The 16th UK South-East "The Cooper Crawley Creche" Thread (All Welcome)

Wendelius wrote in post #14736021
Hey everyone. Long long time no see. Photography has been far down my list for months as this has been a turbulent year. But my work has spontaneously decided to unblock POTN and summer means my camera keeps wink wink nudge nudging me to go take pictures.

First of all, the baby pictures in this thread and the last (I've started catching up a bit) are amazing. Special mention to the Batman one for the awww factor.

So, photography. What better photo op than the Olympics, right?

I'm just curious whether anyone here has got events booked and is planning to take advantage of it to capture some memories. If so, what photographic gear you are planning to bring with you?

With the Olympics organisers refusing to clarify photography rules ahead of Games (I tried emailing the helpline and only got a link to the generic restrictions page for my trouble), there is a bit of a risk factor to taking any long lenses with you.

However, they do accept that you can take photos as personal memories. So while I'll avoid bringing anything with an interchangeable lens to Wembley, here is what I'm thinking of taking with me for fencing, dressage and hockey:

• My Canon 7D. It's not afraid of high iso and the autofocus should be perfect for it. Also, crop = more reach.
  
• A Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM I rented from LensesForHire. I wasn't about to spend money on buying one as my 70-200mm lens is my least used. I'm more of a city shooter. But I thought it would be nice to have a decent telephoto lens to take with me. Also, this review mentions it fits in a Lowepro Toploader Pro 70 AW Case. So it should fit all size restrictions, right?
  
  
• A Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake. This one. It reviews very well. All the people who have posted samples in this POTN thread seem to really like it. They say that, for the price (I paid £189 for it), the quality is excellent. Also, it takes no space at all and would fit in the same small camera bag easily.

That way, I would have something for portraits and something for the event.

What do you reckon? Are you aware of any further restrictions which would make this not work? And if you are going to the games, what are you bringing?

Wendy

Hi & welcome back on the brand new thread

We have tickets for Rowing ~ re dSLR and lenses. According a book published by LOCOG & if I recall on their online info? no lens greater than 30cm in length!!!

I think it was Stewart & one of his colleagues that put me onto that little datum, so that in practice rules out the 100-400 in my bag Like you I am perhaps too late in the day thinking/planning to rent something but fear the 70-300 may be 'seen' as too long by some jobs worth especially if they realsie it extends when zoomed (I think that is what it does like its non L version???). Somewhere mention was made that any bags brought to the venues should not exceed 25litre capacity.

The other things annoys and baffles me that nowhere apparently for security reasons do they publish or provide seating plans so I have no idea in distance terms how far from the lake or the finish line where our seats are located???

In regard to lens choice I do wonder how many people going who like us are keen (amateur) photographers might/could/will get kit stopped at security because it does not meet the criteria? If that does happen I bet "security" do not have secured holding bins/lockers for detained property ~ hence why to avoid any chance of trouble getting in I acting on a risk aware basis :fingers crossed:

Edit ~ reading the BJP online article and comments just makes the whole matter a quagmire. FWIW I bought the book I mention cheaper via Amazon than LOCOG was selling it for and I will take it with a post-it note flagging the page where it says what is acceptable............​...either that and/or just use the 24-105 and live with what I get with that short a lens.

Box Brownie wrote in post #14736166
Hi & welcome back on the brand new thread

We have tickets for Rowing ~ re dSLR and lenses. According a book published by LOCOG & if I recall on their online info? no lens greater than 30cm in length!!!

I think it was Stewart & one of his colleagues that put me onto that little datum, so that in practice rules out the 100-400 in my bag Like you I am perhaps too late in the day thinking/planning to rent something but fear the 70-300 may be 'seen' as too long by some jobs worth especially if they realsie it extends when zoomed (I think that is what it does like its non L version???). Somewhere mention was made that any bags brought to the venues should not exceed 25litre capacity.

The other things annoys and baffles me that nowhere apparently for security reasons do they publish or provide seating plans so I have no idea in distance terms how far from the lake or the finish line where our seats are located???

In regard to lens choice I do wonder how many people going who like us are keen (amateur) photographers might/could/will get kit stopped at security because it does not meet the criteria? If that does happen I bet "security" do not have secured holding bins/lockers for detained property ~ hence why to avoid any chance of trouble getting in I acting on a risk aware basis :fingers crossed:

Edit ~ reading the BJP online article and comments just makes the whole matter a quagmire. FWIW I bought the book I mention cheaper via Amazon than LOCOG was selling it for and I will take it with a post-it note flagging the page where it says what is acceptable............​...either that and/or just use the 24-105 and live with what I get with that short a lens.

