What Gear Do Pro Photographers Bring to the Olympics?

Cameras


Pro Choice: The Canon and Nikon supercameras, such as the EOS-1D Mark IV and the D4, are weapons of choice for their top image quality, bulletproof build, and blazing fast burst rates.

Reality Check: Pros also rely on less expensive, lighter, and smaller APS-C models, which give you more effective focal-length reach due to lens factor. Almost any consumer DSLR these days can make a good sports rig—consider the $698 Sony Alpha 57, with its pro-level AF speed and rapid-fire bursts, up to 12 fps.

Lenses


Pro Choice: Obvious. The premium-line, super-rugged, high-speed optics like the Canon and Nikon 70–200mm f/2.8 grenade launchers.

Reality Check: Sports pros often don’t have to carry exotic lenses; camera makers provide equipment tents at major events. For the offspring’s soccer match, we’d consider an all-in-one such as the new $499 Sigma 18–250mm f/3.5–6.3 DC Macro OS, a full-frame equivalent of 27–375mm or 29–300mm on APS-C bodies.

Radio Remote Trigger


Pro choice: Triggers like the PocketWizard are a must for setting up cameras in an out-of-the-way position, or a place where the photographer is not allow to stand. They can also fire flash units out of the range or sightline of the camera’s TTL trigger.

Reality check: If you do the kind of shooting that involves remote-mounted cameras or flash units, these gizmos are pretty much indispensable. If not, save your money and camera-bag space.