So my local rodeo wouldn't allow me into the event because I had a DSLR. After I got home and brooded some, I realized that A LOT of sporting events don't allow people in w/ DSLRs. I find this quite frustrating. It's almost to the point of why bother buying long/fast lenses when you don't have many places you can use them...

*vent*

I smuggled a dSLR in a Cinema just to try and take long exposures while people were watching teh movie, in the end I just forgot about it. But to smuggle it in, I just carried my jacket around my arm, with the dSLR in the middle of it covering it up. Then again I was using a small 50mm not a long lense by any means.

Legal solution: Try and get a press pass?

Would you have been allowed a standard camera in? I can understand if there's a restriction on all recording equipment (e.g. Cinema) but punishing you just because you have a professional looking camera just seems dumb.

I had the same problem a couple of times - not that many - and now I just email (or call if email won't work) the event manager or organization to see if it's OK - most of the times it is, luckily, if it isn't I'll just say that I sadly won't be attending then. My experience is that when you let them know, they'll be OK with it. Just work out something like how to show proof of you being allowed in etc...

Also, I still have to try to get some form of 'press' pass for some events sometimes...

and... you can always go guerilla (not recommended)

Yea, the lady who stopped me said "If you have a tiny camera I can let you in, but not something like that." ..

The problem about smuggling it in is that once you're in there, you'll stick out like a sore thumb. A giant 200mm lens is pretty obvious to spot in a crowd.

so if you have a DSLR your not allowed in however if you have a P&S which you could still use to make profit (asuming this is what they are scared of ?)

IDIOTS!

Basically.

I mean something like a canon G9 could capture some pretty nice shots... or that new samsung that can go up to 60FPS @ 6MP.

That's pretty damn stupid. Talk to the manager?

Of a giant rodeo with thousands and thousands of people there? That wouldn't be possible.

spend some money get a lowepro camera bag they are about 90$ http://products.lowepro.com/product/SlingS...0-AW,2034,4.htm

this will make you look more professional.

The local junior soccer league in my city has contracted a photographer so if you have a "professional looking camera" (a DSLR) you can get a fine. Its stupid.

if its in the public then they cant give you a fine.

I have a $120 camera backpack. "Looking more professional" isn't going to do anything if they don't allow DSLRs in their facility... Even if I sneak it in using my "professional looking bag," I'll still stick out like a sore thumb w/ a 200mm lens.

they probably just dont want flashes going off. iv done a lot of shots and had no problem

the suggestion of calling the operator of the event is the proper one. I'm willing to bet you could have worked something out.

Well on one hand, I support the rights of the rodeo to make their own rules. However, that doesn't mean I agree with the rules

With the logic they have, I could bring in my Canon HF100 camcorder (which is smaller than my DSLR I might add) and record in 1080p

As for the junior soccer league - I'd like to see them enforce that fine...and if you can't take pics of your own kids, then they should be required to supply you with an unlimited number of professional quality shots that you could have taken.

I'm running into a similar situation. The hospitals are no longer allowing cameras or camcorders, so when my wife is in labor soon, I won't be able to capture the moment. It doesn't appear that they even offer any sort of photography, but they claim it is for liability issues. I can understand, but if something goes wrong and they don't let me take pictures, then that looks like proof against them if anything...

But back on topic, certain places need to realize that DSLRs are commonplace now and not that expensive. If you only have the stock lens, it looks like an old 35mm camera depending on what model you have...

http://spaetzel.com/2008/03/17/LegalRights...tographers.aspx

for more infromation look up photographers rights

You can expect more flashes from a point and shoot than most dslr users.

i know but thos flashs are small and not that powerful

DSLR pop-up flash? About the same. I doubt we'd be seeing external flashes at a rodeo..

