Big cameras frowned on at stations but phones OK?

[contrex]

There is an 'opinion' piece in the latest Amateur Photographer magazine dated 2 June 2026, by a street photographer called Chris Porsz. He mentions the campaign over a decade ago by that magazine and the likes of Don McCullin and the late (and very missed) Martin Parr, to defend the rights of photographers. They even printed a summary of the law on lens cloths and gave them away. As we all know, the Metropolitan Police later confirmed that “members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing.” This campaign also resulted in guidance that applies to all UK Network Rail-managed stations, that non-commercial photography is generally permitted and that no permit is usually required for handheld photography.

Porsz says that despite that, at London Waterloo, Euston and Kings Cross stations, and around the UK, he has often been challenged with something like this: ‘You have a professional camera and therefore need written permission.’ I have to say I've had no trouble at provincial stations like Exeter Central, Bristol Temple Meads or Cardiff Central, with compact (ish) cameras, but I have a used Leica on the way and wonder if things could change! It's not a big black DSLR so maybe I'll be all right. It actually cost not much more than a top end iPhone.

 

[Peter0124]

Unless your planning to take pictures of trains miles away, just get yourself an S23 ultra. Has incredible quality and zoom capabilities, and honestly is better than some actual cameras.

Also doubles as a phone so you get two birds with one stone.

 

[contrex]

Unless your planning to take pictures of trains miles away, just get yourself an S23 ultra. Has incredible quality and zoom capabilities, and honestly is better than some actual cameras.

Also doubles as a phone so you get two birds with one stone.

No phone ever made will beat a Leica M camera. I gather they sell Leica branded phones now?

 

[jbqfc]

Never had a problem using DSLR on any station anywhere in the UK

 

[AlterEgo]

I've never had an issue but I do not use a tripod, which may "trigger" some sort of response from some staff.

 

[D1511]

I have a big black DSLR and big grey lenses and no-one has ever said a word to me. The monopod gets a few looks until they realise it's not a tripod.

Xiaomi do a Leica branded smartphone supposedly with Leica optics inside.....the Leitzphone.......if you fancy paying £1700 for a Chinese phone

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I use a big black camera and sometimes a big white lens but I don't walk about with these on show. I keep them in my bag until needed for a specific shot. I must admit, I have had a few run-ins with over-zealous platform staff at Waterloo, especially during the last few weeks of the 455s but I'm normally firm and polite and give a reason for my presence. Anywhere else on the network; I have no problems and I'm very well known at several of the stations I frequent

Also, I never use a tripod nor flash.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Never had a problem using DSLR on any station anywhere in the UK

Neither have I, but it really wouldn't surprise me if a small number of staff somewhere are once again making up their own rules.

 

[John Luxton]

but I have a used Leica on the way and wonder if things could change! It's not a big black DSLR so maybe I'll be all right. It actually cost not much more than a top end iPhone.

Most Leicas except for the big S aimed at nd priced for the pros and the SL mirrorless all are small and fairly discreet cameras and that is why they are popular with street photographers. They also tend to look older, more retro which probably helps uninitiated think they are rather old and thus not serious cameras.

I will confess to being a bit of a Leica fan and all my digital cameras have been Leicas.

Never had any problem at stations taking photos with any of them from the X1 very small due to its small size to the largest a Vlux5 bridge camera - but I tend to use this mostly for ships due to the long zoom - it is the largest and SLR sized but that gets used more at ports, on board ships and at the coast.

Two years ago I was sat on a bench at Chester station snapping the passing scene when I saw one of their Silurian Security contractors heading towards me and did wonder if he was going to say something.

He did speak to me, but only to ask me if I could slide along so he could touch in with a stud on the back of the bench with his device and then apologised for disturbing me. Didn't say anything about the camera.

Only time I have ever encountered shouty security / police was at Heysham Station / Port just before I went digital and within the Port of Liverpool 20 years ago after an organised visit to an RN vessel. A particularly unplesant Port Police PC arrived in a van and started shouting at myself and other members from the World Ship Society Merseyside Branch that photography wasn't allowed.

We had been given permission by one of the ship's officers who had shown us around to take photos - when we told him this and invited him to go on board and check he then went off on a health and safety rant to try and prove his point. One of the group wrote a letter to the local RNR unit which had arranged the visit for us and we never had any more problems.

