no terrorists are clever enough to use a cheap mobile or compact camera – they have to use expensive, large, obvious DSLRs…

Of course. In addition to being thoroughly evil, terrorists are capital S stupid.

For some reason, authorities in the UK seem to think any one carrying a “proper” camera is a terrorist carrying out targeting. In a similar manner, the police are very heavy handed in using the Terrorism Act to prevent media photographers covering demonstrations and the like. The cynic might question why the police would want to avoid scrutiny when they are forming a riot line… As a result, a lot of media outlets and journalists have kicked up a huge fuss about the use of the laws – this has already had some success in that a few police forces have changed their stance towards professional journalists taking pictures. This doesn’t help the hobby-photographer in any way, shape or form. Sadly, the hobbists have nowhere near the same lobby as the news photographers.

The really odd thing is if you stand outside Parliament with a mobile phone taking pictures you will be ignored, but should you dare to get a DSLR out, the police swarm in seconds. Obviously no terrorists are clever enough to use a cheap mobile or compact camera – they have to use expensive, large, obvious DSLRs…