The think tanks are roller bags

Ansel Adams post processed in the dark room, I post process in a computer. Why are you against post processing????? You better than Ansel Adams???

Why do you want a Hard Shell case? I fly between 20 and 25 flights a year to various locations. My gear includes 3 bodies and multiple lenses including 600mm f4; 300mm f2.8 and several others. Everything fits into two of Thinktank largest roller bags. They are very well constructed and padded enough. It is not like baggage guys are throwing them around and all are carry-ones that fit overhead. On smaller feeder airlines, I do have to gate check them unless there are empty seats where I can place them. I do not transport the bodies with a lens mounted. Have a look at the Thinktank roller models.
Good luck
Bill

canon 10 power image stabilized. But as a bird photographer, I do not carry binocks, just the camera and a big lens. You do not have enough time to look through binocks and then grab a camera, they move too fast.
good luck. Bill

I am a apple user, but in the high humidity of Central America, I have had my laptop quit on me. Was told that many computers quit from the humidity. A spare PC functioned well and saved the frames, but had to leave the processing till home. Apple had no explanations and the laptop started working after we were home a week. I am returning to Central America this winter and will take a waterproof case and a drying (or water absorbing gizmo) that is not expensive on Amazon, to put in the bag.

Pack it in your checked bags. On a big photoshoot, I carry 3 tripod, all go in a large suitcase. I have to take off the wimberly head off the big one to get it to fit.
Bill

Excellent shots, very crisp, and good poses. would like lens/camera info as well as settings
Bill

Hi Bama Texan,
In the spirit of improving your photos, I have a couple of comments. They are critical, but please don't take offense; I did not improve until others offered suggestions.

1. Inspire of numerous comments that had to be heart warming, that the photo was sharp; it is, in fact, fairly soft. Look at the edge of the eye and the little hairs that are around the bill, and you will see what I mean.
2. This photo could be improved if you had used fill flash. If you are not familiar with this for bird photograph, google "better beamer" This can give significant fill light up to a couple of hundred feet. It is only about $70 and goes on your existing flash.

Bird photography is very demanding and is not for the small budgets. I don't know what lens you were using or what f stop. I shoot mostly a 600mm f4 prime which is very expensive, but I am blessed to afford one.

So: reasons for soft photos, is not good enough lens, not micro focusing the lens to your camera. movement of the camera/too slow of shutter speed. Using F stop that is away from the lens "sweet spot". You should be attempting to place the focal spot on the eye of the bird. Hand holding for birds is not easy. It took me a year or more to start getting sharp photos from my 600 lens. Learning to "squeeze" off the shutter, rather than smashing the button helped. Using a shutter speed for the focal length of the lens. ( for 600mm I use at least 1/800 or faster - pushing the ISO if necessary. Almost all my shots are with a better beamer"

I will attach a couple of photos that were shot at Basque del Apache in NM; both were handheld with the 600mm lens and were with a better beamer and flash. Look at the area around the beak of the American Kestrel, and along the side of the head of the owl. You will see the tiny hairs in perfect focus. In each case my focus point was on the eye of the bird.

good luck and keep working to improve.
Bill Smith

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I use or have used a Nikon coolscan slide scanner. Bummer is that it is no longer made, but maybe you can find a used one. It is crazy good when used with the automatic feeder (Nikon SF-210) I have scanned about 15,000 slides with about 6 - 8k more to go. Does about 50 at a time at something like 2500 dpi. Good luck

get the Canon; don't forget it will bring much more on resale when you are done with it. Plus it is a better lens. It is one of my main lenses

The canon version of the 300mm f2.8 is fabulous; I would assume the Nikon version is the same. Get it and don't look back!

I have had great luck buying from Adorama and B & H. I buy camera bodies with a US warrantee, but I have bought several lenses in the $6000 to $13,000 price range and since I don't think much can go wrong with a lens, I do look for grey market lenses for the savings. The savings on tax alone is in the $1000 category for a lens of that price, so buying from out of state saves me a lot of money. I do appreciate our local camera shop, but they don't stock the big telephotos and I have supported them with the purchase of a lot of gear. My 300mm f2.8 was a grey market lens from Adorama. big discount and no tax!

I love the third shot in the good light.

you are thinking too small! Medium format with a flock of lenses.

If you are going to ask for money, at least as for enough to get a 600mm f4.0 prime!