Going to the MEN arena... which camera...?

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Betty

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As some of you know, I am going to see The Police at the MEN arena in June (:woot:)

Ive just called them to ask about their camera policy. Apparently, anything over a 35mm is considered a professional camera :bang: So what do I do? Risk taking my 18-55mm and if I get told off, Ill say Ill keep it under 35mm? :lol:

What do you gruesome lot suggest? :D
 
I wouldn't risk it myself.
I've been to the MEN and I've seen people with 350's/Kit Lens etc, but other times I've seen them really strict.

P&S if you can get one.
 
I say, as I have said before, why waste the cost of a ticket looking through a viewfinder/at an LCD screen to get shots which won't be any good (and that's nothing to do with your photographic skills, but purely the nature of these things).

Leave your camera at home and enjoy the concert for what it is, or take your camera to record you being there with your friends for which a compact will suffice, but don't waste your time pointing it at the stage.
 
Did they mean lens size? Wouldnt suprise me if they werent reading from some very old sheet refering to 35mm film :p
 
I'm thinking thats film size rather than focal length...

So by that reckoning Medium Format and above are professional.

Full Frame dSLRs - Canon 1Ds Mk III will be allowed and anything under that will be permitted.
 
NorthernNikon said:
I say, as I have said before, why waste the cost of a ticket looking through a viewfinder/at an LCD screen to get shots which won't be any good (and that's nothing to do with your photographic skills, but purely the nature of these things).

Leave your camera at home and enjoy the concert for what it is, or take your camera to record you being there with your friends for which a compact will suffice, but don't waste your time pointing it at the stage.
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I understand what you're saying, but there is no chance in hell I am NOT taking a camera ;)

I cant believe my luck, having a band I have loved all my life, for them to reform? I NEED photos from this momentous event :D
 
Ask them?
 
But how can I explain to them what camera I have, and which ones are classed as pro cameras?

I want to take the 70-200mm :D
 
Betty said:
I understand what you're saying, but there is no chance in hell I am NOT taking a camera ;)

I cant believe my luck, having a band I have loved all my life, for them to reform? I NEED photos from this momentous event :D
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Thats how I felt with Led Zeppelin.
I've loved them since I was little, and when I heard they were reforming, I HAD to get tickets, despite the steep £125 price tag.
I realised I had no chance when there were 20,000 tickets available and more than 20,000,000 applied. I still sat up until the early hours of the morning trying to register.
The tickets went on eBay from anywhere between £500 to £5000.

When I didn't get the tickets, I was completely devastated. I haven't listened to them since :(

You could always try a hybrid camera, or even a compact with high optical zoom.
The Sony H3 is around £175 and has 10x zoom and the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 or TZ5 both have 10x zoom.

You could buy the camera for the event from Jessops, and return it before the 28 days (exchange/returns policy) are up.
 
Betty said:
But how can I explain to them what camera I have, and which ones are classed as pro cameras?

I want to take the 70-200mm :D
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They won't know and will almost invariably go with the conservative answer of no. Even if you had it in writing, you have to run the gauntlet of security both getting into the venue and while you're in there. Security staff aren't known for their brains so don't count on a letter on headed paper being sufficeint, and to honest I think you'll be lucky to find someone prepared to take time out to write you one. Why go to the effort when a simple 'no' takes half a second?

If you must take a camera, take a compact and take shots which will record the event not the performance.
 
At the Genesis concert I did at Twickenham last year, the gate guards considered that anything that had a lens that could be removed was a professional camera and they denied access to concert to the holder.

Question you must ask yourself is this:

If you turn up and they will not let the camera into the venue, what will you do?
 
foodpoison said:
Thats how I felt with Led Zeppelin...
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Gutted :( My other half was buying the tickets for me, we wanted to see them in Birmingham, he called me the day they went on sale and told me they had all sold out :shake:

He then said we'll have to see them in Manchester instead cos they had some tickets left :woot::woot:

foodpoison said:
You could buy the camera for the event from Jessops, and return it before the 28 days (exchange/returns policy) are up.
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Cheeky ;) Will they need an excuse? Simply, "I dont like it" wont do right? :D
 
Well, go for it then. If you have a "plan b", what have you to lose?
 
NorthernNikon said:
I say, as I have said before, why waste the cost of a ticket looking through a viewfinder/at an LCD screen to get shots which won't be any good (and that's nothing to do with your photographic skills, but purely the nature of these things).

Leave your camera at home and enjoy the concert for what it is, or take your camera to record you being there with your friends for which a compact will suffice, but don't waste your time pointing it at the stage.
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:agree:

If your at the back you'll need a EF500 mm lens + 2X extender :lol:
 
id go for a compact and not worry bout it. what would you do if you get through the door, then the security inside pulls you for it, 3 mins before they come on stage?

what about someone knocking it out of your hand???
so many things that could cause you grief, i would say p&s only.
 
Betty said:
Cheeky ;) Will they need an excuse? Simply, "I dont like it" wont do right? :D
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I know Argos do no quibbles money back for 28 days, I was going on a road trip and wanted some reasonable sounds in the car so purchased a £200 head unit and then took it back when we got home. The women asked what was wrong with it and I said I didn't like the sound it made, jobs a goodun money refunded. I felt like a bit of a pikey but it was well worth it really.
 
perhaps you can borrow one?

there was a few people on about swapping from a bridge to slr, perhaps find one and do a swap for the weekend so they can get a feel for a slr and you get a bridge.
 
