Unless spectators have the proper credentials, SLR cameras are banned at the Beijing Olympics. The reason they give is that the lenses might block the view of other spectators. While I could understand it if the lens is one of those huge lenses that photo journalists use, typical lenses that amateur photographers use are hardly like to block anyone’s view of the action.

When I went to one of the test events for the Olympics, I was once told that my Canon EOS 400D was “too professional”. I can’t remember what I said exactly, but I eventually got it through. Inside the stadiums I saw plenty of Chinese with similar and better cameras. I thought I was “moving up” by buying an SLR, but many people seem to have them in <