wkaufman Loc: Poole's Slough, OR

Now that I have the Nikkor 200-500 FX lens that weighs in over 5 lbs, I'm interested in how others carry these lenses when on the camera. I've seen carry straps that go over the shoulder and attach to the tripod bolt hole of the shoe.

Other ideas for keeping the weight off the camera mount and keeping camera and lens ready for quick deployment?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

I carry mine a bit like this (with the monopod not extended so much).

(Download)

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The 5 pounds of weight should have no effect on a good camera body. I carry my Nikkor 200-500 on my D500 all the time and have witnessed no ill effects.
My Sigma Sport 150-600 has strap mounts. With that lens I double strap, one on the camera body and one on the lens.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

It doesn't matter what gear I take, I'm always fine with the good old neck strap!

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

I’ve been wrestling with the same issue for several years. I’ve tried many things with mixed results. One that has promise is a camera holster that hooks to an Op-Tech USA double shoulder harness (or to the shoulder harnesses of my backpack. This holds the camera front and center, ready to draw and shoot. But it looks kinda dorky and is rather hot in warm weather.

My latest fav is my Promediagear quick detach shoulder strap. It is a cross shoulder padded strap but the unique part is their quick-attach-releas system. They use a very sturdy ball socket in a Kirk style plate that is on your big lens foot. Then they have a patented latch on the shoulder strap that locks to that. Not as much protection as a holster but is cooler.

btbg

I turn my camera upside down, wrap the camera strap around my hand and then carry the lens and camera body by the lens mount.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

I use the old straps, 1 1/2 to 2''from the '70's. I wrap the strap around my wrist and have had no problems. I've used this system with 400 and 600 lens and even when using a 50. It works.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I have a Canon 100-400 on a 6D. I take this when I go for walks at the local wetlands (if I don't take my camera I am guaranteed to see something really amazing, though....) I find it very comfortable to carry it around my neck, while I hold my right hand on the lens shade to support the weight a little bit. It wouldn't work climbing over boulders where hands are needed, but I find this to be a very comfortable solution, while still having the camera ready. I mostly go out in the daylight hours and shoot hand-held, so I am not usually lugging around a tripod.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

I connect it to the camera and a monopod, then rest it over my shoulder as I'm walking. A pad on your shoulder or wrapped around the monopod helps greatly. I usually don't carry any other gear when I do this.

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

I too, have fought this battle. Being I'm 86 my long hiking days have passed, but if it is under a couple miles it's a go. My primary camera is a Canon 5Diii and with a 24 70mm f2.8 or the 100 ~ 400 f.4 II the weight is troublesome. My solution, and I love it, is the Op/Tech double sling. I have absolutely no intention of carrying two cameras but hooking the right and left sides of the harness to the respective sides of the camera it is centered on my chest or mid section. The harness is carrying the weight over both shoulders and the weight is centered. Fantastic if one happens to use a walking stick and in my case this is frequently a monopod. I stayed clear of Op/Tech for years as they were priced to cheap. Big Mistake; their quality is excellent. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759985-REG/OP_TECH_USA_6501082_Double_Sling_Black.html

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

I too, have fought this battle. Being I'm 86 my long hiking days have passed, but if it is under a couple miles it's a go. My primary camera is a Canon 5Diii and with a 24 70mm f2.8 or the 100 ~ 400 f.4 II the weight is troublesome. My solution, and I love it, is the Op/Tech double sling. I have absolutely no intention of carrying two cameras but hooking the right and left sides of the harness to the respective sides of the camera it is centered on my chest or mid section. The harness is carrying the weight over both shoulders and the weight is centered. Fantastic if one happens to use a walking stick and in my case this is frequently a monopod. I stayed clear of Op/Tech for years as they were priced to cheap. Big Mistake; their quality is excellent. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759985-REG/OP_TECH_USA_6501082_Double_Sling_Black.html

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Take advantage of flat ground and use an old baby stroller!

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

wkaufman I use the Nikon CL 12 Case for the AF 200-500mm f/5.6 and the AF 200-400mm f/4 VR ED
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247039-REG/Nikon_4315_CL_L2_Soft_Case.html

btw, Nikon replaced my initial CL 12 case that came with the AF 200-400 under a recall (absolutely no charge and free shipping from Japan).

This case while listed as "soft" is instead a very strong with a robust rigid base... It is padded to excess and keeps it's constants totally concealed from view thus I never worry about hauling my kit to sporting events or location venues...

That said I do not shoot wildlife... only paid assignments (events and catalog) so this item was simply factored into my fee...

Bottom Line? Extremely well made of quality materials, weathered sealed and tailored precisely for the task at hand...

Hope this helps wkaufman...

btw, I understand your concern about stressing a lens mount, while I have only limited concern for my D3x, however the mount on my D810 isn't that robust... I do not feel comfortable placing the camera/lens on a lever arm (i.e. monopod) and carrying over my shoulder... The magnitude of the torque with respect to a given axis of rotation can be approached as the force times the lever arm with respect to that axis. The lever arm is the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force. Physics 101 Can this warp a lens mount? I'm not interested in finding out... enough said

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I am assuming from your post that you will be hand holding when you use ? As such, I would keep the hood on the lens in the shooting position and with the camera attached. Here is what I just ordered for my 300 2.8 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/650mm-Padded-Camera-Tripod-Bag-Carry-Shoulder-Case-25-5-For-Manfrotto-Velbon/202521367163?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

As mentioned, on flattter ground you could use a lens caddy - https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-248119-1.html

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