I doubt they're worried about flashes cuz they let in "smaller" cameras.

whoaaa new icon, giga!

odd

i doubt you would even need a flash at a rodeo if you were using a 200mm lens.

i have been looking around and general ruleing for sports etc is "no DSLR's" and give no reason, atall, maybe some places are scared about security ?

however... we then get back to the "Point and shoot can take photos of exactly the same thing" problem

I've read the entire thread and perhaps I missed it but no one has mentioned copyright! Perhaps the organizers of these events feel that you could sell professional shots and make money out of their show as opposed to people with crappy cameras that will only produce happy snaps! Just a thought!

This.

that is true however with a canon G9 which looks like a standard P&S can take photos just as good as a DSLR too a degree and if you were going to buy photos then you wont really know what camera it was taken on

As I said, just a thought!

A compact Leica could take professional looking shots just as easily.

I am not sure if I should repeat myself............... I am well aware that there are compact cameras that are quite capable of producing levels of professional photography, thanks for setting me straight as regards this fact! In any event my comment was not intended to produce a massive debate on what you can and what you cannot do with certain types of cameras, but rather the rational that may be applied by organizers of these sort of events! If this is not the case, then I am sure, at some point, the organization will give an explanation as regards their policy.

so far at baseball games they havent had any issues with me bringing a 100-400mm L IS never been to a rodeo though...

Depending on your local area's view on what a "public" place based on where its held they might be not allowed to do that because their discriminating against a person because of what they own but that would all depend on all your local laws and such.

public is any thing that the general masses have access to that is not privately own

Some places have different definitions for it, eg: i know a town close to me has it as "any place the people are execpted to meet for at least 2 hours at a time and costs less than $X to gain entry", it all depends on the local council/government laws i guess.

That is correct for Ontario residents. Any place that is private property can be restricted, but any place owned by a municipality or Government is considered a 'public' place, which includes soccer fields, etc. However, if you are taking pictures of random people there is still a privacy law that requires you to obtain permision from the person you are shooting if you are going to use the media for advertising or profitable reasons. Personal use I believe is still OK, depending on the situation (like a childrens sports game).

your on public land thus you can take pictures of people as long as its not the main subject of the photo. also all athletes have to sign a paper saying that they dont mind being photographed to play in the game.

the reason why they didn't let u in with ur dslr was cuz it's not big enough try a pro body + pro lens and fake to be a pro

haha. Thats sooo true. A guy i used to work with had a 1D Mark III and a Canon 300mm L lens. He walked up to the front gates at Wakestock and let him in for free.

size matters with cameras.

i shot some pics at wakestock last summer also, was not bad. i just noticed u are from ontario too! i go to utm in sauga.

*UPDATE*

So I emailed them explaining what happened, and this is the response I got.

quite undertsnadable honestly. Those retards who claim animal cruelty about EVERYTHING are freaking annoying. My ex and her aunt were heavy into protesting all circuses and rodeos, even the ones known to be very good to their animals simply because they HAD the animals, yet if you look at them, they each have many animals, and I mean MANY animals. There's no reaoning with those lunatics and unfortunately because of them everybody suffers.

The reason why DSLRs are banned and normal cams aren't, is because management expects great press-quality photos from the DSLR which you will sell on for money (money they miss out on because you didn't had presspass). However they think a compact cam can't take commercial-quality photos.

Now .. these days .. compacts rock when it comes to quality however the zooming is still pretty bad on those models.
Again .. management are idiots for thinking only DSLRs can take these kinds of shots

For me, and a lot of people, it's not abnormal to get refused with a DSLR .. one of the reasons why I don't have a DSLR in the first place.

I'm not quite sure you read my *UPDATE* post...

i was talking to one of my friends who runs a disneyland paris site and a few times members of staff have approched him and said "sorry sir but would you mind either taking the camera back too your hotel or handing it in at the main reception" he asked why and... "Its a professional camera"...

I think most of the time (except this time when they want to limit the amount) its a personal thing ? im not 100% sure why someone would have issues with a DSLR other than being jelous ?

At the last Neowindex in Seattle the people at the Space Needle were hesitant to let us go in because we all (except me, didn't have one at the time) showed up with dSLR's and big fancy lenses. The woman went so far as to ask Tim Dorr about it. We got in though.