Hiking Backpack for Canon 500F4IS

[Joerg Rockenberger]

I finally capitulated and ordered the Canon 500F4IS lens and the Mongoose 3.5a today. Yikes.

Now, I am looking for a good quality hiking backpack which takes the lens with a 40D attached as well as some other gear (30D, 17-55F2.8IS, 70-200F4IS, 400F5.6, 580EXII flash, Canon and Tamron 1.4TC, and the usual bits and pieces). I don't expect to expand my lens collection beyond what I have at the moment. Most likely I will upgrade to a Pro body in the next year or two. Also, I most likely won't bring all my gear with me on hiking trips (easy to moderate) but it would be preferable if it had the capacity in principle and is compliant with airline bag restrictions.

Ideally the bag should allow to store the camera and 500F4IS with the hood attached ("ready-to-shoot") and allow easy access to it without exposing all other components to the elements. And waterproofing either directly or indirectly through a waterproof shell is a must.

A good harness support system to distribute the load to the hips is critical. The lens is no good if I don't carry it with me or if it limits me how far I can go from the car.

I appreciate your inputs. Thanks, JR

[Jeffrey Sipress]

I'm sure that nearly every photo bag manufacturer makes a backpack with lumbar support that will hold that combination, and there are a lot of them. You really have to look at them and try them on at a store to know which one is for YOU. Nobody can tell you that.

[Alfred Forns]

John whatever you get I would try first !!! Its not a casual thing to carry all that gear for a distance !!!

Would consider carrying the lens by the foot and not placing in backpack. For more than a mile of two (straight walking) is an option. My concern with the backpack is that do you do with it when using the lens? Wear, drag it by hand or leave for later pick up?

[Grady Weed]

I love my Tamrac expedition 6! Check them out! I am 6 ft 6 inches, weigh 280 and the back pack rides well with both my Canon rigs, multiple lens etc.

[Steve Wheeler]

I've been researching such a bag as well.... No decision yet. Just from what I've seen though you might be hard pressed to find one that will hold the 500 w the hood in place 'ready for shooting' as that adds a lot of length over all. (seems like you could potentially put a lot of stress on the hood that way too if you happened to drop it or set it down wrong.) Lowpro and Tamrac websites tell you which ones hold a 500 AND are within the prescribed airline volume limitations. As I understand it those numbers get smaller for international travel... ThinkTank web site has a bunch of good travel info for photogs.

Agreed with the above in that a loaded backpack that fits comfortably is a very personal thing.... One size/model definitely does not fit all body shapes and sizes.

Will be interested to see other responses from those with more experience than I.

Steve

[Roger Clark]

If you want airline legal size, you can't have a pack large enough for the 500 with the hood in shooting position. it's too long. I use a lowepro phototrekker AW with my 500 and have traveled as far as Tanzania with it. I get 2 bodies, a 300 f/4 70-200 f/4 misc filters, batteries and other stuff, like TCs and smaller lenses in it.

For hiking I use an external add-on on the back I got from REI. With a CF tripod, everything typically weighs 40 to 50 pounds. I've not done overnight hiking with the 500 as it is a bit much to add sleeping bag, food for days, etc.

There is a newer computrekker pro backpack, but with the computer pouch it is not deep enough for the 500 (works well with a 300 f/28 though).

Roger

[Randy Stout]

John:

I am not an old hand, but have found that I just can't take the kitchen sink with me when going over rough terrain, with tripod, 500, etc. I have gone to a Kinesis long lens system with my D700 and 500mm f/4. It will fit with a TC on it.

You can clip some auxillary pouches on to carry extra bits, but probably couldn;t take everything with you.

You can fit it with their shoulder harness and belt system.
http://www.kgear.com/
Certainly worth a look.

Cheers

Randy

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Thank you all for the input. Of course I realize that I need to try some backpacks to judge fit etc. Just trying to narrow down the field...

Good point about the hood attached being too long and/or not stable.

Roger, what do you mean by "external add-on on the back I got from REI"? Are you referring to a regular backpack? If yes, how do you the padding? I have a backpack which actually might fit but I am not sure about how to secure the camera and lens in it.

Thanks. JR

[Roger Clark]

Roger, what do you mean by "external add-on on the back I got from REI"? Are you referring to a regular backpack? If yes, how do you the padding? I have a backpack which actually might fit but I am not sure about how to secure the camera and lens in it.

Thanks. JR

Onto the back of the phototrekker aw backpack, I attach an add on pouch with carabiners. I have several,
most are simply a nylon bag with a zipper, and some straps; one is a nylon back with shoulder straps like a very light weight backpack. I tried to find one on the REI site, but I could not (not sure what they are called).

