Sigma 120-300 sports + TC's VS Tamron 150-600?

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #16883554
AfricanPhoto, Advaitin do they check the weight of your clothes? My plan includes putting batteries/small lenses in my vest and pants cargo pockets, even a Nex body with cap in my clothing. If that doesn't muster then I might be in weight trouble.

No, they don't weigh people! (yet)

I packed similar to what's been mentioned.
I had a 500mm, 100-400mm and some other stuff with three bodies in my carry on. At that time no one was weighing (thankfully!)

All the other stuff was checked.

I'd take the 120-300mm over the Tamron personally. I'm not seeing the Tamron as priding the kind of I.Q. I want.
I'd expect to have the 1.4x TC on the 120-300mm a lot.
Definitely look at a 2nd body.

Medicineman. I hope you have a lot of fun and I know you get good pix. Just make sure you take a vest with big pockets in case you get a hardnosed clerk at checkin. I took most of the stuff, except the 400mm DO out of my roller Think Tank Airport Ver 2 and put the bag back on the scales--it was still a couple of pounds over, but they let me go on with it to the gate. As soon as I was out of sight I put it all back in the bag and went through security as usual.
A Domke Vest is still one of the best designs for holding big stuff, although my personal favorite is the discontinued Pelican Vest which I patch as necessary to keep using it. Last trip I used the expensive Billingham vest, which can take as much as a 50-500mm Sigma in its larger pockets (with no danger of anything falling out.
I put chargers and cables and tripods or monopods in the checked luggage along with clothes. What went in the cabin was my medicines, a change of under wear, my batteries (don't pack your nicads or lithiums in the checked luggage, you may be called to come get them) and my laptop and cameras and lenses.

I should add that the airlines allow a large purse or shoulder bag, so keep that in mind. Domke and Think Tank both have satchels that pass and they can hold a laptop and some gear, too--normally not weighed.

I may have taken over this thread, apologies to the OP but thanks to the responses, critical at this point in time.
Still haven't decided on the vest. Been looking at the North Face:
http://www.thenorthfac​e.com …variationName=T​NF%20BLACK
I could actually use it in my other life but I don't think the pockets are large enough, but the quantity of pockets is great.
Another vest I saw on youtube but cannot find to purchase, so many times doing macro I've thought about the integral seat, again thoughts? :
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=UBVC1cYjIkc
I love the theory but again cannot find it.

Now please critique the gear list:
She will be carrying in a shoulder bag the A6000 and an A7r. On the A6000 the 70-200 F4, on the A7r the SEL 10-18.
In my shoulder bag/backpack a 5Diii, the Tamron 150-600; a 6D and either the Tokina 16-28mm or a Rokinon 14mm--either for landscape or the Milky Way (my first time in even close to dark skies)
My point and shoot is the G1X Mk II, hers is a Sony Tx30 (mostly for video).
Also in one of the shoulder bags will be a G1X Mk I for CHDK timelapses when we have idle time.
In either case either shoulder bag is well under the 18 pound limit and we've accepted the fact we'll have to check a bag which I HATE to do.
I ruled out my Sig 120-300 due to weight and I"m not a pro nor nat-geo and the IQ of the tam 150-600 satisfies me; the 300 f2.8 is great but honestly don't want to risk its loss on a trip like this; we are doing some hiking safaries and kayaking with the hips.
I'd bet I'll have regrets on choices; I always do, but I also think sometimes I just need to relax where ever I'm at and just take the place in versus trying to nab 'the' shot.
Thanks for your time. Advaitin you have been a big help, maybe next time I can pick your brain on India.

When you go like we do, checking your clothes, even your tripod and/or monopods in a large wheeled bag is pretty much necessary. Be sure and photograph the bag before you go showing the photo gear that you pack in it.

I can't use a vest that does not have a collar. When I'm working and have camera straps hanging here and there I don't want anything rubbing against my neck. I have two that are not available anymore that have working collars, the Pelican and the GPS super lightweight, and the Billingham and the SEV vests have collars. The oldest in my collection is the Domke and it has a small lip collar that protects the back of the neck. The only thing I see available right now is the Travelsmith Voyager for men. It looks adequate,but without having tried it I can't say it has all you need. There is a company, stealth gear, in England that sell specialty photo clothing. They had a vest in their lineup, but it is gone now--I think they sell to the guys who work in extremely cold or rainy conditions.
Arthur Morris, the bird photographer may have some clothing links on his site. Or check out Naturescapes.
This one might work, it strongly resembles my beloved Pelican:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Correspondent_s​_Vest.html

Good luck.

