I like to think I’m careful with my camera gear – but I have to admit, reading this research report from insurance company Aviva did cause me to feel a little guilty.
The report reveals that more than 1 in 5 of us (22%) leave our phone or camera unattended in a public place to photograph or film ourselves. And yeah… I have done that.
I’m already rationalizing with the usual excuses, which I’m sure you are too if you’ve done the same. It was only for a few seconds! I had my eyes on it the whole time! And so on and so on.
But the fact is that camera or phone theft can be the work of a few seconds, and the thief can be off with your belongings before you have time to react – especially given the increased prevalence of things like e-scooters.
You might not be surprised to learn that the people most guilty of this behaviour are content creators.
Almost 2 in 5 (38%) of people who reported engaging in this behaviour to create social media content, while a similar 34% reported that it was for the purpose of travel vlogging or travel photography.
And don’t think this is purely a young people problem!
According to the research, it was the Gen X age cohort (45-60 years old) who self-reported as the worst offenders, with 41% having engaged in the behaviour in the process of creating social media content or professional content for work.
This was followed by 40% of millennials (29-44 years) and 38% of Gen Z (18-28 years).
As Aviva points out, even if you are conscientious and have taken out travel insurance, your ability to claim might be affected if you do not take reasonable care of your belongings.
Makes sense. I could hardly leave my mirrorless camera and lens on a streetside cafe table in Paris all day and reasonably expect to make an insurance claim if someone had made off with it by sunset.
When out in public by yourself, you’re always better off holding a camera selfie-style, keeping a firm grip at all times to deter opportunistic thieves.
This is why a vlogging-style camera with a flip-around screen is such a boon for travel vloggers and the like. And if you can attach a secure wrist strap, so much the better!
For my part, I’m certainly going to stop tempting fate when I’m out and about in public. The camera stays in the hand – no matter how good the shot might be!
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Here's our guide to the best travel cameras, as well as our roundup of the best camera bags for keeping your precious gear safe on the move.
