Major League baseball and lenses

[Az2Africa]

I attended a Arizona Diamondbacks game the other day and was told I had to leave my L zooms in the car:evil: . The rule being that the lens could be no longer that the thickness of the camera body. They let me bring in a 500mm mirror lens, but the pics are unremarkable.Has anyone got around this or have suggestions?:cry:

[markubig]

a press pass? http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/tongue3.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/tongue3.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/tongue3.gif

I've heard about this before also. I've got a couple yankee games this year, and I wouldn't want to leave any equipment in the car in the middle of the bronx.

[Az2Africa]

I am looking into the Press Pass idea, as my girlfriends son-in-law is head of a major Arizona newspaper's photography Dept. BTW the paper just spent $175,000 switching from N*k*n to Canon!! You should see the lens selection they bought!(drool)They said Canon service was found to be far superior to the other brand.

[pcasciola]

For a zoom, the 70-300 DO is probably about the best you can do if you are limited to the width of the camera body. It's only about 4" long. Otherwise, a 135mm or 200mm prime + 1.4x or 2x TCs is another option.

[raylks]

This kind of restriction sounds ... ridiculous. You are permitted to bring the camera in but restricted to a very limited size for quipment ... very strange to me.

You bring short lens with you and in this case, 70-300mm DO lens plays.

[Tom W]

I agree with Phil - the 70-300 DO lens is probably a good choice for this kind of event. Short of that, you're probably going to have to take a Pro-1 in. A lot of ballparks, arenas, and such have tight restrictions like this, and it pays to check into it before bringing the camera.

For me, I'd check before even buying tickets. No use spending big bucks if you can't enjoy the show.

[Kinger]

Restrictions must be different at different parks. At a Phillies game last year I brought my smaller over the shoulder bag with me, and when asked at the gate what it was, I just stated it was a camera bag. I didn't even have to open it up, granted my biggest lens was the 75-300, which was long enough for the sunny day. Now when I eventually get my 100-400 I think I will have trouble getting that lens in. Granted I did call ahead of time to ask what the policies were, and I was told "no professional zoom lens" as this was so I wasn't restricting the view of those around me.

[randyk]

Yes, it sucks. Our pro hockey arena (Wild) and baseball stadium (Twins) have no written lens restrictions (well maybe you would have a hard time bringing in a 300 2.8 or larger). I have brought in 70-200 2.8, 300 f4 and 1.4x lenses. But the Wolves won't allow you to bring in a lens longer than 3 or 4 inches. Hardly seems fair when digicams now come with 400mm equivalent lenses. Or the lucky people in the first row can get great shots using medium length lenses. Many arenas list their camera policies on their web sites.

[NickC]

Yes, it sucks. Our pro hockey arena (Wild) and baseball stadium (Twins) have no written lens restrictions

I'm in the San Jose area and the Sharks have a "no professional lens" policy that is often taped to the doors as you go in. I have not tried to test what their definition of "professional lens" is but I'm pretty sure they won't let me bring in my 100-400L. :D

[jpthomas27]

I had no problem getting my 100-400 L in the park here in San Diego. They check bags at the gate so I had to open the bag and they saw it plain as day. I have heard of such restrictions, but they didn't seem to flinch at all when they saw it.

[robertwgross]

Why don't you carry your camera in with only a short lens on the front? Then have the long lens hidden in your coat.

---Bob Gross---

[Az2Africa]

A coat? In Arizona?

[Steve Parr]

I had no problem getting my 100-400 L in the park here in San Diego. They check bags at the gate so I had to open the bag and they saw it plain as day. I have heard of such restrictions, but they didn't seem to flinch at all when they saw it.

Was that at Petco Park? I've been wanting to go to a game to take some shots (preferably when the Mets are in town), and I wondered what their policy was...

Steve

[RTMiller]

Why don't you carry your camera in with only a short lens on the front?---Bob Gross---

That's what I did when I went to see the Phillies last month. I had the 100-400L in my little camera bag and I put it on the camera when I got to my seat. They didn't even look in the bag when I came in.

[pcasciola]

I got into the Meadowlands arena that way too. I had the 85/1.8 on the 20D in a small toploader, and the 300/4L in the Canon case on my belt. Looked roughly like a large water bottle I guess, so they didn't even really bother.

[robertwgross]

Ahhh. There's an idea.

Take the big telephoto lens cylindrical case and get a large bottled water bottle with cap. Cut the top five inches off the bottle, and then fix it onto the top end of the cylindrical lens case. If any ballpark guy looks at it, he sees an insulated water bottle. Of course, your big lens is inside.

---Bob Gross---

[Sydor25]

I was able to bring in my 28-135mm lens and 75-300mm lens in to Fenway Park. I had the 28-135mm attached to the camera and the 75-300mm in my wife's purse/bag. I'm sure the white canon lenses would be considered "professional" and not allowed in many arenas/stadiums.

[radar-eclipse]

It's like we are all using banned illegal substance lenses. Cool concept. Better than smuggling in pot at a rock concert back in the day.

[johnnybfan]

Maybe you could use belmondo's new"Canon/Starbucks L" lens!
(thread # 58690) Bring one of those babies in with coffee in and I guarantee you'll get your L lens in with no problems. (security, anyway:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:). Belmondo, break out the patent and start production! lol

[jpthomas27]

Yep, it was a Petco. I've never had problems with taking in my 100-400 L IS. And it's not exactly a petite lense. I'm not ure of what thier "actual" policy is, but I have taken it and other lenses in on many occations.

[DReb-MO]

I went to the St. Louis Cardinals opening day game with my 20D, the 28-135 IS and my new "gem" the 70-200L IS. Was stopped and searched as it was in a top loading bag but had no issues and was told to have fun. Taking a camera into Busch has never been a problem, even last year when the President through out the opening pitch. Got some good pictures that day. Just wish they had a spot for people to get close for taking some real quality pictures without having to pay $100 for tickets or having a press pass.

[robertwgross]

I was in that stadium the day that Stan Musial played his last game. Unfortunately, I was stuck in the seats out in right field, so there wasn't much close-in photography.

---Bob Gross---

[smittymike19]

Ahhh. There's an idea.

Take the big telephoto lens cylindrical case and get a large bottled water bottle with cap. Cut the top five inches off the bottle, and then fix it onto the top end of the cylindrical lens case. If any ballpark guy looks at it, he sees an insulated water bottle. Of course, your big lens is inside.

---Bob Gross---

here in philly you cant bring in refreshments to the stadium. How else can they charge 4$ for a bottle of water?

[MazerRakhm]

Last year I had no problems bringing the camera to Wrigley, they just wanted to see inside the bag. I borrowed the in-laws 100-400 and the bag checker just said "That's a big lens."

I thought I was in trouble at one point before the game when I walked down the isle with my daughter to get a couple of closer pictures, and an usher looked at us and came jogging up. I thought maybe he was going to tell us to go back to our seats but instead he immediately asked if I wanted him a picture of both of us in front of the scoreboard!

Needless to say I was very pleasantly surprised!

[rdenney]

Ahhh. There's an idea.

Take the big telephoto lens cylindrical case and get a large bottled water bottle with cap. Cut the top five inches off the bottle, and then fix it onto the top end of the cylindrical lens case. If any ballpark guy looks at it, he sees an insulated water bottle. Of course, your big lens is inside.

---Bob Gross---

"That guy over there is pointing his thermos and looking through it. It must be a weapon. Terrorist! Terrorist!"

Rick "who lives in the Washington, DC area and who is scared to take his 500mm Prakticar out in public, granting that it makes the 100-400 look like a collapsible normal on a Leica IIIc" Denney