Would you take a big lens to a MLS game?

I have been a soccer player, fan, and coach for many years, but strangely enough, I've never been to a major league soccer game. I'll be going to several this summer and the first one in a couple of weeks. We have good seats behind one of the benches, and I was thinking it might be fun to bring good camera gear to get action shots and pics of some of the players. However, I don't know if it's safe (or discouraged) to do that. If there are others in the crowd with big, white lenses, then I won't stand out. But if I'm the only one, that wouldn't be cool. Any advice? Thanks.

Check with the stadium. Many have regulations on the size of the lens you can bring.

Most sports orgs strongly control photography at their events... You might not be able to get in the gate with a big lens, if you don't have a press pass or similar. Yes, check with them in advance... both with the venue and with the league. It would be the pits to get there and be turned away at the gate.

Sports orgs limit what can be used because they want to control the use of images of their players and protect their earning potentials. Also, someone in the seats with a big lens, tripod or monopod and bunch of gear can really get in the way of other spectators in the stands.

If the stadium does allow long lenses, you'll probably be the only one. What I've read (I haven't asked myself) is that stadiums will ban lenses of a certain length assuming that all telephoto lenses are long. If you can legally take a shorter lens, use your teleconverters to get a longer view.

70-200mm with IS will do.

The 70-300DO is awefully small when at 70mm

But you gotta check the rules!!!!

If you do take photos during the game, just be cognizant of the people around you that are trying to watch the action. I had a person with a cell phone continously getting up infront of me to take photos of the action. Really ruined the night for a hand full of people sitting around this guy.

Remember, you are not the only one in the stadium.

Heh ... I've only shot one MLS game and Pele was on the field so things have changed
a bit since then .

Agreed on the need to check stadium policy. If I were the only one with a big white lens that would be a positive thing in my book ... bigger the better !

I just checked our local stadium policy (Home Depot Center in Carson CA).

I think Getty sponsors the LA Galaxy.

savoirferret wrote in post #12679866
I just checked our local stadium policy (Home Depot Center in Carson CA).....

So you couldn't bring in a 200mm lens on a 5d2, but you could bring in this camera with its 840mm equivalent AOV:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Shot_SX30_IS_Di​gital.html

Sounds like these guys have no idea what they are doing.

arentol wrote in post #12680550
So you couldn't bring in a 200mm lens on a 5d2, but you could bring in this camera with its 840mm equivalent AOV:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Shot_SX30_IS_Di​gital.html

Sounds like these guys have no idea what they are doing.

i think it's more about interfering with other spectators view of the game...that P&S is tiny compared to a 5D w/200mm attached...

I know for some venues it might be short, but for a couple indoor events at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA I took my 50D with the 85mm f1.8 attached. They do not prohibit "interchangeable lens cameras", but state the lens must be less than 3" long/3" wide. Security never gave the camera a 2nd look, and I was wearing it on a strap in plain sight.

The 50D with 85mm f1.8 worked much better than the first time where I just tried to use my G9.

The funny thing about their size of lens restriction is that my Sigma 17-50mm would be banned, but the 85mm f1.8 just makes the cut.

Keep in mind the 100mm f2.0 is almost exactly the same size, so depending on where you're sitting the 100mm could work if they disallow big lenses.

Limit is only 3"?? I haven't been to a Union game yet but the limit for PPL park is 8". Tripods and monopods aren't allowed. There's only 1 level, stadium only seats around 18,500.

arentol wrote in post #12680550
So you couldn't bring in a 200mm lens on a 5d2, but you could bring in this camera with its 840mm equivalent AOV:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Shot_SX30_IS_Di​gital.html

Sounds like these guys have no idea what they are doing.

I think they are trying to create policy on a moving target (advancing camera technology).

They really need to just limit size (so photographers don't interfere with other spectators), and stop worrying about banning "professional" equipment.

Alternatively, why not set up a hobby photographers seating section? Charge more for tickets but let the amateur photogs sit together and haul in what equipment they want?

Hardly anyone starts a the top. Try shooting club games or B grade games or kids games, get a name for yourself, get noticed, and work your way up to the stadium games.