Digital SLR Ban - Pointless?

[K12beano]

http://www.pixiq.com/article/transport-for-london-...

Answers on a postcard please....

[Nick Grant]

[davepoth]

So my analogue SLR would be fine then?

[tank slapper]

That's utterly stupid. What are they actually afraid someone will take a photo of in high quality? It's a bloody underground station, not MI5 headquarters.

So presumably a Leica M9 is allowed, because that can't take high quality pictures.

[Nick Grant]

Nick Grant said:

I have to be careful using that emoticon now I suppose, it could be called "The Clarkeson"

[Luca Brazzi]

Utterly mental.

[markmullen]

tank slapper said:

So presumably a Leica M9 is allowed, because that can't take high quality pictures.

Where's your imagination? I was thinking of hiring a 5x4 Sinar and a Phase One iq180 back!

[Ady1970]

That is absolutely insane. And also reminds me of when i took my daughter to see Cbeebies at Wembley Arena a few years back. I could not take my old pentax film slr in as no photography was allowed. Yet every other person in there was taking pictures on digital compacts and crappy camera phones. And guess what no one bothered to stop them. To say i was a tad irate when i went to retrieve my camera was an understatement.

[Luca Brazzi]

Ady1970 said:

To say i was a tad irate when i went to retrieve my camera was an understatement.

I'd say you were lucky it was still there, if you had to hand it in.

[Seight_Returns]

It would frustrate me too - but surely the point is that TfL hire out Aldwych Station as a photoshoot venue - they also run tours for people who'd like to look round an old tube station at a fraction of the price you'd pay to hire the place for a photoshoot. You can imagine that pros are sneakily using the cheap tour to capture images for commercial use.

If I owned a similar venue and I was losing photoshoot revenue from people abusing the "come and have a look round" tour for commercial purposes - I'd seriously consider doing what TfL are doing.

Edited by Seight_Returns on Monday 5th December 17:19

[Simpo Two]

Well they have tried to explain the logic... but one is tempted to ask - what is of such ('terrorist') interest in a station? If you want to plant a bomb you walk in and plant a bomb, you don't need to photograph anything first.

But it's their patch, they can ban people in blue jumpers if they want...

Seight_Returns said:

It would frustrate me too - but surely the point is that TfL hire out Aldwych Station as a photoshoot venue - they also run tours for people who'd like to look round an old tube station at a fraction of the price.

Then the reason for the ban should be 'We want to charge you to take photos'. Fair enough, but fess up.

[paulrockliffe]

And there's nothing 'unfortunate' about it, unless they're referring to the IQ of the people coming up with this rubbish?

[Seight_Returns]

If they were being underhand with their justification for the ban then I'd agree, but unless I've missed it - they don't give any reason for the ban, terrorism related or otherwise - they just say they don't want equipment capable of capturing high (ie broadcase or publication) quality images being taken on the 5c tour.

[AndWhyNot]

Went along for the tour with MrsWhyNot (as something to do rather than a photo opportunity) and the ban on digital SLRs was enforced.

Film SLRs: fine; digital compacts: fine; iPhones with video cameras: fine.

None of the tour guides would be drawn on the reason behind the ban but we spoke to a TfL employee later who intimated it was to try and minimise publication of details which would make it easy for urbexers to gain access. Really doesn't make sense but that's the line...

Gonna pop up my digital compact pics later in their hi-res glory

[Simpo Two]

AndWhyNot said:

None of the tour guides would be drawn on the reason behind the ban but we spoke to a TfL employee later who intimated it was to try and minimise publication of details which would make it easy for urbexers to gain access. Really doesn't make sense but that's the line...

It's worrying when 'authority' can't give a straight answer that makes sense. Give me a reason that adds up, fine. Give me nonsense and you wonder if they are simply idiots or hiding something.

[RobDickinson]

Crazy.

I can only assume they are sony fans and love SLT's

[LongQ]

RobDickinson said:

Crazy.

I can only assume they are sony fans and love SLT's

Now that could be an interesting discussion at the checkpoint.

Would a Canon G11/12 with Tele adapter and a 580 flash be in trouble?

[RobDickinson]

"Oh no sir, this is a Hasselblad H4D 200MS, certainly not an SLR!"

[Elderly]

Back in the day, I did some interesting jobs photographing for London Transport;
so I emailed my LT contact (now retired) directing him to this question.
His reply didn't answer the question, but here it is:

"God knows ! I worked there for twelve years and got no nearer to understanding how the beaurocratic mind works.".

[craikeybaby]

The BJP have put in an FOI request for the exact reason for the ban.