One of the worst feelings you can have as a photographer is finding that your gear has been damaged or stolen. Yet, there are many ways that you can protect your gear from these maladies.
There are products and services out there that will help you protect your gear, but they come at a high cost. And while it sounds too good to be true, other products and services are both low-cost and high-value at the same time.
We’ve scoured the internet to find low-cost, high-value products to protect your gear from damage or theft. See what we’ve discovered below!
Get a TetherBLOCK
Shooting tethered to your computer means that the cables between the two are ripe for accidentally getting yanked out. And when that happens, there’s not only the possibility of damaging the cords, but the delicate ports on your camera too.
The MC Multi Cable Mounting Plate from TetherBLOCK was designed specifically to prevent such issues from occurring. Just snake your cables (HDMI, FireWire, or USB) through the mounting plate’s s-channel, mount the plate to your camera, and then mount both to your tripod, and you won’t have to worry about accidentally ripping out a cable ever again. And since the MC Multi Cable Mounting Plate is designed for usage with small, medium, or thick cables, and is compatible with 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch tripod thread mounts, you’ll have the versatility you need to use it with a variety of gear.
TetherBLOCK is such a simple idea, yet one that could very well save you the expense of damaged cables, or worse, damaged ports on your camera. If you shoot tethered to your computer, it’s a must-have accessory to protect your investments!
Register Your Gear
You hopefully have your gear insured, but do you have it registered so that recovery is more likely in the event it’s stolen?
If not, registering your cameras, lenses, and other gear is quick and simple with Lenstag. Just sign up using their iOS or Android app, take a photo of each piece of gear you want to register, add the model and serial numbers, and submit to Lenstag. From there, Lenstag adds your information to their database, and if you ever have a piece of equipment that goes missing, just report it as such, and if someone tries to pawn it or sell it, the gear will be flagged.
It’s already worked for this photographer and others like him around the world. Give yourself added peace of mind by supplementing your insurance with free registration services from Lenstag.
Prevent the Slash and Grab
Speaking of protecting your gear from would-be thieves, it’s not just when your gear is in your studio or vehicle that it’s vulnerable for the taking. Savvy thieves will spot a photographer with their factory shoulder strap from a mile away, cut the flimsy strap without issue, and take off with your precious camera.
Preventing this from happening is simple: invest in a Pacsafe Carrysafe 100 Anti-Theft Camera Strap. The nylon, wire-reinforced strap prevents cut-and-run, and spring clips and turn-and-lock security hooks make for easy and secure attachment to your camera. Neoprene sleeves cover the clips to prevent passersby from disengaging the clips and absconding with your gear as well. Whether you’re out on a job or traveling abroad, the Pacsafe Carrysafe will give you peace of mind that your camera won’t fall victim to a would-be thief. Add registration services from Lenstag and a TetherBLOCK MC Multi Cable Mounting Plate, and you’ll be sure that your gear is safe from thieves and protected from accidental port damage. The risks are too real not to invest in such high-quality, affordable products!