Traveling with the 400mm f/2.8?
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The included lens straps for my EF 600/4 II and RF 100-300/2.8 are unused and still in their original packaging. I see no advantages to them.
Since you can’t really carry these lenses with a strap attached to the camera, the idea is you attach a strap to the lugs on the lens, instead.
Personally, since I have Arca-Swiss plates on my cameras and lenses anyway, I find those to be a much more convenient place to attract a strap, and it means one strap (I use BlackRapid straps) can easily be attached to a body or a lens if the latter has a tripod foot. I’ve got a BR strap with the newer QD connector that attaches directly to the more recent RRS plates that are on most of my bodies and lenses.
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I have a Wimberley AP-601 replacement foot on my 400 f/2.8, and I plan to do the same with my 100-300 f/2.8.
They are the smallest replacement foots (at least for Canon) out there, after comparing with those from RRS and Kirk. They help me save so much space when packing (I used to attach a multipurpose rail from RRS to the original foot).
I wish Wimberley had QD sockets. It seems like the QD system is pretty convenient.
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I don’t really travel with these lenses (only local/driving use) so packing space isn't an issue for me. The RRS replacement feet aren't a problem for the 600/4 going in the big Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 AW II, nor for the 100-300/2.8 going in the Think Tank DH150 toploader-style case. Another concern is being able to comfortably use the foot as a handle for carrying the lens, including wearing gloves in winter with the 600/4. The RRS replacement foot is good in that regard. How is the Wimberley for that?
The QD system is very convenient. The LCF-53 foot for my 600/4 predates it, but the LCF-53B foot that I got for the 100-300/2.8 has the QD socket (as far as I can tell, that's the only difference with the 'B' version). I did not replace the foot on my 600/4 with the B version because the strap I use with it is the Blackrapid Sport-L, and that doesn't come in a QD version. The -L is for left, it's designed to hang the rig on the left side of the body and that's ideal for the 600/4 where I prefer to lift it with my left hand, since that's going to support the lens as I shoot anyway.
Not sure what strap(s) you use, but prior to the QD system (and currently for the Sport-L with the 600/4), I have a little Kirk 1" clamp attached to the strap lug (with a bit of Loctite Blue on the threads). That allows easy removal of the strap or switching the attachment from body to lens. It's just as convenient as the QD system, the only drawback is that it's a bit bulkier.
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Here are the heights for the different replacement feet:
Thanks for the info on the QD system. I might try that with a RRS camera plate.
- Wimberley AP-601 –––– 1.2in / 30.5mm
- Kirk LP-69 –––– 2.1in / 53.3mm
- RRS LCF-53 –––– 2.1in / 53.3mm
Thanks for the info on the QD system. I might try that with a RRS camera plate.
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I was googling for a solution that I am using currently for my Canon R5+1.4TC+RF400f2.8 gear which I purchased seven months back and have lugged it thru 39 flights and 5 long distance trains thru 13 countries (10 of them in Africa) in the last seven months. Right now in our last spot (Napoli) before heading back home in San Francisco in 10 days from now.
I keep my entire gear with the original hood reversed in the Thinktank Glass Limo bag with batteries, cleaning accessories, a monopod, rainfly for the bag and Thinktank rain cover for the camera+lens. I have experienced few issues with checked bags (jackets and some stuff stolen while transiting thru Mexico City, which by the way United reimbursed fully) and lost bags and so I will never checking expensive and gear that cannot be replaced easily in check bags. We carry all our jackets (thick, light, rain coats) and gloves in our carry on.
When I am hiking during birding, I take the camera out and leave the bag behind in the car. I am looking for a quick waterproof bag in which I can carry the camera with hood reversed during rain or in a wet forest like the cloud forests. I am not a professional, but I am retired and so have plenty of time doing this stuff (photographed 831 and 824 new bird species over the last two years).
Also, realized that even though having a mirrorless gear makes my gear light, but it is still tiring lugging the stuff thru the jungles and hills. And holding the long lens for extended period of time without a tripod is tough on my elbows (the monopod doesn't work in strong winds).
