Diamond Jubilee - no "professional" cameras allowed.

Mountkeen

Mountkeen

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,298
Name
Ron
Edit My Images
No
My wife applied for tickets to see the Royals parade from the Victoria Memorial on the Jubilee weekend. She had an email yesterday telling her that she'd won two in the ballot.

Then I saw the information about camera restrictions.

"No professional camaras allowed."

Of course they don't specify what "professional" is which probably means my NIKON D80 and 70-300mm are out.

Or am I being a bit of a cynic?

Anyone else from TP got tickets?
 
This comes up now and again, and there have been a few discussions about it. The lack of definition is rather unsatisfactory but, by and large, I think it just means that cameras and lenses the organisers think 'look' professional - irrespective of whether a professional would be likely to use them - are prohibited. This sort of wooly definition is a lot easier to enforce than something very specific.

I doubt if a D80 and a 70-300mm would pass scrutiny.
 
You could always contact someone from the organisers to clarify.
 
Thats interesting, what powers do the Royal Parks have to impose this type of restriction is what is essentially a public place? - or is it :shrug:

David
 
According to Wikipedia:

The public does not have any legal right to use the Parks, as public access depends on the grace and favour of the Crown, although there are public rights of way across the land. The Royal Parks Agency manages the Royal Parks under powers derived from s22 Crown Lands Act 1851. As part of its statutory management function the Agency permits the public to use the Parks for recreational purposes, subject to regulations issued under the Parks Regulation Acts 1872–1926 which are considered necessary to secure proper management, preserve order and prevent abuse within the Parks. The current regulations are the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997.
Click to expand...

Of course, this is where my GF2 proves so useful!
 
Last edited:
Whether you'll get away with it is as much down to whether you get spotted, and how that particular warden/marshall/etc.. deals with it.

The D80 is an enthusiast level camera that they used to sell in Argos, so you might get away with it if you point that out, but the 70-300mm is going to attract attention.

Email the organisers, point out that you have a camera that is not built to professional standards or expectations, and that the lens you intend to bring is neither white nor has a gold stripe.
If they say it's fine, print it out so that you can show any objectors that the organisers have approved the camera.

If they say no, or give some generic reply about how removable lenses automatically makes a camera professional, then you'll have to look into other means. See if you can borrow a bridge camera with a ludicrous zoom on it.
 
I'd take a bridge camera. A lot of those have zooms that don't extend from the body so look fairly nondescript. Panasonic lumix is one of them. Nice and light too. And you can turn off the shutter sounds so it would be quiet rather than making a right racket.
 
I think the most common definition of a "Pro camera" is one where the lenses can detach from the body.

of course the influx of EVIL cameras makes that a little dated. but atleast it is an easy deffinition to understand.
 
Ooh yes, I'd love to know the organiser's response to a question about this.
 
AFAIK, there are no restrictions on taking photographs or shooting video for personal use in the Royal Parks, but you do require a licence for any other purpose such as commercial/professional photography and filming. http://www.royalparks.org.uk/about-us/faq#do_i_need_a_permit_for_photographyfilming_in_the_parks

I don't know why these restrictions have been imposed on people with 'professional cameras'. The gear doesn't define the purpose, but I suppose there may be some other authority involved, or it's just a fudge?
 
srichards said:
I'd take a bridge camera. A lot of those have zooms that don't extend from the body so look fairly nondescript. Panasonic lumix is one of them. Nice and light too. And you can turn off the shutter sounds so it would be quiet rather than making a right racket.
Click to expand...

I have a Nikon Coolpix s9100 which has a 25-450mm zoom so I may take that. It can fit in my pocket so it's not exactly going to attract attention. I've written to the organisers re their definition of a "professional" camera but I'm not holding my breath that I'll get a sensible reply.
 
Mountkeen said:
I have a Nikon Coolpix s9100 which has a 25-450mm zoom so I may take that. It can fit in my pocket so it's not exactly going to attract attention. I've written to the organisers re their definition of a "professional" camera but I'm not holding my breath that I'll get a sensible reply.
Click to expand...