For photography at stations I almost always at tend to use either the DLux8 or an M which are fairly small (and touch wood) not had any problems with staff, security or police.

Sometimes you do see people with very large lenses - Canon owners in particular - who use very large grey tele / zooms which stick out significantly - now that is hardly discreet photography.

Perhaps these are the people who are gaining the unwanted attention of staff?

 

[EYFanatic]

Only time I have ever encountered shouty security / police was at Heysham Station / Port just before I went digital and within the Port of Liverpool 20 years ago after an organised visit to an RN vessel. A particularly unplesant Port Police PC arrived in a van and started shouting at myself and other members from the World Ship Society Merseyside Branch that photography wasn't allowed.

Heysham is always a bit spicy depending on the security persons on the job on the day - because there is a nuclear reactor sat next to the station and ferry terminal and its supposed to be a "state secret" don't you know to which I said that if it was classified then surely him telling me its a nuclear reactor was breaking the Official Secrets Act

My only time of having an issue with a large camera was at York when the Royal Train was due through and I had balanced a long lens on the bridge at York and was asked what it was - I told the BTP, they had a quick look, the Sgt said he was jealous of the quality and let me be on my way

 

[John Luxton]

Heysham is always a bit spicy depending on the security persons on the job on the day - because there is a nuclear reactor sat next to the station and ferry terminal and its supposed to be a "state secret" don't you know to which I said that if it was classified then surely him telling me its a nuclear reactor was breaking the Official Secrets Act

My only time of having an issue with a large camera was at York when the Royal Train was due through and I had balanced a long lens on the bridge at York and was asked what it was - I told the BTP, they had a quick look, the Sgt said he was jealous of the quality and let me be on my way

I have heard that explanation about Heysham before - but the fact is the best views of the power station are to be had from the ship as it sails out and not in the station / terminal area. I have taken contless photos over the years from ships alongside of the port, other vessels etc and not once have I been challenged. Only time was in the terminal about 1999. A Stanley Gath coach had come off the BEN-MY-CHREE and rather than exit via the freight yard had come out across the concourse and become wedged under the station roof myself and a few other enthusiasts present started taking photos until we were shouted at. Thus I have refrained from trying to take photos in the terminal / station since! Photo of the incident below.

I did have a problem with a large camera once - but didn't have to deal with the police myself. Back in the 1990s the school I worked at was located close to Aintree Race Course and to earn some extra money for school trips and things staff used to volunteer to come in run a car park on the Saturday. Back in those days British Airways used to run a day excursion to Liverpool using one of the Concorde aircraft. Before landing in the morning it would loop over the school and the race course before heading to Speke Airport. In the early 1990s one of the camera shops in Liverpool had a special offer on Russian Zenith Photosniper kits - which comprised an SLR and long lens which mounted on a rifle stock it all came in a metal military style looking carry case. I took this along that day and the plane flew over the school I took a few shots and later I could see a police car draw up to the entrance and speak to one of my colleagues who then came over to me and told me the police had had reports from someone living in the houses on the opposite side of Sherwoods Lane that they had seen someone in the school grounds with a gun! The Photosniper kit was pretty naff any way and apart from a few other attempts at aviation photography it went in a cupboard for some years until eBay came along and I was able to rehome it! In this day and age I imagine using something like a Photosniper would probably bring out the armed response team!

 

[sad1e]

I've had quite a few problems at Barking station before trying to get photos of the 357's as having a large DSLR is apparently a " Terrorism risk " according to the security staff that approached me , He even had the audacity to try and take the SD card out of my camera.

C2C say themselves on their website that Photography is permitted on the station as long as it is not professional , which even though i have a nice camera my work definitely isn't.
Needless to say Barking is not a station I've been back to since , at least the Staff at Limehouse were more welcoming.

 

[contrex]

Most Leicas except for the big S aimed at nd priced for the pros and the SL mirrorless all are small and fairly discreet cameras and that is why they are popular with street photographers. They also tend to look older, more retro which probably helps uninitiated think they are rather old and thus not serious cameras.
...
For photography at stations I almost always at tend to use either the DLux8 or an M which are fairly small (and touch wood) not had any problems with staff, security or police.