Planning to buy the Peak Design carbon fiber tripod (small size allows me to put it inside the Thinktank case along with the camera) and a Fotopro E-6H gimbal, which will also go into the same bag. All this will still be within the 10Kg limit for carry on most airlines.
For hikes, I am getting the Matador Beast28 Ultralight packable and waterproof backpack to carry the gear (much lighter than carrying the Thinktank). During flights, this backpack will be stowed away inside the carry on bags. I will have the Thinktank bag rainfly cover just in case.
I tend to make my solution very complex and I have a sneaky feeling that that is the case here. Any other solutions?
Apologies for this rather long post...
I keep my entire gear with the original hood reversed in the Thinktank Glass Limo bag with batteries, cleaning accessories, a monopod, rainfly for the bag and Thinktank rain cover for the camera+lens. I have experienced few issues with checked bags (jackets and some stuff stolen while transiting thru Mexico City, which by the way United reimbursed fully) and lost bags and so I will never checking expensive and gear that cannot be replaced easily in check bags. We carry all our jackets (thick, light, rain coats) and gloves in our carry on.
When I am hiking during birding, I take the camera out and leave the bag behind in the car. I am looking for a quick waterproof bag in which I can carry the camera with hood reversed during rain or in a wet forest like the cloud forests. I am not a professional, but I am retired and so have plenty of time doing this stuff (photographed 831 and 824 new bird species over the last two years).
Also, realized that even though having a mirrorless gear makes my gear light, but it is still tiring lugging the stuff thru the jungles and hills. And holding the long lens for extended period of time without a tripod is tough on my elbows (the monopod doesn't work in strong winds).
Planning to buy the Peak Design carbon fiber tripod (small size allows me to put it inside the Thinktank case along with the camera) and a Fotopro E-6H gimbal, which will also go into the same bag. All this will still be within the 10Kg limit for carry on most airlines.
For hikes, I am getting the Matador Beast28 Ultralight packable and waterproof backpack to carry the gear (much lighter than carrying the Thinktank). During flights, this backpack will be stowed away inside the carry on bags. I will have the Thinktank bag rainfly cover just in case.
I tend to make my solution very complex and I have a sneaky feeling that that is the case here. Any other solutions?
Apologies for this rather long post...
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Thanks for responding. I think I need two separate solutions - one for the short travel thru the airports/trains and another longer one during birding hikes. Looks like the Thinktank Glass Limo that I have meets the need with excellent protection while travel and loading it into overhead storage on airplanes.
For the hikes, ideally a lighter, compact, waterproof and easy to deploy solution is ideal in my mind. So, I chose the Matador as I can pack it away on flights and use it during hikes. I don't have the luxury of carrying a second backpack as I already have a small roller bag to hold my other body and lenses during travel (and most airlines will not allow more than two bags into the cabin per head). I chose the 28 litre version over the 22 litre one as the total length of the gear (19") and diameter of 7.5" would fit inside the 28 liter bag with the zipper closed giving it the rain protection. I will have to add some padding inside the bag to ensure my back likes it. I wonder if there is a better solution than the Matador. I toyed with the idea of the IPX6/IPX8 backpacks, but they are far too bulky.
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I think the problem you might have is packability for the backpack. I have a couple of f-stop bags which are great for hiking (good harness system, comfortable with a decent load, water-resistant outer fabric that will cope with light rain +/- a rain cover for heavy rain) but as they have an internal padded camera cube they won't fold down flat for packing: I use whichever one I'm taking with me as my carry-on. If you need it to pack flat the Matador might be your best bet, albeit not as protective as something like one of the f-stop bags.
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2+ years later...
I have the 600 f4 II with two R5 bodies. What I've done for both local and flight travel is a couple of things:
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I have the 600 f4 II with two R5 bodies. What I've done for both local and flight travel is a couple of things:
- The Think Tank Photo Airport Accelerator Backpack - a GREAT BAG for long trips and is no problem as a carry-on bag - it fits the long lens with or without the lens hood as well as other lenses/bodies.