I haven't had the chance to use the tamron yet, I can only speak for the Sig 120-300 OS. It works really well with the 1.4x. It's reasonably sharp with the 2x, but AF suffers. Is it sharper than the Tamron? Maybe. AF is probably worse though.

Cheers for all the responses. Looks like I may end up going with the new 200-400 1.4x instead, after I sell some other gear and a Kidney.

I would have liked the 120-300 as well for the 2.8 but I don't think that will happen so I will use my 70-200 2.8 IS II on a 5d III and the 200-400 on the 1D Mark IV plus my 7d with a 17-40 or 24-105 or 17-55 (haven't decided which one yet but leaning towards the 17-40 as it serves a dual purpose as its already going being the landscape lens for the 5d whereas the others would be extra)

I think the Sigma 120-300 (at least mine) is a touch sharper than the Tamzooka. I just don't enjoy the weight of the Sigma anymore. I should unload it. It served me well in Alaska and now just sits on the shelf. If I want something 'quick' and light I grab the c300 2.8 but I'm still a scrambler in terrain and only take it when I know I won't be risking that kind of glass.
I can only dream of the 200-400mm but at 8 pounds I'd in the same boat as the 120-300 and glued to the car or very close.
Did any see tonyNorthrupt's (sp?) review. His take is that the 400mm 5.6 is shaper than the Tamzooka and of course much lighter. I like Metaboning the 400mm to the Nex-7 for super light weight hunting.

Yeah, but that was check in for me. I'm going again in December and am rather taking a tablet and all charger and non essential stuff are going in my check in stufff

Here's the vest I chose, right or wrong BUT I can use it in my humid area post the Africa trip. Advaitin I tried to match up qualities you listed in a vest when searching. At least the color is muted and the pockets supposedly can swallow a lot of kit:
http://www.bigpockets.​com/

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #16897957
Here's the vest I chose, right or wrong BUT I can use it in my humid area post the Africa trip. Advaitin I tried to match up qualities you listed in a vest when searching. At least the color is muted and the pockets supposedly can swallow a lot of kit:
http://www.bigpockets.​com/

Looks good, almost the same as Billingham except I don't imagine the two big pockets open up to a inner cavity that will hold a 70-200mm or like lens. I ordered that Tamrac vest to see what is like. I may write up a comparison sometime.

Give the scoop on the Tamrac when you can. I'm sure you're correct about bigpockets not swallowing anything like a 70-200.
I'll just freek if I get to the boarding gate and they say 'take off your vest we have to weigh it'.

Aus.Morgo wrote in post #16744309
I'm still on the fence about taking my 400 2.8 IS, the reason I'm leaning towards not is because its a bit too large and heavy for the carry on, add a bag and it basically takes the whole lot up.

With the Sigma I'm not too concerned about the weight as its a lot more flexible than the 400 size and weight wise that I'll find a way to make it work, even if that means wearing some deep pocket pants

But seriously, if i would own a 400mm 2.8 id take that one for sure!

davidfarina wrote in post #16898508
But seriously, if i would own a 400mm 2.8 id take that one for sure!

If it weighed a couple kg less I would have, looks like I have a buyer for it tomorrow so its going

Please appraise-
Latest game plan (leaving in 18 days)...the BigPockets Vest is here and it easily will swallow the:
Sony A6000, the A7r, a Metabone III, the 70-200g, and a Tokina 16-28 or the Rokinon 14mm
She-ruler's backpack can now have the 6D+c300 2.8+c1.4TC, and a G1X
My backpack can now have the 5Diii+Tamron 150-600mm, a G1X Mk II, and a 35mm if any can see a need for a 35mm on a trip like this.
Advaitin, you are correct, the BigPockets Vest cannot swallow easily an EOS body + a 70-200.
Speaking of the 70-200, that one can go too if I can rationalize a need.