Olympic Stadium: Who took what?

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Soldato
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I've managed to get tickets on Saturday Evening to the Olympic Stadium, I was wondering how people got on?

My lowepro bag with 7D, 40D, 10-22, 17-55 and 70-200 is 40x30x20 in size. I can ditch the 430EX, 17-55 and other bits and bobs but the bag is still quite big...

I have to take two bodies, as my 7D keeps erroring with respect to the battery, so I need to take the 40D... just incase!

Peoples experiences?
 
Your kit bag sounds familiar (I also have a 7D, 40D, 10-22 & 70-200 and used to have a 17-55 :) )

Maybe just take the 40D? It's actually better in low light than the 7D in my opinion, and as you're going in the evening... Not sure what the lighting conditions will be like in the stadium.
 
Vertigo1 said:
Your kit bag sounds familiar (I also have a 7D, 40D, 10-22 & 70-200 and used to have a 17-55 :) )

Maybe just take the 40D? It's actually better in low light than the 7D in my opinion, and as you're going in the evening... Not sure what the lighting conditions will be like in the stadium.
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The AF is a lot better in the 7D though.

The IQ is also better? But whatever :p
 
I decided to enjoy my days out without lugging about a DSLR and lenses. So I travelled light and used (scroll after some of the links):

a) Canon PowerShot G1 X for two visits to the Olympic Stadium:


b) Canon PowerShot S100 for Wembley Stadium:


It was the right choice and let me enjoy the experience even more. :)
 
simulatorman said:
I decided to enjoy my days out without lugging about a DSLR and lenses. So I travelled light and used (scroll after some of the links):

a) Canon PowerShot G1 X for two visits to the Olympic Stadium:


b) Canon PowerShot S100 for Wembley Stadium:


It was the right choice and let me enjoy the experience even more. :)
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Totally agree with this, go and enjoy the experience and don't worry about getting loads of photos as the chances are your never going to get anything great from the seats. Take a few snaps for the memory bank and then watch the events with your naked eye rather than through a viewfinder. I'm always amazed when I go to gigs and other events and people spend the entire show staring at a tiny camera/phone screen shooting endless poor video or stills.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Totally agree with this, go and enjoy the experience and don't worry about getting loads of photos as the chances are your never going to get anything great from the seats. Take a few snaps for the memory bank and then watch the events with your naked eye rather than through a viewfinder. I'm always amazed when I go to gigs and other events and people spend the entire show staring at a tiny camera/phone screen shooting endless poor video or stills.
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Not planning on spending ALL the time there taking photos, but I would regret it if I didn't take anything.
 
I've been to the Olympic Park (Stadium & Velodrome), Eton Dorney and North Greenwich Arena and haven't had any issues with camera gear, except for at the Hyde Park Festival which was on during the Olympics.

The gear I've usually taken is:

Canon 5D
Canon 70-200 (though I've ditched tripod ring & lens hood)
Canon 24-105
Spare Battery
Memory Cards
All into a Domke shoulder bag that fits within the dimension restrictions.

Inregards to the OP, it sounds like you wanted to take a lot of gear, even after cutting it down.

I've seen a few people in the Park who aren't accredited Photographers walking about with two bodies, so its unlikely that is something which is going to get you turned away. The Army are also still doing the Park entrance security for the Paralympics and they have been very good about it.

I think if anything, its bag size that might cause you trouble. If you bring a big camera bag then I could see them objecting, as the bag is supposed to fit under your seats in the venues.

There is a thread on Talk Photography and I've not heard of anyone getting turned away yet, aside from the Hyde Park Festival, which mirrored my own experience.

I would also echo that you should take what you need to get good shots, but don't go overboard on equipment. You do a lot of walking to see everything in the Olympic Park, even more so at Eton Dorney where its over a mile just to get into the venue. I've found my shoulders aching from carrying the above equipment all day.
 