I also have tickets for rowing. There are tickets for standing room and seating. I think if you have not been given a seating place it is because you are in the standing area? Just a thought.

I intend to take my monopod, despite what the rules say. Locog did also say they would take a practical approach, so I guess I would be testing this. It is a once in a lifetime event for me and as it is my hobby and as long as I'm sensible I hope I will get through the entrance gate. I've been to several pre-olympic events already and did not have any issues.

I could understand if I had a 500mm and if I was in a seating area could be seen as annoying for some, but, in a standing area, like at an airshow, a 500mm is common for the really really keen photogs and are they banned?

Mstar wrote in post #14736571
I also have tickets for rowing. There are tickets for standing room and seating. I think if you have not been given a seating place it is because you are in the standing area? Just a thought.

I intend to take my monopod, despite what the rules say. Locog did also say they would take a practical approach, so I guess I would be testing this. It is a once in a lifetime event for me and as it is my hobby and as long as I'm sensible I hope I will get through the entrance gate. I've been to several pre-olympic events already and did not have any issues.

I could understand if I had a 500mm and if I was in a seating area could be seen as annoying for some, but, in a standing area, like at an airshow, a 500mm is common for the really really keen photogs and are they banned?

Hi

We have seats ~ I know the stand/block/row/seat numbers but that gives no real indication just where we are. I wanted us to be at least in sight of the finish line so splashed out for "A" seats (the "AA" were IMO silly money for my pocket )

Re a monopod ~ on the surmise you have standing (along the lake edge) ticket then you may just get lucky with the X-ray/checker team but I think anything that the X-ray cannot penetrate will be treated as suspect. This is why the lack of definitive guidelines/instruction​s to security personnel about photographic kit/lenses is so very annoying..............​because one thing for sure common sense ain't so common, especially when it comes to "entrance" controllers

As you say a once in a lifetime event (well it is at my age ) so for all visitors I do hope "they" do take a practical & pragmatic approach but all it takes is one 'jobs worth' to spoil lots of folks lovely day out. I would happily take my 100-400 if I thought I could pass without an issue but sadly I am not so sure!!!

Which day are you going? We are going on finals/last day so really wnat to not only get the atmosphere but some nice finish line action if I can???

souporman wrote in post #14736137
Hey Wendy, which fencing events are you going to? I've got the finals for mens foil and mens team foil.

I've got tickets to the Men's Sabre rounds and quarter finals. I don't think I've ever seen sabre, so it will be something new.

souporman wrote in post #14736137
I'm not 100% sure on the photo rules, though I did get an email the other day with a pdf link. The pdf mentioned something about a maximum of 30cm for camera gear, but I don't know if that's total length, just the lens or what. I'll post the exact wording tomorrow, but it's not much more specific than that.

That sounds like the same PDF document they sent me and which I linked in my message: http://www.london2012.​com …teditemslists_N​eutral.pdf

It also mentions that:

Now what this says to me is that, with a printed version of these rules, I should be OK. There is nothing about not bringing a DSLR. But it's annoying to have to take a gamble with this kind of opportunity...

I'm not sure I would risk a monopod though as it's specifically listed.

Wendy

Box Brownie wrote in post #14736166
Hi & welcome back on the brand new thread

Thanks!

Box Brownie wrote in post #14736166
We have tickets for Rowing ~ re dSLR and lenses. According a book published by LOCOG & if I recall on their online info? no lens greater than 30cm in length!!!

Yep. That matches what the PDF they sent me as a generic reply said. Although, as you mentioned, there is the whole muddle of LOCOG not wanting to give precise guidelines and telling us that different venues have different rules. Also, a pragmatic approach sounds very much like "at the whim" of security.

Box Brownie wrote in post #14736166
I think it was Stewart & one of his colleagues that put me onto that little datum, so that in practice rules out the 100-400 in my bag Like you I am perhaps too late in the day thinking/planning to rent something but fear the 70-300 may be 'seen' as too long by some jobs worth especially if they realsie it extends when zoomed (I think that is what it does like its non L version???). Somewhere mention was made that any bags brought to the venues should not exceed 25litre capacity.

Yeah. I didn't rent the 100-400 because I thought that would be pushing my luck. The 70-300 is "only" 14cm in length retracted.

