Glastonbury Festival

gill

gill

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Hi guys,

I'm heading to Glastonbury later this month - my first time - and I'd all but ruled out taking my SLR until doing a quick search and seeing all the advice given in previous years. I'm still a little unsure about the lockups however. Just how good are they?

I see a lot of people in previous threads relying heavily on these to store very expensive equipment, but having not been in the past it's difficult to imagine anything more elaborate than a coat room in a nightclub... how do these work and just how safe are they? I'm potentially carrying a 5d3 with a 24-70 f2.8 so I'm a little nervous on this point.

Also, are there any opportunities to charge batteries? I know there are options for charging phones, but I'm not expecting to be able to charge my camera battery. I'd been contemplating looking at a second hand x100 to keep weight down but reading about the battery life doesn't fill me with confidence. My 5D3 tends to perform very well in this regard, so with 1 extra I should do ok for our Thurs-Mon stay.

Any other TP-ers going this year?

cheers
 
gill said:
Hi guys,

I'm heading to Glastonbury later this month - my first time - and I'd all but ruled out taking my SLR until doing a quick search and seeing all the advice given in previous years. I'm still a little unsure about the lockups however. Just how good are they?

I see a lot of people in previous threads relying heavily on these to store very expensive equipment, but having not been in the past it's difficult to imagine anything more elaborate than a coat room in a nightclub... how do these work and just how safe are they? I'm potentially carrying a 5d3 with a 24-70 f2.8 so I'm a little nervous on this point.

Also, are there any opportunities to charge batteries? I know there are options for charging phones, but I'm not expecting to be able to charge my camera battery. I'd been contemplating looking at a second hand x100 to keep weight down but reading about the battery life doesn't fill me with confidence. My 5D3 tends to perform very well in this regard, so with 1 extra I should do ok for our Thurs-Mon stay.

Any other TP-ers going this year?

cheers
Click to expand...


The lockups are very safe and secure. Always use them. Glastonbury run a slick operation.

There aren't any official places to charge electricals, but I'm sure you could find someone/somewhere where you could onsite. People are generally happy to lend a hand. Although to avoid any hassle, just buy a one or two of these to see you through http://www.amazon.co.uk/PowerPlanet...?ie=UTF8&qid=1401975646&sr=8-9&keywords=lp+e6

I will be there from Wednesday. Don't think I'll take my camera though - might get a Fuji X20. Or use my iPhone.
 
thanks Ben - I loved your photos from a couple of years back btw, saw them on your blog some time ago.

I do like the look of the x20 - wouldn't you be worried about battery life though? I see it coming in at around 200 shots in reviews. Would you buy a handful of extra batteries or rely on finding power on site?
 
gill said:
thanks Ben - I loved your photos from a couple of years back btw, saw them on your blog some time ago.

I do like the look of the x20 - wouldn't you be worried about battery life though? I see it coming in at around 200 shots in reviews. Would you buy a handful of extra batteries or rely on finding power on site?
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I'd probably buy a spare battery. My parents live 10 mins from the site and are in and out each day, which makes things a little easier for me with regards to charging.

I would have no hesitation finding somewhere on site. The information points are usually willing to let you use a socket for a bit.
 
If you are going in a vehicle then you can buy a cheap inverter which gives you a 240v plug socket in your vehicle. The cheap ones are good for 150 watt devices, more than enough to charge your batteries. Though if you are asking about lock ups then you are not probably taking a vehicle.
 
MartinCornwall said:
If you are going in a vehicle then you can buy a cheap inverter which gives you a 240v plug socket in your vehicle. The cheap ones are good for 150 watt devices, more than enough to charge your batteries. Though if you are asking about lock ups then you are not probably taking a vehicle.
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I am actually - is it realistic to get back to the car during the day? I had visions of an hour walk to the car park...
 
Can't help on that one never been yet, just thought I'd help out with the inverter as I use one in my van.
 
MartinCornwall said:
Can't help on that one never been yet, just thought I'd help out with the inverter as I use one in my van.
Click to expand...

Cheers Martin - I'll take a better look at the parking situation as I've looked at inverters before.

