Define non-pro camera

[LoveDSLR]

As proof of my amateur status, I have a 12x zoom p&s (Panasonic TZ7/SZ3) just for this kind of situation.

[deadgirlreading]

When I used to have my Powershot S3, I was stopped and told I couldn't bring it in because it was a 'professional' camera. If that gets stopped, I'm afraid your D40 will too.

[Alan Willis]

.... usually the photographer using it. At least that's my opinion. A professional photographer (I am, by the way, not one) is likely to get much better images with a lesser camera than amatuers (myself included) would get with a "pro" camera.

Of course, that's not going to help at the venue. So, I think the advice above to call ahead of time is the best going.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

if you can change lenses you won't be able to get it in.

That's the sentiment in almost all the venues I end up in...

[WooD]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

You should call whomever that's putting on the venue and check with them. According to Live Nation, (who I have to go through all the time to get press passes) if you can change lenses you won't be able to get it in.

Agree
Anywhere I've been if you can change a lens it's considered pro.

It wont matter if it's a D40 or D3X.

[kencaleno]

Obviously, they mean compact point and shoot cameras-even my Canon G3 couldn't get in on an event-they thought it was a Leica! Ken

[Homebrew]

On their website, the "permitted items" does indeed say "non-pro" cameras. Unfortunately, the"prohibited items" list specifically disallows SLR cameras. Looks like you're out of luck.

[Cuchulainn]

Yep. Was going to say that they define the term right on the site (#13 in the Can I Bring section) "Any camera with a removable lens, also known as single-reflex lens cameras (SLRs), is considered a professional camera."

We may not consider any SLR to be professional simply because it has a removable lens, but unfortunately there is only one opinion that matters

Originally Posted by Homebrew

On their website, the "permitted items" does indeed say "non-pro" cameras. Unfortunately, the"prohibited items" list specifically disallows SLR cameras. Looks like you're out of luck.

[waffles]

We might know the difference, and I'll assume that someone connected with the venue does as well, but this does seem very reasonable on their end. You can't go based on what's the best because that will change every time a new camera comes out. And it would be really hard to say that these certain dSLRs are allowed because you'll have people complaining about it and you'd have to let security look at every camera to check the make and model. Plus you could always scratch the model number off (which would leave me with some random Canon dSLR).

At least they're not disallowing all cameras. And there are non dSLRs that will get some good stuff.

[Homebrew]

You know, Nikon and Canon do a fair amount of in-stadium advertising. With the huge boom in dSLRs I wonder if they could be convinced to educate arenas about the huge numbers of non-pros carrying dSLRs and maybe persuade some of them to lighten up? I know MSG is better than usual in that regard (SLRs OK, four-inch lens length limit). I understand they don't want me going in there with a 600mm f/2.8 or anything but it does kind of chap me that I can't take photos of the same event as a guy with a point-and-shoot simply because I've got different gear.