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Yeah, maybe the answer is as simple as "Anti-theft isn't necessary in Japan" (and the Japanese engineers are less aware of needs for non-Japanese). I see that "Japan had the lowest theft rate of the G8 countries in 2016." $99 trail cameras have PIN codes and cellular connections, so it's definitely possible.

[@asificam1]

Anti theft would be very nice. I'd like to see a pin code that digitally locks all the chips including the ones in the lenses and other expensive parts that have electronics that control them. Then you enter the PIN on the body say once per day, and that generates a one time internal code which is sent to all lenses and gear that touch the body, this would mean that the gear would only be unlocked when it touches a body that is authorized. Then you could have a way to remove the lock for sales. However, making photographers harder targets like if all of them acted out against the thieves... especially if they were bent on stopping the thieves or destroying the gear if that fails could deter thieves since they also don't want to get hurt. Trouble is that this only works if all or most photographers will retaliate against would-be thieves, deterring thieves only works if all thieves are actually afraid to rob people. I like the PIN based methods since they are local and offline. Internally this could be done via cryptographic signatures from the body(ies) that are bound to that lens or other accessory, the body generates a new signature each time the PIN is entered, and then it only really causes a delay once per day or once per shoot. Another option could be these new YubiKey two factor tokens and the thousands of other compatible USB tokens. They often have NFC so literally just touching the body could unlock everything that camera touches for the day without the PIN.

[@morbly]

I really like that firmware/ lost or stolen message idea. Like I said before there just needs to be some sort of secure lock to the message or else it could easily be flashed over. Flashing firmware is common, it’s the standard way firmware is updated on canon cameras and probably most of the others. It’s just done by inserting a sad card with the proper files on it. Unless that security message is locked, it would be easy enough to do that professional thieves won’t realistically be deterred, especially if those thieves work at a camera shop or pawn shop. Maybe also include the message in the metadata of photos produced by that camera until it changes ownership, Canon already does something close to this.

[@markstephens6238]

Great conversation and some really good ideas! Work toward the same tech that cell phones have and make it a value add for camera companies.... A big issue however is expensive lenses since most can't have electronic protection unless somehow the lens manufactures can key the lens to a camera but not ideal and difficult to implement. One other suggestion when traveling is to consider renting from LensRentals (or other) - most equipment rentals will offer insurance for damage and theft. This is a nice option for say a Safari, since that equipment is generally very expensive to own and travel with (some safari companies allow you to rent equipment from them). I get it, it's not YOUR equipment and rental agencies are not inexpensive... but it does give you the chance to try something new and use equipment that you might not be able to purchase. If you are a professional, the cost of insurance, carrying and storing and routine repair and cleaning, makes the cost of renting a few times a year easier. Just a thought.

[@Martinwhynot]

This sounds like a great idea but will it stop theft, really? My expensive phone night be stolen whether I have a PIN screen lock or not?

[@gamebuster800]

iPhones are notoriously poor picks for theft due to great security measures. Thiefs will just steal something else. Risk vs Reward thing. Cameras are no risk and high reward.

[@tomegan4060]

They profit more with out it because you buy a new camera. Maybe they need to offer theft insurance thru manufacturers

[@jkbordoloi]

A finger print sensor on the shutter button is not rocket science. Tony has been advocating for it and I fully support it.

[@D_Cimini]

Adding all the security available is not going to protect your devices from being stolen and anyone that says otherwise is misguided because lets say you immobilize your devices after being stolen the thief is just going to end up throwing it away most likely as it becomes worthless to sell or the thief is going to disassemble for parts which will enable them to sell online. . All this is going to do is pass more costs to the consumer for installation of the biometric or Immobilizer devices and the real costs added will be to the implementation and programing/coding/monitoring of software which is were 90 percent of the costs associated with antitheft are. The less expensive solution is to just make sure that you are insured for your gear which if you have all this expensive equipment is a no brainer. I have 40k of coverage that costs me about $29 a month or $355 a year which is pretty cheap and gives piece of mind.

[@robertowen-jones443]

I 100% support your efforts on this. I regularly travel with $50K plus worth of gear in remote locations (I’m talking Africa remote). Where do we sign your petition?

