Hi All;I am putting labels on my gear; printing out simple labels with my phone number to put on everything; I do have insurance, but I think I will put my phone number on all my lenses and my two camera bodies. I was wondering how many of you have done the same, and how you did it.thanks, Lory

Loryhwrote:I am putting labels on my gear; printing out simple labels with my phone number to put on everything;The last thing I want is something that tells someone where they could find more camera equipment (and probably a new more expensive replacement camera for the one they just stole).Even with just your phone number I can find out where you live thanks to the internet!In over 30 years of photography I've never lost a camera or expensive accessory (flash). The most I've lost is a lens pouch, $15 to replace. If I'm stupid enough to lose something, I consider it a life lesson.I do have insurance,I'd only have insurance on my equipment if it was a business, and that's to protect against getting sued if someone were to trip on a light stand, cable, or bag. Equipment goes obsolete so quickly that equipment quickly becomes worthless.And I'd NEVER use my home insurance...in North America some insurance companies cancel your insurance after two claims (even if they don't pay out). Home insurance should be for big things, like cracked foundation, fire, or someone slips on your property and sues you.

I never mark the body or lenses with anything ... hate seeing cameras and lenses labeled and mucked up that way.What I do is photograph a card with a name, address and phone contact and keep that as the first image on the memory card. That way if someone finds the camera or memory card, and is honest, they can return it for a reward.It won't do any good if they aren't honest, of course. And the address and phone are my PO box and cell number, not linked to where I live in any publicly accessible record.My gear is insured and I'm not sentimental about equipment. I value the memory card with my photographs on it more than the camera. -- Godfrey http://godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com

The only thing which I carry around and is marked is my company computer. Company policy. I would never mark any camera gear with personal data. If the gear gets stolen you will just tell the thief where you live and where to find more valuable gear. It's like having the pin code of a credit card written on the card... an invitation for losing more than you otherwise would.

Lory:The last time I posted regularly on this forum, you put up a photo of a tree on a hill : )There is no owner identifying information on my photo equipment. Fortunately, I haven't lost anything yet, and, unfortunately, it's extremely doubtful in this City that something so valuable would be returned.Like you, I do have insurance.Regards,Tony

Lory,Despite the irrational paranoia exhibited above, all of my gear can be easily identified in the field and returned to me, if necessary. All of my gear is insured. Just makes sense to me.Bill Turner

I have labels inside the battery compartment and on the inside of the memory card door.I've had equipment stolen twice. Both times from where I lived.My label indicates Property of mybusiness name, email address and phone number.I also have these labels hidden in the same places on my laptop computers. Inside the battery compartment and under the memory expansion flap.Thieves won't dismantle equipment to look for tags, but police will if they are informed of the tag locations.Ken http://www.zone-10.com

I really don't lose things very often at all. My nature works against losing stuff. I am a checker, double checker, triple checker. And then check again...just to be on the safe side You should see me leave a hotel room. It is a process. lolSo, if my gear were to be 'missing', there is probably around a 99% chance that it was stolen as opposed to lost. So, no, with those odds and my 'issues', there is more risk, no matter how low, to putting my contact info on something than the risk of not putting it on.

Lory,My contact info is already in about a zillion places, so I have little worry of it being in one more location, my camera bag. It also helps that I live in the middle of nowhere and a crook is unlikely to expend the time and travel expense to locate my home.I don’t label the individual items as misplacing the whole works is the most likely and expensive happening. Like Stu, I am somewhat compulsive about double checking things (back down the driveway just to check one more time that the front door is locked and of course it is). If I have any spare funds for insurance, there are plenty of needs that top insuring camera gear. The same goes for those extended warranties. Each time a clerk offers an extended warranty, I refuse and the cost goes into a mental savings account. That allows me to comfortably chunk anything that stops working and buy a replacement without one bit of mental anguish.Bob

I haven't LOST a camera since 1959, so I dont worry about it much....I have had them stolen a couple of times over the years..One of the ones that was stolen had a nameplate on the bottom identifying the owner, with a 1-800-number that could be called....The guy that stole the camera did not call to return it.. go figure..My cameras are insured by my "Home-Owners" insurance (same company I've used for a LONG-LONG time).I've had 5 or 6 "home-owner" claims over 20 years time (only one for theft), and never once did my insurance company ever mention dropping me.All of the "Name Brand" insurers (the ones that hit you with a TV add every 5 minutes, and ones that tell you you are in good hands) will drop you like a "hot rock" after a claim or two... You need to find good reliable insurers that dont spend more on advertising than they pay out in claims... A good local insurance agent will help you...Yes, you will pay a little more, but you will have a "relationship" with the carrier, as well as a contract. At least, thats been my experience.

