Carrying your equipment

[slimenta]

I have to shoot a football game today and will bring 400 mm, 300 mm and 200 mm lenses as well as shorter lenses. I need my macbook for halftime processing. Currently own the tamrac expedition 7 but have looked at the expedition 9. I also looked at the lowepro trekker II. Both will accomodate the 400 mm lens and the 200 and 300 go in my think tank belt. Any experience, thoughts or recommendations.

[MJPhotos24]

My thought is do you really need that many lenses for football? Usually it's a three lens system - 400 (or 300), 70-200, and a wide for most - the ol' less is more thought process as you don't want to be fumbling around too much. Other sports I'd like to have the 300/400 with me at all times but sometimes just stick with the 400. Last time I brought the 300/400 for football the 300 didn't see much action except to test the tracking on the MKIII and then put right away. Always good to have backups though just in case. Anyways, I use a tamrac roller, something like this...

http://www.whcamera.com/tamrac-695bigwheelsrollingstongbox-lp5.aspx

Fits enough, and going to re-design to make it fit more.

[slimenta]

My thought is do you really need that many lenses for football? Usually it's a three lens system - 400 (or 300), 70-200, and a wide for most - the ol' less is more thought process as you don't want to be fumbling around too much. Other sports I'd like to have the 300/400 with me at all times but sometimes just stick with the 400. Last time I brought the 300/400 for football the 300 didn't see much action except to test the tracking on the MKIII and then put right away. Always good to have backups though just in case. Anyways, I use a tamrac roller, something like this...

http://www.whcamera.com/tamrac-695bigwheelsrollingstongbox-lp5.aspx

Fits enough, and going to re-design to make it fit more.

Of course you are correct. Today I shot SCSU v App State and used 400, 200 and 17-55. I use the 200 because it is simply such good glass. The 300 stayed in the bag. My upcoming trip is to shoot the US Development Academy soccer showcase in Phoenix, I would not usually bring a 400 mm lens for that but wanted to because it is a new lens and I want to play with it and experiment with soccer. Because of the issue of players being in the way for clear long shots, I do not believe the 400 mm lens is as good for soccer as it is for football where it is obviously great. I usually also bring my 135 2L and my 50 1.2 as well as a fisheye. Do I use them all, no. But I expect to shoot at least eight games over the course of four days in different lights including low light.

[vreeke]

invite a caddy is an option, by the way for football you need only 400 mm and 15 mm

[primoz]

Seriously... as Mike said, leave half of stuff at home, unless you want to bring it to show off ;) 400/2.8 is great lens for football (sorry soccer for you guys). Personally I actually prefer 500/4 if only there's enough light. So my "standard" thing for soccer is 300/2.8 or 500/4 on one 1d, 70-200/2.8 on other, and if I put remotes, 16-35/2.8 on third 1d behind goal. That's all I need for soccer (of course 16-35 and remotes are optional :), so basically one of longer lenses and 70-200 is normal soccer combo.