Professional Camera Gear (SLR, etc..)

[sicko2003]

Hi guys,

Anyone have any experience of taking a decent SLR camera to the festival with lenses? I'm aware the website states you're not allowed any on site and I've always been very wary of taking mine. Not looking to sell any images, just purely to capture the beauty of the festival.

[A Guy Called Matt]

I have bought myself a small canon 12 x zoom 16mega pixel that is so small I might lose it........................ it takes great pics and I am a photographer. I really do not want to carry my DSLR and lenses with me regardless of if they willl let me or not.

[jamesrfisher]

Didn't realise website said that. Have taken a DSLR several times with different lenses without any problems. Before took it I did email the festival office, they said no problems as long as photos were for personal use and not for profit and to remember not everyone wants their photo taken and to respect privacy.

Won't be taking it this year as have a good compact so won't risk losing or damaging the DSLR

[grumpyhack]

Not worth it. A lot of gear to lug and look after. A pocket digital jobby to record fun moments and times with friends. I'll leave it to the professionals to capture the bands.

[frostypaw]

I used to love photographing the festival, but you end up losing a lot of the experience for yourself trying to capture it for others and it's very rare you really succeed. It's too spontaneous and unexpected, far easier to catch with a point+shoot than anything more precise

the lack of worrying about damaging it in crowds/jumping around/rolling under a giant inflatable ball/tomato fight/unexpected downpour cannot be underestimated

[dan05delaney]

Taken my Nikon d3000 for the past few years and the photos you can get are great, but I'm currently getting rid and swapping it for a nice compact one... as people have said its far too big and there is always the worry of damaging it

[River]

Ive taken my DSLR every year since ive started going but normally check it into the lockups on the first night and forget about it. I use my compact for day stuff so im less worried about rain/mud/dropping it/other people/dust/spilt cider/tomato fight.

[psychology]

Hi guys,

Anyone have any experience of taking a decent SLR camera to the festival with lenses? I'm aware the website states you're not allowed any on site and I've always been very wary of taking mine. Not looking to sell any images, just purely to capture the beauty of the festival.

[Chris;]

It's fine to take your SLR, I did it myself last year. It was a D40 that had seen better days!

I would travel light though, I only took a prime 35mm lens and that was it.

There is nothing worse than having to lug around a bag full of heavy lenses all day - plus, bear in mind that where it gets crowded or you're in a gig then it gets a bit hairy if you have expensive gear.

I had very few pictures of the acts; it was deliberate really.

I just lived in the moment with all of the other hundred/thousand people in the same tent as me and enjoyed the music, there is nothing worse than having your view obscured with a sea of cameras and phones in hand.

Plus, if you're at the Pyramid then the pit is quite big, and so the barriers are quite far back from the stage.

[jonny2mad]

Lots of people do take SLR type cameras, I've taken a fuji finepix s700 for quiet a few years pretty cheap out dated camera now, not sure I would take a camera with lots of different lenses unless I was really into photography .

it really depends on what your going to be doing with it, I wouldnt take anything worth big money that you worry will get hurt or lost

[bsolxiv]

Any time spent changing a lens is time wasted. Took my DSLR in 2011 and was a pain in the arse. Get the compact in your pocket and get snapping. Quality these days is pretty good.