[@qamstel]

I think manufacturers believe that pros with stolen cameras will buy again a camera. They are probably worried that they will lose a potential revenue stream for second, third camera.

[@nerdynautilus5373]

Camera manufacturers are intrinsically incentivized to not include theft protection because photographers rely on their gear and if it gets stolen then the photographers will just have to buy more. They are aware that most professional photographers have their gear insured anyway and so they gladly make profit if gear gets lost, damaged, or stolen. The consumers lose but the camera manufacturers win

[@justinbuettner8547]

I see what you are saying, but in practice I would hate this so much! If it could be disabled then fine, but if Sony put a lock I had to unlock every time I turned on my camera I would immediately switch brands.

[@jeffrey3205]

Not if the finger print sensor was as fast as flipping the power switch.

[@BigSlimyBlob]

Obviously they wouldn't make the locking feature mandatory. You could simply not enable it. Or it could be a fingerprint read when you turn the device on.

[@gamebuster800]

how about you can still take photos but as soon as you want to enter the menu or browse (older) pictures, you need to unlock. Just like your phone.

[@justinbuettner8547]

@@gamebuster800 I would not upgrade a camera ever again if they employ that. I hate the way it is on my phone, but it is a deal breaker on my camera.

[@michaelmarquardotzen4241]

Hey Tony and Chelsea. Thank you for such a great video. I don't know if it is possible, but what if camera manufacturers secure their gear in the same way that you secure your phone? Like biometrics? Face ID, like the iPhone or fingerprint unlock on Android? If you cannot unlock the camera using biometrics from the owner, it cannot be operated. The buttons don't work, you cannot open the battery compartment to charge the battery, you cannot open the memorycard slot to take out the memorycard. Yes, these key features would have to be behind electrically opereated latches, so if the battery dies, you cannot open these compartments. But what is the alternative? Stolen camera gear? Just a thought. Thank you for having such a great channel and always providing such great content.

[@Topgunphoto]

One of the main reasons I started carrying a gun, going out so many mornings for a sunrise in sometimes lonely locations where I'm by myself.

[@Ra-Hul-K]

here's an idea for third-party battery grip manufacturers: put a gps tracker into your battery grip and provide air tag like capabilities too.. many people would be happier to pay for it.. at least you would be able to track your camera in the vicinity where it was stolen

[@lowerleftside]

A PIN that is entered once a day could be implemented on almost every camera in use today. They could make you register the camera to implement the pin and have a longer reset pin that is stored on the camera manufacturers server. That way if you forget your pin it could be reset. I do like the idea of a finger print scanner on the shutter button. They could also implement facial recognition t like phones do too.

[@josephyang3260]

How about a biometric fingerprint scanner in the shutter button. Or if they want to implement something in all cameras is to have just a simple passcode lock. For cameras with touchscreens they could allow entering in the passcode with the touchscreen, without you could use the d pad. Then just have a setting for how often you need to login. And then like an iPhone or android if you can’t enter the password correctly the camera gets disabled until you can enter the password correctly. Also include a timer for wrong passcodes. Lastly, include something like an AirTag inside the camera that runs off an internal watch battery that needs a special key to change the battery. At a minimum the whole passcode option can be added to all cameras via an update. Biometrics and internal AirTags are for future camera updates

[@nativestrong7253]

It should absolutely have a pin code entry like on our phones and complete lock out option. Only way to reset would be to send the camera back to manufacturer.

[@808islandlife_HI]

The last time you spoke about this I put in the comments they should put a fingerprint reader on the shutter button. I’ve had one on a phone and an iPad, it seems like they should be able to implement one or how about just having a four digit or six digit password? I have a bucket list trip this summer with my extended family to Italy. I'm so excited to see Rome and Venice, but I'm also afraid of pickpockets and general thievery based on what I've heard about those places. (IIRC Manny was on a train to Venice when his stuff was stolen). So on the one hand, I feel like I should take my best set up (R8 with 24-105 F4 L) for this once in a life time opportunity, but on the other I don't feel like taking the risk. All my gear is insured, but I'd hate the thought of losing my best gear. I could take my older 80D, but it's so much bigger and bulkier it's a hard trade off. What are you thoughts?

[@Poverello2001]

A PIN or another form of security is fine for the camera body, but what about lenses, flashes, etc? How would you suggest those items be protected, too?