Lens case for the 500 f/4
I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a lens case to hold the 500 f/4 (Canon). I looked at Lowpro and ThinkTank which I found none for the 500. Kinesis makes a couple of lens cases, the slim just for the lens and one where the camera stays mounted. I would appreciate any suggestions. Also when traveling, having a lowepro carry-on and the 500 in a lens case as a second personal item. Can that be done. Thanks, Marty.............
Have a look at Tenba. Very good and reasonably priced.
Rene de Heer
The tenba case for the 600 fits the 500 with the camera attached. That makes it very convenient (although you shouldn't use it this way for long trips or for storage)
I regularly carry a Nikon 200-400vr in the case they supplied (a soft case) on aircraft as my 2nd personal item with no problems. As long as the 2nd item fits under the seat in front of you it should be good to go!
The Think Tank Glass Taxi should fit your needs;
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_GlssTxi.php
Thanks everyone. Now we will try to make decisions. Marty....
You are going to have major problems with 2 carry-ons with the second as a camera bag.
They dont give you any problem at all with the second as a computer bag (notice that I didnt say computer, just computer bag).
I carry a 600/4 IS, 200-400 VR, short zoom, 2 pro bodies, 2 sets of extenders/convertors in one carry on and have never been stopped after using the same bag and set up for 6-7 years with trips to OZ, South america, Asia, europe, E. Europe, Alaska, oceania, australiasia, and all over the US (Yes I know I have even used the set up on Fokker, Dehaviland dash-8, Canadair and embrajet).
What are you trying to carry?
Robert
Originally Posted by Robert O'Toole
To echo Robert's point, I have been successful carrying a Lowepro Pro Trekker and a laptop bag that I stuff with an additional hard drive, blank DVD's and a small lens in a pinch.
At one time, Kinesis offered a knock-down bag big enough to hold a 500 with a body attached and the hood reversed. You can break it down and pack it for airline travel and then re-assemble when you get to your destination. I have one and it seems to work pretty well. I don't know if they still offer it, but it may be an option.
Regards,
Jeff Johnston
Last time I left the country (Air Jamaica) they weighed my Airport Security bag and made me remove items until I got the weight down, if I didn't remove them I had to check it. My wife had a fold up canvas type shopping bag and I loaded my 500 in it and they said OK. When I got around the corner I put it all back and was not stopped again.
Point is, they are now sometimes weighing bags and if they do you will need a backup if you are overweight on the single carryon. Some Airports refuse 2 carry-ons like Robert said (Gatwick and some others) some do not care as long as it fits under the seat in front of you. Best to check with them FIRST that takes the guessing out.
Thanks again everyone. Robert I'm flying to Yellowstone on Delta. I have the Low-Pro Camera bag (carry-on) but if I put my 500 in the bag than a few items and lenses will not fit. I figured to stuff the carry-on and get a lens bag for the 500 as my second bag. I'm traveling alone. When I travel with my wife I have no problem because she takes up the slack. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to pack everything and get on the plane. Also I will be changing planes in Salt Lake City to a smaller plane that will take me to Jackson Hole. Would it be advisable to put a lens or two (packed well) with the chargers and cables in to the bags that will be checked in. I have TSA locks but I'm still afraid of theft. I still have about a month to figure this all out. Thanks again everyone for your input. Looking forward to more suggestions. Marty....
One more question if I may. Would it be a wise investment, not only for this trip, to get the Khumbu vest from Vested Interest. If so than what are the pro's and con's of this vest. Thanks again, Marty.....
Hi Marty,
Call the ariline and find out what the exact type of plane you will be flying on so you will have a good idea of what to expect. I have gotten away with my set up on a Folkker turboprop, embrajet, canadair that are all regional jets, some even have a single seat row!! Sometimes you can take a flight leaving an hour later that is a full size plane on the same route. Also as george mentioned once you go to a regional size jet you cannot usually use the overhead storage anyway.
George, I hear what you are saying. The best one for me was from Sydney Aus to somewhere, they had a 12.5 Kg (I forgot the exact number) carry on limit, they decided to be funny and weigh my jammed packed lowe pro bag. It was like 30+ kg, the look on the ticket counter ladies face was priceless. I ended up speaking with a supervisor and all was okay.
Robert
What about wearing a fisherman's vest or a photographer's vest, you can carry a number of smaller lenses and bits and bobs.