That's probably ideal :)
 
The other issue is the noise, if you are standing in a crowd, chances are your camera will be in direct earshot of the next person stood near you, could be very irritating hearing the shutter sound almost continuously

:)
 
Rob 80386 said:
The other issue is the noise, if you are standing in a crowd, chances are your camera will be in direct earshot of the next person stood near you, could be very irritating hearing the shutter sound almost continuously

:)
Click to expand...

I'd imagine that the bulk of other people will probably be snapping away themselves so I doubt they would care about other people taking pictures.
 
Well I had a reply to my email about the definition of "professional" cameras which simply referred me back to the information given on their website which states:

"You may bring a camera. However, professional cameras (including zoom lenses and professional audio visual recording equipment) will not be allowed"

Not very helpful but I guess that means that any lens which looks reasonably large will be a no-no irrespective of the appearance of the camera. So it looks as if my little Nikon travel zoom compact will be pressed into service.
 
Brilliant! Take a 300mm prime, fitted to a Spongebob Squarepants painted 5D mkIII!

Seriously, I'd go back to them again and ask a) What does the phrase "professional camera" on the web site mean; what is the guidance issued to your staff to allow them to judge what is and isn't "professional"?, and b) Does that mean that a 3x optical zoom on a compact camera is not allowed? What about an 18 to 55mm kit lens? c) If I turn up with what I judge to be an amateur camera, because you can't give me any guidance, and you decide it's actually a professional one, what will happen? What provision will there be for looking after my camera until after the event?

Note that the site does not say professional type cameras, so my interpretation (which I'd argue even at the risk of ending up in the Tower a few inches shorter than I am now!), would be that ANY camera is allowed so long as it's not being used for professional purposes, and is not fitted with a zoom lens.
 
Last edited:
I'm dealing with the Department of Culture Media and Sport here. If they can be misleading and disingenuous on the small matter of media ownership the odds of getting a sensible answer out of them on this are remote.
 
Lens_Critter_Blue_Street_Monster_medium2.jpg


Camera disguise!
 
how are the going to enforce this with you and half a million other people on the route?

That tea cosy is fantasic though! just the job for covert street work ;) i want one.
 
Last edited:
essexash said:
how are the going to enforce this with you and half a million other people on the route?

That tea cosy is fantasic though! just the job for covert street work ;) i want one.
Click to expand...

Sniper rifles on the buildings and anti camera missile systems on the top of tower blocks.

I think the "tea Cosy" was designed to keep children looking at the camera.
 
I can see why they may put restriction in place. My shutter on the D300 is a lot louder than my Canon S95, add to the machine gun type photography people may do, and the fact that some lenses can be very long means that they could be a big distraction in noise and views. People have complained even at Focus of too many big lenses banging into them. Also, people using 'pro stuff' are more likely to be taking more time to compose and getting the right shot.

Not saying I agree with restrictions, but can see an angle they may be coming from.
 
essexash said:
how are the going to enforce this with you and half a million other people on the route?

That tea cosy is fantasic though! just the job for covert street work ;) i want one.
Click to expand...

This is for an area of grandstands seating 10,000 at the top of the Mall around the Victoria Memorial. It doesn't affect anyone else on the processional route.
 
Mountkeen said:
I'm dealing with the Department of Culture Media and Sport here. If they can be misleading and disingenuous on the small matter of media ownership the odds of getting a sensible answer out of them on this are remote.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it'd be fun trying!! But more seriously, if they can't tell you what the rules are, how are they going to enforce them?

I'm tempted to go now, just to see what reaction my ageing Sony DSLR with 18 to 55 kit lens (it's a zoom, but almost certainly not what they had in mind), both of which would seriously embarrass a pro, would get. If I flaunt it enough, the issue of me not actually having a ticket might never come up!!
 
Mountkeen said:
This is for an area of grandstands seating 10,000 at the top of the Mall around the Victoria Memorial. It doesn't affect anyone else on the processional route.
Click to expand...

Given that I can understand why they're doing it, but it doesn't change how ludicrous their lack of a definition/guidelines is/are.
 
I think this means: no DLSRs.

Reckon you'll get away with a CSC as long as you don't have a large zoom (eg 100-300mm).
 
Can't believe anyone is even interested in this elitist drivel.

This is an unelected ruler, worth untold billions, presiding over a country where there are children with almost nothing to eat.

How dare she dictate what type of equipment the tax paying public use to photographer her with.
 
