Camera policy at the new National Stadium (Singapore Sports Hub)

[JoeyFO]

Hi there. Not sure where to ask this, but let me try here. I’m going to Japan-Brazil football match at the new National Stadium (Singapore Sports Hub) in Oct and hoping to take photos using a long zoom, but their T&C says this (http://www.sportshub.com.sg/sportshubtix/Pages/ticketing-t-and-cs.aspx).

******************
Non-commercial photography is permitted at the Venue provided:

1. That the camera used has a fixed lens of a physical lens length of 120mm or less, when fully extended.

2. That the photographs are for personal use.

All other cameras including those of a professional standard, with interchangeable or telephoto lens such as SLRs or cameras are prohibited.
******************

Do you think the securities there will seriously check our bags and stop us from shooting with DSLR if spotting anyone doing it?

I wonder whether there’s anyone here attended Juventus match in August and successfully brought DSLR in and shot.

Any feedback is appreciated, thanks!

 

[nightwolf75]

ok... pardon my french... but WTF.... :what:

 

[keithwee]

They most probably would pay money to employ guys to shine lasers at u and stop u from shooting with any equipment that goes beyond their rules.

That said, this is an open stadium and a soccer match , to read that they have instituted such a rule made my blood boil and really wth is wrong with these idiots running the event

 

[nitewalk]

I went for the juventus match and i was stopped but upon flashing the original T&C of their site they had to relent. So yeah they will check. And they will turn u back if they deem u don't comply. I brought a6000, 8mm FE and 70-200.

Even so they found fault claiming i have more than one lens. They seem to have changed their T&C since then? Haha must have been a number of people quarreling with them that day. And also indoor stadium is somewhat similarly strict.

Honestly, if i can, i'd not bring my stuff from now on. Very damper, the way they check as though you will do something sinister. Kills the joy really. As such, although the japan brazil game is another massive friendly, i decided to save my money. I'd rather watch the 3D simulation on Football Manager.

 

[kandinsky]

Noticed the FAQ has slightly different wording from the T&C:

What are the restricted or prohibited items?
​​For the comfort, safety and enjoyment of all patrons, some of the restricted/prohibited items are as follows:

• Cameras of a professional standard with interchangeable or telephoto lens such as SLRs with lens in excess of 200mm

http://www.sportshub.com.sg/customercare/Pages/faq-national-stadium.aspx

 

[shierwin]

Maybe you be able to get the Olympus epl/ep series or similar body body with the 75-300mm EZ lens (compact look) thru

 

[nitewalk]

Noticed the FAQ has slightly different wording from the T&C:

ah ha thats where they relented coz it was stated somewhere about 200mm. The 120mm is new it seems

 

[JoeyFO]

Thanks all for the feedback! 200mm on DX (I'm a Nikonian) is quite okay, but 120mm is too short... Maybe I'll try CSC solution. Not sure about image quality, though.

All this reminds me of camera policy at SkyPark (MBS rooftop). They ban tripods, so I went there with GorillaPod to shoot at dusk, but I saw a few people shooting with big tripods without being stopped by securities! Watching Japan-Brazil live is like once in a lifetime chance, so I may as well take a risk and bring DX with 70-200 on...

Btw, @nitewalk, your photos are amazing!

 

[SilentSeth]

Thanks all for the feedback! 200mm on DX (I'm a Nikonian) is quite okay, but 120mm is too short... Maybe I'll try CSC solution. Not sure about image quality, though.

All this reminds me of camera policy at SkyPark (MBS rooftop). They ban tripods, so I went there with GorillaPod to shoot at dusk, but I saw a few people shooting with big tripods without being stopped by securities! Watching Japan-Brazil live is like once in a lifetime chance, so I may as well take a risk and bring DX with 70-200 on...

Btw, @nitewalk, your photos are amazing!

