Packing a Nikon 200-500: For all those Nikon users who own a 200-500 lens. This is a very large and heavy lens. I wonder how you guys bring this thing around. Do you keep in on a...

gutdoc

For all those Nikon users who own a 200-500 lens. This is a very large and heavy lens. I wonder how you guys bring this thing around. Do you keep in on a separate body and pack it in a separate case to lug around? Or do you pack it with your camera bag with the rest of your gear? Because of its size, finding a bag large enough to carry everything, but small enough to take on as a carry-on during my travels would be a real challenge. Any suggestions?

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

gutdoc wrote:

For all those Nikon users who own a 200-500 lens. This is a very large and heavy lens. I wonder how you guys bring this thing around. Do you keep in on a separate body and pack it in a separate case to lug around? Or do you pack it with your camera bag with the rest of your gear? Because of its size, finding a bag large enough to carry everything, but small enough to take on as a carry-on during my travels would be a real challenge. Any suggestions?

I keep mine (normally attached to a D500) in a LowePro AW500 backpack. When not required for a few weeks I keep it in a ProFox lens case, purchased from Amazon.

deanfl Loc: Georgia

gutdoc wrote:

For all those Nikon users who own a 200-500 lens. This is a very large and heavy lens. I wonder how you guys bring this thing around. Do you keep in on a separate body and pack it in a separate case to lug around? Or do you pack it with your camera bag with the rest of your gear? Because of its size, finding a bag large enough to carry everything, but small enough to take on as a carry-on during my travels would be a real challenge. Any suggestions?

I just bought a Lowepro Protactic 450 AW to be able to pack a Sigma 150-600 with most of my camera stuff to carry on a plane. It is supposed to work for that. I haven’t flown with it yet. I plan to put a 2nd camera with lens inside a separate backpack because of the weight of the main backpack. Just my personal choice.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Under no circumstances would I leave the lens mounted on a body.

I keep it in a separate padded lens bag in my backpack or transport bag/case. For prolonged storage the padded case is placed in a heavier padded case and shelved.

mikewskier Loc: NE Florida

Please explain why you would not leave the lens attached.

DaveO wrote:

Under no circumstances would I leave the lens mounted on a body.

I keep it in a separate padded lens bag in my backpack or transport bag/case. For prolonged storage the padded case is placed in a heavier padded case and shelved.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

mikewskier wrote:

Please explain why you would not leave the lens attached.

Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

Leaving a body attached to a long lens during transport could possibly strain the mount if the combination were jostled around. Otherwise there is really no reason to not keep it mounted, in fact it might be better to leave it on to prevent dust from getting into the body when stored at home for long intervals. Travel with a hard case and your problem is solved.

Oldnintheway

Think Tank Streetwalker HardDive works well for me with the Tamron 150-600 attached to my D7200. Plenty of room for other equipment that I need to bring. I have flown with it and it was a breeze.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

mikewskier wrote:

Please explain why you would not leave the lens attached.

There is a little strain on the mount and it may be easy to bump it, create a lot of strain and damage the mount and possibly break it. Length creates leverage on the mount. When I am traveling in areas of possible opportunities, I set in in an open pack for quick retrieval, but protected from rolling or setting something on top of it.

Chris981 Loc: Pacific Palisades

I have a Pelican case just for that lens. It is model #1500. I can pack the lens with gimbal head in this case. Then mount D610 to body in the field for sports and wild life. This case meets all airline over head regulations. It is a heavy case but I like the protection. Usually, it is just carrying the camera with lens mounted a mile or so from car, boat or plane.If I had to hike further than a mile each way with this lens, I would get a back pack.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

gutdoc wrote:

For all those Nikon users who own a 200-500 lens. This is a very large and heavy lens. I wonder how you guys bring this thing around. Do you keep in on a separate body and pack it in a separate case to lug around? Or do you pack it with your camera bag with the rest of your gear? Because of its size, finding a bag large enough to carry everything, but small enough to take on as a carry-on during my travels would be a real challenge. Any suggestions?

I pack a considerably heavier lens - the Sigma Sport 150-600 in a pack, along with two bodies and 3-4 other lenses. And it still fits into an overhead compartment. I use a LowePro Pro Trekker 450AW.

hootooson Loc: Los Angeles

Lowepro Flipside 300/400 AW II

mikewskier Loc: NE Florida

DaveO wrote:

There is a little strain on the mount and it may be easy to bump it, create a lot of strain and damage the mount and possibly break it. Length creates leverage on the mount. When I am traveling in areas of possible opportunities, I set in in an open pack for quick retrieval, but protected from rolling or setting something on top of it.

Thanks, I carry my Sigma 50-500 attached to the body when I am using it and during transit to shoots. I have the Lowepro bag and it fits along with my other lens and body. My theory has been to keep the camera from exposure to dust as much as I can. The back pack keeps the camera/lens from moving.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

I have an old camera bag that I wasn’t using. It happens to be very heavily padded, and it’s just the right length for the lens. Because it is not a very big bag, the lens fills it, but if fits perfectly. No way to fit in anything else, though.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

gutdoc wrote:

For all those Nikon users who own a 200-500 lens. This is a very large and heavy lens. I wonder how you guys bring this thing around. Do you keep in on a separate body and pack it in a separate case to lug around? Or do you pack it with your camera bag with the rest of your gear? Because of its size, finding a bag large enough to carry everything, but small enough to take on as a carry-on during my travels would be a real challenge. Any suggestions?

...do you plan on taking a tripod with it as well...?