I do have a 2kw petrol generator that I take to Le Mans... not sure it's quite the glastonbury thing to do though :)
 
Took me a 3hr walk once to the car and back. Was following the torrential downpour in 2005 and i stupidly / optimistically left my wellies in the car...
The ground was bone dry on Thursday, friday morning there were firemen in underwater gear checking tents in 3 foot floods!
 
Hi there,

I usually work for Festival Information, though not this year because, well, stuff. As has been said, the lock-ups are free, utterly reliable (open 24 hours per day, always with people on duty), and you would be VERY foolish not to use them. It would pay to find out where one is before pitching your tent. The info points (six spread around the site) will almost certainly be willing to charge your batteries, but of course they won't have a charger so you will need to take yours. I would suggest you don't use the big info point at Ford as this tends to be mad busy. I'd take minimum kit - body and one lens you suggest sounds about right - as you don't want to be bothered hauling a massive bag around all day and night. And do take a decent bag: this may come as a bit of a surprise, but it can occasionally get a touch damp with even a hint of mud at Worthy Farm. And have fun!

Edit to add: If you're thinking to taking a generator, try thinking about something else. I'm not sure if they're allowed, and in any case you may find it has vanished or somehow become contaminated with sugar (or something less appealing) when you get back to your tent, especially if it's a noisy one.
 
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I took my 450d and 17-50 f2.8 and 55-250mm lens 3 years ago. I didn't worry about it and took the SLR everywhere no problem.
 
jon ryan said:
Edit to add: If you're thinking to taking a generator, try thinking about something else. I'm not sure if they're allowed, and in any case you may find it has vanished or somehow become contaminated with sugar (or something less appealing) when you get back to your tent, especially if it's a noisy one.
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Plus camping and carbon monoxide producing equipment more than rings a few alarm bells!!
 
Generators are certainly not allowed at the festival - your best bet would be to get a couple of batteries to take and then sell one or both when you return.

I'm wondering more about the lock-ups - could anyone describe in more detail how they operate, what level of security they offer? Ideally I want to take all my gear - 5 D800 and 5 lenses in a big bag that I have. The plan would be to take it around during the day, then drop it off in the evening when I can dance around like a bit of a maniac. It's reassuring to hear that they're decent, just more information would be great! :)

EDIT: Being a dipstick I've just noticed this is from 2014!
 
alexthecheese said:
Generators are certainly not allowed at the festival - your best bet would be to get a couple of batteries to take and then sell one or both when you return.

I'm wondering more about the lock-ups - could anyone describe in more detail how they operate, what level of security they offer? Ideally I want to take all my gear - 5 D800 and 5 lenses in a big bag that I have. The plan would be to take it around during the day, then drop it off in the evening when I can dance around like a bit of a maniac. It's reassuring to hear that they're decent, just more information would be great! :)

EDIT: Being a dipstick I've just noticed this is from 2014!
Click to expand...

They're basically marquees filled with shelves that are manned by a few volunteers 24 hours a day. There's no way of getting in without people noticing. You drop an item off, give them your name, number and address, and they give you a receipt. There isn't a time limit nor is there a limit to how many times you can check an item in. When I used them last year I left my hiking backpack there for the week (left some shirts/trousers/essentials in the tent) and checked my daypack (which had my camera, GoPro, phone and some cash) in/out every day.

For what it's worth, I think that bringing 5 D800s + 5 lenses is way too much unless you're working on assignment there. Keep it simple, your back will thank you!
 
Cheers FruitFlakes. I didn't mean 5 D800's, I meant *A* D800 a 5 lenses. 5 x D800's and 5 lenses would be mental, but maybe 5 lenses and a single D800 is mental anyway. :p

Thanks for the input, looks like I can trust the lockups.
 
Glasto Tips: Camp off site. Consider anything not on you is up for takers. Do what ever you need to so you don't have to use the 'toilets'.

It is an awesome experience
 
The toilets are normally cleaned early in the morning, so normally best to go then. If you can't make it then, the open air ones are the least worst option...
i have never camped off site, but when I needed to get anything from my car, it was a pita to get on and off the site. and the queues leaving the car park on the monday.....
 
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