Carrying the 400mm canon lens

Hi everyone
I am so new here, I don’t know my way around. So if my question sound silly to you, please forgive me.
I am planning to go to Yosemite this coming summer.
This will be my first time I am taking my Canon 400mm f/5.6L Lens on a trip. Any advice how to manage this? I mean It’s so big. Anyone here had experience carrying it around for hours?

Thank you TJays.
Now I have to buy Rapid shoulder sling strap. my....my... my... how I hate buying photography stuff.
I think we all do...

This is what I use for hiking with the 100-400 and Tamron 150-600, both of which are battleships compared to the 400 f/5.6.
https://peakdesignltd.​com/store/capture

Much better than any of the sling straps as the camera isn't swinging around by your knees and getting in the way if you have to climb something.

TJays wrote in post #16774911
I believe the 400mm L is about 8lb's.

Umm, no. That would be the 400 2.8. She has the 400 5.6 which is pretty light actually.

Thank you Snydremark.
I think Terri's suggestion of Rapid shoulder sling strap is going to help a lot and I am most certain going to take a monopod with me.
This is my first outdoors experience with the lens and I can't wait.
Thank you all so much.
Regards

I also use the Peak Design. My pack is a Osprey Aether 70. The Capture Pro Camera Clip
Bolts on to the shoulder strap. Very handy to get to the camera and larger lens.

Clip will not support a camera with a 400 lens. I swap this one in the field.

RikWriter wrote in post #16776254
Umm, no. That would be the 400 2.8. She has the 400 5.6 which is pretty light actually.

I don't have a 400, unless you mean the weight of a 400 5.6. But I know my 600mm L is heavier at 11 lbs and the Rapid Strap works perfect.

TJays wrote in post #16776477
I don't have a 400, unless you mean the weight of a 400 5.6. But I know my 600mm L is heavier at 11 lbs and the Rapid Strap works perfect.

I'm not sure exactly what you're responding to. You said in a previous post that the 400mm weighs 8lbs, I was saying that the 400 5.6 does not weight 8lbs. Maybe the 400 2.8 does but not the 5.6.

RikWriter wrote in post #16776510
I'm not sure exactly what you're responding to. You said in a previous post that the 400mm weighs 8lbs, I was saying that the 400 5.6 does not weight 8lbs. Maybe the 400 2.8 does but not the 5.6.

Thanks, blonde thing

britain wrote in post #16776419
I also use the Peak Design. My pack is a Osprey Aether 70. The Capture Pro Camera Clip
Bolts on to the shoulder strap. Very handy to get to the camera and larger lens.

Clip will not support a camera with a 400 lens. I swap this one in the field.

As I said earlier, it works just fine for the 7D w/ 100-400 or 150-600 mounted to it, both of which are much larger/heavier than the f5.6. You may not prefer it for the purpose but saying it will not support one is completely false. Unless you are talking about the 2.8, in which case it should be stated as well.

I carry my 70-200mm with a hood attached on a camera body in a Think Tank Digital Holster and use the web strap. The 400mm with the retractable hood should not be any longer than the 70-200 with the hood attached. It keeps the weight off my neck, the lens and camera are ready in an instant, the camera is protected from the elements and from bumps. If I need to carry more gear I can carry my camera backpack with another body and assorted lenses and it works well over the Digital Holster. They make the Holster for both regular bodies and for the pro bodies or regular body with a grip attached. I like having a camera to where I can get to it in an instant. If the lens seems heavy to you, it weighs like 3 lbs, I would recommend you use a tripod or monopod since the lens does not have IS.

Snydremark wrote in post #16776563
As I said earlier, it works just fine for the 7D w/ 100-400 or 150-600 mounted to it, both of which are much larger/heavier than the f5.6. You may not prefer it for the purpose but saying it will not support one is completely false. Unless you are talking about the 2.8, in which case it should be stated as well.

It will hold the lens but not good condition for extreme packing. I'm in the rocks a lot. The heavy lens swings to much. Enough that it will start to unscrew the arcaplate from the camera, the bolts for the swing latch which lock the camera to the strap also loosen up. I've suggested to Peak Design to put in locking nuts to prevent this.

If your packing light or on established trails you could mount the larger lens. I wouldn't use the extended battery pack, this takes the camera out and away from camera clip.

Overall I like the setup, camera can be in action at a moments notice.

BTY because of the issues I still use the camera strap for added safety.

I have used the optech pro for several years now with no problem. I let the camera hang with the top of the camera body against my body and it hangs straight. I am about 6' and bought the longer straps and have it set to hang right at my waist. Not bad at all.

ishy, I carry the 400 f4 DO on the 5d3 with grip, on a Carry Speed (Black Rapid style) sling. I attach the camera plate to the bottom of the tripod collar of the lens, and it hangs level just below my waist. I've carried it like this easily for several hours at a time. This lens weighs 4.3 lbs + camera and grip. The 400 5.6 weighs 2.8 lbs.

I heard Carry Speed was sued out of business by Black Rapid, but I'm sure their's would work as well.

I don't know how the f5.6 will balance, but it might be worth a try. I am taking that setup to Yellowstone later this year.

I just looked up the weight of the 400 f/5.6 L... it's 2.8 pounds.