A bridge to a security guard still looks like a pro camera though :(
 
arent they significantly smaller? and you cant remove the lens. but your right, prob best to go all the way back to p&s. has any family got a decent one?
 
My old bridge was about the same size as my 400D. It wont matter to a security guard that the lens wont detach, hell they wont even know what that means :D

Its ok, Ill sort something :thumbs:
 
I have just been to the MEN on saturday to see Mark Knopfler who was brilliant!!
There was an announcement at least 3 times about the use of any camera or video equipment and anyone using them would be asked to leave.
I don't know if this is all acts or just a request from Mr Knopfler :shrug:

Although loads of people used them - mainly mobiles and one or two people were warned but the vast amount of people used them quite happily.

Just see what announcements are made when you're there :shrug:
 
Sounds like it was just your gig, as when I called, they didnt say cameras were forbidden :)
 
Basically, anything that is not a P&S. I would not risk taking with you. If you get stopped at the door, you will have the time to go back to the hotel and the time to stand waiting to get back in. Or they might take it of you, for you to collect from the customer services suite at the end of the show. Some on the doors are planks, but others know what they are looking for. I have worked gigs at the MEN arena since it opened (i work for the security co there and at other venues europe wide). My speciality was getting people with recording kit.
As many people have said, go and enjoy yourself.
If you want any further info, just PM me.
 
Thats fine thanks Geordi69, I prob wont risk it. Its a good excuse for a new P+S :D
 
Oh come on, its a sweeping remark :D

So what would you do then? If I had my 400D with me and the kit lens, what would you say to me?
 
Also bear in mind that it's not always a decision made 100% by the MEN Arena. The rules regarding recording and photography equipment varies from band to band, some will tell the Arena that they don't want ANY photos taken (as if they can really enforce it anyway) and some won't care as much.

I would just take your 400D, it's small especially with the kit lens and you'd get some good shots if you managed to get it in.

Besides, what's the worst that could happen? You would have to check it in or take it back to your hotel...it's not like you won't see the gig.

You'd be gutted if you didn't try, and then saw someone inside waking around with a 400D. I know I would :)
 
or gets nudged in the crowd and it hits the floor smashing the camera and lens?
 
NorthernNikon said:
How about she manages to get it into the venue but is seen using it at the start of the gig and thrown out of the concert altogether?
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:agree:

I have seen it done at MEN and other venues, it will be a case of you have ignored / broken the conditions of entry and they have the right to remove you from the site.

I have said in another post before, I have seen the bands personal security just grab kit off people and wreck it. They don't care, they are gennerally out of there in a couple of hours and it's left to the venue to take the flak.
 
Geordi69 said:
I have said in another post before, I have seen the bands personal security just grab kit off people and wreck it. They don't care, they are gennerally out of there in a couple of hours and it's left to the venue to take the flak.
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Holy crap :eek:

I have emailed them my enquiry, so will have something back in writing at least. I explained I have a "pro" camera as they call it, but the lens is under 35mm. I might have flummoxed them :D
 
Aye aye,

Security at the MEN can be very harsh at times - personally I would not risk taking it and getting thrown out. After all, with every breath you take you will be wondering whether or not you will be stopped or thrown out.

Someone may nudge into you and then you would have to say "don't stand so close to me". If you got thrown out or your lens got damaged it really would sting and would be the king of pain!

The lens may be confiscated and if you have a good relationship with your lens, like I do, I can't stand losing you!

The again, you could try smuggling it in, in a bag wrapped around your finger. Maybe the bag will be invisible (sun) to security!!! You could suddenly produce the camera without anyone seeing inside the MEN. People would stop and stare, and say WOW - every little thing she does is magic!

But if you did get thrown out, with everyone else inside you would feel so lonely! You could stand outside and hum alongto the songs - de do do do de da da da ...maybe you could even talk to someone called Roxanne!


I saw the same concert in Boston last July and it was amazing. I really was walking on the moon after hearing it - take a basic point and shoot and then enjoy the gig for what it is!


Must dash now as i'm meant to be working and can't think of anymore police songs!!!!
Anth.

PS - should i have posted this message in a bottle ????
 
Nope sorry I dissagree with those who quoted me...

Firstly, it's a Police gig, not a heavy metal concert. Sure people will be jumping around a bit, but it's not a huge camera made of delicate glass, it's a 400D - a fairly small, light DSLR. Just wrap the neckstrap around your wrist and you will be perfectly fine. Finding that you are in the middle of a crazy crowd of rebels who decide to jump around like head-bangers in a mosh pit, then just move to another part of the Arena, it's HUGE and has PLENTY of space for every kind of gig-goer.

Secondly, MEN staff won't notice you with a 400D, especailly if you are general standing. That area is so big that it's hard to pick someone out in the darkness with a 400D, and they don't have security personel patrolling the general standing area on the lookout for DSLRs.

If you were there with a 40D or 5D with a 70-200, i'd say definately don't risk it, but since it's a 400D and kit lens then i'd go for it.

If you feel like you'd be on edge throughout the whole gig, or are worried about it, then don't bother, just take a P&S, but I personally reckon it's worth the risk.
 
Fair points above ..... BUT ....

They DO search bags on the way in (if you're unlucky). Also, they do patrol the seated area (not sure if you are standing or not).

Get a cheap camera and go for the music ... ;-)

Anth x
 
Ill be seated ;)

I am wondering if its worth the P+S with a movie mode instead? At least Ill have something to listen to rather than just pictures? :)
 
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