Would you pad/tape your camera?

Larry · 19th November 2002

ok i've just taped up my 2 SLRs with gaffer tape from Digipix's mass order. just the grip portions, not the whole thing. used a layer of gaffer, then padded them up with tennis racquet grip, then more gaffer. now they look cosmetically very weird but the grip is much more comfortable, and suited to my large grip (i found the grip portions very small and uncomfortable after long periods of hand-holding).

my curiosity got the best of me then, leading to the question...

Would You tape up your camera?

whether it's for reasons of comfort (like me) or as some pros do, tape up their gear to hide the brand and form factor of their equipment, it's still quite heart-pain to see them like that. so i'm just wondering, is there anyone who does the same, or would you do the same?

denizenx · 19th November 2002

not those hello kitty stickers huh?

007 · 19th November 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by denizenx
not those hello kitty stickers huh?

I prefer "Power Ranger".

No, not me, don't have $$$ to buy the expensive gaffer tape.

kongg · 19th November 2002

Taping em, not in Spore but maybe travelling overseas.

Larry · 19th November 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by kongg
Taping em, not in Spore but maybe travelling overseas.

travelling overseas? why leh? to mask their brand so they won't be stolen?

kongg · 19th November 2002

yeah and also to cushion em.

Jed · 19th November 2002

The pros that tape tend to tape for several reasons:

[1] As you've already mentioned, to hide brand names.
[2] To keep broken parts together (lens hoods in particular, and lens hood to lens even more specifically)
[3] To protect contact points such as 10pin connectors and PC sockets when the supplied caps have fallen off.
[4] To protect switches that can't be locked from getting accidentally nudged in use (primarily focus limiting, IS).

Dagger · 19th November 2002

Yes, if it helps.

StreetShooter · 19th November 2002

Funny, I taped up my D30 just a coupla weeks ago. I mean I just stuck black tape onto the logos on the front of the camera.

I had always assumed people did it to prevent theft. At a recent birthday party I attended, there was this other photographer who had taped up his Nikon. I asked if it was to prevent theft. He said yes, but more importantly, it was so that people would not judge his photography by the equipment he uses. He was quite a "pro", using only primes and switching between them effortlessly.

I kinda like the look of my D30 taped up. More "garang", less "consumer". Only problem is my LCD... should I tape that up as well?

Another use for tape would probably be to cover up the AF assist light which blinks when you are using the self-timer.

denizenx · 19th November 2002

oh... I thought taping "nikon" on a canon and "pentax" on a nikon etc... not to mention the DOHCs and Mugen and various liquid paper doodles... that'll REALLY prevent theft...

Larry · 20th November 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by denizenx
oh... I thought taping "nikon" on a canon and "pentax" on a nikon etc... not to mention the DOHCs and Mugen and various liquid paper doodles... that'll REALLY prevent theft...

not to mention being branded by others as "beng"...

Digipix · 20th November 2002

Larry, I hope you are satisfied with the quality of the gaffer.

Larry · 20th November 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Digipix
Larry, I hope you are satisfied with the quality of the gaffer.

ya it's good! nice grip and texture, and doesn't look that bad actually... can show you next time.

View Poll Results: Would you pad/tape up your camera?
Yes, if it serves a purpose	13	59.09%
No way, too "heart-pain"	9	40.91%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll

19th November 2002	#1
Larry Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: singapore Posts: 6,097	Would you pad/tape your camera? ok i've just taped up my 2 SLRs with gaffer tape from Digipix's mass order. just the grip portions, not the whole thing. used a layer of gaffer, then padded them up with tennis racquet grip, then more gaffer. now they look cosmetically very weird but the grip is much more comfortable, and suited to my large grip (i found the grip portions very small and uncomfortable after long periods of hand-holding). my curiosity got the best of me then, leading to the question... Would You tape up your camera? whether it's for reasons of comfort (like me) or as some pros do, tape up their gear to hide the brand and form factor of their equipment, it's still quite heart-pain to see them like that. so i'm just wondering, is there anyone who does the same, or would you do the same?

19th November 2002	#2
denizenx Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: L2TPYSG Posts: 4,514	not those hello kitty stickers huh? __________________ "I'm... dreaming... of a wide... angle~ Just like the ones I used to know~"

19th November 2002	#10
denizenx Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: L2TPYSG Posts: 4,514	oh... I thought taping "nikon" on a canon and "pentax" on a nikon etc... not to mention the DOHCs and Mugen and various liquid paper doodles... that'll REALLY prevent theft... __________________ "I'm... dreaming... of a wide... angle~ Just like the ones I used to know~"

19th November 2002	#4
kongg Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ang Mo Kio outskirts Posts: 784	Taping em, not in Spore but maybe travelling overseas.

19th November 2002	#7
Jed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,082	The pros that tape tend to tape for several reasons: [1] As you've already mentioned, to hide brand names. [2] To keep broken parts together (lens hoods in particular, and lens hood to lens even more specifically) [3] To protect contact points such as 10pin connectors and PC sockets when the supplied caps have fallen off. [4] To protect switches that can't be locked from getting accidentally nudged in use (primarily focus limiting, IS).

19th November 2002	#8
Dagger Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,294	Yes, if it helps.

19th November 2002	#9
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	Funny, I taped up my D30 just a coupla weeks ago. I mean I just stuck black tape onto the logos on the front of the camera. I had always assumed people did it to prevent theft. At a recent birthday party I attended, there was this other photographer who had taped up his Nikon. I asked if it was to prevent theft. He said yes, but more importantly, it was so that people would not judge his photography by the equipment he uses. He was quite a "pro", using only primes and switching between them effortlessly. I kinda like the look of my D30 taped up. More "garang", less "consumer". Only problem is my LCD... should I tape that up as well? Another use for tape would probably be to cover up the AF assist light which blinks when you are using the self-timer.

20th November 2002	#12
Digipix Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 463	Larry, I hope you are satisfied with the quality of the gaffer.