3" limit at NFL games

Its too bad they don't offer a special section that photographer/fan could pay to sit and bring their gear and shoot the game. I had the awesome occasion back in high school to have a friend whos dad was on the local paper. Got to go down on the field and shoot pics at the home Chargers games. Quite a treat.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #10773336
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.....

Agreed.

Honestly, in some ways its kind of like the idiot guest who brings an SLR, speedlight and several lenses to a wedding and starts firing off shots. There's a time and a place for everything.

versedmb wrote in post #10773778
Agreed.

Honestly, in some ways its kind of like the idiot guest who brings an SLR, speedlight and several lenses to a wedding and starts firing off shots. There's a time and a place for everything.

i'd say it's nothing like that...me taking shots from the stands in no way affects the photographers on the field...

I have a friend who years ago was a pro photographer , before digital .. when I asked him this question , this was his response .... WOW he would stuff his gear in a large diaper bag , seal it and put a dirty yes a dirty diaper over it and wait near the gate for a person carring a small child , and follow them in . let them open it up and pull out a dirty diaper ....... he does wonders , while at a motorcycle race ( in the evening ) he kept asking me how he looks ... I couldn't figure what the hell he wanted .......... he had over 30 , yes 30 cans of beer stuffed in his coat ...... he said he does it for fum ........ ok guzzi "GUY" ......

promod wrote in post #10773949
I have a friend who years ago was a pro photographer , before digital .. when I asked him this question , this was his response .... WOW he would stuff his gear in a large diaper bag , seal it and put a dirty yes a dirty diaper over it and wait near the gate for a person carring a small child , and follow them in . let them open it up and pull out a dirty diaper ....... he does wonders , while at a motorcycle race ( in the evening ) he kept asking me how he looks ... I couldn't figure what the hell he wanted .......... he had over 30 , yes 30 cans of beer stuffed in his coat ...... he said he does it for fum ........ ok guzzi "GUY" ......

the thing i'm wondering is if he waited for someone with a small child...it sounds like he didn't have a kid...where'd the dirty diaper come from?

DreDaze wrote in post #10773934
i'd say it's nothing like that...me taking shots from the stands in no way affects the photographers on the field...

Its just as annoying and the chances of you getting a worthwhile shot from the stands is slim at best.

versedmb wrote in post #10773992
Its just as annoying and the chances of you getting a worthwhile shot from the stands is slim at best.

worthwhile is subjective...

and i don't really see how it's annoying...yes if you're taking a huge telephoto 300mm f2.8 then that could be annoying...but there are many smaller options that are smaller than the size of a beer glass

there are plenty of far worse offenses happening in the stands than someone bringing an SLR to a game...

DreDaze wrote in post #10773962
the thing i'm wondering is if he waited for someone with a small child...it sounds like he didn't have a kid...where'd the dirty diaper come from?

uhm ya, my question too!

Ahhh.. I finally found it. See section 7 of this PDFfrom nyg2010.com.

It is intentionally vague.. basically, as I interpret this.. it is up to them (individual security employees) to make and change the rules at will.

versedmb wrote in post #10773992
Its just as annoying and the chances of you getting a worthwhile shot from the stands is slim at best.

Define "worthwhile."

For example, the guy who took this shot. It was a big moment in the game and capturing this shot made it more memorable for him. It was also better timed and from an angle that gave a better view of the action than any of the pro shots that were published and the shot earned him some local notoriety. Yes, the focus is a little off and there's noise but you can be sure he's got a print of it hanging in his living room. http://upload.wikimedi​a.org …g/8/88/Varlamov​_scyld.jpg

Come to think of it, for what I just paid for my personal seat licenses for the Jets, the stadium should provide me someone to take the pictures for me. "I want you to catch a shot of Holmes coming across the middle and catching a ball with one hand" DO IT NOW GUNGA DIN!

My daughter is an NFL cheerleader with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has been for the past four years. They have a 6 inch limit on lenses. I found out a lot depends on the security guard looking you over. I've been stopped when I had a Sigma 24-70 2.8 on the camera and because the guard saw me shooting outside the gate and thought the lens looked to big. He couldn't wait to stop me, but It was under 6 inches. Must have been the 2.8 and the big hood made it look big to him. I did have my Canon 100-300 in the bag (which is longer that 6 inches) he never looked at. Last year I broke down and bought a Canon 200 2.8L. So I now carry the Sigma 24-70 or Canon 28-135, maybe my 85 1.8 and the 200 2.8L. All under 6 inches. No worries now. I'll shoot 300-400 picture at the games and all but maybe 10 or so are of the girls. All from the stands or walking around the stadium. My biggest problem is getting the white balance right during night games.

Crazy man crazy. Last year part of Canon's ad campaign was "Canon. Official Camera of the NFL". And yet just try to get into an NFL game with your prized Canon and white lenses. Go figure. Just seems kind of ironic.

i just checked hienz field for steelers..it still says 6" lens limit..but its not like you will ever see me at a game so it doesnt really matter.