- Third-party Custom Front Lens Cap on eBay for added protection (it's more solid than the neoprene wrap cover and fits with or without the hood)
- The Rolanpro Lens Hood Telephoto Lens Folding Hood - adds padding to the bag while saving space by folding flat
- For flying, my personal carry-on bag (Tenba DNA 13 Messenger) fits easily under the seat in front of me and holds a body, a couple of small to medium sized lenses, plus my laptop.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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Your solution looks perfect in all cases where . Unfortunately, in my case, I have been traveling six months at a time hopping thru multiple countries and even after doing four such travels over the last couple of years, I am still trying to optimize. When I traveled thru Japan and Europe, it involved a lot of train travel and my luggage needs were different and now traveling thru Africa and in a couple of months thru South America, where there will be no train travels, but a lot of Latam/Copa/AerolineasArgentina type of airlines, the luggage needs are different and little more convenient as I don't have to lug them thru stairs and double decker trains.
I am waiting to see the Matador once I get home and see how it feels. I will probably use some thin foam insert to protect my back though I am used to looping my Peak Design camera strap thru the tripod mount of the lens to sling the gear in my back during hikes with the lens pointing down (works well when I am scrambling up hills on my hands).
Looks like a great choice! I use a Briggs & Riley Cabin Spinner which is a tiny roller suitcase that goes under the seat as well to hold my second body and couple of other lenses along with my 14" macbook pro, couple of jackets and a few other accessories. Buying priority boarding where business class or premium economy is not available lets me board early to get cabin luggage space, but it is difficult to justify two roller bags or a third backpack (unless in B class) and hence a packable backpack. I carry my big lens gear in the Thinktank to the destination in the car, so as not to draw attention and then just sling the gear with the strap behind my back and hike. But, this leaves my gear unprotected against sudden rain and hence the third bag (the waterproof one which can be packed during flight travel). Really, a first world problem, I guess
Thanks for reviewing my choices.
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My carry-on: Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive V2.0 holding: R7, RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM, R5II + RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM, RF 16mm 2.8 STM, EF 500mm F4L IS II USM + EF 2.0 III Extender + EF-RF adapter.
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I can't agree more. It seems to hold everything including the kitchen sink in it! A year back, I had purchased the 35 liter Allpa Cotopaxi backpack that opens like a suitcase with amazing features. Given the capacity, we filled it up and it used to be painful carrying it on the back from one end of the airport to another and we retired it. And since we travel for a long time, the wear and tear to our back adds up. So, from my personal preference, I am trying not to have any piece of luggage that is big and heavy. Just my $.02...
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Glad you like it. In my case, I never seem to arrive at the best solution without going thru multiple learning curves. I received my Think Tank Photo Rolling Camera Backpack this week and it is spacious enough to hold my Canon R5 Mk-II + 1.4x TC + RF400 f2.8 setup with the original hood folded back, RF100-500mm lens, R5+RF24-105mmF4 and a RF16mmF2.8STM hidden under the 100-500. Total weight with additional batteries is 12.5 Kg. If I take out the smaller camera setup, it is slightly above the 10Kg weight limit of some of the airlines, but this will work fine traveling thru airports/trains.
I am able to fit the birding camera setup in my 28L Matador beast waterproof backpack comfortably during hikes. To be safe, I will have a raincover along as well. See the photos attached here. These two bags will be my travel bags moving forward.
I have ordered the sidemount version of the ProMediaGear Katana Jr gimbal head for my Peak Design carbon fiber tripod. Hope they get along well once the head arrives. I should be able to carry them in my Matador backpack as well.
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I went with the Think Tank Airport Advantage case. It's the smallest and lightest of the group and was on a great sale. I already have a Mirrorless Mover with trolley sleeve to pair with it. It has been great for local excursions so far, whether working from the car or wheeling it to a location. I find it easy to prep my expected use cases before I leave and make changes if necessary when I get there. I am going to be traveling light with it next month as a carry on with a mix of camera gear, clothes, etc.
