Those of you visiting the Olympics, leave your cameras behind. M4/3 cameras are not welcome, because they are professional.

Olympic chiefs: Don’t bring any detachable-lens camera to Wembley (update) | Photography news - Camera news, photo news and photography events | Amateur Photographer

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Kristi

Panasonic Lumix G5
Panasonic Lumix G3
Lumix 7–14 mm, 14 mm 2.5, 14–45 mm, 100–300 mm
Panasonic Leica 45 mm F2.8 macro

My photos on Flickr
Comments and critiques welcomed!

Funny you should mention this....two weekends ago I attended a Dave Matthews concert in Tampa, FL. We know someone who works with the band, and we had very good seats ( lounge passes). Anyway, the rules said absolutely no cameras with detachable lens at the concert. I really wanted to take the Olympus OMD-5. I put it in a small bag...chose the 45mm on it...had no other lens in the bag...nothing else, and turned the camera away from the lens release button...security looked in the bag and let it go without questioning it! Now I know the security at the Olympics is much more restricitive, and much better---but, I was so happy I could take the camera I wanted to take.

Yeah, a lot of sports and entertainment venues have similar rules. But their enforcement is often a bit subjective. In many cases, the overall camera/lens package size is the deciding factor. If it doesn't strike the security guy as being professional you can often get through. But there's always a risk he'll say no. Many MLB parks in the U.S. simply have a size rule that keeps out long pro lenses. But I've gotten into Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Philles, several times with my Pentax K200D with the 18-250mm zoom attached. The lens is fairly compact when closed. I've seen a number of other DSLRs there as well.

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Panasonic G5 and Panasonic GX1, Lumix 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6, Lumix 45-150mm f/4-5.6, Lumix 100-300mm f/4-5.6, Lumix 14mm f/2.5, Lumix 20mm f/1.7

Olympus E-PM2, Zuiko 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6, Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, Zuiko 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6, Zuiko 40-150 f/4.0-5.6 R, Zuiko 15mm body-cap lens, Zuiko 17mm f/1.8, Zuiko 45mm f/1.8

I'm not going, but if I were I'd be pretty bummed if I couldn't take my m4/3 gear to the Olympics. Naturally my first thought would be the chance to get some great photos! I feel like what they really mean by rules like this is "no SLRs" and don't bring in your portable photo studio - but it'd be pretty awful to have to find out at the gate you're out of luck.

The whole thing seems kind of a moot point in terms of "leaking" footage/photos to me. Ok, so no ILCs are allowed, but somebody can easily just pack a high end travel zoom or P&S camera and still grab more than decent shots or video.

I feel like a legitimate concern is more practically based... the difference between photogs and other people is that most people with a P&S will just snap a quick shot from wherever they're seated/standing and move on. If you care about photos, you're going to want to move around, take your time framing shots and so on. For a lot of events, this translates to getting in the way, jockeying over who gets a chance to photograph from a specific spot and that sort of stuff. And if you don't have photo gear rules, *someone* will be that guy who fires off giant flash units, sets up a huge tripod in the middle of a walkway, and just generally goes way over the top annoying people to "get the shot". I can see how that would be a concern, especially at an event like the Olympics.

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500px | flickr

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” -- Dorothea Lange

As someone who went to Wembley last night I can confirm that as with most of the camera stories in advance of the olympics this is rumourmongering just to get people to read that website. The quotes tell you nothing - Wembley say we will deal with things sensibly, LOCOG say if you are not sure dont bring it. Thats the basis of the story.

I walked in with a small camera bag containing epl3, oly 40-150 and pana 20mm. Security didnt even ask to open my bag. If you are not shooting with legacy glass, as a m43 camera owner this should be of no issue. Just think that you are supposed to be at a sporting event not a photo shoot and that others might be hacked off with a huge lens over their shoulder and react accordingly.

The Road cycling at box hill was a different matter - saw a lot of >30cm long L glass and even some people arriving with ladders/small scaffold but it still wasnt an issue.

Fact is the athletes are the main sporting feature but remember a lot of the interest comes from the characters and reactions of the crowd

I went to a Tangerine Dream concert a couple of weeks ago and they wouldn't let me take my EPL-1 with kit lens and EVF in, said it was too professional looking, I told the guard to tell the SLR crowd that!

seriously... buy silly hello kitty type stickers and put them on your camera(just until u get in, then quickly remove them and act serious)
it works.

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Eliot

Any Interest in a TEXAS meetup?

If so, post up here!

It warms my heart to know there are still Tangerine Dream concerts.

They played for 3 hours and it was a wonderful experience, they play a lot in Europe, back on subject they said at the opening no photography or video recording I think it was the venue I don't think TD cares.

I wouldn't worry about it too much as there have been issues with security at the olympics as the company that suppose to provide it could not get the staff. Be sensible and there should be no problems. if you take a great big DSLR with a birding lens, don't be surprised if they turn you away.
One could ask what about bridge cameras?

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Darren