Hi - I'm attending the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time this year, and I would like to take my digital SLRs and some beefy lenses (200mm, 400mm) in with me. Can anyone point me to a place that describes what is allowed/not allowed into the event? I'd hate to arrive at the gate and not have the cameras or backpack carrying them allowed in. After the race, I'm heading down to Maranello for the factory tour - confirmed through my dealer and FNA a few weeks ago. I know they don't allow cameras in the factory, but can they be used on the grounds at all? Thanks in advance - couldn't find anything searching the archives... Jim
Last time I was there, no problem with cameras. If you are in the stands, I would not take a tri pod of any kind.
Never been to a GP event yet where you were told no cameras - they'd be collecting everyone's cell phones! I agree with Ron on no tri-pods in the stands as the seating at most venues is quite close and you wouldn't want to obstruct another person's view. In Maranello, correct no cameras in the factory or inside the gates. Carol
I used a monopod occasionally to support the 600mm Nikkor. That works well in the stands and gives you a handy weapon I remember reading on the VIP pit passes that video cameras were not allowed during the pitwalk (photo cameras were ok). Turns out that was just some legal verbage and nobody gave a hoot.
I remember at the USPG, and I had VIP access to Ferrari and Jaguar I could not take photos of the car while in the garage. I could stand out side the garage and take pictures. Strange rule since I used my 300mm lense to take close up photos while standing out side the garage.... Maybe A strange Bernie E. rule. While in the garage, technically it's a private FIA facility and maybe only FIA offical photgraphers can take pictures, but out side the garage it's a public area and Bernie can't do anything about it...
Thanks, all! This is helpful and gives me an idea of what to expect. I'll either bring my monopod or just carry the camera itself. The most likely lenses I'll have with me are the canon 70-200 f2.8L IS and the 400mm tele - both are carryable.
I was shocked that I could take my camera AND video camera with me into the stands... I'm just so used to the NFL's ridiculous rules. I saw people lug coolers of beer into the stands during practices, another great idea quashed by the NFL.
The two grocery stores in Stavelot do a booming business on Saturday (they close at 18.00 and are not open Sunday) - lots of beer and food in plastic grocery sacks makes it's way to the race on Sunday at Spa (when they have it!) The Europeans have the right idea! Carol
When I was doing Detroit, it was VERY hard for any US Photog to get an all-access pass INCLUDING raceday), you had to be shooting basically for SI, or have very good connections. Back then, FOCA/FISA/FIA/whoever had rules stipulating that the only folks that could get all-access passes were full-time photogs that covered 14 events a year (or was it 12 ?), the funny thing is, if you look at the schedule, 14 (12?) of those events were in europe, so basically if you were a european-based photog, you had no problems, but if you were in North America or Japan/Australia, you had to jump thru hoops. Tifosi12 - the Alboreto pic I talk about on another thread here was shot with a 400 2.8 on K-Chrome at 1/500 at 2.8 - TIGHT.
One year at the USGP in Indy I was setup at "the photographer's hill", the hairpin on the infield. Next to me was a pro and we talked and swapped lenses for a few shots. Turns out that he run into exactly the situation you describe. Hard for US journos to get into it, which in turn makes it hard for F1 to be covered in US magazines. The $ 12,000 lens from Nikon (the 600 mm) is the most awesome "weapon" I ever used. So long and so fast, you can do just about anything with it. I simply rented it for a hundred bucks a day for the race weekend.
Yep, I had 'em all, 300 F/2 (almost impossble to find, and even harder to carry, let alone focus), 400 2.8, 600 4, all I have anymore ('long') is a 180 2.8, and it's tack sharp. I don't shoot enough to justify anything longer.
No issues with taking camera's with any event. The issue is wanting to sell the pics, unless u are approved by FOC/FIA(have a media pass etc) it is illegal for amateurs to sell F1 pics and they will chase you down and sue you if you try to sell F1 pics, as has happened in the past. Other than that have fun
I bought the 50-500mm Sigma for the digital Nikon. It is superfast, huge in range and pretty good optically. Not like a Nikkor, but something I can live with. Plus it "only" cost a grant, so I don't have too be too concerned about it anymore. I was really nervous travelling with that 12k lens. Let alone its size and weight.
Andreas, what kind of camera do you have? (Nikon i assume?) I have a D70 and love it. I think renting lenses is the way to go for F1 and racing, even though i like wildlife photography as well, where a 600 could come in handy, i could never justify paying 12k for a lens unless i was a paid pro. ~Chris
Totally agree which is why I rent the 12k lens for USGP, but bought the Sigma 500mm for vacations etc. Yes, D70. Love it. Has all I need. Also got a digi bin for downloading the memory card. Recently my hard drive crashed and I thought I lost a lot of my pics and then I remembered that all my vacation pics are stored also on the digi bin. Voila!
Cool. I love it too, it has everything i need and more. Yes, i know what you mean about backup. I'm going to buy an external (actually internal that i will convert to external) hard drive to back up all my photos onto Chris
When we raced in the Ferrari Challenge at Montreal and Indy we were told in both venues very specifically no in car video cameras. Weather or not any of the drivers listened is another matter.
