Epsom Derby - Camera Restrictions?

[AndyWilson]

We've got a work trip to the Epsom Derby next month. At the very least I'd like to take along my Minolta SLR, and it could be a good excuse to buy a DSLR. (fed up of waiting for Sony Apha to drop below £400 - might just splash out the extra 30 quid they're going for in most places!)

Anyone know if there's likely to be and problems taking and using a (D)SLR with a 300mm zoom? Are racecourses like gigs where anyone with an SLR, and in particular a long lens, is deemed to be a "professional photographer" and need clearance?

[Sam]

I had no problem taking my DSLR & telephoto to Newbury. However, you'll be taking from the rail if you can even get throught the crowd to get a spot. There will almost certainly still be another barrier between you and the racetrack so it'll be very difficult to get a decent shot of a race without it in. Also, given how busy the Derby meet will be I think you'll find you don't have room to move never mind swing a camera!

[AndyWilson]

Thanks Sam - we're in the "Winning Post" enclosure, so I'm assuming I won't have to fight past the rabble to get trackside :D

Also, 10mpx has a lot of scope for cropping, so I'm effectively doubling my zoom length (if you assume 5mpx is acceptable)

Just need to weigh up the "I want a DSLR" vs the "I don't need a DSLR equation now!"

[Sam]

Its not the zoom (I had an 80-400 on) its the angle. There's an inner rail (the white ones you see on the TV) that is at horse shoulder height that will be in most shots unless you get up in a Grandstand. If you're in a posh enclosure you'll have the Hooray Henry's to push past - you can't get a bigger rabble than toffs tanked on Champagne ;)

Main tip from my experience is don't try and take photos of a race that you've backed a horse in - its not possible to get a good pic whilst screaming your horse home ;) And have fun - I'm so jealous, I love going racing but have never been to a meet as big as the Derby.

[skenaja]

I got a couple of good pics from Tattenham corner a couple of years ago (http://photos.alexskene.com/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=13) - the racetrack comes right up to the road, with no distance at all between the wire fence keeping you out and the rail meaning you can shoot over or under it. It's much less crowded than the other free area we were in last year - it's the opposite side of the track to the main grandstand (I think it's called "The Hill"), we could only really see the racing via the big screens, or way up on the bank where the bookies were - too far away for photography.

[Dave B]

I took my DSLR and 600mm F4 lens into Royal Ascot. All I got asked what the lens had to go through a scanner, then they tagged it. So when I went through the main gate with the rest of the crowd they just checked it had been tagged.

Shot the queen on it, I was well made up. Thought I might get shot though pointing this big Canon at the queen!

Dave

[NicolaUK]

Talking about camera restrictions I was surprised to see a theme park not allowing DSLRs on property (Six Flags Magic Mountain in California).

I don't know if they'd actually enforce it but there was a large paragraph on their park info regarding them. They also stated no flash photography of any kind and we're talking just in the park here not on specific rides which is quite normal.

[AndyWilson]

Oh well, gave in and swapped some hard earned money for a Sony A100...

...High Street Prices for Memory Cards are ridiculous though, so got to survive on a 64Mb CF card for now :( (That'll hold a massive 2 images @ 10mpx Raw+Jpeg)

Once the goddam battery is charged I'm gonna get the wife to chase the cats around the garden so I can practice my panning :)