how to transport EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS ???

Hi everyone,

With the impending arrival of my EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS, I am trying to figure out the best way to transport this thing.

I know it will fit into my Lowepro Mini Trekker, but I am trying to find a good solution for carrying it separately as well. I assume that the supplied hard case, while very good protection, will be relegated to storage and transport duties (on long car trips), and maybe not even that - it just does not look too practical.

I already have some Lowepro lens cases for my other lenses, so a lens case might work well. I'm thinking of buying one large enough so that it could store and transport the 300mm f/2.8 with camera attached. But... I'm open to other ideas, so... what do YOU use to transport your 300mm f/2.8 or similar lenses???

This baby is probably larger than your other lenses (And more delicate). Rule number one; Keep it with yourself on airflight (No cargo). Well padded container. Wheels would be helpful so how about keeping the whole thing in a regular size wheeled Samsonite type bag? That is how I travel with my 600mm.
Some aluminum boxes are commercially available that do look quit good if you like to cut the internal sponge yourself and then lift it up.
No matter what enjoy your baby as she deserves it and you are sure to fine a lot of fun time soon.

Pelican cases are awesome as well. B&H carry them.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Firstly, let me add that I have an all-L line-up at the moment (selling the 50mm f/1.4 right now, if anyone is interested), and IMO, they are not as delicate as many people think.

Secondly, what I'm looking for here, is a bag or lens case that is NOT like the hard case supplied with the lens. That case appears to be impractical for carrying around while you are trying to carry other gear as well. I'm sure it's great protection and all, just a pain to carry around. A Lowepro or similar lens case, especially if it was something that would accommodate a camera body attached, that is what I'm looking for. I have taken my Lowepro bags all around the world, and they did a good job on protecting my gear in some pretty dusty and inhospitable places, but if you have any better suggestions, I'm all ears...

For the lens alone, the Lowepro LC5 is an excellent fit:

http://www.lowepro.com …ns_cases/Lens_C​ase_5.aspx

With a body attached, there's the rather bulky Lowepro 600AW:

http://www.lowepro.com …/Lens_Trekker_6​00_AW.aspx

...or the more compact and really very nice Think Tank Glass Taxi:

http://www.thinktankph​oto.com/GlssTxi_Config​s.php

Also look at similar products by Kinesis and Lightware.

---- Gavin

Thanks Gavin! That Glass Taxi looks good. I wonder if I can get it locally...

Rudi wrote in post #3387059
Hi everyone,

With the impending arrival of my EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS, I am trying to figure out the best way to transport this thing.

I know it will fit into my Lowepro Mini Trekker, but I am trying to find a good solution for carrying it separately as well. I assume that the supplied hard case, while very good protection, will be relegated to storage and transport duties (on long car trips), and maybe not even that - it just does not look too practical.

I already have some Lowepro lens cases for my other lenses, so a lens case might work well. I'm thinking of buying one large enough so that it could store and transport the 300mm f/2.8 with camera attached. But... I'm open to other ideas, so... what do YOU use to transport your 300mm f/2.8 or similar lenses???

I got the 300mm f2.8L IS about two months ago, and was kind of thinking the same way that you were. That Canon case looked almost silly. Well it still looks silly (kind of like a commercial make-up artist's case!) but boy does it do a good job.

My workflow has been to transport the lens in the case and then to attach a monopod to the tripod collar and carry it like that into the shooting site.

The problem with that and what I'm not too keen about is the "lens cap". I understand why a conventional lens cap wouldn't be of much use - I'd lose one in about a day - but this one is just not designed particularly well. It's like a split bag that goes over the end of the lens, but is only semi soft with a round flat plate of some kind of stiff material roughly the same size as the lens front. Then there's a strap/handle on the front of that, and it's synched close with a draw string and a plastic lock. I've carried the lens on the monopod this way more than few time now and the lens cap almost always falls off. When I owned a Nikkor 300mm f2.8, I had my sister make me something similar to this but the home made version worked a lot better. There was no split in the bag and it required no plastic string lock for the draw strings. And although I won't do it, it's only a matter of time until someone else tries to pick up the lens by the lens cap strap, and THAT will be a disaster!

