Telephoto lenses at sports events

Has anyone got away with using a 70-200 inside of a baseball, basketball or football game? I read that most stadiums wont allow telephoto lenses over 6" long. Will the guards at the entrance hassle me if I do bring try to bring one in?

thecarfilmer wrote in post #16845543
Has anyone got away with using a 70-200 inside of a baseball, basketball or football game? I read that most stadiums wont allow telephoto lenses over 6" long. Will the guards at the entrance hassle me if I do bring try to bring one in?

It depends.

At a small-time event such as a high school game, it's likely no one will care. At a major college or professional game you're more likely to be turned away.

For example: baseball season is getting started, and if you want to practice with your long lens head to a high school game. The price and access usually will be good.

thecarfilmer wrote in post #16845543
Has anyone got away with using a 70-200 inside of a baseball, basketball or football game? I read that most stadiums wont allow telephoto lenses over 6" long. Will the guards at the entrance hassle me if I do bring try to bring one in?

I'm assuming you are talking about some kind of professional sporting team? If so, I recommend you visit the website for the team or the venue you plan to visit. Some have very specific rules for photography, other are unfortunately vague with statements like 'no professional cameras' or similar.

Worst case is that you are denied entry and you need to return to your car and store your camera there.

A lot of baseball seems to be open to all manner of cameras. The NFL is the most jealous of it's images and they typically have very restrictive policies.

If your goal is to work on sports photography, I recommend shooting amateurs where you can control your location and you can bring your gear. Most shots of professionals will be from your seat, which really means the shots will be just 'meh' stuff.

When I go to a ballgame I like to bring an UWA and I just shoot us having fun, which is why I'm at the game.

thecarfilmer wrote in post #16845543
Has anyone got away with using a 70-200 inside of a baseball, basketball or football game? I read that most stadiums wont allow telephoto lenses over 6" long. Will the guards at the entrance hassle me if I do bring try to bring one in?

You have to check the Venue. Here in the Tampa area for MLB Rays at Tropicana Field they will let you bring lens up to 12". For the NHL at the Tampa Bay Times Forum up to 6". You have to check the team home page. They usually have a camera policy. I suggest bringing a copy of it with you. Some ticket takers don't bother, but other will see any DSLR and think you can't bring it in. They will try to get you to check it in. I have only had that happen twice and just went to a different ticket taker and went right in.

A couple of years ago I brought my 70-200mm f2.8 IS to the MN Twins game at Target Field with no hassles.

This may help out for baseball. I put all of the MLB stadium policies into one post:
http://caseymacphoto.c​om/mlb-stadium-camera-policies/

I took sigma 75-300mms lens to angel game once they let me pass I told the usher it did not extend I guess they don't let anything past a certain inches go thru

I bring my NEX camera. Put a small lens on when walking thru the gate and then put my telephoto on afterwards. It's such a small camera anyways but i have gotten stellar shots from it. Of course nothing like the pro guys on the sidelines but good enough for me to hang on the wall and it was free.

I understand why they limit things. Ive seen things first hand.

1) Safety....I have seen someone at a Cards game get smacked in the face and crack a tooth by someone with a 70-200 while he was sitting down and panning like a fool. Its why they limit certain lengths.

2) I really cant think of anything else....mostly safety

I was able,e to take my 100-400 on a gripped 70D to the Women's College World Series and had no problems whatsoever. I even brought my camera bag in as well and they searched but let me go.

Some shots below cropped only, shot from the left field bleachers....

Image hosted by forum (742997) © Swanyriver THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

I was let into a MLB game with the gear I brought. 100-400 mk II is longer than 6". They didn't give me a problem.