Steelmagnet said:
This is an unelected ruler, worth untold billions, presiding over a country where there are children with almost nothing to eat.
How dare she dictate what type of equipment the tax paying public use to photographer her with.
Click to expand...
Ordered your Jubilee mugs yet Steve?
 
Canon Bob said:
Ordered your Jubilee mugs yet Steve?
Click to expand...

Not yet, I'll pick one up on eBay.

However, this has really got me annoyed. It's an ill-judged and ill-informed ruling, with no basis on which to comply with the rules.

As everyone on here know you can take great pictures with a £50 compact, and woeful ones with a £4k Nikon. So why ban 'professional' cameras?

The only rule, which in fact should be nothing more than a polite request, should be that people don't bring huge lenses. They could be an inconvenience to others in a crowd but even that is just common sense and doesn't require a rule.
 
I got thrown out of a football stadium once for having a 20d and a 17-85. That was professional aparantly
 
Steelmagnet said:
Can't believe anyone is even interested in this elitist drivel.

This is an unelected ruler, worth untold billions, presiding over a country where there are children with almost nothing to eat.

How dare she dictate what type of equipment the tax paying public use to photographer her with.
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly.

Although I do get the impression sometimes that even a polished Tu*d would bring similar reactions from joe public if it had royal connotations. :shrug:

Regarding the use of DSLR's IMHO I think this is simply an attempt to allow paid proffessionals to control the availablity & quality of images released which will cost ££££££££££££'s to the mugs who buy them. :thumbsdown:
 
It is just a load of rubbish, because

a) it is possible to disguise a shotgun as a big camera (remember lens mugs)
b) they like to annoy taxpayers

I would either try to get a press pass, or look at something small like NEX-5N or a Leica :lol:. That has got more than acceptable IQ, looks small. Just watch out that you don't infringe some [insert your favourite few words] crown copyright
 
Have you ever watched how the typical DSLR user acts in a crowd at an event?
 
daugirdas said:
...I would either try to get a press pass...
Click to expand...

Why would you even suggest that to someone who clearly isn't In the press? FWIW you haven't got a cat in hell's chance if you haven't applied already.
 
Steelmagnet said:
How dare she dictate what type of equipment the tax paying public use to photographer her with.
Click to expand...
I'd be quite surprised if she took time out from walking the Corgis to consider what sort of cameras we'd be allowed to use. I'd put this one down to faceless government bureaucracy that rather than crushing imperial power. :p
 
Last edited:
SteveA said:
faceless government bureaucracy
Click to expand...

Would guess it's likely to be commercialisation of the event personally. Rights to shoot it are worth more if you ban anyone without the rights from doing so.
 
I agree this is a ruling from a faceless Civil Servant, nothing to do with the Royal Family.
Of the 2 I find the CS far more unpalatable than the Royals. Besides, the 'starving kids' (Thats irony, having policed some of the s***tiest bits of London, I have never found one that was staving for any reason other than parents who preferred to spend money on beer/fags/drugs) of the UK, in my experience still have the latest iphone PS3 and xbox. Mind you it does beg the question how they afford those on benefits.
 
Steelmagnet said:
Can't believe anyone is even interested in this elitist drivel.

This is an unelected ruler, worth untold billions, presiding over a country where there are children with almost nothing to eat.

How dare she dictate what type of equipment the tax paying public use to photographer her with.
Click to expand...

Have you carried out a cost/benefit analysis of whether the Royals bring in more than they cost?

A short quiz:

Q: Who contributes more to the British economy?

A/ The Queen
B/ Steelmagnet

Oh, and can you give us a couple of examples of the 'ruling' she does? How have you personally been 'ruled' by her? And what makes you believe she 'presides' over you? Can you give us an example of this as well, please?
 
AHILL said:
My sentiments exactly.

Although I do get the impression sometimes that even a polished Tu*d would bring similar reactions from joe public if it had royal connotations. :shrug:

Regarding the use of DSLR's IMHO I think this is simply an attempt to allow paid proffessionals to control the availablity & quality of images released which will cost ££££££££££££'s to the mugs who buy them. :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

just try taking a chicken donner from 'Magic kebab' into 'The codfather' chip shop and see how many bites you get through before you are asked to leave- control is important, and control is everywhere
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top