Use 2x teleconverter hehehe

 

[iluvs90]

******************
Non-commercial photography is permitted at the Venue provided:

1. That the camera used has a fixed lens of a physical lens length of 120mm or less, when fully extended.

2. That the photographs are for personal use.

All other cameras including those of a professional standard, with interchangeable or telephoto lens such as SLRs or cameras are prohibited.
******************

i read (1) as physical lens length = 120mm and not focal length, you have gotta be a "professional pro" to bring a bazooka so i think this is a fair requirement for most people gua...

on the last bolded point, it says pro standard with blah blah blah like SLR, so mirrorless can bring lor hehehehe...

 

[blaz7]

The 120mm physical length when fully extended was already there earlier as i remember reading it before i went for the Juve match.
I went for their training session on Friday and actual match day on Saturday.

On Friday, the crowd was only like 300 or so, they checked our bags but i did not see them refusing anyone entry due to camera equipments.
But there was an incident near where i was sitting, someone was using a Canon DSLR with a 70-200mm F2.8 lens, shortly after a young female staff came and told the guy that his camera equipment is not allowed.
He began shouting at her saying there was no rules saying he cannot bring his camera to shoot. She went away and came back with a T&C board to show him the rules. He continued to argue with her while his friends started to gang up on her as well.
She went away again and this time she came back with 3 security staffs, they warned him about non-appropriate behaviour and following premises rules and regulations. He kept his equipment and did not use them again.

On match day, the check was more strict upon entry, they will question on your equipment once they see a camera. The biggest setup i saw that day was a nex camera with the 18-200mm lens. I was using a GX7 with 45-175mm lens on both days.

 

[edutilos-]

120mm is the actual lens length, not focal length hor.

 

[edutilos-]

on the last bolded point, it says pro standard with blah blah blah like SLR, so mirrorless can bring lor hehehehe...

I don't really understand the last point:

All other cameras including those of a professional standard, with interchangeable or telephoto lens such as SLRs or cameras are prohibited.

I wonder why there is a need for "such as SLRs or cameras", it doesn't seem to make sense. Also, it says "including those of a professional standard", quite odd, since "all other cameras" already encompasses those of a professional standard. A lot of redundant points there.. Why not just state the first two conditions and leave the last part as "all other cameras which do not meet the conditions are prohibited"?

 

[nitewalk]

Thanks all for the feedback! 200mm on DX (I'm a Nikonian) is quite okay, but 120mm is too short... Maybe I'll try CSC solution. Not sure about image quality, though.

All this reminds me of camera policy at SkyPark (MBS rooftop). They ban tripods, so I went there with GorillaPod to shoot at dusk, but I saw a few people shooting with big tripods without being stopped by securities! Watching Japan-Brazil live is like once in a lifetime chance, so I may as well take a risk and bring DX with 70-200 on...

Btw, @nitewalk, your photos are amazing!

Thanks!

120mm is the actual lens length, not focal length hor.

I don't really understand the last point:

All other cameras including those of a professional standard, with interchangeable or telephoto lens such as SLRs or cameras are prohibited.

I wonder why there is a need for "such as SLRs or cameras", it doesn't seem to make sense. Also, it says "including those of a professional standard", quite odd, since "all other cameras" already encompasses those of a professional standard. A lot of redundant points there.. Why not just state the first two conditions and leave the last part as "all other cameras which do not meet the conditions are prohibited"?

I don't think they went about measuring the lenses. Anyway, i wasn't in the know about the T&C till a Pentaxian here actually whipped out the T&C from their website, then they verbally mention about the focal length being at most 200mm. They didn't mention about the 120 physical length. Not sure if the two conditions are in an "or" relationship or "and" relationship. I'd be curious what about a person who use a mirrorless, say a6000 with FE 70-200 versus a 7D with 18-55. Lol.

 

[JoeyFO]

Thanks @blaz7 for sharing your experience at Juve match! Seems DX body with 70-200 is absolute no no. Maybe I'll try a mirrorless plus a mid range zoom. For "120mm physical length when fully extended", not sure which lenses meet this criteria. Even typical superzoom like 18-200 does not, I guess.

