Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

For you 600mm f/4 users.

I will be taking a few photo trips this coming year (flying) and will be taking my Sony 600mm. I have previously used a Lenscoat rectangular expandable case but because it is rectangular IMO it takes up more space than is necessary. I'm curious, what do you wildlife photographers who travel to remote places use to travel with your big lenses.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

My Nikon 600mm f/4 came in a large hard case. When I'm driving to a shoot I just throw the case in the car. Nikon sells a ballistic nylon soft lens case for that lens. When flying, I put the lens in the case, then the case goes in a suitcase with other photographic equipment. I always get nervous flying with a lot of expensive gear, so I avoid it whenever possible.

photoman43

Check the products from ThinkTank, their Glass Limos and Roller bags. You may need the Airport Security v 3.0 roller bag as a carry on for a 600mm f4. Or something taller. I am assuming you want a carry on bag.

You may have to place the lens hood in checked luggage to find a bag that will fit your airline's requirements.

Look at the videos on the website to help you figure out what will work for you.


https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/super-telephoto?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2drQsqiQ_QIVvhPUAR0Xrgu1EAAYASAAEgJGifD_BwE

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

I have the Lowepro 13 x 32 cm model for my 150-600 Tamron (see pictures). Good quality nylon exterior, well padded, lightweight with loads of extra straps and loops. Sells for around $50.

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amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

A 600mm f/4 lens is as much as eight inches longer and two inches larger diameter than a Tamron 150-600mm. So that lens case pictured above is way too small.

But LowePro does make an AW 600 Lens Trekker backpack specifically for 600mm lenses with a camera attached. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1077476-REG/lowepro_lp36776_lens_trekker_600_aw.html

I don't know about flying with a 600mm lens. I try to avoid checking luggage with camera gear packed in it! I would check with the airline. I don't know if they would allow anyone to carry-on that LowePro AW 600. It measures approx. 26" x 16" x 12". I have flown with a smaller backpack with a 300mm f/2.8. That fit into the overhead compartment on most airplanes. Another pack I use with my 500mm f/4 is too large.





There are similar from Think Tank, Ruggard and several other manufacturers.

When camera gear is just too large to carry on, instead of checking them as baggage I prefer to pack and ship them ahead, to meet me at my destination. If I don't know anyone at a destination to receive the shipment, it can be sent to my hotel or picked up at the shipping office.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

As far as shipping to destination in advance, have you ever visited a UPS or FedX distribution center. I have and I guarantee your box(s) will be thrown and dropped several times, so pack wisely. I bought my 600mm f/4 from KEH. I was surprised at how big the very thick corrugated box was when it got here. Then I opened it and saw lots and lots of bubble wrap around the very heavy duty hinged pressed board box with latches and all edges and corners protected with aluminum and steel casing that Nikon built for the lens. KEH gets shipping.

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

The Sony 600 comes with a beautiful case, I use that as a carry on when I travel. You should try it.

kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

I too asked this same question awhile back as I had just got the same lens you have around Christmas. I have to typically fly out of an airport that uses the small commuter planes and need something that will not be “checked”. In looking I checked out Mark Smith and Steve Perry (you might check out their YouTube videos about their bags, Mark did use a bag similar to the Lowpro lens trekker, but has now switched to a Mind Shift bag) who both use the Sony 600mm to see if they had any videos on what they use. I settled on what Steve Perry uses a Guru Gear Kiboko 2.0 (30L) backpack. It is 20.47” x 12.67” x 6.7”. It will fit the Sony 600mm /f4 with the hood, 2 bodies, 70-200, 24-70, 14mm, 4 extra batteries, 2 chargers, Anker power bank and both teleconverters. Only down side is it does not have a tablet or laptop sleeve, so you will need a separate small laptop bag for that. The way the top opens just will not allow it. I have yet to fly with it as my trip is several months away. Oh one piece of advice do not fly with the camera attached to any lens. You can damage your camera and lens, plus you can pack more stuff with them separated. It is available on Amazon in 3 versions the 30L is the only one that will fit the Sony 600mm/f4. Hope this helps.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Rugard makes one like the thinktank also.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=ruggard%20long%20lens%2Fcamera%20case%2C%20backpack&sts=ma

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've seen online DIY projects for lens cases. I think they used PVC.

https://www.google.com/search?q=diy+lens+case&oq=diy+lens+case&aqs=edge..69i57j0i22i30j0i22i30i625j0i22i30j0i22i30i625l2j0i390l2j69i64.3415j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

srg

Maybe you could consider renting the same lens when you get there.

kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

This will bag not work for a carry on bag for a plane. The airlines require 22"x14"x9" international is all over the board and need to check which airline you will use but are close to the dimensions above. Some bag manufactures use around a 20.5"x14"x9" as an international size. The 9" number seems to vary between manufacturers. I know others have said they have ben able to get this on but it all depends on how much the gate personnel want to stick to the rules. Which I seem to always get the most unyielding tyrants, if does not fit in the luggage size thing has to be gate checked.

glennk

From the December 2022 discussion on this same topic:

Mindshift Backlight 36L
R3 & R5
600 F4, 100-500 & 70-200
Extenders, extra batteries & cleaning kit
23lbs

Carry-on accepted for multiple airlines from my recent trip to India

gwilliams6

My first choice would be from Think Tank, they have travel cases that will fit the 600mm f4 with lens hood in reverse position. You dont want to have the camera mounted on the lens when traveling as that puts added stress on the lens/camera connected flanges. But most Think Tank cases will have additional room in the same cases for the camera body to be stored separate from the lens .

Cheers and best to you.

kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

Here is what I have in the Guru bag there is still room for more stuff. 2 bodies, 1 with grip, 14mm, 24-70, 70-200, 600mm, both teleconverters, 6 batteries, 1 charger, Anker Power Bank. What I like about this bag is the butterfly opening so the whole bag is not open at once, a feature I like for my up coming trip to Africa. But camera bags are like a pair of my wife's shoes she says; "shoes you can never have too many and each one is for a different use / occasion". I also looked at the ThinkTank Airport Accelerator it indicated it will hold a 600mm f/4. It has the same dimensions as the Guru bag and looks to take a laptop and might be a future addition to my bag collection.