Portability question for Canon 600mm owners

Getting the 600mm itch again, and 2019 may the year I'll give in and scratch!

For 600/4 II or III owners, do you have any trouble with carrying the lens as a carry-on item? I was wondering the size makes it an issue, especially if we are talking about international carriers who tend to be a bit more picky about size.

I have a 500/4 II right now, but the new 600 III looks delicious and most importantly, it is lighter than my 500. Just need to find the extra 4-5 grand for it!

How much longer is the 600mm III Vs. the 500mm I or II?

I used to lug around the 500mm version 1,. heavier than all those you mention, but maybe not as long as a 600mm.

With my "pack it in my rolling carry on trick" for the 500mm I do have some additional room for a slightly longer lens, but not a lot.

The 500mm II is 5.748 x 15.079" / 146 x 383 mm and weighs 7lbs.

the 600II and III are both 6.614 x 17.638" / 168 x 448 mm. The II weighs 8.6 lbs, while the III weighs 6.7lbs (that's nuts!!!)

So, basically, the 600mm is about 2.5 inches longer and an inch wider... doesn't sound like a lot.

Can you believe the weight of the 600 III? Not sure what magic Canon did to shave 2 freaking lbs from the II. That's 25% lighter!

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18869270
Getting the 600mm itch again, and 2019 may the year I'll give in and scratch!

For 600/4 II or III owners, do you have any trouble with carrying the lens as a carry-on item? I was wondering the size makes it an issue, especially if we are talking about international carriers who tend to be a bit more picky about size.

I have a 500/4 II right now, but the new 600 III looks delicious and most importantly, it is lighter than my 500. Just need to find the extra 4-5 grand for it!

Haven't seen you around in a while, Sam, welcome back

The 600 III really feels like handling a 500II, but with better balance, so if you're good with that sort of weight, you'll be supremely happy with this lens. I haven't air traveled with it, but I'm thinking that it won't be a problem as a carry on; the Mind Shift MP-3 v2 bag I use is stated to be within the legal carryon size limit, so it'll more than handle the 600 III (see my thread on it in the Bags section).

The III is dropping in price too, CPW has it for $11,499 as of late, which I think is right around where the II left off, give or take. If you're 100% hand holding, like myself, this is the 600mm lens to go with.

Wait, you already upgraded to the III? Damn, Matthew, you don't mess around!

I'll check your other threads! I'm thinking seriously about the 600 III. I don''t want the 600 II, because I feel that the 7lbs of the 500 II is sort of at my limit for hand-holdability.

Sadly, the used price for the 500 II seems to have dropped considerably. Methinks the old adage about L lenses holding their value seems to be a bit overblown. I got mine for about $8K, and it looks like they are going to sub $6K used. It might be cheaper to get my 14yo birder son a gym membership and give my 500 II to him!

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18869317
Wait, you already upgraded to the III? Damn, Matthew, you don't mess around!

I'll check your other threads! I'm thinking seriously about the 600 III. I don''t want the 600 II, because I feel that the 7lbs of the 500 II is sort of at my limit for hand-holdability.

Sadly, the used price for the 500 II seems to have dropped considerably. Methinks the old adage about L lenses holding their value seems to be a bit overblown. I got mine for about $8K, and it looks like they are going to sub $6K used. It might be cheaper to get my 14yo birder son a gym membership and give my 500 II to him!

Yeah, I made the leap as soon as pre-orders opened, as I knew it'd be the perfect lens for how I'm trying to shoot, and it's working out wonderfully. I ended up taking a small bath on selling the II because I'd only bought it a few months beforehand, but in a few years the loss will be a distant memory while the new lens will have made my shooting experience better. Not being fatigued after a day of carrying the III is refreshing.

Lot of forces at work that are affecting the used prices of EF lenses, with the foremost being the jump to mirrorless. Everyone is holding out for the RF lenses, or in your case an updated 500 (which it looks to be an RF). And, tons of wildlife shooters are jumping to Nikon for the (supposed) better AF and that new 500mm f/5.6 PF sweetness. So, as the demand for big whites is drying up, it's definitely turned into a buyers market.

MatthewK wrote in post #18869328
Yeah, I made the leap as soon as pre-orders opened, as I knew it'd be the perfect lens for how I'm trying to shoot, and it's working out wonderfully. I ended up taking a small bath on selling the II because I'd only bought it a few months beforehand, but in a few years the loss will be a distant memory while the new lens will have made my shooting experience better. Not being fatigued after a day of carrying the III is refreshing.

Lot of forces at work that are affecting the used prices of EF lenses, with the foremost being the jump to mirrorless. Everyone is holding out for the RF lenses, or in your case an updated 500 (which it looks to be an RF). And, tons of wildlife shooters are jumping to Nikon for the (supposed) better AF and that new 500mm f/5.6 PF sweetness. So, as the demand for big whites is drying up, it's definitely turned into a buyers market.

Hmmm, good to know !

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18869301
The 500mm II is 5.748 x 15.079" / 146 x 383 mm and weighs 7lbs.

the 600II and III are both 6.614 x 17.638" / 168 x 448 mm. The II weighs 8.6 lbs, while the III weighs 6.7lbs (that's nuts!!!)

So, basically, the 600mm is about 2.5 inches longer and an inch wider... doesn't sound like a lot.

Can you believe the weight of the 600 III? Not sure what magic Canon did to shave 2 freaking lbs from the II. That's 25% lighter!

No I can't believe it! After the original 500mm IS, the II already feels SOOOO light. And the new 600mm is lighter! (could one be in my future now?)

Anyway, if it's only 2.5" longer and lighter, It would certainly work using my rolling luggage trick. Not sure of that appeals to you, but that's how I've done it every time with both versions of the 500mm (and given that I had the Version 1 for ten years, that's the one I've done it most with, 9 pound lens!)


Herte's the visuals of how I do it;
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=18522080

Thanks for that tutorial, Jake! I'm planning to take the 500mm to India in August. Will definitely take some tips from your post!

Have you all considered a LensCoat or Aquatech flexible travel hoods? They don't cut weight by much, but since they fold flat it could help reduce bulkiness in the bag.

If I were taking my 600 international, I'd 100% go with an aptly sized small roller and pad the heck out of the lens like Jake did. Since my regular travel camera is now the Fuji X100F, I don't need to worry about bringing any other camera gear, aside from any of the support equipment for the big gun (2nd body, TCs, extra batteries), which fits in my normal backpack.

For "minimal" 600 transport, I use the ThinkTank Glass Limo (which only fits the lens), and attach my ThinkTank Speed Belt as the waist belt, w/ the Hubba Hubba Hiney pouch that contains the body and TCs.

(FYI, the 600 III is back in stock on CPW for their street price of $11,499, if anyone is looking. I'm not affiliated at all, just trying to connect good people with a good deal )