The 70-300mm is still available for hire at the company I used though, if anyone wants to try a smaller lens: http://www.lensesforhi​re.co.uk …-f4-56-l-is-usm-232-p.asp

I think I might get that trekker bag just to have as unthreatening a bag as possible. Not sure how big 25L is for a bag... Apparenlty, I suck at volumes.

Wendy

The more I think about it on the surmise it is sunny/good light then the 70-200mm f4 plus a 1.4 TC in the jacket pocket may fit the bill...............the​re is the 70-300DO but for image quality is maybe too risky??? The f2.8 if the weather is going to be dull..............but what a weight to hold for >4.5 hours!!!

As for the 70-300mm changing length.......just not sure but certainly a good choice?

A toploader bag looks just perfect...............​agh!!!!! another bag

Just make sure when you get to the inspection gate that your lens is not attached to your camera. That way none of it is individually over 30cm.

I dont see why you cant take a 100-400. When packed up its only 20cm. I highly doubt the people on the gate will know to extend it. Just lock the extension ring down tight and reverse the hood so it covers it up as well.

I have Olympic Basketball tickets, so was planning to use the 70-200

Morning all, just checking in on new thread and must remember to update my sig when I get home.

@Pete thanks for picture of the day

Now where are all those spiders

Morning chaps. Nice day for the Olympic torch to pass by the window between 9-9:30.

Kaben wrote in post #14736824
Just make sure when you get to the inspection gate that your lens is not attached to your camera. That way none of it is individually over 30cm.

I dont see why you cant take a 100-400. When packed up its only 20cm. I highly doubt the people on the gate will know to extend it. Just lock the extension ring down tight and reverse the hood so it covers it up as well.

Good tip on locking the extension ring. I'll measure the height of my camera with the lens on it. If worse comes to worse, I'll indeed leave it unattached and put the 40mm on. That will make my 7D look tiny.

EDIT: I was also curious about bag volumes and what the toploader bags would come to if I decided to get one.

I went to check the Lowepro site for the dimensions of the Lowepro bags in the category I was considering.

• The Toploader Pro 70 AW mentioned in the 70-300 review comes to 20.5 X 20.3 X 26.3 cm. That's 10,945 cubic centimetres or 10.945 litres.
  
• Its slightly bigger brother, the Toploader Pro 75 AW comes to 20.3 X 20.3 X 32.5 cm. That's 13,393 cubic centimetres or 13.393 litres.
  

Box Brownie wrote in post #14736669
Hi

We have seats ~ I know the stand/block/row/seat numbers but that gives no real indication just where we are. I wanted us to be at least in sight of the finish line so splashed out for "A" seats (the "AA" were IMO silly money for my pocket )

Re a monopod ~ on the surmise you have standing (along the lake edge) ticket then you may just get lucky with the X-ray/checker team but I think anything that the X-ray cannot penetrate will be treated as suspect. This is why the lack of definitive guidelines/instruction​s to security personnel about photographic kit/lenses is so very annoying..............​because one thing for sure common sense ain't so common, especially when it comes to "entrance" controllers

As you say a once in a lifetime event (well it is at my age ) so for all visitors I do hope "they" do take a practical & pragmatic approach but all it takes is one 'jobs worth' to spoil lots of folks lovely day out. I would happily take my 100-400 if I thought I could pass without an issue but sadly I am not so sure!!!

Which day are you going? We are going on finals/last day so really wnat to not only get the atmosphere but some nice finish line action if I can???

I will be in the standing area, among the riff-raff and I've added a map showing where your seating area will be- sure it's a better spot than mine! . I will be there on the 1st Aug. 09:30am and I have to park by 7am! I will be watching the men's 8 final, amongst others.

I used my monopod when taking photos during the gymnastics at the O2 and I was seated and it was great.

~ yup that is in its unmodified form the official pfd "maps"...............w​hat I am staggered by is that those stands take 20,000. I have been to Dorney Lake when helping Ian shoot a Triathlon a good while back and even now I find it hard to visualise just how big and extended along the lake (far away from the finish line???) they will be to seat that many people.

As for the parking we got the Park & Ride arranged and like you selected the 7 to 7:30am slot just to get seated by 9:30am...............s​till now looking forward to it Amongst others we will see the mens coxless 4's

Morning all, just seen the torch go by in Sandwich, quite a buzz in town so that was nice.

Then I saw this on Fb which made me laugh:

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