Professional photographer Jeff Cable recently provided an unparalleled peek into one of Canon Professional Services' (CPS) key equipment centers located in Milan, Italy. This facility is crucial for supporting the photographic needs of journalists and artists covering the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Cable's detailed account reveals the sheer scale of investment and logistical planning Canon undertakes to ensure that photographers have access to top-tier equipment, ranging from cutting-edge mirrorless cameras to an impressive collection of specialized lenses, underscoring the brand's commitment to facilitating comprehensive media coverage of such global events.
Canon's operational backbone at the Winter Olympics extends beyond a single location, with supplementary gear rooms established in Cortina, Levigno, and Tesero. This distributed support network addresses the challenges posed by the geographically dispersed event venues, ensuring rapid access to equipment, maintenance, and expert assistance for accredited photographers. The initiative highlights the intricate logistical considerations involved in mobilizing and managing a vast inventory of high-value photographic gear and personnel across multiple sites, all synchronized to meet the demanding requirements of live international sports broadcasting and photojournalism.
Canon's Photographic Arsenal at the Milan Olympics
During his stay in Milan for the Winter Olympics, renowned photographer Jeff Cable gained exclusive access to Canon Professional Services' main equipment hub at the Main Press Center. His observations shed light on the extraordinary quantity of high-end photographic gear stockpiled by Canon. This includes an extensive selection of super-telephoto prime lenses, some valued at approximately $20,000 each, alongside numerous RF 100-300mm f/2.8 zoom lenses, RF 400mm f/2.8 primes, and a large inventory of professional camera bodies. Additionally, a substantial number of batteries and chargers are available, forming a comprehensive arsenal designed to meet every conceivable need of Olympic photographers. The sheer volume and value of the equipment housed in this facility are staggering, estimated to be worth millions of dollars, primarily due to the specialized and high-performance lenses.
Canon's strategic deployment of equipment extends to its latest innovations, notably the RF 7-14mm f/2.8-3.5L Fisheye STM lens, which was recently unveiled. Cable himself utilized this new lens to capture stunning images of the United States women's hockey team's victorious semifinal match against Sweden, demonstrating its immediate application in professional sports photography. While Cable primarily uses mirrorless gear, including Canon EOS R1 bodies and L-series lenses like the RF 100-300mm f/2.8, Canon also provides a robust supply of DSLR equipment. This ensures that photographers who prefer or require older technology can seamlessly continue their work without needing to adapt to unfamiliar setups. This foresight guarantees that all professional photographers, regardless of their preferred camera system, receive optimal support, although Cable observed a strong trend towards the newer mirrorless camera bodies among his peers.
Extensive Support System and Logistical Excellence
The operational framework supporting photographers at the Winter Olympics is a complex logistical undertaking, with Canon Professional Services at its core. Beyond the principal facility in Milan, Canon has strategically established three additional support centers in Cortina, Levigno, and Tesero. This multi-site strategy is essential for navigating the diverse and often distant venues of the decentralized Olympic Games, as vividly illustrated by satellite imagery from the European Space Agency showcasing the wide geographical spread of event locations. Such a setup necessitates meticulous planning to allocate the right amount and type of gear and personnel to each site, anticipating the specific demands of various sports and photographic scenarios across Italy.
The behind-the-scenes efforts at Canon's gear rooms include not just equipment lending but also extensive repair and maintenance services. Although access to the repair areas was restricted for photography, Cable noted the constant presence of technicians diligently working on cameras and lenses, ensuring that any equipment malfunctions are promptly addressed. This comprehensive support network is a testament to the colossal effort required to facilitate high-caliber photojournalism at an event of the Winter Olympics' magnitude. It underscores that what the public sees as breathtaking Olympic photographs is the culmination of not only artistic talent but also an immense, invisible infrastructure of logistical coordination and technical support, with Canon playing a pivotal role in equipping photographers to capture these iconic moments.