Film cameras: SLRs are big and obvious, Leicas not so much but still fairly obvious. The Rolleiflex medium format dual lens reflex camera has a leaf shutter and is very quiet at the time of exposure and is held at waist height. Popular with portrait photographers. However a Rollei is not easily concealed. Taking any of these cameras out is a serious undertaking. Bag, film, camera, various extras. Not casual.
I suppose the advent of high quality cameras that are always carried as part of a phone coupled with the very small size of the phone has lead some countries to evolve these regulations.
Perhaps an actual digital camera is felt to fall in the 'not casual' category, so not covered by the regulation?
I'm not sure what casual has to do with it.
People that want to take up skirt shots aren't casual and they can buy keychain video cameras for $4 a piece on eBay and stick them in their shoes
The laws in Japan that require sounds for the phone are as stupid as punishing legit software purchasers with anti-copying measures. They only hurt the legit people and don't at all hinder the undesirable behavior
I suppose the advent of high quality cameras that are always carried as part of a phone coupled with the very small size of the phone has lead some countries to evolve these regulations.
Perhaps an actual digital camera is felt to fall in the 'not casual' category, so not covered by the regulation?