Sometimes you do see people with very large lenses - Canon owners in particular - who use very large grey tele / zooms which stick out significantly - now that is hardly discreet photography.

Perhaps these are the people who are gaining the unwanted attention of staff?

I've got a Leica D-Lux 6, an Olympus Pen-F (the digital m4/3 kind) and now a used Leica M (Typ 240) with an also used Voigtländer 35mm F1.2 VM Nokton II Lens, which latter bits of kit are the most camera I've ever had! I'm still learning the ropes with rangefinder focusing. I bought the EVF as well so I can play around that. The 240 has live view also. The lens + body combo seems very heavy after the D-Lux and Pen. I once saw a teenage lad sprinting up a platform at Bristol TM with a Nikon DSLR with a long grey telezoom and wondered why. I soon found out. I whipped out the Nikon P7000 that I had at the time and got this not very well composed shot. The staff were smiling benevolently at us. I told one of them that the steam loco had the wrong number and he gave me a puzzled look. His colleague knew what I meant, as did the youngster with the Nikon.

 

[TheSmiths82]

I have only ever had an issue when using a bridge camera around 15 years ago in Canary Warf. I got stopped by some PCSOs and told I cannot take pictures. I actually complained to the Met Police and got a a nice apology explaining that I am indeed allowed to take pictures for my personal use and that the PCSOs were wrong and have been instructed of such.

I rarely use my mirrorless G100 though at train stations, I think the only time I did was at York when I saw something very interesting and there was lots of people on the platform with full frame cameras and suitable sized lenses. I had my 25mm prime attached at the time. I use a full frame S5 at work though with some rather nice 70mm Sigma lens so that might draw some attention if I took that to a railway station.

I would be tempted to take pictures at Blackpool station though just to wind up the staff that work there

 

[John Luxton]

I've got a Leica D-Lux 6, an Olympus Pen-F (the digital m4/3 kind) and now a used Leica M (Typ 240) with an also used Voigtländer 35mm F1.2 VM Nokton II Lens, which latter bits of kit are the most camera I've ever had! I'm still learning the ropes with rangefinder focusing. I bought the EVF as well so I can play around that. The 240 has live view also. The lens + body combo seems very heavy after the D-Lux and Pen. I once saw a teenage lad sprinting up a platform at Bristol TM with a Nikon DSLR with a long grey telezoom and wondered why. I soon found out. I whipped out the Nikon P7000 that I had at the time and got this not very well composed shot. The staff were smiling benevolently at us. I told one of them that the steam loco had the wrong number and he gave me a puzzled look. His colleague knew what I meant, as did the youngster with the Nikon.

Thats a good one.

I have both a 262 which doesn't have liveview and is more basic but actually quieter, I acquired that first and then bought the 240.

Tend to have one with a 75mm Summarit on semi permanantly and the other with either a 35mm Summicron or 28mm.

I found rangefinder focussing quite easy to handle and really like it - had has some experience back in the 1980s when I had a vintage 1950s Leica IIIf - but the rangefinder was a bit more fiddle to use.

Sometimes take both Ms out with me saves swapping lenses and getting dust on the sensor but the two together can put a dent in the shoulder! When travelling light I take the Dlux8.

Been deliberating for months whether I should sell off my two M bodies whilst they still have some value and get one of the new MEV-1 camera bodies and keep the lenses or sell all the M gear and buy a Q3.

The Q3 is only about 20% bigger than the D-Lux8 so still quite small but with a very high res sensor which means one can quite easily crop the files for a short tele effect without loss of quality.

But still can't make my mind up after 6 months of deliberation!

But what ever happens I will stick with smaller bodied cameras; back in my 35mm days I used Praktica and then Contax SLRs before switching to the smaller Contax G autofocus rangefinder system in the mid 1990s. The last time I used a big SLR with big lenses was back in 1995. So have been fairly inconspicuous to staff though it was the G1 which got me into bother at Heysham!

 

[contrex]

Been deliberating for months whether I should sell off my two M bodies whilst they still have some value and get one of the new MEV-1 camera bodies and keep the lenses or sell all the M gear and buy a Q3.