Anyway I got one large enough to hold fleece coat, rain gear, food, and miscellaneous stuff, like sunblock. If you go into a store that sells backpacks, they can probably show you something. You can also get add-on side pouches, but these are usually pretty small for something like a fleece coat.
I hope this helps, if not please say so and I'll try and find a good example.

Roger

[Christoph Belanger]

Now, I am looking for a good quality hiking backpack which takes the lens with a 40D attached as well as some other gear (30D, 17-55F2.8IS, 70-200F4IS, 400F5.6, 580EXII flash, Canon and Tamron 1.4TC, and the usual bits and pieces).

A good harness support system to distribute the load to the hips is critical. The lens is no good if I don't carry it with me or if it limits me how far I can go from the car.

Make sure you also invest in a good Gym membership to build up your strength or a big bottle of pain killers of your joice... You'll need it.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Roger, got it! Thanks for the explanation.

And yes, Christoph, I know what I am getting into. I rented a 500F4IS last year for a weekend - boy was I sore. Actually schlepping the 500F4IS may substitute for the gym... JR

[Roger Clark]

Actually schlepping the 500F4IS may substitute for the gym... JR

When I go on a day hike with a photo pack that looks larger than what overnight backpackers are taking for a week's trip, my wife asks, why I'm carrying all that stuff. I answer: because I can and be glad that I can! One of my goals is to be hiking at 12,000+ feet with a 40+ pound pack when I'm 70+. ;-)

Roger

[mikeojohnson]

This might not be as heavy duty as you are looking for but it holds the stuff you wish to carry.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...s/kiboko.shtml
Mike

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Yeah, I am looking at the Kibuko. While I like the ability to independently access the two sides of the backpack I am wondering about its stability once a large lens is removed from one side of the bag. Obviously, now the entire weight is on the other side and that can't be too comfortable carrying it on your back. Further, I guess the vertical center divider (I assume there is one) needs now to be stiff enough to prevent buckling...

Like its weight though and the ability to hide the harness.

JR

[chuck Shear]

John,
I used a prototype of the Kiboko for a safari last March, 2008. It is really an impressive bag. Far far better than my Think Tank Airport Accelertaion and more comfortable than my Lowepro. The harness design is just more comfortable. It really impressed me as the best all around bag available and even more so if you intend to fly with it. Shedding 5-6 lbs of bag weight is a significant advantage for carryiong or flying. Just my opinion of course but be sure to give it a good lookover.
Chuck

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Chuck,

Thanks for your feedback. How does the bag carry if half-loaded?

JR

[chuck Shear]

John,
In all honesty I can't say how it carries 1/2 loaded. However, the dividers can be set up in an infinite number of ways so weight distribution would be up to the individual. Your options would be determined to some extent by how you choose to carry the 500/4 or 400/5.6 lenses mounted in shooting position + Lens Hoods. In those situations you cannot load your weight at the bottom, but the bag should still carry well. I think I would keep this Gura bag for when I was planning on carrying long lenses and a lot of camera gear. For short treks with less gear and a 70-200/2.8 I would stick to smaller all purpose backpack. The beauty of this bag is that it goes from backpack to airline carryon easily with less compromise than other bags I have tried. Congrats on the new 500/4, it's a fantastic lens.
Chuck

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Chuck,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. But I guess I should have explained what I mean by half-loaded. Let's say the bag is setup such that one side carries a 500F4IS with a camera mounted and the other side has a bunch of other lenses and gear. Now, if you take out the 500F4IS/camera combo to shoot the bag could become quite unbalanced as all the weight is now on one side.

Did you carry it this way? Thanks, JR

[chuck Shear]

John, I did not carry it with all of the weight removed from one side. Mostly, when I ws shooting the bag was on the seat next to me (on safari) and so I really only carried it full. I suppose if you knew you were going to keep the camera out for a while, you could easily readjust the partitions and so redistribute the weight. I can't think how any backpack could be made to handle removing 12-15 lbs frim one side without becoming unbalanced, You might be able to stow the big lens more in the center so that when it and the body were removed the weight distribution would remain more uniform? Kinesis makes a long lens case that holds a body as well but it is really just a single purpose carry for lens and body. You might want to take a look at it, I think it's called the 503 or 529?
Chuck

[Joerg Rockenberger]

I went today to some local camera shops and looked at a couple of backpacks. I was fairly impressed by the shoulder harness and waist belt of the Lowepro Protrekker. But this thing is a beast - in size, weight and price.

Roger, could you please confirm or clarify that you can indeed fit the 500F4IS with a camera body attached into the Lowepro Phototrekker II AW? The specs for this bag say that it fits only up to a 400F2.8. A photo of the loaded bag would of course be awesome. Thanks!

Then, has anyone experience with the Kata BP-502 Backpack? I kind of like the (implied) accessibility from the top in some pictures but couldn't find the bag in any store.

