Nick Didlick has covered 15 Olympics in his 38-year-career as a working photographer, starting in 1984 with the Sarajevo Games (then Yugoslavia). So to say that he is a seasoned pro is a mild understatement. Didlick is set to cover the upcoming 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and recently shared a fascinating blog post, cataloging all the gear he’s taking with him. You can check it out in the image below:
An Olympic-sized gear bag
And here’s the complete inventory list:
- 5x Sony Alpha 1 camera bodies (two used as remote cameras))
- 2x Sony a9 II camera bodies (used as remote cameras)
- 1x Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens
- 1x Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM lens
- 1x Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM lens
- 1x Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM lens
- 2x Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lenses (one used on remote cameras)
- 1x Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM lens
- 2x Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM lenses (one used on remote cameras)
- 2x Sony 70-200 f/2.8 II GM lenses (one used on remote cameras)
- 2x Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM lenses (one used on remote cameras)
- 1x Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM lens
- 1x Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens
- 1x Canon 50mm Tilt-Shift lens
- 2x Sony 14TC teleconverter
- 2x Sony 20TC teleconverter
The price of all that ice (gear)
That’s a lot of gear! Some quick math puts the total price of it all at $99,047.00, before tax—assuming you’re buying everything new. The five a1 bodies alone account for just under one-third of the total cost, while the two telephoto primes account for one-quarter.
In addition,Didlick mentions bringing along triggering systems from Rocosoft and Pocket Wizard, presumably to control those four remote rigs. He also mentions “networking equipment,” likely to transmit files. There’s no talk of other accessories, like memory cards, batteries, or monopods, but you can bet he’s got an equally long inventory list of photography peripherals to pack.
Seven cameras bodies
Of the seven camera bodiesDidlick is toting, four are reserved for use as remote capture cameras, including both of the a9 II bodies. That means he’ll physically be carrying up to three Sony a1 cameras on him while shooting, which actually sounds much more reasonable—and slightly less back-breaking—than seven.
It’s interesting to note thatDidlick switched to the Sony E-mount system in 2017—and mirrorless in general—with his first professional non-DSLR body being the original a9. He compares that jump in technology to his switch from film to digital in 1996, before the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
16 lenses
Related: Pro sports photographer Simon Bruty is ready for uncertainty at the 2021 Olympics
There is a lot of impressive—and expensive—glass inDidlick’s gear list. The 600mm f/4 is the longest native E-mount lens, so it’s not surprising to see it included in the kit—it’s also a $13,000 lens. The Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM is another one we’d expect him to carry ($12,000); and the same goes for the 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and 100-400mm zooms.
It is a tad intriguing to see him carrying so many fast-aperture primes, as they certainly aren’t the type of lenses you think of when you think of sports photography. But then again, when it comes to low-light photography or medal ceremonies—where you might want a lot of depth-of-field for artistic purposes—these are probably invaluable.
The only non-Sony lens in the kit is what appears to be a Canon 50mm f/2.8L tilt-shift, which makes sense because Sony doesn’t currently offer one. And a quick trip toDidlick’s Website proves he’s a fan of the tilt effect. Perhaps he’s helping Sony develop their own?
Four teleconverters
In addition to seven cameras and 16 lenses,Didlick is also packing two 1.4x and two 2x teleconverters. According to Sony, these teleconverters are intended for use with the 70-200mm and 100-400mm zooms only (it’s unclear whether they’d play nice with the 400mm or 600mm). Still, that givesDidlick a maximum of 800mm of reach for this year’s Olympics—not too shabby.
Support for all that gear
Traveling halfway across the globe with $100K of camera gear in tow may sound risky/stressful—what if something breaks before even making it to the Games? But Sony’s Pro Service staff is on hand at the Beijing Olympics, ready to diagnose and repair any problem gear (as well as give you a loaner). ShouldDidlick need to swap something out, Sony has 250 cameras and 600 lenses prepped and ready to go.
2022 Olympic Games
We love sports photography here at PopPhoto and we’re incredibly excited for the start of the Winter Olympics this week. Look forward to additional coverage from us, including interviews with photographers on the ground, as well as more nerdy insights.
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