No "Professional" Cameras @ Concert

[outforalaska]

So, being a country fan; I'm heading to the Allan Jackson concert tonight at the Tacoma Dome. I was really excited to try out my new Sekonic meter and the Leica M6, but then thought about rules as far as cameras go at a concert. I searched around for a while on the venue's website and it says "no professional cameras".
Right now I'm thinking that the M6 will be fine as they probably don't want people with SLR/Telephoto setups coming in, but has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?

 

[peterc]

Phone and find out what their definition of "professional" is. Some places it just means anything with a long zoom. Other venues it means anything better than a cellphone cam or a disposable 35mm.

 

[Joerg]

That certainly excludes Nikon SP's

;-)

Ciao

joerg

 

[pesphoto]

I bet anything that isnt a digital camera would be considered ok.

 

[outforalaska]

Well I took your advice peter.

The lady in the office said basically anything without a zoom lens and no tripod is okay with them.

(That would be pretty funny to have some guy sit next to you with a Canon EOS 800mm mounted on a tripod in front of his seat... ridiculous, but funny)

 

[bmattock]

Phone and find out what their definition of "professional" is. Some places it just means anything with a long zoom. Other venues it means anything better than a cellphone cam or a disposable 35mm.

I agree that it is best to call and ask.

However - and I can't stress this enough - it is not unusual for the security guards to have a different idea of what 'professional' is than the people you might speak to in the head office. It is such an amorphous term, it could be taken to mean nearly anything.

Typically, they're just trying to protect their right to control how their product is sold - so they don't want telephotos or anything that might produce a photo good enough to be sold, or that might catch their celeb picking his nose or whatever.

It is their venue, they can set the rules. I'd hate to be told that a particular type of camera is OK on the phone, then get to the gig and be told no - and have to trudge back to the car and hope no one steals it while I was back inside again. You can't really argue with them at the gate - telling them that 'they said it would be ok' won't cut it if they get sniffy. I've seen it happen.

Frankly, I'd take a good point-n-shoot and call it good, or just not take photos and enjoy the show.

 

[bmattock]

Well I took your advice peter.

The lady in the office said basically anything without a zoom lens and no tripod is okay with them.

(That would be pretty funny to have some guy sit next to you with a Canon EOS 800mm mounted on a tripod in front of his seat... ridiculous, but funny)

But consider that a 'bridge' style DSLR can easily do 420mm these days - with shake reduction as well - and although a zoom, it hardly looks it! Not suggesting it would be superior, just noting that long focal lengths no longer really require huge/long glass.

 

[outforalaska]

I was trying to go for big. I'm not really all that familiar with Canon EOS glass though.

 

[minoltist7]

There is no strict definition what is "professional". Most people think Nikon/Canon SLR with long telephoto. 5D with 70-200/2.8 and battery grip would be a wrong choice. RFs are ok

 

[Shizam]

Yea,
This is part of the reason I got into RF is I can take it where my 1DsIII+85L f1.2 can't go because they're attention getters. Nobody knows this little 'point and shoot' around my neck cost a minor fortune and takes photos I'm just as pleased with as from my 1DsIII.

Sam

 

[peterc]

Bill's advice is good. Security doesn't necessarily use the same definition as the venue operator.

 

[RichardB]

At one ECW wrestling venue, Security wanted to take my Leica's apart? Told them they don't come apart and insisted on gaining entrance as they were not film cameras. so as others have said don't be surprised at what you will come up against. firmly ask to speak with thier supervisor and don't take no for an answer.-Dick

 

[gb hill]

So what lens /film combination are you going to take for the M6?

 

[Roger Hicks]

firmly ask to speak with thier supervisor and don't take no for an answer.-Dick

Dear Dick,

Exactly!

Cheers,

R.

 

[mmikaoj]

Last time I went to a concert with a camera I was told by security that I couldnt use a "big camera". Then I had to speak to the head of security and showed him that my camera wasnt digital..
and then they let me photograph.
I was the only one with any quality photos from that event

 

[outforalaska]

I was going to try tmax3200 pushed to, well, I'll figure it out when I get there. I wanted just a couple of shots of the stage, but mostly just friends, and then off to cowgirl's inc bar in seattle afterwards (think coyote ugly :angel🙂. Going with... my only lens, my 50 summicron.

 

[dadsm3]

I was ecorted out of a Yes concert with my M6 and a 135mm Elmar.
Size does matter, and also how 'nice' your camera looks to an uneducated eye.

 

[BillBingham2]

You might want to call the company doing security and confirm with them first. An OM-1 with a 200/5 down different legs of baggy pants would work well too.

B2 (;->

 

[gb hill]

Back in 1980 or 81 while stationed at Phila Naval Shipyard I saw the Stones at JFK stadium. The security was letting prople in free without a ticket. He asked a question such as What is your favorite color? You answer & you go in. Nothing like the good ol days.

Same year I went to Greatful Dead concert at the Spectrum, no one gave a rip. Too f****d up I guess.

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

you could try sneaking in a 135mm J-11 or equivalent thin lens short tele in a pants pocket and walk in with the M6 and a body cap and just say it's an old film camera, might fool-em. I find people seem to associate black cameras as pro even if they're small.

One time I sneaked my M6 with a body cap in the lower pockets of an M65 field jacket and a 40/1.4 nokton in another pocket to photography a famous Jazz Saxophonist and his trio at the Village Vanguard in NYC, I got 2 lucky shooting Kodak 400CN. They said absolutely no cameras when the music started (pretty much any little p&s digital with flash was prohibited). Half way into the set, the lights were off over the audience, I stuck the M6 out with lens hyperfocused and clicked the shutter; no one noticed.