3" limit at NFL games

I would prefer getting down on the field and taking photographs there. Sitting high up with a small lens makes it nearly impossible to get decent shots. But if it is a hobby a 200mm f/2.8 sounds like a good idea.

I've brought my 100-400L lens in to plenty of stadiums, all with very little problems. Occasionally, at the Linc (Philadelphia Eagles stadium,) I've been stopped at the gate, but I've always just gone to another gate and gotten right in. I usually look for the security guard with the "I don't give a #@$%" look on his/her face, and get in that line. I make sure I have my bag open and ready for inspection when I get to the guard, to make things easy for them. If I get any resistance, I act very surprised and tell them that I was here last week with this same camera and didn't have any problems, and they usually just let me slide. If not, I get out of line and walk to the next gate and try again.

I bring this big white lens to about 20 MLB games, 10 NHL games, and 3-4 NFL games a year, and I haven't had to walk back to the car yet.

I guess I do football games wrong. By the time I'm done tailgating before a game, I wouldn't want to bring my expensive gear with me into the stadium as I'd probably forget it in the bathroom from being so drunk.

DreDaze wrote in post #10768727
i was able to snap of this shot during a game...yeah it's not great, was taken from way up in the 3rd deck...but it was from brett favres last season ever....oh wait...he forgot to actually retire that year

Wait, Brett has a different color uniform on in that picture.......oh, that was when he was a jet LOL. I had actually gotten some very good pictures of him coming out of the tunnel on the first game he played for the jets at home.

RPCrowe wrote in post #10766556
Most professional sporting events don't let "professional cameras" in. The problem with the "term professional camera" is the same as the term"assault rifle" - no one has a definition of an "assault rifle" that they can accept or a definition of a "professional camera" that is objective rather than subjective...

Most sports stadiums don't allow rifles, assault or otherwise, either

Given the price of tickets to major sporting events, if some SI Wannabe swings a 300 f/2.8 or bigger in my face all day, it's going home covered in beer.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10772670
Given the price of tickets to major sporting events, if some SI Wannabe swings a 300 f/2.8 or bigger in my face all day, it's going home covered in beer.

Are you nuts? Don't you know what the costs of beer at the stadiums now-a-days?

ecub wrote in post #10772693
Are you nuts? Don't you know what the costs of beer at the stadiums now-a-days?

Well Played...

I went to the Lions vs Steelers game last year and the have a 50mm min. So I took my kit lens which was the 18-55. Security guard seen the 55 and said "you can't take that in" so I took a couple of steps back and handed the camera to my wife in the next line over (men go through one line, women another line as the pat you down) and she walked right in. So really really depends on the guard at the time if one says no I would go down a few and try again...

donaldwthompson wrote in post #10772785
I went to the Lions vs Steelers game last year and the have a 50mm min. So I took my kit lens which was the 18-55. Security guard seen the 55 and said "you can't take that in" so I took a couple of steps back and handed the camera to my wife in the next line over (men go through one line, women another line as the pat you down) and she walked right in. So really really depends on the guard at the time if one says no I would go down a few and try again...

wow my dad brought is kit 18-135 to jets game, i would have told that guard to fk off honestly, im sure that 5mm will get you closer to the action

Camera Nerd wrote in post #10772872
i would have told that guard to fk off honestly

always the best way to get what you want...

The Canon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM is a great stealth lens. I use mine for my travels but I have smuggled it into many a stadium sailing right by the "guards" at the gate. Most photos come right out of the camera and a few need a little post production by just bumping up the contrast. Other then that my lens is tack sharp.

kinda late coming in this thread but i thought this thread had something to do with the use of steroids and the "adverse effect" on the size of genitals...

sorry, my brain is on a permanent vacation

ecub wrote in post #10772693
Are you nuts? Don't you know what the costs of beer at the stadiums now-a-days?

Sure we do, I left my left testical for one saturday night

I agree with those of you that say don't bother and enjoy the game. Do I have good gear? Yep. Do I even shoot sports? Yep. But can I get better shots than the guys on the sidelines with the 400 2.8 and 1Diiis who have position AND KNOW WHAT THEY"RE DOING?! Nope. So I bring a P&S (or my phone) and grab some fun shots and enjoy the damn game. For baseball I'll bring a longer lens and DSLR since it's a slower sport, but not for football.