[ghibbett]

Hi All

Off to the Race of Champions @ Wembley on Sunday. Want to take my 400D and 70-200 F4 L IS, however I'm concerned about having it confiscated at the door due to it being "professional equipment".

Anyone out there with experience of taking cameras into Wembley?

Cheers

[stevelup]

It depends on the policy of the promoter, not the venue. I have noticed the enforcement to be variable.

Is your L lens white or black? Can you fit the kit lens to the camera and carry the bigger lens separately - that may increase your chances of getting it through.

Steve

[loz]

Wembley have a blanket rule

Ground Regulations
http://www.wembleystadium.com/events/groundregulations/

18. No person (other than a person who holds an appropriate licence) may bring into the Ground or use within the Ground any equipment which is capable of recording or transmitting (by digital or other means) any audio, visual or audio-visual material or any information or data in relation to the Event or the Ground. Copyright in any unauthorised recording or transmission is assigned (by way of present assignment of future copyright pursuant to section 91 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988) to WNSL.

Prohibited Items
http://www.wembleystadium.com/events/ProhibitedItems/

Professional cameras & recording devises

What reality is like at the door though I don't know. But it definitely sounds a risk to take an SLR and a relatively large lens.

[stevelup]

Yep - that says a lot whilst saying nothing. What is deemed to be professional equipment is entirely at the discretion of the door staff - who more often than not don't have a clue.

In my opinion, professional kit would be 5D, 1D or 1Ds and if I'm being reasonable, the 30D and 40D. Any of the larger white L lenses I would also class as as professional kit.

We know what we are talking about here though, the average door staff won't have a clue. There is no way that a 400D with a kit lens should be regarded as pro kit but I had my 300D confiscated a couple of years ago when the person in front of me with a Powershot G7 got through.

I pointed out that the G7 had more megapixels than my camera and a bigger zoom lens but it fell on deaf ears.

I think the really simple metric they often use as to whether something is professional or not is whether it has a removable lens!

Steve

[loz]

Ground regulation 18 implies you cannot even take your average mobile phone into the ground

[Sicknote10]

I'm planning on taking mine in (if my tickets ever arrive!). As a wheelchair user, security never bother to check my bags though, guess there is some advantages

[h4rri]

They could always pull it from you if they spot you using it though. Just not worth the risk TBH.

[ghibbett]

Pah! Damn regs...

Anyway, thanks to all for their input. Looks like I won't be taking it then...not risking some door monkey with my 70-200L. And it would have been such a good venue to use it too.....

Cheers all

[Sicknote10]

Back of the ticket says small cameras are allowed for private use, I'm going to try and get away with a 400d with no lens hood or battery pack, and just put it away if they say I can't use it

[ghibbett]

So last week I also called Wembley to double check - they were adament: "do not bring your camera as the doorman will confiscate it".

I went yesterday and what did I see.....*loads* of dSLRs.... Full on 100-400 or 70-200 f/2.8 lenses too. I am gutted

[loz]

Very annoying.

But at least you have been the guinea pig for the rest of us. Thanks.

[Sicknote10]

I was allowed in with mine (well, they didnt even search any of our bags...), and had no problem taking photos all day, guy next to me had a Pentax one too
Only people I noticed with big white lenses were the pros at the front with press jackets on

edit: Link to the ones I took