I have everything labelled. Lenses, lens hoods, bodies, flash, laptop, bags, cases ... the works. Used one of those electronic labelling machines with a bright white ribbon for most.Two reasions. In case things fall off the camera unnoticed (I find Olympus lens hoods are particularly prone to this), and so I can find my cameras in a whole pile of other cameras in a hurry ( I know a certain photographer who shoots every Olympic Games, Cannes, TIFF, etc. and he has his cameras and lenses wrapped in bright red gaffer tape for the same reason).I just put the web site address on the labels. Easy to contact me and somewhat discrete.Douglas Brown

Am thankful for the sane comments Bootstrap Bill and Doug Brown added here.While I rarely lose stuff, it has, nevertheless, happened from time ot time, over the decades. I will, indeed, be complying and putting a label, my name, city and me Email address and a phone number on all my gear.Because, in my experience, most people are honest. Not saints, mind you, but reasonably decent and reasonably honest.There was, for example, the time I left my entire black gadget backpack in a Calgary hotel room, after a 26 hour flight back from Quito and the Galapagos. Had apparently not noticed in the dim room and dawn light, and mistook daughter's almost identical backpack for it., in the tired morning rush to the airport. An honest -though likely underpaid - chamber maid turned it in, but it was only an anxious day later that they were finally able to trace me, because of the lack of any labels.Over five decades I have periodically had the pleasant experience of both being able to return an item to someone, and, two or three times, having a lost but traceable item returned to me. One time there was probably $20 less in a wallet lost on a bus than I think it had had in it. I consider that a very reasonable finder charge or tip to whoever dropped it into my mailbox the next day.The only problem will be finding labels small enough for those damnable liittle bodycaps and eyecups, but yes, they should work just fine for the equally annoyingly quick-off lens shades.As far as insurance is concerned, it is a mug's game. I have a "floater" policy on virtually all my equipment, but know that it would be stupid to use it for anything less than a really large loss. -- erichK saskatoon, canadaPhotography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness.W. Eugene Smith, Dec 30, 1918 to Oct 15, 1978.http://erichk.zenfolio.com/http://www.fototime.com/inv/7F3D846BCD301F3underwater photos: http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/5567

Loryhwrote:how many of you have done the same, and how you did it.Everything that gets used on a job and could be left somewhere by accident has a label with contact detail on it (especially my mobile as I'd rather get it back there and then if possible!). Cameras. Lenses. FLashes. HV packs. Everything important.I use a Brother P-touch (I think its called) dedicated label printer. You can store templates, use different coloured tapes etc, and its easy to just press a couple of buttons and 20 copies of the same label come out if needed. These labels are incredible for not fading as well. I have some now over 10 years old and they are as clear as the day they were printed.

Big Gawrote:I use a Brother P-touch (I think its called) dedicated label printer. You can store templates, use different coloured tapes etc, and its easy to just press a couple of buttons and 20 copies of the same label come out if needed. These labels are incredible for not fading as well. I have some now over 10 years old and they are as clear as the day they were printed.This is what I use as well. The labels really stick to plastic through a lot of abuse.Another reason for doing it is that at somne events, Fashion Week for instance, you tape off a square, and that is your space in the media area. Adding a lot of labelled equipment to that spot helps to claim it for you. So at events like that, or TIFF, photographers are actually using their cameras and cases to claim spots in the media area.Douglas Brown

eknwrote:I have labels inside the battery compartment and on the inside of the memory card door.I've had equipment stolen twice. Both times from where I lived.My label indicates Property of mybusiness name, email address and phone number.I also have these labels hidden in the same places on my laptop computers. Inside the battery compartment and under the memory expansion flap.Thieves won't dismantle equipment to look for tags, but police will if they are informed of the tag locations.Ken http://www.zone-10.com

Big Gawrote:Loryhwrote:how many of you have done the same, and how you did it.Everything that gets used on a job and could be left somewhere by accident has a label with contact detail on it (especially my mobile as I'd rather get it back there and then if possible!). Cameras. Lenses. FLashes. HV packs. Everything important.I use a Brother P-touch (I think its called) dedicated label printer. You can store templates, use different coloured tapes etc, and its easy to just press a couple of buttons and 20 copies of the same label come out if needed. These labels are incredible for not fading as well. I have some now over 10 years old and they are as clear as the day they were printed.I understand if pros labelling their gear. It can easily be mixed with other people's as well, not just forgotten. Smaller stuff can also fall out of bags and left there by accident. P-touch is what I’d use as well, not hand written paper labels.

Some of you brought up issues I never would have thought of; I still like the idea of having a chance of having my stuff returned. Though I am very careful to make sure I never leave anything behind, there are still those times... and things do fall out...Thanks to all who checked in; it is a topic I haven't seen discussed, and it is clearly an important one to consider.Lory

How wonderful to hear from you; you have a great memory; that was a few years ago...Glad to see you are checking in. I hardly post photos here anymore, though I keep meaning to, I read on a daily basis however...Hope you are still shooting with Olympus gear and do send in some photos,warm regards, Lory

I only ever lost my cameras once, but I was very glad that I had my contact info in the camera bag. An honest person found it and returned it. Two E-510s .. 12-60 lens .. 70-300 lens .. 14-40 lens .. 5 batteries .. and some minor things. I think the chance of someone coming to look for more of your stuff is small compared to the certainty of not having the equipment you lost being returned without that information.( I framed a couple of my better images and gave him that, along with a moderate cash reward ).

When I picked up my old Nikon N2000 the other day an address label from 20 years ago is still stuck to the bottom. (old house)People are right it won’t stop the unscrupulous person from walking away with found treasure, but as someone who knows the cost of equipment I would certainly like call the owner and return it if I saw the tag.Funny though, my current equipment is not marked, I never even thought about doing that until today.Will