But, "That the camera used has a fixed lens of a physical lens length of 120mm or less, when fully extended" means all interchangeable lens cameras (inc. mirrorless) are prohibited, I guess, strictly speaking. Really sucks...

 

[edutilos-]

Thanks!

I don't think they went about measuring the lenses. Anyway, i wasn't in the know about the T&C till a Pentaxian here actually whipped out the T&C from their website, then they verbally mention about the focal length being at most 200mm. They didn't mention about the 120 physical length. Not sure if the two conditions are in an "or" relationship or "and" relationship. I'd be curious what about a person who use a mirrorless, say a6000 with FE 70-200 versus a 7D with 18-55. Lol.

200mm before or after crop factor? Lol..

 

[iluvs90]

I don't really understand the last point:

All other cameras including those of a professional standard, with interchangeable or telephoto lens such as SLRs or cameras are prohibited.

I wonder why there is a need for "such as SLRs or cameras", it doesn't seem to make sense. Also, it says "including those of a professional standard", quite odd, since "all other cameras" already encompasses those of a professional standard. A lot of redundant points there.. Why not just state the first two conditions and leave the last part as "all other cameras which do not meet the conditions are prohibited"?

i agree, the rule is confusing and unconvincing...

 

[nitewalk]

200mm before or after crop factor? Lol..

On the spot, i didn't want to question them as I was hanging on a tight rope for my entry as the kick off was imminent! I would assume the focal length is capped so as not for us to get "close enough" visually to get sufficiently close up shots for commercial usage, i think? But i had no problem shooting and i saw someone else with a similarly white lens with a red rubber band in front. But that would be up for interpretation, i see. Some security personnel, which is entirely possible, with some knowledge of camera lens focal length and crop factor, would be able to point this out. Then what about M43? Can only bring up to 100mm. Lol.

Correct me if I'm missing on something, but i would think it is safer for them to specify the dimensions of the camera in conjunction with the 35mm equivalent of the focal length and the failure to comply with either conditions, they reserve the rights to bar entry. Than to specify type of camera. There is a baseline comparison for camera focal lengths, and if the idea is to limit the view, then the specification according to 35mm equivalent would help to control that. Then if they want to limit further, the size comes in as well, as the furthest the 200mm can go up to, without failing the focal length criteria is to be used on FF cameras and the dimensions will limit that, without having to specify types of cameras. In short, the over-constraints seem to cause them to forget some other parameters which may matter, for example i can bring in a lens that can go up to 200mm for M43 (if that exists?).

Aiya why so difficult, just either allow all or just ban all from bringing lah. So much easier. -.-

 

[kandinsky]

In short, the over-constraints seem to cause them to forget some other parameters which may matter, for example i can bring in a lens that can go up to 200mm for M43 (if that exists?).

There's the Panny 35-100 f/2.8 (70-200mm equiv). Measures just about 10cm in physical length. A compact version (5cm!) was just announced at Photokina (Lumix G Vario 35-100mm F4.0-5.6).

Given how common ILCs are, they definitely need to simplify the rules to make it easier for their frontline staff to enforce, as well as for patrons to understand.

 

[edutilos-]

In short, the over-constraints seem to cause them to forget some other parameters which may matter, for example i can bring in a lens that can go up to 200mm for M43 (if that exists?).

Good luck in training all the security to differentiate cameras.. Besides interchangeable lens there are also the prosumer P&S. :bsmilie:

Anyways we are just guessing what their rationale is.. If it's to prevent commercial use, why is there a need? Do the people using the stadium always care about whether there are commercial shots made out of the event? For this, professional sports/event photographers may know better. As for physical size, I can't think of a rationale. Avoid people from knocking each other? Public safety? :dunno:

It may be better for them to state the basis. Sure, they don't have to and it may invite more questions, but I think if reasonable, most people will not question further.