The International Olympic Committee has already limited internet access for journalists covering the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China — which is bad enough — but now they are even imposing bans on professional camera equipment. The actual definition of "professional camera equipment" wasn't clearly defined on the official Olympics website, but many believe that this includes SLRs with big lenses (ones which would block views for spectators during the games).
Whatever the case, this isn't great news, considering you could take some amazing images with an SLR camera during the games. Although, if you are going to the Olympics, you can still take lots of shots with your point-and-shoot camera, which hasn't been banned . . . yet.
Mulberry
Timberland
Ruco Line
This is beyond ridiculous.
1I think we should consider pulling our athletes out.
2Pulling our athletes out won't solve anything...
3But as a photog myself I'm pissed. There are photojournalist and sports photogs that have been waiting 4 years to shoot this event.
Beijing seems to be ruining all the fun of Olympics. I agree that pulling our athletes out isn't the solution (the athletes, I'm sure, would not approve of so much training gone to waste), but there has to be some way to get China to pay attention to our complaints--although I think the SLR issue is a lesser evil than some.
4LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5Pathetic. I wouldn't go to Beijing even if I was given a free trip to the Olympics; I do not trust their government. I mean, to ban slr cameras and limit internet access?! Geez, talk about getting rid of tourists.
6why are we having the olympics in china again? seriously.
7Beijing is 4ss
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9Journalists and other pros can still get some kind of a pass to bring in their equipment. It specifically says no professional cameras for *visitors*. But it does seem cutting it pretty close to bring out this announcement just now. Visitors with SLRs might be there already and now they have to go and buy a point and shoot if they want to take pictures.
They could be a little less vague about what they define as "professional", but as someone in the comments section on the linked page points out, some sporting events in the US has the same rule.
10I will say this, it's annoying sitting or standing behind someone with those cameras. And it's annoying sitting behind a flock of press photographers at events too. So if that is the motivation behind this rule, then I think that might be nice. If its censorship or control, then that's a whole other issue.
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