Cameras at Festivals?

[MisterTommyH]

Next week I'm going to my first festival in about 7 years when I used to go to 2 or 3 a year.

Not sure this one is going to be as messy as the ones when I was younger.

I was thinking about taking my DLSR but I'm not sure if this is a bit risky....... Has anyone taken a decent camera to a festival and come back with it in tact? If not I'll just take my compact, photos won't as good though, but maybe less risk of it being nicked? And less heartbreak if it is.

If I do take the DSLR, which lens? I have an 18-35mm, which will probably give good views of crowds and full stages, but will be no where near what I'd like with a zoom. Also have a 70-300mm which will probably be ok for the zoom, and might be wide enough to give some decent crowd/whole stage shots back at 70. Do you reckon 1 lens will be enough?

[Mikey10]

Not been to a festival but i have a DSLR and would probally not take it just on the fact its an expensive piece of kit and i could ruin the experience of the festival as you be worried about it being stolen of damaged.

Anyway have fun with or without a DSLR :)

[keith_d]

Next week I'm going to my first festival in about 7 years when I used to go to 2 or 3 a year.

Not sure this one is going to be as messy as the ones when I was younger.

I was thinking about taking my DLSR but I'm not sure if this is a bit risky....... Has anyone taken a decent camera to a festival and come back with it in tact? If not I'll just take my compact, photos won't as good though, but maybe less risk of it being nicked? And less heartbreak if it is.

If I do take the DSLR, which lens? I have an 18-35mm, which will probably give good views of crowds and full stages, but will be no where near what I'd like with a zoom. Also have a 70-300mm which will probably be ok for the zoom, and might be wide enough to give some decent crowd/whole stage shots back at 70. Do you reckon 1 lens will be enough?

Check the terms and conditions on the ticket/website. Some places can be quite picky about 'professional' gear. Here's the relevant line from the V-festival T&C page:
19) No audio or video recorders, professional photographic equipment or laser pens will be permitted to the arena.
What really p*sses me off is that 'professional' appears to be entirely random and depends which member of the gate staff you ask. For some anything bigger than a fag packet counts as 'pro' gear while others draw the line at big telephotos and monopods. So be prepared for a trek back to the car park if some numpty takes a dislike to your camera gear.

[Mark_h]

If I do take the DSLR, which lens? I have an 18-35mm, which will probably give good views of crowds and full stages, but will be no where near what I'd like with a zoom. Also have a 70-300mm which will probably be ok for the zoom, and might be wide enough to give some decent crowd/whole stage shots back at 70. Do you reckon 1 lens will be enough?

Sell the kit lenses and get yourself an 18-200. job jobbed.

[Kenzie]

I would be more worried about the bottles of p**s people insist on throwing, wouldn't want that in my camera. Plus it's something to carry and possibly get broken or stolen,

[MisterTommyH]

Yup it might have got broken during one of these moments...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EgttYPZ97fI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgttYPZ97fI&hd=1)

Unfortunatly **** is one of those things that might or might not happen..... I prefer to just believe it's all beer.