Ever had a lens rejected at a sports event?

[Jensgt]

I am heading to the Washington Nationals game Friday. Its a single admission double header and we have center/right field front row aisle seats...so I can take pictures with whatever lens I want and not bother anybody...but its the issue of getting the lens IN.

I am going to rent the Canon 100-400mm which is under 8 inches fully retracted. Nationals park rules is the lens has to be under 8 inches. Its over 8 extended but since its you pull that lens instead of turn it to zoom in would the ticket people even realize/know how to extend it...will they even try to? Its also a white lens which I know will draw attention from the people at the gate.

My biggest worry is that I take metro to the park so if they won't let me in with it I would be screwed. Has this ever happened to anybody?

[Tony_Stark]

Yes I have, once. I went to a local Leaf game, but the longest lens they permitted was up to 75mm. I really wanted to get my 135L in but, was afraid to get it confiscated at the door. I stuck the lens in my coat pocket and got in just fine. Spent a whole period snapping away with the 135L, but got carried away during the intermission and a local "security" guy told me to put it away or he would call security After that I just put it away and enjoyed the rest of the game.

More on to your situation, don't extend the lens when you show it at the door. Just say its an internal zoom. Use the 100-400's lock to secure the zoom feature so the lens doesn't extend by accident. You should be fine.

[Jensgt]

Internal zoom...good thinking. I will definitely use the lock...I would guess most gate people are not very familiar with the way these lenses work.

[TheBrick3]

I brought a 70-200 f/4 non-IS into a Dodgers game. Amazon says they're 6.8 inches long, but the Dodgers' rule was 5 or 6 inches. The guy spotted it as being too big (which really surprised me because a 70-200 f/4 non-IS is a relatively small lens) but said he'd let me slide. He just wanted me to know I might get in a trouble with the guys inside. Unsurprisingly, I didn't.

[Jensgt]

Yeah I can't imagine getting grief from the ushers...although being front row aisle they do come down in between innings and stand right there for a couple minutes.

I have done everything I can as far as getting approval before going to the game. I called the number which is perpetually busy lol...I emailed the contact email and nobody responded. I even spoke to a staff photographer via twitter and she said she thought I would be ok. Just trying to cover all my bases so if some gate person gave me trouble I could start name dropping LOL

[larrycumba]

cowboys stadium [ jerry world ] only allows three inch lens. punks.

[kenjancef]

Best bet is to hope that the guy at the gate doesn't know a thing about photography, and at the worst measures it closed to be sure.

Luckily I am close to Fenway, and their only rule is to not be a nuisance to others around you, no rule on length of lens... but the hard part is getting tickets.... well, maybe not lately since they SUCK! lol...

[Jensgt]

Well I got in OK. Gate guy checked my bag, lens was in a case inside the bag...he saw my t shirt and felt how heavy the bag was and asked did I have water bottles in there or something...I said no...just a camera lens. He said ok and let me go by. None of the ushers seemed to have an issue with me either.

[watt100]

Originally Posted by Jensgt

Well I got in OK. Gate guy checked my bag, lens was in a case inside the bag...he saw my t shirt and felt how heavy the bag was and asked did I have water bottles in there or something...I said no...just a camera lens. He said ok and let me go by. None of the ushers seemed to have an issue with me either.

good to know at some parks you can get in with a longer telephoto

[bpalermini]

I've been rejected at the gate once. Just went to another line and that guy just let me in.

[JPMosu]

Can someone give a quick explanation on why certain venues have a lens length rule?

[smacatl]

Originally Posted by JPMosu

Can someone give a quick explanation on why certain venues have a lens length rule?

I can think of two off the top of my head - They don't want to deal with any complaints from people sitting behind a guy with a big lens blocking the view; The team is protecting their product marketing in advance so they don't have to track down the source of the latest cool sports poster that is unauthorized.

[donaldwthompson]

I tried to take my 17-55 into a Detroit Lions game and the security would not let me as the max was 50. So I gave the camera to my wife who went down a couple of gates and they let her in no questions asked.. Think sometimes it is just who you get at the gate.

[Ltdave]

redwings limit you to 85mm...

i didnt try taking anything in with me at that time since i would have needed an 800 or better to see from where my seats were...

[smacatl]

I was stopped at The Joe (Joe Louis Arena in Detroit) before game 4 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals - security wouldn't let me in with my 75-300. I took the lens off the body, and entered at a different gate with no problems at all.

Ended up taking some of my favorite shots ever - I still have an enlargement of Yzerman holding the Cup over his head hanging in my den.