Here it is loaded with R5, R6m2, R7, 7 lenses and 2 chargers. The zippered pockets on the lid holds batteries, tripod mounts, and other paraphenalia. I find it easy to adjust for an RF/EF lens mix when I need to bring the EF 11-24, EF 100L Macro, etc. where I don't have RF equivalents yet. My normal carry is the R6m2/RF800 for birds and wildlife, R7/RF100-400, and R8/RF24-105 for everyday use. This covers a wide range of situations without making lens changes. If I need low light or wider, I've got extra lenses for those cases.
Here it is loaded with R5, R6m2, R7, 7 lenses and 2 chargers. The zippered pockets on the lid holds batteries, tripod mounts, and other paraphenalia. I find it easy to adjust for an RF/EF lens mix when I need to bring the EF 11-24, EF 100L Macro, etc. where I don't have RF equivalents yet. My normal carry is the R6m2/RF800 for birds and wildlife, R7/RF100-400, and R8/RF24-105 for everyday use. This covers a wide range of situations without making lens changes. If I need low light or wider, I've got extra lenses for those cases.
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Back from my trip. First time I've flown in 15 years. I decided to carry less camera gear on the trip and upgraded the TT Spectral 8 to the maximum personal bag size with a ThinkTank Backstory 13. It just fits the United personal bag restrictions and has a trolley pass through. I still carried a surprising amount of gear in this bag for my short trip - R6, R8 with 15-30, 28-70, 100-400, chargers, cables, 8Tb SSD, and a 13-inch M4 Macbook Air. I managed to use everything in the bag on the trip. It is a very lightweight carry even when full, with the bonus that you can just slide it down the handle for your wheeled carry on. It also sat nicely on my lap as they rolled me through the airport on a wheelchair - Denver International is huge.
Right now the Backstory 13 is setup for my daily carry around town, with the R7 on the 100-400 and the 24 replacing the 28 and chargers. The R6 is mounted to the 800mm in a Tenba Solstice 12 backpack that I've been carrying for a few years. It's another lightweight carry for around town/mountains with room for the 1.4x and a small lens (28 or 24-105). Both bags both carry the smaller RF lenses well. Throw both bags in the car and I'm ready for most situations that I will encounter locally.
The Airport Advantage worked nicely for clothes, etc. on the trip so it can do double duty. On a road trip, it will likey have camera gear to minimize the amount of bags. Depending on the situation I may take it rather than either/both of the packs for my local photography jaunts. Or carry a selection of EF L lenses and bodies for special situations.
The Mirrorless Mover still keeps my EF-M gear handy when I want to travel small and light.
Right now the Backstory 13 is setup for my daily carry around town, with the R7 on the 100-400 and the 24 replacing the 28 and chargers. The R6 is mounted to the 800mm in a Tenba Solstice 12 backpack that I've been carrying for a few years. It's another lightweight carry for around town/mountains with room for the 1.4x and a small lens (28 or 24-105). Both bags both carry the smaller RF lenses well. Throw both bags in the car and I'm ready for most situations that I will encounter locally.
The Airport Advantage worked nicely for clothes, etc. on the trip so it can do double duty. On a road trip, it will likey have camera gear to minimize the amount of bags. Depending on the situation I may take it rather than either/both of the packs for my local photography jaunts. Or carry a selection of EF L lenses and bodies for special situations.
The Mirrorless Mover still keeps my EF-M gear handy when I want to travel small and light.
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I am really happy with this Matador 28L backpack, really light and waterproof as well (it worked well during the rain in the Itatiaia hills near Rio). I have probably hiked nearly 500 miles in the last 2.5 months in Brazil and Argentina with the R5Mk2+400mmf2.8+1.4xTC combo in this backpack. The backpack has withstood a lot of abuse in the process. And the Thinktank Rolling Photo Backpack has worked very well as carry on cabin baggage thru regional flights where they are concerned about the size and weight. It doesn't look bulky enough to make the gate agent asking you to check it in, even though it is around 12Kgs (more than the 10Kg limit). The backup plan is to move one body and the 100-500 lens to my backpack if they want me to weigh it.
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