How to carry a camera w/heavy lens?

[Dragon_1973]

I just got the new 120-400 lens to mate with my Rebel XT. Question I have... if I'm out tramping through the woods carrying my camera, historically with my 18-200, I just let the camera bounce on my chest with the strap attached to the camera.

With this new monster, that technic does not "feel" right. First off it hangs down below my waist line, so there is a chance of hitting it with my legs. And because of the weight, I'm affraid of #1 breaking the moint points on the camera and #2 flexing the camera frame out of whack.

How do those of you deal with a camera & lens this heavey and large when you need to carry it around for a while?

[Jim G]

If I'm walking a little ways with, say, my camera with the 24-70L attached (about a kilo hanging off the front) and don't want to hold it (and don't have a bag/beltpack/etc.) I sling the neckstrap from one shoulder under the opposite arm, leaving the camera resting against my side under an arm.

[SYS]

I use my Kata T-212 Torso bag (there's a bigger version now) whenever I'm hiking in the woods, climbing, riding bike, etc. and at the same time need to shoot right away. The photo in the following link looks flat, but this thing is designed to stretch like a pouch... I can fit my 20D with 100-400 in this thing, but kinda tightly, so I'm thinking about upgrading to the larger version...

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katat212w92

[gjl711]

I use my Kata T-212 Torso bag (there's a bigger version now) whenever I'm hiking in the woods, climbing, riding bike, etc. and at the same time need to shoot right away. The photo in the following link looks flat, but this thing is designed to stretch like a pouch... I can fit my 20D with 100-400 in this thing, but kinda tightly, so I'm thinking about upgrading to the larger version...

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katat212w92
Jeezz.. the guy in full gear looks as if he has a rocket pack on. ;):)

[SYS]

Jeezz.. the guy in full gear looks as if he has a rocket pack on. ;):)

Well, you know, besides making camera/video gear, Kata makes bullet-proof body armor for the Israeli military.... ;)

[Dragon_1973]

If I'm walking a little ways with, say, my camera with the 24-70L attached (about a kilo hanging off the front) and don't want to hold it (and don't have a bag/beltpack/etc.) I sling the neckstrap from one shoulder under the opposite arm, leaving the camera resting against my side under an arm.


Yea, it's not so much the weight on me... is the weight on the camera and strap attachment area that I'm worried about.

That Kata pack will fit the camera with a long lens attached? In their pictures it only shows a smaller lens... and wouldn't the triangle be inverted (pointed down) so the lense points down when in the pack?

[da_nige]

When carrying the 1D2n and 300f4/1.4TC combo I either put it over my shoulder on the monopod or I carry it using the tripod ring. I have an RRS plate on it so it makes it longer and easier to hold onto

Neil

[SYS]

That Kata pack will fit the camera with a long lens attached? In their pictures it only shows a smaller lens... and wouldn't the triangle be inverted (pointed down) so the lense points down when in the pack?

I just ran upstairs to fetch my 100-400 out of the Pelican case of mine, attached it to my 20D body, and inserted the whole thing (with the hood on the lens reversed) inside the Kata pouch in two-three seconds. So, to answer your first question, YES. Initially a tight fit, but as the bag gets used more often (this is the case with ALL of Kata bags), it gets loosened up so now it's a quick in and zip. Like I said earlier, though, you can get a larger version of this. Well, actually, fatter version I should say to be precise....

As for your second question, yes, the lens points down when you insert it in the bag.

Nice thing about this bag is it's really great for hiking or any activities that involve lots of your body movements. This bag clings onto your torso nice and tight that you don't have to worry about moving your body freely, as well as not having to worry about banging that expensive long lens from dangling from your neck.... And you don't have to worry about dust getting all over the lens and the camera in case you're on a safari trip where there's lots of dust...

I use this bag exclusively for hiking, which I do quite often. I use my other Kata bags for non-physical situations...

[Dragon_1973]

Thanks for the test. The T-214 is the larger one you are refering to? looks to be 4cms larger in width.

[FlyingPhotog]

+1 for "Monopod over the shoulder..."

[SYS]

Thanks for the test. The T-214 is the larger one you are refering to? looks to be 4cms larger in width.

Yes, that's the one.

[SuzyView]

I just got the 100-400 and it's huge. I just hold the lens and camera as I walk around. But with the 70-200 2.8 IS, I just let put the shoulder strap cross chess with camera sort of behind and side of me and walk around.

[RPCrowe]

One of the features that I don't like about the 100-400mm "L" lens is that it uses a separate lens hood instead of the neat retracting hood found on the 300mm f/4L IS and 400mm f/5.6L lenses. This makes carrying this lens ready for shooting more difficult that carrying the 300mm or 400mm "L" lenses because the 100-400mm is so long with hood attached and if carried without the hood mounted it takes a bit of time to attach the hood..

I will usually carry at least two cameras. I have the one with the shorter lens (most often the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS but occasionally the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens) hanging from my neck on an OPTECH strap.

I carry the camera with the longer lens in a Think Tank holster case at my left side. The camera is equipped with a hand strap and I use an OPTECH Hood Hat instead of a lens cap. It is very easy and very quick to open the holster, slide my hand into the hand strap, withdraw the camera. At the same time that I am removing the Hood Hat, I am extending the retractable hood. It is really a very fast operation. I also use the holster case when I have the 400mm f/5.6L on a tripod. I will sling the holster case with either the 300m or 70-200mm IS lens under the tripod on the hook beneath the canter coulmn. This keeps the extra lens out of the way and free from being tripped over or ripped off by a thief.

I use my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens in this fashion when it is the half of my standard lens duo of 17-55mm around my neck and 70-200mm in the holster. I use a round screw-in lens hood.

When the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens was my longest lens, I used a TAMRAC Zoom-19 holster case but, changed to the Think Tank to accommodate the larger 300mm f/4L IS lens. My wife has sewn some Velcro over my left shoulder of my camera vest which keeps the strap in place. I sometimes also secure the case itself to the waist tightening strap of the vest.

However, you might consider the holster case too cumbersome to use with a camera and 100-400mm lens + hood mounted. Perhaps the OPTECH Bino-Cam Harness might meet your needs.

http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=4&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4

It would reduce the weight around your neck and it would eliminate the flopping of the camera-lens as you are walking. I would think that this flopping might be the factor in weakening your camera-strap eyelets, rather than just the weight of the camera/lens alone.

[Randy1213]

Attached to a monopod or tripod (for a long lens, the lens with a quick-release Arca-style plate) carried over the shoulder works for me. I also have a Canon hand-strap which I love. That works best when tromping around fire scenes (work stuff) where I can't really use a pod. I get a lot of use out of the hand-strap in many non-work scenarios, too, and recommend it to everyone.

[Mystwalker]

I sometime have 70-200 f/2.8IS attached to monopod - this is simple enough.

When not on monopod, I hook tripod ring leg to strap from my SS300. Like you I'm worried about tear dmg to camera-lens connection area because the 70-200 is heavy. PLUS this decreases weight around my neck :)

[crn3371]

With my 100-400 I'll either cradle it in my arm like a football, let it hang around my neck on the camera strap just like a smaller lens, or if mounted on my monopod I'll carry it over my shoulder.