Cameras and travel photography forum

I think it should be safe. Just be sensible about what you do with it off course.

There are plenty of tourists (especially around Angkor) with very expensive cameras. Also plenty of professional photographers. Best to check into a decent hotel though. Most backpacker guesthouses have faulty doors and lack proper security and most midrange places are much better.

And my guess is that most local thieves don't have sufficient knowledge to know the difference between a $800 camera or a $2500 camera (so you're unlikely to be a bigger target). Western tourists on the other hand.....

I would only be careful in Phnom Penh and especially at night. Keep the camera in the room at night. Bagsnatchings are common and even if they don't know what you have inside they might try.
Other areas in Cambodia should not be any problem. At least not more than anywhere else on the planet.

There are a few photographic tours available. Perhaps you could contact them for either a tour or useful tips.

-Nathan Horton (I believe based in Phnom Penh)
-Peace of Angkor

eastwest made a good point with the bagsnatching comment. i had that happen to me once in vientiane. they couldn't have known what was in the bag, but they tried anyway. luckily, they didn't get the bag, but i did get dragged behind a scooter for a few uncomfortable seconds.

if you decide to take the camera (or even if you don't), be sure not to place your day pack in the basket of a bicycle or scooter or even just casually over your shoulder. thieves can drive by and snatch with amazing agility. wear the bag over both shoulders for safety. others may have other tips too. good luck!

Hey Matt,

Last year, I brought my camera along with many accessories as well. Altogether, it's over $2000.00 and I'm not even counting my ultra-portable laptop (not a netbook). Honesty, I felt comfortable carrying it around with me most of the time. Just have to take caution and have a nice backpack for carrying it. Cambodia is a beautiful country and it'll be a shame too missed on the opportunities to photo it. Otherwise, see you there in October.

By the way, know of a good way to ship packages to Cambodia without going bankrupt? I've fundraised a lot of materials for the orphanage and I need to ship it before I leave.

Cheers...

Good comment by Deadpoets regarding photography. It's certainly worth it and you didn't by the camera to admire at home did you? Cambodia is not more dangerous than many other countries so I would do it if I were you but be careful in Phnom Penh.

I guess also body language and attitude play a part for robbers. The more nervous you look the more they might see you as a victim. Just my little theory.

Now the shipping.
I live in Cambodia and I hope you have experience in doing that. If you consider shipping expensive stuff (camera, computer and so on) I'd have to say that is a big NO,NO.
The shipping itself my be allright but customs in Cambodia will first of all take any parts they like (and blame it on the shipper). Then you'll probably have to pay a lot of money to get the remainder out (while you still don't know that things are missing).

If it's worthless (in money terms) materials you could send but also expect some difficulties with customs.

If it's for an NGO/orphanage keep in mind:
- It's best to let a Cambodian counterpart with that NGO take care of customs and don't show up yourself. Prices will suddenly go through the ceiling if you show up.
- If it's pens, balls and other items it's usually better to purchase them locally since it supports the local economy as well. But I believe you've collected them already so not much choice. You could try to sell and use the cash to purchase those simple items in Cambodia. Saves you also a lot of hassle with customs.

Let me know if you need more info
Good luck

Oh and also..if you leave your camera in your room/hostel safe/whatever, keep the memory card in a separate place. So if someone does take it and run, you still have the photos

I just looked into this myself and found that, at least in the US, renter's or homeowners insurance is the best way to insure a camera above and beyond the $500 coverage limit in a travel insurance policy. Most renter's insurance policies cover your personal effects no matter where you are in the world. There is also photo insurance for professional photographers, but it is generally more expensive and not worth it unless you are doing photography as a business.

I am taking my DSLR to Laos despite some nervousness. I know it's fully covered, so at the very least I can take comfort in that if something happens to it. I think, like others have said, you didn't buy the camera to take pictures of your apartment. SEA is just too beautiful a locale not to bring a good camera. And I assume that you, like me, would be frustrated using a compact point and shoot when you know the kind of pictures you could be taking.

My one suggestion might be to bring a less expensive lens. Since you said you're not a professional, it might be worth considering bringing glass that's a little bit cheaper. A Canon L series lens obviously takes amazing shots, but they are noticeable and the white coloring instantly identifies it as expensive. I'm bringing two less expensive lenses on my trip -- a 50 mm/1.8 that takes amazing pictures but was only $100, and a more versatile zoom 18-135mm zoom lens. The zoom isn't the sharpest lens in the world, and it's not amazing in low light, but it's certainly better than the kit lens and good for most purposes.

Anyway good luck with your travels!

Thanks for the suggestions. Instead of shipping all the donations, I'm going to check it in. Even if i have to pay the extra baggage charges, it'll still be cheaper than shipping everything. Beside, other than my gears, I tend to travel light anyway. I'll just have to give the extra bags I'm carrying away to the orphanage.

Cheers...

Great to see mattocmd. I hope this puts your mind more at ease.

For an enthusiast as you you'd probably kick yourself in the head if you arrived with a compact camrea at Angkor .
Also great advice from others and I really hope you can set it aside and truly enjoy your trip.

I'm also a (amateur) photographer and what I've done several times now at Angkor is to spent the first day sightseeing without camera. Get a feel for the places/temples and really enjoy the splendor of it (without looking through a lense) and perhaps make some mental notes of where/when I want to return. Last two days I come back with the camera.

If I wasn't taking my camera (and other valuables) with me, i would always leave it padlocked up in my backpack (along with the charger and other bits that might give away the fact that I had an expensive gadget). It's obviously not a fool-proof solution but over a 5-month period, I never had any problems. I didn't generally didn't stay in the cheapest of budget accommodation mind you (ie no dorms).

I did carry a Pacsafe (not the whole daypack, but just the lockable insert) for part of my trip, but found it was overkill and I only ever used it once, when staying on Koh Kradan where the thatch bungalow rooms didn't have locks. For the weight, I couldn't be bothered taking the Pacsafe again though, I don't think.