Travel Gear: The Perfect Rig for Photo and Video in Iceland

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Added 4 years ago by tomm

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This is an overview of the perfect travel rig for shooting professional photo and video. The foundation is two carry-ons that can be easily transported between cars, planes, hotels, and the field. This rig is meant for a solo-operator, in an extreme location, when time, space and image quality are crucial concerns. It is optimized for quick setup and breakdown. This rig is "lightweight" relative to a full pro kit -- it is not intended to replace a hobbyist's backpack.

Here is my complete travel guide for Iceland: http://www.alexcornell.com/iceland-travel-guide/

This is the gear used to shoot Planet Iceland: https://vimeo.com/114108421

The 1DC is the primary photo unit, also used for 4K video when appropriate (weather sealed). The C100 is the primary video unit, thanks to the autofocus and waveform monitoring. Three lenses cover 16-200mm focal lengths and can be used on both cameras. Accessories include ND filters, external SSDs, tripod, and storage. The two storage units operate best when combined with a small shoulder bag or sling, to use when walking far distances with either camera. A note on the A7s below.

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- Full gear list -

Pelican 1510 Case:
- Canon C100 Dual AF
- Canon 1DC
- Canon 16-35 f2.8
- Canon 24-70 f4
- Canon 70-200 2.8
- At anyone time, each camera has a lens attached. Case is customized to fit them like this to allow for quick access.

InCase DSLR Pro:
- Macbook Pro 13"
- Monster Overdrive 1TB SSD
- Gopro Hero4
- Lexar Dual CF/SD Reader USB 3.0
- Lexar CF and SD cards in Pelican 0945 Case
- Extra batteries for C100/1DC
- ND and Polarizing Filters by B&W
- Gitzo GT1542T with Manfrotto RC2
- Chargers
- Black Rapid Curve with FR-T1
- Ikan D5 (duplicative if you are mostly shooting with C100)

There are a number of different options that would work just as well for this rig setup. I personally prefer the Canon image and found that this combination was best for traveling in Iceland and most recently, Antarctica. Obviously a camera like the Sony A7s would be lighter, but in testing, it proved to have worrisome battery life and awkward ergonomics; it's also not weather-sealed. The 1DC is bulletproof, has a better image to my eye, and is shooting 4K internal -- all combined with an absurd photo-platform.

*I did not bring any loupes, like the Zacuto Z-finder, because taking them on/off can be really annoying when going quickly in and out of a case or bag. For the C100 I relied on the waveform to ensure proper exposure and autofocus to ensure accurate image. On the 1DC, when I did shoot video, I did my best to use the LCD and shot a little under to protect the highlights.

If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Also would be excited to hear suggestions for future tutorial videos.

http://alexcornell.com