What is a Professional lens..?

You may have noticed that this week I have visited The Open Championship at Birkdale. As I like sports photography and capuring the best at it. On Sunday there were no problems for the public and any lens was allowed in. Even my Sigma 150-500. But when I returned on Wednesday the mood had changed to a policy of. Any camera but no professional lenses. Luckily becauase I hadnt used it much on the sunday I left the Sigma at home.
This was fine except that the staff allowing people in wernt sure how to recognise a professional lens. And so pandamonium set in. And a lot of disgruntled people ensued.

When asked if I had any professional lenses in my bag ? My reply was "Nothing is professional in my hands"... To which the security man didnt see the funny side so he asked me again. To which I replied what do you class as a professional lens...? He just shrugged and said open my bag... To which he picked out my 70-200 f2.8 as a professional lens and would have to be left in the left luggage. I stated I had used it at the same championship only two days earlier. and one twice the size. But was told.. But there are more people here today..... Still not worked out the relevenance of that... As I had travelled with my brother I couldnt leave him to walk the course alone so I gave up the lens..

We did arrive quite early, and I noticed later on. They were measuering the physical length of lenses and if it was greater than eight inches. That was deemed to be professional....

So two points arose from the day.... 1 I dont know what a professional lens is ? 2. The K1 can produce some fine crops with a short lens using its 36mp sensor..

I'm currently writing my letter of complaint to the powers that be....

What incompetence! This sounds like they want to control the published images more than just crowd inconvenience. No way would I leave a 2 grand lens anywhere except in the car boot. Is there anything on the website about restrictions?

PS just read the conditions, cameras Incl. phones can only be used on practice days. And use of cameras etc will be posted at the gates.

PPS I don't suppose that every time you hit the ball you want to be deafened by Canon fire!

There's no difference between a pro and amateur lens, as we all know. It just depends on intended use. If the photos are taken for sale its pro, if it's just to show Auntie Agnes afterwards it's amateur. A lens is just a tool that does a job. The 40mm XS could also be a pro lens too!

If the rule is no lenses longer than 8 inches they should just stipulate that and you'd know just to take a 55-300 with teleconverter and you'd be back up to 450mm.

If they tried to enforce that 'rule' at the airshow last weekend they'd end up having to find storage for several thousand telephotos with a value of several million pounds and i should imagine future visitor numbers would be well down.

A professional lens is a lens that allows you to earn money....this is by definition.

However, if you get a commission that needs big prints, then you may need a great definition, thus a more expensive lens/camera.

That was my point any lens is professional in the right hands.. A lot of people were questioning the insurance policy of the left luggage cabins.. It was a nightmare. Ive photographed The Open for many years. The practise days have always very much welcomed photography. While never on the actual championship days.. Now photography is welcomed as long as it cant take a decent image....lol

PS I did speak to a guy with the latest Iphone and after market telephoto adapter. The results were very impressive.. Maybe not magazine level but certainly high quality internet ready in seconds....

I think it all comes down to whether they are doing it for the 'right' reasons. Are they trying to restrict competition in saleable imagery so as to not impinge on their monopoly or is it as Rob suggested a genuine attempt to reduce distractions for the golfers.

I can't see the noise/distraction argument gaining any credibility at an airshow though!

It would be nice if they would come clean and just explain what their problem really is. It's hard to bluff these days because people don't stand for it like they might at one time.

One answer is the Pentax Q with the 15-45mm lens, equivalent to more than your 70-200mm lens and hardly anything that will cause alarm bells to ring. f/2.8 all the way as well!

Not happy about leaving an expensive lens in the boot either - even in a 3-box saloon....Bad enough round here tealeaves on mopeds taking bags left on seats in Sainsbury's. Thieves have even wised up to the fact that more people are locking expensive gear in the boat and as a result thefts from car boots in local leisure centres are soaring - because they've worked out the gym users normally stop off at the gym between the office and home....

That's quite amusing. Sad in a way but nevertheless funny. Guess without much knowledge it's as good a criteria as any.

While I agree with Sebas that a pro lens is the one that earns you money, I think more people define 'pro' by a price tag or marketing designation more than an other factor. Guess size matters after all