Nexus said:
I've been to the Olympic Park (Stadium & Velodrome), Eton Dorney and North Greenwich Arena and haven't had any issues with camera gear, except for at the Hyde Park Festival which was on during the Olympics.

The gear I've usually taken is:

Canon 5D
Canon 70-200 (though I've ditched tripod ring & lens hood)
Canon 24-105
Spare Battery
Memory Cards
All into a Domke shoulder bag that fits within the dimension restrictions.

Inregards to the OP, it sounds like you wanted to take a lot of gear, even after cutting it down.

I've seen a few people in the Park who aren't accredited Photographers walking about with two bodies, so its unlikely that is something which is going to get you turned away. The Army are also still doing the Park entrance security for the Paralympics and they have been very good about it.

I think if anything, its bag size that might cause you trouble. If you bring a big camera bag then I could see them objecting, as the bag is supposed to fit under your seats in the venues.

There is a thread on Talk Photography and I've not heard of anyone getting turned away yet, aside from the Hyde Park Festival, which mirrored my own experience.

I would also echo that you should take what you need to get good shots, but don't go overboard on equipment. You do a lot of walking to see everything in the Olympic Park, even more so at Eton Dorney where its over a mile just to get into the venue. I've found my shoulders aching from carrying the above equipment all day.
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I wouldn't call two bodies and two lenses lots of stuff, besides, the 40D is coming incase my 7D decides to completely give up, so that is kinda a necessity.

My backpack is pretty small, my uni backpack is bigger. 40x30x20 is smaller than 25 litres in total so hopefully it'll be ok.

I'll be getting there VERY early, with plenty of time to go home incase they don't let me in.
 
Going to disagree with you there.

Two bodies is unnecessary, unless you are a there shooting in a professional capacity. The benefit of two bodies for a sports shooter is to be able to quickly use two lenses, from a position where you are going to get good shots. In the Olympic Stadium as a spectator, you will be in a position where a telephoto is the only lens option to you of any use, so two bodies is pointless.

However, if like you say you are taking it purely because your camera is knackered, then thats a little different, but it would annoy me to carry about two bodies if there wasn't a real reason for doing so, like when working professionally.

I'd also add that you said you are taking 3 lenses above, not two.

Personally I found in all the venues I've been to that I was shooting with a 70-200. When I was using my 24-105 I've just been using the wide end, as obviously there are lots of landscapes and architecture that is around the Park.

So really I think the best lenses are as wide and as far a reach as you can get.
 
Nexus said:
Going to disagree with you there.

Two bodies is unnecessary, unless you are a there shooting in a professional capacity. The benefit of two bodies for a sports shooter is to be able to quickly use two lenses, from a position where you are going to get good shots. In the Olympic Stadium as a spectator, you will be in a position where a telephoto is the only lens option to you of any use, so two bodies is pointless.

However, if like you say you are taking it purely because your camera is knackered, then thats a little different, but it would annoy me to carry about two bodies if there wasn't a real reason for doing so, like when working professionally.

I'd also add that you said you are taking 3 lenses above, not two.

Personally I found in all the venues I've been to that I was shooting with a 70-200. When I was using my 24-105 I've just been using the wide end, as obviously there are lots of landscapes and architecture that is around the Park.

So really I think the best lenses are as wide and as far a reach as you can get.
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I'm taking the 10-22 on the 40D and the 70-200 on the 7D, everything else bar batteries and cards are being left at home.

Going with the gf so I'll give her the 40D, makes life easier then!
 
I was at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday 1st. Photographically it was a frustrating place, as it look fabulous to the eye but it's hard to capture that in pictures. I agree with the poster above, take a long telephoto as all the intersting stuff is a long way away. Light wasn't too bad for my old D50, I managed 1/200 at F5.6 ISO 1600 but that was using my 18-135, just not long enough...

It's a fab experience though, enjoy!
 
I can fit my D5100 and a few lenses in my jacket. No need to arouse the suspicion of the Olympic gestapo with a camera bag. :p
 
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