supercross and cameras

I have found that it all depends on what lens you go in with. If you go in with your big 'ol zoom lens you will certainly get rejected. I get stopped more often with staff questioning my lens rather than my "camera". I hear: "Hey how did you get in with that lens?" or "That lens is too big, you can't be in here with that." So if you go in with an innocent looking lens, then you can probably get away with it. But other than that, it is purely a judgement call. They just look at your lens and determine if it is a "professional" lens or not. I don't know where they draw the line at "professional". I know my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS on my Canon 40D was too big. You will just have to get creative on how you get your big lens in if you have one.

I carry a Nikon D50 with kit lens and 70-300 zoom in a bag to every race I've attended, and never had anyone ask or say anything about it.

Just email the venue are going to and ask what the policy is.

I had problems the year before going to Reliant stadium. 1st problem is that I use a backpack camera gear bag. "no backpacks". Then I took the camera out and popped the lens on it. "lens too big"....but.. I got one of them to let me in with it all anyway by putting my jacket over it.

SO..... I emailed, got the answer that cameras are fine as long as the lens itself is less than 12" long. I also asked if camera "bags" were allowed and he responded...sure.

I had the email ready in case I got grief again. Wouldn't you know it, I didn't need the email as they let me right through, backpack and all.

I went to A1, A2 and Phoenix. I took my camera bag with me. The let me in with 2 cameras, the lenses were a 70-200 2.8, 14-24 2.8 and a 400, yes a 400 2.8 11lb15inch monster with no problem. The did ask if either camera could take video, which they could not. But if your camera takes video, they will not let you in.

I don't know about the other statdiums but these 2 allowed it.

i got into ATL last year with my 20d and a 24-70 2.8 in a tamrac backpack, added a 70-300 lense this year...hope they dont stop me, they didnt last year.

I should have said.. make your email generic as possible. I only asked, if cameras were allowed and what was the policy for them.

I def. didn't say. I have a 300mm lens and a 1dmarkII with a backpack full of camera gear that I want to bring in.

You should have not sent them email. It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. They allow cameras, they don't allow video. They may or may not stop you at the gate, if they do then put the camera back in your trunk.

If they reply to you and say you cannot take your camera, then you are breaking their rules. As it is right now, we know people get in with all sorts of cameras, they may decide to tell you no. But as long as they don't tell me no, or stop me at the gate, I am taking my camera in.

If the boss says I can have a 12" lens and I get to the gate and they say "you can't have that in here"... I whip out their bosses email that says I can. In my case, I had history of trouble dealing with the idiots at the gate, so it made sense to get the lowdown.

I'd rather play by the rules so I ask what they are, but that's just me.

Choose your poison.

I tried to hide my Canon 300 2.8 IS in my backpack at the Seattle supercross last year (I already prepared myself for rejection) Even turned the lenshood around to make it look smaller, but no, the lady at the gate asked if it was more than a three inch zoom, I told her its okay it doesn't zoom, its a fixed length, but she still said no, lol.

I have not had one issue, but I have not shot that many supercrosses. I expected not to be able to get in every time with a 400 2.8 For me, if by chance they will have to say, you cant take that big thing in here, then I will a say ok how about the 70-200, if they say no, then I will ask for a supervisor to come and tell me the rules and which camera and lens that I CAN bring in and put the rest back in the car. If there are people who won't let you in then I have been lucky enough to miss them. I did go to the San Diego SX one time and someone stopped me at the gate and called a supervisor. The supervisor let me in, it may just depend on their mood I prefer it that way, It may be a gamble but when they put in place hard and fast rules you are stuck with them..

But your experience is interesting, I am going to the Utah race, it is a different stadium and the rules may be different.

Every venue is different.
They all have rules in place. Some its a 3 inch lens, some are 6 and others are 12.
Then you have to worry about how well the staff was trained on the subject when they went thru their training.
Its a guessing game So I second the idea of getting the info in an e-mail form first. Then print it and take it with you..