Let me start this blog post by saying that packing for the winter Olympics is a lot harder than packing for the summer Olympics. When I pack for the summer Games, I just bring a bunch of shorts, short sleeve shirts and the necessities. When it comes to the winter, I have to pack for all types of cold weather and even snow or rain. I just checked the weather in Milan and it looks like this week has rain in the forecast every day.
As I do every time, I have laid out most of my equipment and taken this photo to show you what is going with me on the plane. Before you ask - NO, I never check camera gear under the plane!
Let me list out what you see here:
Cameras:
* Canon R1 camera bodies (I expect to use these cameras more than any other)
* Canon R5 MKII camera body (for times when I want the highest resolution images)
* Canon R6 MKIII camera body (because it is brand new and I want to play with it)
* Lots of batteries for the cameras
Lenses:
* Canon RF 100-300mm lens (mostly for the Opening Ceremony)
* Canon RF 100-500mm lens (for motion panning speed skating)
* Canon RF 70-200mm Z lens (what I expect will be my most used lens (for hockey) at these Games)
* Canon RF 15-35mm lens (for wide shots at Opening Ceremony and other venues)
* Canon RF 24-70mm (for player photos while being interviewed in the mix zones)
* Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 (for my "walk-around" shots of the city)
* Canon 8-15mm fisheye lens (for when the hockey players are smashed against the glass right in front of me)
* Canon RF 1.4x Extender and Canon RF 2x Extender for the Canon RF 100-300mm lens (at the Opening Ceremony)
For my workflow:
* Apple MacBook Pro 16" (the workhorse for all my culling and retouching)
* ProGrade Digital CFexpress cards (fastest cards and most reliable cards on the market)
* ProGrade Digital USB 4 Card Readers (so that I can download at lightning speeds onto the Mac)
* ProGrade Pro Dock (for wired Internet connection and multiple high speed ports in the press room)
* ProGrade Digital 4TB SSDs (for backing up my data each day at high speed)
* Wacom Movink tablet (for the times when I am doing the most retouching and need pen precision)
* Photo Mechanic software (not shown here, but integral for fast culling and making my deadlines)
* Adobe Photoshop (not shown here, but my main retouching software)
* QNAP NAS (not shown here, but my storage back in the US for backup of ALL my images)
* Zenfolio (my main web site and where I will be posting all my favorite images in a collection)
Other accessories:
* Benro SupaDupa Monopod (mostly for when I am using the large Canon RF 100-300mm lens)
* Benro Rhino Travel Tripod (since I am hoping to get some night shots around Milan if time permits)
* Apple iPad Pro 11" for blogging, email, videos and more (and maybe some image downloading)
* Apple Watch 11 to track how much I am moving each day (and yeah, I am obsessed with my steps)
* Apple AirPod Pro 3 for music, photo calls and now translating from Italian to English (so cool)
* DataColor Spyder Pro (for color calibrating my monitor)
* Canon 600EX-RT flash (for the rare times when I might need one (they are not allowed during competition)
* ThinkTank Photo Airport International (the larger of the rolling camera bags for when I need more gear)
* ThinkTank Photo Walker Pro Rolling Backpack (for when I want to travel a little lighter)
* BlackRapid Straps (because I really like shoulder straps)
* Tiffen HT filters (to protect the front elements of all my lenses)
* Ozlo Sleep buds (to block out noise and help me sleep in case there is a lot of noise at the hotel)
* Power supplies and adaptors
Yikes - that took a long time to compile this list and it took me even longer to pack up.
I know that many of you have speculated at any unreleased products I might be using at these Olympics. Let's suffice it to say that this may happen, and if I can talk about any new products from Milan, I promise I will.
A couple more things (not equipment related):
Right before posting this blog, B&H Photo told me that they created a special landing page with most of the gear I have listed here. You can check out all of these HERE.
A couple of hours ago I found out that one of USA Hockey's team photos got moved up a day, so I changed my flights just now and head out even earlier than planned. I will be landing and hitting the ground running. I hope I brought all the right stuff!
The next post will likely be from the airport, the air or Milan.
__________________________________________________________
• Subscribe to the Jeff Cable Photography Blog by clicking HERE!
• Check out my upcoming photo tours to amazing places around the world. I have photo tours to Costa Rica, Peru, Galapagos, Africa, Iceland and more.
• If you are interested in purchasing ANY equipment, please click here to go to B&H Photo, as I get a referral from them if you enter this way. It does not change the cost to you in any way, but it helps me keep this blog up and running.
_________________________________________________________________
I am interested to know how you are able too bring all the gear on board the plane with you. Deffo over the 7kg limit. Are you flying business class?
ReplyDeleteI've rarely had my carryons weighed leaving the US (or even Europe). You can usually pay more if you need, but also you can technically wear your camera on the plane and they can't stop you!
Delete...though walking around an airport with an R1 and 100-300 would draw attention!
I'd like to know about the on plane carry bags as well! That's a lot of gear to carry on as an economy class passenger. First class would allow it, maybe business class
ReplyDeleteAlways exciting! I hope Team USA is covering the cost to change your flight!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, does any of your gear (tripods? dock?) go in the checked bag? If so, why bring the boxes?
Do you ever use USB-C PD charging for your cameras? I've gotten to the point now where I can bring one fewer canon brick, which is nice. (I still have one wall one, but don't need the 2nd.)
Otherwise, I admire your dedication to just the right lenses! :) I'd be too compelled to leave the 24-105 at home, and super tempted to swap the 8-15mm for the 10-20mm, mostly so I can shed the EF-RF adapter. (I love both lenses and struggle with this too!)
Also, you didn't mention every little thing, but I really have to suggest the Hyperjuice (or Anker or others) multi-USB bricks. But the HyperJuice ones are great because their international adapters are a little more flexible than apple ones. Regardless, I'd definitely suggest looking at IEC C7 power cables, both for US and EU plugs in 1 and 3ft lengths. Those work even with the Apple bricks, but can you flexibility where you might not be able to plug in a power brick.
To answer your questions about the gear and travel...I bring on both ThinkTank bags with most of the camera gear. I pack my tripod, monopod and some small accessories in my suitcase (which does get checked under the plane). I have not had any issue (other than in Russia) with the weight of the bags. It does help that I am a million miler on United (almost 2 million actually) and fly Premium Economy or Business Class (for most international flights).
ReplyDeleteQ: Why not borrow expensive lenses from Canon in Milan? Jeff, love your blogs. They are so inspiring! Given the price of some of your equipment (e.g., RF100-300 @ $10K) why risk this equipment instead of borrowing equipment from Canon's professional support center at the Olympics?
ReplyDeleteQ: What can you tell us about new camera(s) that Canon is testing at these Olympics? Given that Canon usually finalizes pre-production cameras at the Olympics, what can you tell us about any new camera? For example, might there be a R5 Mark III in the wild at Milan? ~Thanks for your fascinating blogs
ReplyDeleteI have seen photos of huge amounts of Canon gear hosted by Canon at the Olympics. Do you ever make use of that? Can any credentialed photographer us it? Is it a reliable source for equipment?
ReplyDelete