Providence Bruins - Dunkin Donuts Center Camera Policy???

[Layston]

Does anyone know what the policy is for the Dunkin Donuts center and the Providence Bruins? I'm going to a family game there tomorrow afternoon and thought I might bring my camera.

From the DDC website it says the following:

Camera Policy
No video or audio recording devices are permitted on the Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence premises. Generally, photograph cameras are allowed at events.

I see one other poster having brought their XT to a game. I'm just wondering if I brought my 40D and my Sigma 70-200 EX f/2.8 if I would get hassled.

[engine3photo]

Does anyone know what the policy is for the Dunkin Donuts center and the Providence Bruins? I'm going to a family game there tomorrow afternoon and thought I might bring my camera.

From the DDC website it says the following:


I see one other poster having brought their XT to a game. I'm just wondering if I brought my 40D and my Sigma 70-200 EX f/2.8 if I would get hassled.

If I were you, I'd try my luck with a more discrete lens first. Maybe the 85 or 100. I would call the arena and ask the person in charge of security. I've never had a problem bringing my Powershot with the teleconverter into the Civic Center here in Portland, and the last game, the security guard even allowed me to stand by him at the stairwell by center ice to take pix in the 3rd and the shootout.
I know you probably think I'm crazy to recommend shooting with a prime instead of a zoom, but I think you'll get better quality pix. The Tokina 100 on a 1.6 crop factor will give you an effective focal length of 160 mm and a narrower aperture (2.8 ) will get you a brighter pic with a slower ISO setting, resulting in much better image integrity. If the Double D center is anything like the civic center, the lighting sucks. You won't want to go above 1600 for the ISO setting (honestly, I'd recommend making 800 your max ISO) and you'll want the ap as close to 2.8 as possible. Set your shutter between 1/800 and 1/1200 sec. I'm speaking in theory here. All I've shot with is my Powershot S3, which limits me to a 400 ISO, 3.2 aperture and about 1/250 sec. Anything faster is way too noisy to be salvageable from JPEG in my limited experience.

[Layston]

engine3

Thanks for your comments, but I was looking for specific info about the DDC. Yes I know I could call, but usually you get a canned response that doesn't meet with reality. I'm been to Pawsox games and taken my kit with no problems, but I'd rather hear from someone who has "been there, done that."

In terms of lenses. My Sigma 70-200 is 2.8 just like my Tokina 100mm so there is not benefit except size and since the Tokina is a macro it is slow focusing (further focus ring travel and slower motor). So the Tok isn't really suited to the task. I also will be shooting with a 40D and can shoot at 1000 ISO, 1250 ISO or 1600 ISO. If I feel crazy I can try 3200 ISO.

I can also take my Tamron 28-300 if I'm trying to downplay my kit, but the quality loss bothers me. And if all else fails, I can take my S3 IS (sound familiar?)

What's funny to me is that facilities will say no video equipment and yet they don't bother me with my S3, but sometimes a big camera causes more fuss.

My experience has been that minor league stuff (Pawsox etc) are much more lenient than major league...

[The Moose]

Just turn up with it and if they tell you off, leave it in the bag. I shot till half time in a soccer game before getting told off at a major stadium over here.

[Layston]

Well I had to call because I didn't get my final ticket confirmation. I asked the fellow I spoke to what the policy was and was told that "big obtrusive cameras" would not be allowed. He was very nice about it, but his response tells me that my gripped 40D with a large zoom will not be permitted. I could probably get away with my 40D without a grip and my Tamron 28-300 because it's relatively small in comparison, but I'd rather not have to explain to my 4 year old why Daddy has to go back to the car...

I'll probably take the S3, but I was looking forward to having some fun with my 70-200... :(

[Palladium]

200mm 2.8 on camera with a 1.4 extender in your pocket usually does the trick. ;)

[troybal]

I cannot tell you about The Dunkin Donuts Center but I can speak in General.
Take the rules with you, most places state no Recording devices as in Video/Audio like you have above. Then if you get turned away, you can state you called and show them the printed document as well.

I used to go to the Cowboys stadium all the time with a 70-300 (but my 70-200 IS is much bigger) and they let me in all the time. I recently went to a hockey game with the 70-200 with no issues, and a 50D.
Keep it around your neck and not in a bag and I think you will be ok.

[Layston]

Okay, so I decided to try even though the guy on the phone said no. I have a Tamrac backpack that is relatively discrete. It looks more like a backpack rather than a camera bag. I put the 40d in there with my 100mm macro. I decided to go with this because I did some test shots with the 28-300 and I was worried that the f/6.3 at 300mm would be too slow.

Never having done this before, I ended up finding out that from the seats we had 100mm ended up being a pretty good focal length. The f/2.8 was nice to have and I shot at ISO 800 and f/4 quite a bit. I had no problems and getting in I didn't even get questioned. I think if I had brought my 70-200 I would have been fine too. But it was family day and I was going in with my wife, my daughter and my brother.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. And engine3 I have to apologize. The 100mm worked much better than I ever would have thought because the focus distance didn't change much. Mind you we were mid-ice, but still.

[palmor]

Good to hear you didnt' have a problem! I bring a 70-200 f/2.8 to Red Sox games all the time and nobody ever has said a thing.


John

[Layston]

Here are 3 of my favs:

http://www.solidautomation.com/POTN/PBruins/IMG_8898.jpg

http://www.solidautomation.com/POTN/PBruins/IMG_8901.jpg

http://www.solidautomation.com/POTN/PBruins/IMG_8915.jpg

C&C welcome.