How best to tote around long lens/camera? So….bought the wife - a bird watcher- the lens of her dreams ; a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6! She couldn’t be happier! But

Webguydave Loc: C'ville, Va.

So….bought the wife - a bird watcher- the lens of her dreams ; a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6! She couldn’t be happier!
But - it’s heavy ( and more so with a D500 attached) and long, not something you can hang around your neck and hike around in.
A backpack is possible, I suppose, but getting the gear out and shooting isn’t a quick or easy affair… thoughts / suggestions? TIH!!😄

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

You bought it, you carry it for her!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Webguydave wrote:

So….bought the wife - a bird watcher- the lens of her dreams ; a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6! She couldn’t be happier!
But - it’s heavy ( and more so with a D500 attached) and long, not something you can hang around your neck and hike around in.
A backpack is possible, I suppose, but getting the gear out and shooting isn’t a quick or easy affair… thoughts / suggestions? TIH!!😄

I am gonna catch hell for this !! But what the heck
I use a D810 with a battery grip along with a Sigma 150-600 sports lens
When Im out with this setup I leave it on the tripod and put it over my shoulder, approx. 20# combined weight, and I constantly check to make sure everything is tight i.e when ever I stop to shoot or take a rest break.
Oh I am 83 yrs old and yes the rig is getting heavier

so I take more and longer breaks.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Webguydave wrote:

So….bought the wife - a bird watcher- the lens of her dreams ; a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6! She couldn’t be happier!
But - it’s heavy ( and more so with a D500 attached) and long, not something you can hang around your neck and hike around in.
A backpack is possible, I suppose, but getting the gear out and shooting isn’t a quick or easy affair… thoughts / suggestions? TIH!!😄

Sorry to break the. news to you, however, you may have created a monster! Actually, she COULD be "happier" if YOU are around to carry the load! Every happy story has a down side, and your wife just acquired weight and bulk! That weight and bulk must be moved and that turns smiles to frowns. Long lenses are mandatory for certain photography and your wife has moved to the big leagues in that department. Long lenses are also cumbersome, but the rewards are well worth the efforts. There are a myriad of choices for long lenses and your search should be slow and deliberate. Somewhere there is a bag that will fit your wife's needs and wants perfectly (actually, none will be perfect, some will be better than the others) and that will be her choice top make. Patience is the key to getting what she wants the first time. Good luck and good shooting.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Webguydave wrote:

So….bought the wife - a bird watcher- the lens of her dreams ; a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6! She couldn’t be happier!
But - it’s heavy ( and more so with a D500 attached) and long, not something you can hang around your neck and hike around in.
A backpack is possible, I suppose, but getting the gear out and shooting isn’t a quick or easy affair… thoughts / suggestions? TIH!!😄

Not sure her strength but my wife easily carries the 100-400mm MII on hikes with just the neckstrap that came with the camera.
That said there are several rigs.
Cotton Carriers are generally recommended here.
Check them out for ease of access while carrying.

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

Webguydave wrote:

So….bought the wife - a bird watcher- the lens of her dreams ; a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6! She couldn’t be happier!
But - it’s heavy ( and more so with a D500 attached) and long, not something you can hang around your neck and hike around in.
A backpack is possible, I suppose, but getting the gear out and shooting isn’t a quick or easy affair… thoughts / suggestions? TIH!!😄

That is a heavy combo for a woman or man. I shoot in Florida wetlands on boardwalks. I have seen several women us a baby carriage to carry their lens and camera combo. For rougher terrain you can get baby carriers with balloon tires that work very well.
I just bought my wife the Olympus OM-1 with the Panasonic 100-400 lens, very light weight and easy to carry around. She gets the field of view of 200-800 mm and could not be happier.
Good luck to her, any type of shoulder harness would also be difficult.
As a further suggestion I like the cotton carrier for my personal Sony a1 with the 200-600 mm attached.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

GerryER Loc: Virginia USA

Would one of these help?

Nicama Dual Camera Vest:

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Webguydave wrote:

So….bought the wife - a bird watcher- the lens of her dreams ; a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6! She couldn’t be happier!
But - it’s heavy ( and more so with a D500 attached) and long, not something you can hang around your neck and hike around in.
A backpack is possible, I suppose, but getting the gear out and shooting isn’t a quick or easy affair… thoughts / suggestions? TIH!!😄

I use my Black Rapid shoulder strap with all my camera/lens combinations including my D850 Tamron 150-600. I walk normaly while steading the unit with my hand and it works for me anyway.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I carry a D850 or a D500 with a 200~500 Nikon. Yep it's a bit heavy even for a spring chicken like myself @68. I carry mine upside down, using the tripod foot/collar as a grip. Changing hands often. It's doable, but eventually I'll have to find another option. Times goes on!!

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

I am 69 and have the Sony a9 II and the 200-600 combo for birding. Heavy, yes. Two ways I walk with it. 1. Rapid strap on lens collar. It seems to distribute the weight pretty well. 2. Graphite monopod with the Wimberly MH-100 monopod gimbal.

I have the Cotton Carrier waist belt with an extra lens bucket. Does not work for me. Too heavy and hangs awkward. Would sell if interested.
Good luck.

pahtspix

I suggest you check out the Peak Design "SLIDE".. Ive had mine now for 3 years and it is serving me quite well, and "properly worn" it does not bounce around your body, and it usually can actually reside on yor side or hip with no jouncing. It's affixed to an arca type plate for a quick placement on a tripod if necessary! Around $65 USD.. BTW, I know this 200-500 is even heavier than my Tamron 150-600mm G2, But placing that much camera/lens weight on a "Cotton-Carrier" type rig would be uncomfortable for me. Check it out at http://www.pkdsn.com/slide

wireloose

Baysitter11 wrote:

I am 69 and have the Sony a9 II and the 200-600 combo for birding. Heavy, yes. Two ways I walk with it. 1. Rapid strap on lens collar. It seems to distribute the weight pretty well. 2. Graphite monopod with the Wimberly MH-100 monopod gimbal.

I have the Cotton Carrier waist belt with an extra lens bucket. Does not work for me. Too heavy and hangs awkward. Would sell if interested.
Good luck.

I have a nearly identical rig but with the A1. Find it is easy to carry with the mh1 locked and the monopod over my shoulder, lens sideways across my back. I don’t bump into things and it’s quick to deploy.

Webguydave Loc: C'ville, Va.

Well, if you catch hell, I will too, having done the same thing! And I’m only 70!😝
But she’s in the middle of knee replacements….

Manglesphoto wrote:

I am gonna catch hell for this !! But what the hec... (show quote)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are lots of good, wide straps available. If she wants to shoot with a big, heavy lens, she has to accept the fact that it has to get from Point A to Point B - somehow. Look at OP/TECH straps.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Manglesphoto wrote:

I am gonna catch hell for this !! But what the hec... (show quote)

I put a Wimberley MH-100 on my mono and follow suit!

I had seen it on a Steve Perry video and it works great.

I sometimes use a shoulder strap with an a/s release instead.