Hyde Park + SLR

[kluen]

Wondering if anyone has any experience with taking an SLR to a Hyde Park show, in terms of security telling you to put it away etc (its run by livenation)?

I have tickets for Blur on friday and am unsure if I should risk it or just take a "Powershot".

Having read the back of the ticket theres nothing there specifying cameras just the usual "you may not use equipment for recording or transmitting any audio, visual or audio-visual material....".

On a side not i lol'd at seeing a guy front row at Glastonbury with a SLR and Canon 70-200L. Hope he had insurance!

[MagneticDrift]

Hi Kluen,

I would advice against bringing an SLR to a gig. The main problem, besides having it destroyed or stollen by lost souls, is that SLRs are usually seen by security people as a professional tool, and hence likely to fall inside the "visual recording equipment".

A powershot will not get as much attention. I managed to get one in Hyde Park once. I sort of concealed it at the gate, but once inside, I've noticed that actually nobody pays much attention to it. This can probably be exlained by the fact that nowadays, everyone has a phone with a 2Mpixel camera on it...

This is my opinion, no more no less.

I hope that helps.

[kBm]

The usual line is 'no professional cameras' - i guess no 300mm attached to a DSLR. In theory you could attached a kit lens and it may look ok.

At the end of the day its who is on the gate doing the search. I've always thought what happens if i get refused entry - where do i put the camera! Have you a car round the corner from hyde park!

[Reechard]

From my experience at gigs you can only take compacts and disposable type cameras, and even then they dont always let you.

I tried to take my FujiFilm S5700 in once and had to put it in the cloakroom and hope it was not stolen or damaged.

Its normally only those covering the event that are allowed the more 'professional' cameras.

Best bet is to contact the company organising the event, they may be ok with it and let you in.

[kluen]

I think i'll play it safe, irony is with a powershot ill probably end up videoing some of it too lol!

I've covered alot of gigs in last year and only venues i've had problems with has been a Carling Academy and Nottingham arena, which are kind of understandable.

The thought of not being allowed in with nowhere to stow a bag is worry enough to make the desicion for me, even though no security has ever asked to look in the bottom section of my crumpler bag!

[OrbitalPete]

If it's anything like Glastonbury this weekend you won't be able to photograph much on stage anyway as the space between you and it will be filled with plebs waving giant flags.

[d200man]

i went to the bingley gig last year, playing were, happy mondays, alabama3, echo and the bunnymen, plus lots more i cant remember, i took my nikon D70 and 70-300 and 28-105, and my 50mm f1.8, was stood 20 feet from the stage and had no probs what so ever even talking to the press togs, i think as long as you are not using any images or footage for commercial gain you should be ok. any doubts find a number and ring the organisers.

[dave_bass5]

A bit off topic but when i saw Prince at the O2 there were posters etc all over the place telling you no photography allowed.
we were about halfway up near the far end of the arena and when he came on we were nearly blinded with the sea of LCD's that suddenly lit up. Quite a sight really.
I know a P&S cant really match a DSLR for IQ but, for example, my TZ7 has a good quality 25-300mm zoom and does HD video. Im itching to get to a big gig with this camera.
I know a few people going to the Blur gig on friday, have a great time.

[keifster]

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

A bit off topic but when i saw Prince at the O2

You need a good zoom to get a decent picture of the purple midget!

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by keifster

You need a good zoom to get a decent picture of the purple midget!

A Macro lens would be good.

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by keifster

You need a good zoom to get a decent picture of the purple midget!

I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle (The Terminator) . . maybe a cyborg zoom eye then?

As for the Purple Permed one (calm down, calm down) our kid . . . . formerly known as 'Pr***e' . . and maybe with a shell suit, a long fast zoom would be the order of the day. If security 'feel your collar' . . beat them over the head with your optic and state your name as 'Phil Flash, the phantom photog from Frimley' . . . Avast, and feel the cut of my lens yer scurvy swab!

Or you could tell the security dude that you have an explicit photo of his wife and a buff-studly male with a large cucumber sized thingy . . . . and a marrow (pending publication) . . . that may get you in without issue . . .

[kluen]

Well I ended up going against all sense and stuffed my 450 + Sigma 70-200 f2.8 into the bottom of my crumpler pretty boy and went for it.

With zips stuffed out of sight and "Decoy" Powershot in plain view the bag search guy was foiled!

"Excuse me sir, does that camera have a detachable lens?"

I was still a good 20 rows back but got some shots I was happy with from "Big Camera" while "Little Camera" came out during bottle fights, candids of the GF asleep on the train, the odd video etc.

I wasn't the only SLR weilding person there, saw a good few people with a kit lens knocking about on Canon 400d+ (didnt see a single Nikon) Must be that the security are extra vigilant for Nikons right?))

For anyone interested the shots are @ www.kluens.co.uk or on flickr.