I was tempted to go for the max and get an M-EV1 and some real Leica glass but releasing that much savings would have needed some very delicate domestic negotiations. I'm thinking of getting an M42 adapter and starting a collection of old lenses, Jupiter and Pentax look interesting, and going at pocket money prices on eBay. A bit of mould might create interesting bokeh? As it is I'm desperately remembering all I have forgotten about zone focussing since the 1960s and 1970s. Are Ms going to lose value? At my age I don't really need to worry about that, I think.

 

[EveningStar]

I was tempted to go for the max and get an M-EV1 and some real Leica glass but releasing that much savings would have needed some very delicate domestic negotiations.

Likewise with deciding that a M-EV1 might be a step too far in delicate domestic negotiations. Dusting down the DSLR, despite ...

a large DSLR is apparently a " Terrorism risk " according to the security staff that approached me

Had my moment at Newcastle. Told not to photo the structure in case I was planning a terrorist attack ... as if a terrorist is going to draw attention to themselves with a big DSLR!

 

[John Luxton]

Likewise with deciding that a M-EV1 might be a step too far in delicate domestic negotiations. Dusting down the DSLR, despite ...

Had my moment at Newcastle. Told not to photo the structure in case I was planning a terrorist attack ... as if a terrorist is going to draw attention to themselves with a big DSLR!

Quite if the older movies are to be believed before the invention of the phone camera all the spies and hostile reconaissance operatives were going around with Minox subminiature cameras! I would love to know where the perception of big camera = increased risk comes from. I wonder if there is some former police or security officer lurking who might like to enligten us?

 

[John Luxton]

I was tempted to go for the max and get an M-EV1 and some real Leica glass but releasing that much savings would have needed some very delicate domestic negotiations. I'm thinking of getting an M42 adapter and starting a collection of old lenses, Jupiter and Pentax look interesting, and going at pocket money prices on eBay. A bit of mould might create intersting bokeh? As it is I'm desperately remembering all I have forgotten about zone focussing since the 1960s and 1970s. Are Ms going to lose value? At my age I don't really need to worry about that, I think.

Apparently there is a problem with spare batteries for the M240/262 they have become virtually unobtainable. I am still on my originals and seem to hold up well but unlike the Dlux8 I didn't get round to getting spares when they were easily obtainable. There is always a danger we could end up with expensive paperweights if our batteries die its one of my motivations for thinking of moving them on. As for domestic negotiations for an upgrade I only have a cat to argue with!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Heysham is always a bit spicy depending on the security persons on the job on the day - because there is a nuclear reactor sat next to the station and ferry terminal and its supposed to be a "state secret"

The security jobsworth might need to explain how, in 1989, my Uni undergraduate group had a (throughly interesting) guided tour, by BNFL, around the site...

 

[John Luxton]

The security jobsworth might need to explain how, in 1989, my Uni undergraduate group had a (throughly interesting) guided tour, by BNFL, around the site...

They still have a visitor centre at the power station so they are not trying to hide away! Details here: https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/power-stations/heysham-2

 

[contrex]

Apparently there is a problem with spare batteries for the M240/262 they have become virtually unobtainable. I am still on my originals and seem to hold up well but unlike the Dlux8 I didn't get round to getting spares when they were easily obtainable. There is always a danger we could end up with expensive paperweights if our batteries die its one of my motivations for thinking of moving them on. As for domestic negotiations for an upgrade I only have a cat to argue with!

That was so until approx a year ago, when Leica started to source them again. Leica seem to order them in batches from the makers, so it is probably advisable to swoop when they appear. I bought one online as a spare this week from Red Dot Cameras in London, cost £160 inc VAT + £9.50 next day delivery (DPD). The site is showing in stock (but low) as I write this 15.24 Fri 5 June. Its manufacturing week was 51 of year 25. The one supplied in the camera is week 40 of year 12 but seems OK. For my D-Lux 6 I got a 2-pack of 3rd party batteries from Electropapa in Germany for £22 I think, and from Duracell for my Olympus Pen. Both these types very much cheaper than the camera maker's ones. (An afterthought: if they last 12 years, the new one might well see me out! I don't know how I feel about that.)

