Cameras Allowed at the Dome?

[ken0042]

Did some digging and could only find a 5+ year old thread. A buddy of mine is coming to the game tonight, and wants to bring his DSLR camera. We can't find anything on the Flames site that talks about cameras, and I know the signs on the doors are pretty vague as well.

If anybody knows anything definite, please let me know.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Did some digging and could only find a 5+ year old thread. A buddy of mine is coming to the game tonight, and wants to bring his DSLR camera. We can't find anything on the Flames site that talks about cameras, and I know the signs on the doors are pretty vague as well.

If anybody knows anything definite, please let me know.

I have known people who have walked in with a DSLR no problem... Provided he doesn't have a professional telescopic lens. I sat next to someone at a game early January with a DSLR, they were taking pictures and nobody ever came and said anything

Best to call the dome and ask.

[CaptainYooh]

If the camera is deemed "professional", Saddledome staff will "confiscate" it and store it until the end of the game. The criteria for evaluation is "if it looks professional, it is professional", that's what I was explained. If it's important for your friend, tell him to hide it under his coat and take the lens off. He can put it back on while in the seats. Unless it is a really long and noticeable zoom, chances are he will be fine taking pics from his seat without being reprimanded.

[Cole436]

I think the rule is the lens can't be longer than your thumb, or something stupid like that. You can't bring in something like an 18mm-200mm lens.

[Regular_John]

The standard for most events/facilities is no "professional" cameras, which typically means "anything with a detachable lens". But having said that... I've seen SLRs in the dome before, so it just comes down to what the events folks you encounter choose to enforce.

This is in no way a definitive answer, but I'd probably opt to leave the SLR at home, point & shoot cameras tend to draw much less attention anyways, and they fall within the "rules" as far as I know them.

[FurnaceFace]

The theory in the previous threads on this topic have no been a lens wider than your hand or some such arbitrary measurment. SLRs with the standard kit lenses don't get looked at and you see many of them around. If he tries to bring his 300mm lens, he'll probably get stopped. I have brought in various compact(ish) ultra zoom cameras over the years and nobody bats an eye. Having the extra zoom is an advantage.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

... If he tries to bring his 300mm lens, he'll probably get stopped. ...

I had a cheap 50mm 1.4D lens on my D5100, which is by no means anywhere close to a professional setup and they took it away. The girl said "it does look professional, that's it". To add insult to an injury, two rows down from me there was a guy shooting his D3 with a giant 70-200 f/2.8 zoom on it. I talked to him during the intermission; turned out he was a tourist from Poland visiting his relatives in Calgary. Very nice guy, was very excited to be in his first NHL game. Apparently, he acted smarter than me hiding his big camera/lens under his coat. "We're used to everything being prohibited" he told me.

[MonsieurFish]

Yea, I work at the dome and we're told that no 'professional cameras' are allowed - defined as any camera that has a lens larger than your fist iirc.

[PIMking]

I've never had a problem bringing my DSLR into anything

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by PIMking

I've never had a problem bringing my DSLR into anything

I wasn't aware the saddledome is located in the American South.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Cole436

I wasn't aware the saddledome is located in the American mid-west

Well I've been to Bridgestone arena, Phillips arena, Coleman coliseum, O'dome, Bryant Denny stadium, the swamp, arrowhead, Mercedes Benz stadium, Nashville, Jacksonville and never had an issue

Alabama is in the Deep South not Midwest

[Regulator75]

I've also heard that lenses longer than 5 inches are considered "pro".

However, I once brought my old 18-200mm and no even looked twice.

[CaptainYooh]

When a policy is so loose, there's no need for a policy. They're worried about liability to media companies that pay for the rights to photograph at the events. Realistically, if media companies are so worried about amateurs selling their snapshots for big bucks to newspapers, all they have to do is to self-impose buying photos only from photographers accredited at those events. Solves the problem.

[Bmuzyka]

I know a photographer who had her DSLR and bag confiscated in Edmonton, they took it to the security office, and she was able to pick it up at the end of the game.

[Drummer]

I was in a booth at a Hitman game a few years ago with my SLR 300mil lens, only managed to get a few shots before the usher practically jumped into our booth to tell me to put it away.

[Stealth22]

This probably won't help you much. But a friend of mine brought his DSLR to a game with me a few years ago. I don't remember exactly how big his lens was, but I remember it being somewhat compact, for a DSLR.

He got a few shots midway through the 1st period when security came up. They didn't confiscate it, but they did ask him to put it away.

[combustiblefuel]

I'm surprised they let DSLR's in .Technically under Photographic laws you need permission by the Buildings owners/Renters as its not Considered a public place and is private property. with all that entails being inside a during the event your actually legally required to ask the subject for permission for takng the photo . It just never is enforced. just a fun fact I thought I'd Share.

[Northendzone]

i wonder if they would be more strict about camers now they have thier fancy scanners, probes and what not.....

[Flamenspiel]

Yea, the saddledome is weird that way, I've taken a 70-200mm to the world cup and the Olympics and never had an issue, but at the dome they asked me to put my 200mm prime away.