Camera Ban

[Gob]

Kentucky Derby Bans All Interchangeable Lens Cameras for ‘Security Purposes’

Michael Zhang · Apr 23, 2013

If you’re planning to attend the Kentucky Derby early next month, you might want to make sure you’ll be content with capturing your memories with a smartphone or point-and-shoot. Churchill Downs, the racetrack which hosts the famous horserace, has unveiled new security measures that will prevent attendees from bringing certain items onto the grounds. Among them: all interchangeable lens cameras.

In addition to interchangeable lens cameras (e.g. DSLRs, mirrorless cameras), the guidelines also prohibit any camera that has a lens longer than 6 inches, tripods, and camcorders.

Churchill Grounds says that the measures were developed after consulting with several law enforcement authorities following the Boston Marathon bombings last week.

The policy reflects a common prejudice against “professional” style cameras. It’s interesting that a $629 entry-level Canon Rebel (a crop-frame camera) with a 18-55mm kit lens will be banned under the new policy, but a professional $2,800 Sony RX1 full frame compact camera will be perfectly acceptable.


Read more at http://petapixel.com/2013/04/23/kentuck ... LUg2LQI.99

[Scooter]

The terrorists have won.

[rubato]

They're probably thinking about the size of some interchangeable lenses, esp those which might be used for sports. Along with the somewhat aggressive posture of someone using a camera with a larger lens. But they could easily have a 'photographers entrance' where such lenses are checked separately. An operating lens should be easy to demonstrate.








The group comprising photographers is large and capable and generally speaking has money. I'm sure that a more reasonable approach is found quickly.



yrs,
rubato

[Econoline]

It's gotten to the point that there is a large overlap between the smallest (SLR and other) interchangeable-lens cameras and the largest fixed-lens cameras (some of which now have 40X to 50X zoom lenses). What are they going to do--have security guards trying to take the lens off of any camera they suspect might have an interchangeable lens?

[rubato]

Working lenses transmit light. It should not be difficult to make a device which shines a laser through a lens to ensure that it is genuine.

yrs,
rubato

[Econoline]

This is an interchangeable-lens camera (and so would not be allowed in):


...and this one isn't (and so would be okay):


The images rubato posted are all SLRs with lenses MUCH larger than the "6 inches long" standard mentioned in the opening post. Using whether a camera can accept interchangeable lenses as a standard for security seems ridiculous. Using the sheer size of a particular lens makes a miniscule bit of sense, but as rubato points out it should be pretty easy to determine whether or not a lens (of whatever size) is an actual functioning lens.

[rubato]

We are going to make mistakes in adjusting for changes in our world. I tend to view all of these things as part of an ongoing dynamic process rather than as static events which 'prove' some knee-jerk theory about government or human nature.


"Government" whether of a race track or a city is a human institution and is only as good as humans are. But we can learn and change from errors of judgement; and generally do.

yrs,
rubato

[Big RR]

We can also learn to think and analyze a situation before we act, but we rarely do. Governments, as a consequence of human nature, usually act first and think later, as do most people. thinking first is something most have still not learned to do.

[rubato]

Governments, to the same degree as individuals, try to solve new problems with skills learned from the old problems. But the history of the past 200 years is that the effects of liberal democratic government and human society in the G-20 have improved continuously.


yrs,
rubato