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Backpacking with 400 2.8 Supertelephoto
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Nov 29, 2018 11:47:42   #
Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA
 
Goober wrote:
Any of you wildlife photographers hauling a 400mm f2.8 around in the woods?

I just received my new Sony fe400 2.8 lens and now having a challenge to figure out how to haul it around in the field. I need a backpack to carry the lens with body attached as well as an additional body and two more lenses. Apprears to be limited backpacks designed for this and I have sent hours on the internet massaging the specs to find something suitable. I have been to a couple decent size brick and mortar camera shops but they don’t stock a bag like I need.
So far, I am settled on the Think Tank Airport Commuter as my best bet.
Does anyone have direct experience with this bag and a 400 2.8 or can you recommend another bag that works?
The biggest problem is the large diameter of the lens and hood which is even larger than the 500 and 600 mm Lenses.
I realize my best bet would be to make a trip to B & H or Adorama but I am trying to avoid that.

Your experience and suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Goober
Any of you wildlife photographers hauling a 400mm ... (show quote)


Hi Goober,

You might take a look at the Manfrotto Pro Light Bumblebee 230 backpack. I bought it from Adorama via eBay. It fits the standard for use as carry-on luggage and is spacious, comfortable, and provides excellent protection. In my backpack I typically carry a Canon 5D4, a Canon 70-200 f/2.8, Canon 24-105 f/4, a Sigma 150-600 C, a Canon 600EX-RT-II, filters, batteries, and occasionally a Dell M6700 17-inch laptop. I have hiked (without the laptop) up to the 6,000 to 7,000-foot level of mountains on a two to three hour trek, often with very steep elevation climb, very comfortably and I am certainly no spring chicken. The lumbar support, waist and chest straps, and the ventilation against the back makes the journeys very comfortable. I have found it to be one of the best backpacks for getting around in the urban or the wild.

Check out these videos on the backpack:

Manfrotto Promo Video
https://youtu.be/IH8QFxszaO4

Thomas Heaton's Evaluation and Durability Tests
https://youtu.be/RPK4CbKTWJs

Matt Granger packing it full
https://youtu.be/klyQyxQl0tE

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Nov 29, 2018 11:49:25   #
CanonTom Loc: Birmingham
 
Fotoartist wrote:
Or a wife.


Hire a wife?.........you apparently do not have the same experience I have with women........that idea would have gotten me killed years ago!

I believe my idea of the mule is much safer (and no doubt much less expensive)!

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Nov 29, 2018 12:00:58   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
Dave Sr wrote:
I like a CLIK with a very nice waist band that transfers most of the weight from the shoulders to the waist, necessary for any distance hiking. It is also just the correct size for most airlines' size limits for carry-on luggage. Check out the Clik Elite CE640BU .


Thanks Dave, I am not familiar with that one. I will check it out.

Goober

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Nov 29, 2018 12:09:36   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
47greyfox wrote:
I attended a photo tour earlier this year. The guide had a Canon beast of a lens that he carried attached to his tripod similar to an earlier poster to this thread. On his shoulder was a pad similar to this one. We probably walked 2-4 miles each day. He claimed comfort all the day. Another tour member fashioned a thick piece of dense foam on one leg of his tripod that he positioned on his shoulder.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/904106-REG/letus35_ltm_sp_mcs_shoulder_pad.html/?ap=y&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuf7fBRD7ARIsACqb8w48KfRNjZjqYmmEaS2TPIjrL6zh4UXm-G64OWnrRFDqYTpdvqBXlhMaAsXgEALw_wcB&lsft=BI%3A514&smp=Y
I attended a photo tour earlier this year. The gui... (show quote)


Thanks Greyfox. That's pretty much what I have been doing with my larger lenses once i get to my destination, and using a normal size backpack to get my gear there. I had forgotten to mention in my OP that I need this backpack to be airplane friendly for carry-on as well as getting all my gear to a shooting location.

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Nov 29, 2018 12:20:54   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
Angel Star Photography wrote:
Hi Goober,

You might take a look at the Manfrotto Pro Light Bumblebee 230 backpack. I bought it from Adorama via eBay. It fits the standard for use as carry-on luggage and is spacious, comfortable, and provides excellent protection. In my backpack I typically carry a Canon 5D4, a Canon 70-200 f/2.8, Canon 24-105 f/4, a Sigma 150-600 C, a Canon 600EX-RT-II, filters, batteries, and occasionally a Dell M6700 17-inch laptop. I have hiked (without the laptop) up to the 6,000 to 7,000-foot level of mountains on a two to three hour trek, often with very steep elevation climb, very comfortably and I am certainly no spring chicken. The lumbar support, waist and chest straps, and the ventilation against the back makes the journeys very comfortable. I have found it to be one of the best backpacks for getting around in the urban or the wild.

Check out these videos on the backpack:

Manfrotto Promo Video
https://youtu.be/IH8QFxszaO4

Thomas Heaton's Evaluation and Durability Tests
https://youtu.be/RPK4CbKTWJs

Matt Granger packing it full
https://youtu.be/klyQyxQl0tE
Hi Goober, br br You might take a look at the Man... (show quote)


Thank you for the info. That is another backpack I have not found in my search...and thanks for the links.
I will check it all out.

Goober

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Nov 29, 2018 12:29:21   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
CanonTom wrote:
Hire a wife?.........you apparently do not have the same experience I have with women........that idea would have gotten me killed years ago!

I believe my idea of the mule is much safer (and no doubt much less expensive)!