The former is much cheaper than the latter - it seems most items associated with photography have a significant mark up compared to other pursuits using similar gear. I know we tend to justify by saying the gear is expensive so it needs the best, but I still think there is an element of unjustifiable price hiking for photographers accessories - in the UK anyway.
Jon
I want you on my team if you were able to talk yourself out of that! My bag weighed 45lbs and the lady just said take stuff out.
I have since purchased a Urban Disguise 50 for my laptop....It can fit my D3, D2x, 70-200, and 2 smaller lenses (17-35 and 28-70) in a pinch and squeeze under the seat.:cool:
I will have it with me at the Alligator Farm....
Thats an excellent tip george I use an similar old Tamrac bag. I have never had a computer bag weighed or ever questioned a single time about it - Knock on wood!!!!
The 30Kg story was a easy situation.....Once at the counter in South Africa my flight was already boarding, I had 75#,75#,80#, a surfboard bag with 3 surfboards, another surfboard that I had just picked up without a bag, and my 2 carry-ons. That was moderately stressful. I walked on the plane last minute after paying $50 extra (they wanted $2500-3000).
There was also another time in RSA when I was with a friend that sweet talked his way onto a flight to Capetown with 10 surfboards, he got them all on for free.
I should write a book on the subject.
Robert
AAPTAS = All About Packing Take Aboard Stuff ;)
I have read that the 500mmF4 will fit with other items in the padded-divider version of the Pelican 1510 hard case.
Anyone used a Think Tank International V2.0 for all this gear or a Moose Peterson MP-1?
I have seen in another forum , folks using either one of these bags and taking as much as Robert had in his list.
Last summer I travelled from Dubai to Anchorage via London, Toronto and Vancouver to attend Artie's Silver Salmon Creek IPT. I have a Vested Interest Khumbu photographer's vest. The vest got my D200, my wife's D80, 10.5, 12-24 and 18-200. I have a nondescript roller that got the D70, 70-300 VR, 80-400 VR, 500 F/4 P, the 2 SB-800s, laptop and spare batteries & cards. I could have carried more in the vest if I'd used the back pockets but I wanted to be able to sit down with it on. Heathrow security at the time was only allowing ONE item through as carry-on. The vest was not counted as carry-on in either direction.
In general, travelling with the vest and the roller was *MUCH* easier than travelling with my Tamrac CyperPack 9 the previous summer. The previous year there was only one stop where my pack wasn't fully checked where as this past summer with vest and roller there was only one leg were everything was fully checked.
You might look like a dork in the airport lounge, but everything gets through. I find the vest is a huge improvement over the backpack for hiking and travelling.
Thanks for confirming that using the vest through airport security work. I bought a Vested Interest vest several months ago but have yet to use it on a trip. I did some test loading it up and see that I can easily carry 30 pounds in it. I look in the mirror and say to myself, I'm missing something here. Surely this won't work. Yeah, I look like a dork but it's VERY obvious I'm carrying a ton of stuff in something that is basically a backpack that fits on my front. I'm flying through London in a few months and am planning on using it as part of my carry-on tactics.
Thanks for confirming the carry-on rules really are silly and are easy to work around.
I have been traveling with a Think Tank Airport International -- full! Plus I use the TT Glass Taxi for the long lens and it fits under the seat just fine. SInce I also like to carry my purse (one of those things a women can't always get around without), it goes into the TT Skin Chimp bag that attaches to the front of the Glass Taxi. When you carry this on your back it looks quite small. The nice part of all of this is that I also have a shoulder strap (sold by TT) in the top of the TT Airport International that will attach to the Chimp bag. This bag is perfect to stick in a wide angle or macro lens plus batteries, cards a wallet etc and is a very light weight bag to carry while you a using you long lens. It is a great combination and works well for international travel as well as domestic. I have had no problems getting on with this arrangement.
This lens case will handle the 500 with camera and TC attached and maybe even with the hood extended.
http://products.lowepro.com/product/...AW,1958,14.htm
Another lens case that is no longer in production but can be found on ebay occasionally is the OutPack long lens case.
Jim
Last edited by James Prudente; 04-22-2008 at 08:12 PM.
I love my Think Tank!
Highly recomend the think tank. I have carried 55 lbs. without any problems, Africa, Asia, Alaska, Yellowstone
The straps and zippers are superior to Lowepro!
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