 

[John Luxton]

That was so until approx a year ago, when Leica started to source them again. Leica seem to order them in batches from the makers, so it is probably advisable to swoop when they appear. I bought one online as a spare this week from Red Dot Cameras in London, cost £160 inc VAT + £9.50 next day delivery (DPD). The site is showing in stock (but low) as I write this 15.24 Fri 5 June. Its manufacturing week was 51 of year 25. The one supplied in the camera is week 40 of year 12 but seems OK. For my D-Lux 6 I got a 2-pack of 3rd party batteries from Electropapa in Germany for £22 I think, and from Duracell for my Olympus Pen. Both these types very much cheaper than the camera maker's ones. (An afterthought: if they last 12 years, the new one might well see me out! I don't know how I feel about that.)

Thanks for info. I have tended to get my Leica gear from Leicastore Manchester - have checked their site a few times and not seen any 262/240 batteries.

 

[EYFanatic]

I would be tempted to take pictures at Blackpool station though just to wind up the staff that work there

I happened to be there a week or so ago when the touring museum train was there on P1 and had my father, in a wheelchair, take a picture of me at which point a cleaner... Yeah, a cleaner... Tried to say this was a security risk and demanding I delete the camera footage

To their credit, even the BPN station staff seemed to think this was far too much

 

[contrex]

I found rangefinder focussing quite easy to handle and really like it - had has some experience back in the 1980s when I had a vintage 1950s Leica IIIf - but the rangefinder was a bit more fiddle to use.

The looks of the digital Olympus PEN-F are supposed by some to be inspired by the Leica IIIf. I have had people ask if it was a film camera.

 

[simple simon]

At both Blackpool North and Farringdon (London) I've had senior members of staff tell me that I can use my camera and then shortly afterwards a different member of staff (of lower rank) start chastising me for using a camera .... in both cases the two of them then started arguing until the more senior person reminded the other one that they are in charge and if they say that use of a camera is allowed then it is allowed.

 

[Charles B]

There is an 'opinion' piece in the latest Amateur Photographer magazine dated 2 June 2026, by a street photographer called Chris Porsz. He mentions the campaign over a decade ago by that magazine and the likes of Don McCullin and the late (and very missed) Martin Parr, to defend the rights of photographers. They even printed a summary of the law on lens cloths and gave them away. As we all know, the Metropolitan Police later confirmed that “members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing.” This campaign also resulted in guidance that applies to all UK Network Rail-managed stations, that non-commercial photography is generally permitted and that no permit is usually required for handheld photography.

Porsz says that despite that, at London Waterloo, Euston and Kings Cross stations, and around the UK, he has often been challenged with something like this: ‘You have a professional camera and therefore need written permission.’ I have to say I've had no trouble at provincial stations like Exeter Central, Bristol Temple Meads or Cardiff Central, with compact (ish) cameras, but I have a used Leica on the way and wonder if things could change! It's not a big black DSLR so maybe I'll be all right. It actually cost not much more than a top end iPhone.

Do be aware that there is a difference between Public Place and a place where the public have access. Canary Wharf is an example of this. It is a privately owned estate where the public has access and they have the right to stop you taking pictures and video unless you have a permit. This may apply to stations.

 

[John Luxton]

Do be aware that there is a difference between Public Place and a place where the public have access. Canary Wharf is an example of this. It is a privately owned estate where the public has access and they have the right to stop you taking pictures and video unless you have a permit. This may apply to stations.

I read some years ago that some private land which is continuous to public pavements have a metal strip set into the paving which dekinits public pavements from a pavement in a privately owned area which is still open to the public. I have noticed this in a few places on my travels. So if you are on the public pavements you are fine but other side of the line you might get challenged even though you are still on what appears to be the pavement.

 

[contrex]

I read some years ago that some private land which is continuous to public pavements have a metal strip set into the paving which dekinits public pavements from a pavement in a privately owned area which is still open to the public. I have noticed this in a few places on my travels. So if you are on the public pavements you are fine but other side of the line you might get challenged even though you are still on what appears to be the pavement.

I still think a Leica will inspire awe and respect

 

[contrex]

Thanks for info. I have tended to get my Leica gear from Leicastore Manchester - have checked their site a few times and not seen any 262/240 batteries.

I have since bought an M mount "9cm" f/4 Elmar from them, made in 1960. Not the collapsible kind. Only £129, and very clean, glass and outside. Nice people to deal with. I got my M 240 from Ffordes in Beauly, near Inverness (I didn't go there, they sent it to me!)