Canon Tom,
I have a great wife but if I told her I needed her to carry my stuff she would tell me to go pound sand and most likely not be the great wife she is now! I suggested she go along and help on my Kodiak bear trip this summer and the day I left I found she packed some fresh salmon snacks in my backpack. What does that tell ya?

Yes, much safer to deal with a stubborn mule and I would also live longer!

Goober

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Nov 29, 2018 12:35:20   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
Goober wrote:
Canon Tom,
I have a great wife but if I told her I needed her to carry my stuff she would tell me to go pound sand and most likely not be the great wife she is now! I suggested she go along and help on my Kodiak bear trip this summer and the day I left I found she packed some fresh salmon snacks in my backpack. What does that tell ya?

Yes, much safer to deal with a stubborn mule and I would also live longer!

Goober


Hopefully you found out before you needed to start running.

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Nov 29, 2018 12:48:31   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
In-lightened wrote:
I have the Nikon 400m 2.8. It's a beast. That hood is the issue when trying to pack it for air travel. I purchased a cloth hood from lenscoat to travel with. http://www.lenscoat.com/travelhood-c-44.html. This makes the lens pack-able in a large bag that will hold my 2 dslrs, teles, and a couple of other lens for landscape that I carry on. The problem is at the other end and the field. This bag is barely big enough to house this lens with camera attached while hiking but will at an angle. I can fit another body in with say a 70-200 around that but not attached. The compromise is to wear the camera plus 70-200 lens during the hike or mount the camera plus 400 on the tripod over the shoulder with a bodypod for the hike. Whew! My large bag that will hold everything is a Tenba. My bag if I get to drive for the 400 with camera and hood attached is the Tamrac...which is slightly longer than the others. It definitely won't qualify for carry-on due to length.
Good luck with your decision!
I have the Nikon 400m 2.8. It's a beast. That ho... (show quote)


Thanks for your input. Yes, part of the problem is the large diameter of the lens hood which does not go away reversed on the lens for packing and requires a deeper pack. I was not aware that Lenscoat made cloth lens hoods.

Thanks, Goober

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Nov 29, 2018 12:52:01   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
dsmeltz wrote:
Hopefully you found out before you needed to start running.




She knows you should never run from a brown bear. That was part of the plan I think.

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Nov 29, 2018 12:57:00   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
redlegfrog wrote:
I haven't heard of them for years but "Better Birder" made a backpack for scopes that also worked great for long lens.
I use to carry a 500F4 with camera attached. It had four large outside pockets and I could easily put a small camera (FM, FM1) in one and a small lens in another.
It was very comfortable to hike with.
Good luck on your search.


Thanks Redlegfrog. Another one to check into.

Goober

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Nov 29, 2018 13:08:46   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
Dikdik wrote:
If you're backpacking, would not a smaller variable lens be better? A lot less to lug around.

Dik



Yes, no doubt. I wanted the reach of a fast lens due to my experience shooting wildlife in heavy overcast conditions.
The 400 2.8 works extremely well with accurate, fast autofocus using both 1.4 and 2.0 converters and at much lower ISO than my 100-400 f4.5-5.6 lens. I try to keep my shutter speeds 1/1000 sec and higher which adds to the issue.

Goober

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Nov 29, 2018 13:10:41   #
CanonTom Loc: Birmingham
 
Goober wrote:
Canon Tom,
I have a great wife but if I told her I needed her to carry my stuff she would tell me to go pound sand and most likely not be the great wife she is now! I suggested she go along and help on my Kodiak bear trip this summer and the day I left I found she packed some fresh salmon snacks in my backpack. What does that tell ya?

Yes, much safer to deal with a stubborn mule and I would also live longer!

Goober



Reply
Nov 29, 2018 13:30:40   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
pesfls wrote:
You may not like what I do but I’ll share as food for thought. I’ve never purchased a “camera backpack.” I am an avid cyclist so I simply use an Osprey brand cyclist’s backpack that I’ve had for several years. Since it’s designed to pad your back from stowed items it has a fairly thick foam pad sewn inside. It does not have velcro compartment dividers like a true photorapher’s pack. I cushion lenses like a Nikon 300mm with an old thick wool sock. I can fit an ancient Nikon 800mm f8 122mm objective, the 300mm and a full frame Nikon body, gimbal head & a few filters, TC, cleaning supplies etc inside. I carry the tripod over shoulder with a sling strap. There’s no limit to your options. But I would suggest you go to a store with your typical load and try some out. Until you shoulder your load you won’t know what you find most comfortable. Would you buy a car sight unseen without a test drive? Happy hunting & good luck.
You may not like what I do but I’ll share as food ... (show quote)



I would really like a "test drive" but I have visited two local good size camera stores in my area and no luck finding a pack to fit my needs. I know if I would make a trip to NYC and visit B&H or Adorama I would find what I am looking for but trying to avoid that trip.

Thanks,
Goober

Reply
Nov 29, 2018 13:35:09   #
Goober Loc: Southeastern PA
 
SteveLew wrote:
When I hike I take my F Stop Anja backpack. These bags are outstanding and use an internal camera unit that fits all forms of lenses. I know that they offer a unit that fits large lens. Also, LowePro makes a bag that fits very large lenses.


Thanks Steve, I was not aware of F Stop bags until you and another brought it up here.
I will check it out.

Goober

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Nov 29, 2018 13:46:13   #
sloscheider Loc: Minnesota
 
Burton makes outdoor gear aimed at snowboarding folks and a couple years back came out with several photo packs. I’ve got the f-stop model that might do what you want.

http://www.burton.com/us/en/p/f-stop-28l-camera-backpack/W19-110301.html

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