One other thing that I'd like to mention and it's completely off point, but I think that it's something that you might want to hear before rather than after. When I was buying the 300 at the camera store a local newspaper photojournalist/friend saw me and came over to the counter to harass me somewhat. The first thing that he said was to beware of the tripod collar. He said when the three pins match up the collar will come right off and the lens will go wherever it wants to! I sort of knew this from experience with the tripod collar on the 70-200 f2.8, but this drove it home. Practically I just make sure that the collar is locked tight before I use it as a handle and it's VERY convenient to use as a handle, which is maybe a big part of the problem!

But I have to say that the design is a disgrace. Canon, which requires you to hold this button while pushing that one on the 1D's (so you don't mess up), has allowed a lens of this expense to fall apart in your hands without any kind of interlock. Now being able to remove the collar might have some utility for this lens (although I know of none) but given the choice between a lighter lens or potentially dropping it when the collar separates it, makes it a no-brain design decision. The true answer is simply a set screw that would prevent the collar from being removed without a lot of planning and intent. For US$4000 you'd think that Canon would get this.

DaveG wrote in post #3388446
The problem with that and what I'm not too keen about is the "lens cap". I understand why a conventional lens cap wouldn't be of much use - I'd lose one in about a day - but this one is just not designed particularly well. It's like a split bag that goes over the end of the lens, but is only semi soft with a round flat plate of some kind of stiff material roughly the same size as the lens front. Then there's a strap/handle on the front of that, and it's synched close with a draw string and a plastic lock.

Here's the very best cover for any of the Canon "supertelephoto" lenses...

http://www.naturescape​s.net …oductid=108&cat​=67&page=1

I have one of these for my 500mm f 4L IS lens and it works wonderfully. I can take off the Hood Hat and roll it up and stick it in one of my cargo pockets on my cargo pants. Just a super product.

Thank you, Dave, and oldsquawk, for your comments. I guess I won't rush into anything and see how the lens case supplied with the lens actually works in practice (I wasn't going to buy things without seeing and using the lens first, anyway). And the Hood Hat looks like a great idea. Thanks again!

would this lens fit in a Lowepro Vertex 200 or 300? this is the next lens i am thinking about getting but don't want to buy so many different bags. just purchase one and use forever. but i think the 200 would be best for air travel as the 300 might be a bit too big.

200
http://www.lowepro.com …camera/Vertex_2​00_AW.aspx

300
http://www.lowepro.com …camera/Vertex_3​00_AW.aspx

hold it tightly in your arms against your chest....in sort of a constant hugging pose.

ok, that would be ridiculous, but I know if I got my hands on the 300 2.8 I would never let go. congrats on the new lens. personally, I'd vote for the glass taxi or pelican.

LOL Thanks for the laugh, Cathpah!

I purchased a Lowepro case that holds just the lens. Fughedaboutit. It's almost impossible to remove the lens because the screw on the hood and the hood grab inside.

When I bought my LowePro Nature Trekker AWII, it came with a giveaway, a basically unpadded daypack. The 300 fits perfectly in there. The bag weighs less than half pound. It is perfect for it.

As to the above poster ranting about the tripod collar, I'm trying to recollect anyone here ever having a problem with it. I've never had one. I can't think of a time when I carried it by the handle that it wasn't screwed tight. And it doesn't come off that easily anyway, even when I try to remove it. I'm not saying a set screw wouldn't be a good idea, but it may be fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

I use the hoodhat also, available from B&H, and it is the only way to go.

mark

Rudi wrote in post #3398555
LOL Thanks for the laugh, Cathpah!

no prob.

enjoy that sweet sweet lens of yours.

Will do! Just picked it up.