Professional Lens Criteria

Hoping to get some opinions about this topic.

I was planning to attend a local AHL hockey game tomorrow night in Bridgeport. I am wanting to bring my camera with me to get some shots, so I called the box office to find out what their camera policy is. The woman on the line only offered me this piece of information. "They let cameras in, just no professional lenses.." In turn I asked her what their criteria was to determine that a lens was a professional lens, and was given no further info except her repeating what she already told me.

I would like your opinions about whether or not you think they would deem my Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II a "professional" lens. I'm not going to attempt to bring in the 300m f2.8, since I could almost garauntee THAT particular lens would fall into their "professional" criteria.

Now, some places I've been consider any detachable lens a professional lens, while other places have told me that as long as it is 300mm or less I was able to bring it in and use it. With my luck, I would get somebody tomorrow who knows nothing about cameras, and would tell me no, simply because it's white and it looks expensive.

Thoughts? Maybe some of you have dealt with this previously....

I say it's the islanders minor league affiliate so go down to DC and watch a real team.

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Originally Posted by wunaladreamin

I say it's the islanders minor league affiliate so go down to DC and watch a real team.

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I will be, they're playing the Rangers affiliate...

Who?

Most places I've seen go with detachable or 200mm and higher is a no go. The 300 wont make it in no matter what id guess simply because it looks professional

Steve......bring a small canvas bag that will hold your camera (without the 70-200mm f/2.8 attached), on your camera slap a 50mm or something there about. Once inside you can throw on your prime (maybe even with a teleconverter). Hopefully that works out for you.

At NBA games, they canvass the stands and WILL THROW YOU OUT (personal experience) if you do happen to get it past security. Yankees are a lot more forgiving... I once got my 200-400mm f/4 through security, but that was before the new stadium. New stadium has new rules and they barely let me take the 70-200mm f/2.8 now. You're better off with the 100-200mm in your world but then again, light will be a problem for you indoors, not so much outdoors or at a daytime game.

And no, the well lit courts at NBA games are STILL ery poor, so are the lights at Hockey games... actually, ICE is one ofthe toughest surfaces to photograph subjects in. I have tried and FAILED MISERABLY... either overexposing or underexposing. Real pros LIGHT the place with huge strobes... no kidding!!

Good luck.

It's been hit or miss taking the camera and a big lens into sporting events. I've never had a problem at Shea/Citi with the 100-400L, usually the guy checking my bag says "Cool camera!" I don't remember what I brought with me to Yankee Stadium (old and new) the few times I've been there. The folks at Wrigley Field didn't have a problem with the 100-400 either. I've had mixed results at Nassau Coliseum. I've gone in with a 28-200 (not a big white lens) without trouble, and I've even gone in with the 70-200/2.8 a number of times, but once I was denied entry - for a Dragons game - with the that lens, even though I'd brought before.

If the guy isn't sure if it's allowed, I usually say "They let me bring it in every other time I've come..."

never had any problems at Yankee Stadium. I bring my 100-400 and 70-200 with no issues. As for NBA ive gone to two Nets games at The Rock and one at Barclays and brought my 70-200 with me.

Steve it sounds like it will totally depend on which security person you end up dealing with, given the range of responses people here have reported.

I almost wonder if just telling the woman 'Great! This is an amateur lens!' would work as she obviously has no clue.

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Originally Posted by wunaladreamin

Who?

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Connecticut Whale. Formerly the Hartford Wolfpack.


Thanks for the info guys. I was able to get the camera in the front door and start shooting with it. I was sitting at the glass right next to where the team enters/exits the ice and about halfway through the 1st period the guy who opens/closes the door to the ice asked me if i was with a newspaper. Not having anything that said i was and not wanting to lie and get tossed, i told him i was just a spectator. He said he wasnt sure if i was allowed to have the camera in there. I simply told him they let me in with it. So he went off to find someone to ask about it. When another administator came over the team photog who just happened to be sitting next to me, told her it was ok and that he didnt mind. So i was able to keep shooting through the scuffed up water spot covered glass.

I'll post some results later.

WHO?!?!

Up here in Ottawa I was escorted out (well, back to the car) with a 70-300. The OHL 67' don't seem to mind however.

Here are a few of the shots I got from last night at the game.

http://www.fursteditionphotography.c...1/L/Hook-L.jpg

http://www.fursteditionphotography.c...ose-up18-L.jpg

http://www.fursteditionphotography.c...L/Goalie-L.jpg

http://www.fursteditionphotography.c...Palmieri-L.jpg

And no hockey game is complete without a busted nose...
http://www.fursteditionphotography.c...BloodyBP-L.jpg

Those are really nice, Steve!

Excellent action shots Steve.

Great shots man .. Well done

Steve those look great, I couldn't tell the glass was dirty

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Originally Posted by megatop412

Steve those look great, I couldn't tell the glass was dirty

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f2.8 works wonders :tongue:

Nice shots Steve, those shots validate my thoughts that a 70-200 2.8 will be perfect for hockey photography even if I don't get a setup for the strobes at the local rinks.

Nice shots Steve!

You did well my friend....and glad to here you were able to get your gear in and got a little help from another photographer! Sweet shots.

Love the bloody shot! Houston stadiums are pretty cut and dry. No lenses longer than four inches are allowed. They will make you turn the zoom ring fully extended to make sure it's less than four inches. I usually only bring a ultra wide in because I mainly like shooting stadium wide angle shots to make posters for work.