I actually think the rifle form factor is a horrible idea in use, due to people flipping out when a rifle is pointed at their building. But for shock value, it wins.
The ideal is probably to use a panel antenna on the back of a laptop, or some non threatening way to conceal a higher gain antenna. It would be cute if someone put all this in an SLR camera form factor, I think...a 70-200 f2.8 is big enough for a high gain yagi.
This is a beyond horrible idea, it could easily get you killed. Use it in an apparently offensive manner, i.e. point it at someone, and the shooting would even be justified, unlike at least one of the two above incidents.
+1, it's not a good idea to use a rifle form factor. A good hack, but a bad idea considering others' reactions. I'm pretty comfortable with guns (raised in more rural Idaho), and I'm not particularly keen on the idea of seeing someone point a "rifle" out their window.
Sadly photographers often get hassled if they take photographs in public. At least, the do in the UK. It got so bad the Met police had tonissue guidelines to their officers about why it's okay for people to take photographs in public. http://content.met.police.uk/Site/photographyadvice that advice is written from the lerspective of the Police. It doesn't mention the extra protection given to journalistic material for example.
So, while it's not going to get you shot using a Hack-DSLR might get you arrested.
I've been "harassed" a few times over seas. Usually it involves accidently photographing near police stations or military installations, which is a pretty obvious no-no, except that the buildings were pretty non-descript and I had no idea what they were at the time.
It's only happened a few times: someone comes out and either tells me to stop, or yells at me in a language I don't speak very well, and I say "sorry" in whatever language and continue walking around.
I find that the trouble happens when photographers/travelers try to argue with the people harassing them.
Usually most the people I encounter just make a joke, smile, and encourage me to take photos.
Funny how far a smile gets you when you're traveling.
I actually think the rifle form factor is a horrible idea in use, due to people flipping out when a rifle is pointed at their building. But for shock value, it wins.
The ideal is probably to use a panel antenna on the back of a laptop, or some non threatening way to conceal a higher gain antenna. It would be cute if someone put all this in an SLR camera form factor, I think...a 70-200 f2.8 is big enough for a high gain yagi.