The other bag I am considering is the Tamrac Expedition series. Not sure though if size 7 or 8 is requireda and I liked the carrying system of the Lowepro better. On the other hand I liked the two pockets on the back of the Expedition. If anyone has experience with these bags and the 500F4IS I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks, JR

[beykirch]

Hi John,

I don’t have the 4.0/500L (I have tested it, but it was to heavy for the kind of mountaineering I do and I ended up with the 4.0/400DO). My major backback is the Tamrac Expedition 8. It fits the without any problems one 5D mounted to the 4.0/70-200IS, another 5D mounted to the 4.0/24-205, the 4.0/400DO, 3.5/24TS, 2.8/90TS, Extender 1.4x and the 550EX Flash.

Additionally, I have some other Backbacks which are smaller (e.g. LowePro Vertex), but the Tamrac has by far the best carrying system (I am approx. 6 feet tall) and never had problems with the Expedition 8 during Lufthansa (and other StarAlliance) flights.

As I had the 4.0/500L for a long test weekend, I packed that in the Expedition 8 as well. It worked without problems, but is then limited to one mounted 5D on the 70-200 and both TS lenses must stay at home.

Regards

Bernd

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Bernd,

Thank you for your comments. Are you saying that the 500F4IS fits into the Tamrac Expedition 8 but only if no camera is mounted?

Thanks, JR

[Roger Clark]

Hello John,

I've taken an image at:
http://www.clarkvision.com/tmp/photo...img_7559.a.jpg
I think mine is a phototrekker AW (not sure about the II), which I think is a newer version of the same thing but a little lighter. In the image are the 500 f/4 with attached 1D Mark II. Looking as if you were looking through the camera viewfinder, toward the bottom of the backpack, on the left is a 70-200 f/4 L IS, then an empty slot big enough for another body. On the right ar 1.4 and 2x TCs, then empty space then in the bottom section a 28-135 IS on end. I would normally staplenty of room on top of the 70-200 to put things too, like CF pouches, batteries or whack the 1.4 and 2X TCs on end and put in another partition for other lenses. There is plenty of room on top of the 70-200 to put more stuff too as the pack is so deep. The scale near the top is 12-inches long, and there is a sidekick for scale too.

Hope this helps,
Roger

PS. If you have trouble loading this, keep trying. One of my images was linked to on digg.com (moonrise over Denver) and my server is getting hammered from all the hits. Hopefully I'll be able to post this message, as things are really slow.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Roger,

This is fantastic! Looking at the bag in the store I was wondering if the 500 really could fit, especially with regard to its width. But it sure looks ok.

Thanks for taking the time to document your setup. JR

[beykirch]

Hi John,

the 4.0/500L fits in the Expedition 8 with a camera mounted but without having the lens shade mounted. If you mount the camera on the 500, the remaining space is very limited and roughly similar to the JPG posted by Roger of the Phototrekker.

It seems to be that it comes down to your requirements of the carrying system.

Regards

Bernd

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Thanks Bernd.

Roger, is there a way to hide or remove the shoulder harness of the Phototrekker to make it look smaller for carry-on?

Joerg

[Roger Clark]

John,
I've never had a problem with the shoulder straps with perceived carry-on limits. However, the waist belt adds thickness that technically make it greater than the 9-inch carry-on size. So I generally remove the waist belt for those flights where it might be an issue (like on KLM from Amsterdam to Tanzania). On other flights where I have frequent flyer status, I keep the waist belt. So far I have had no problems. Usually the backpack looks smaller than what other people try and carry on.

Roger

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Roger,

Big Thanks. I really appreciate you and everyone else who posted in this thread taking the time to share their experiences. It looks like that I'll indeed go with the Phototrekker II. The main factor really being that I like their shoulder harness and various possibilities to adjust it as well as the solid waist belt.

I'll probably post my first impression in early January after taking the bag through its paces for a few weeks. Stay tuned.

JR

[Roger Clark]

John,
One more thing to consider. The backpack is not as water proof as I would like. A little bit of rain is fine, but if its is long or heavy, you must get out the rain flap (included). The problem with that is you have to take the tripod off as the rain flap will not work with large external things on the pack. I bought a larger pack cover that will fit over the pack, and tripod. Or wear a poncho that covers the pack too. Why couldn't lowepro use a waterproof material on the outer shell?

Roger

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Thanks Roger. I didn't expect the backpack itself to be water-resistant. I am totally fine with the included rain cover and I realize the problem with the tripod.

I guess a backpack made of water-resistant material would make it much more expensive. Also, given the wear and tear of a typical backpack it might loose its water-resistant coating over time. Unlike Goretex clothing it probably wouldn't be so easy to regenerate.

JR