Which roller bag? Lots of gear

Have you ever looked into modifying your Canon OEM hood?

My 300f2.8 hood (before I dumped the 300f2.8 and opted for a 400f2.8 only in my long lens kit) was halved-in-size. I found no difference in flare with a hood of half the the length and the benefits were tremendous.

Before anyone asks how I tested for flare, I've covered international ski and snowboard events, ski jumping and other winter events. If flare is going to show up, it tends to show up A LOT shooting these events in the early morning and at mid-day. I've also shot with this kit covering a lot of other events under nearly every potential lighting situation.

The benefit of the 1/2-length hood is gained space when packing, increased mobility when shooting on a monopod when in a cramped situation (covering politics in a pack, covering sports in a packed photo pit), a 1/2 length hood also cuts down on the movement when you need to hand hold the lens in any wind situation (or not wind situation,it's just better balanced).

Just an idea to make your gear more effective.


......when I shot Nikon, and covered pro sports and other upper level sports for much of my living I had the 300f2.8,400f2.8 and 600f4 (well I had the 600f5.6 for a while then got the f4). My 300f2.8 had the flexible rubber coupling for a hood, then my Canon had this hood and a modified OEM hood. My 400f2.8 had a modified Nikkor hood (cut in 1/2) and the 600f4 hood was a one piece (since it was a manual focus) which I swapped for a new 'two-piece' hood and just never attached the second outer piece. I know using OEM gear is a 'status symbol' but once you start heavy traveling (and I fly 200,000+ miles a year for my work as a photog, having covered the Olympics, World Cup Soccer, Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, some international Cricket Match that put me to sleep twice in one match, etc etc etc) you'll start hating the weight. You'll start looking for options. Think outside the box and save space, weight and reduce your risk.

fishfoto wrote in post #5844581
have you ever looked into modifying your Canon OEM hood?

My 300f2.8 hood (before I dumped the 300f2.8 and opted for a 400f2.8 only in my long lens kit) was halved-in-size. I found no difference in flare with a hood of half the the length and the benefits were tremendous.

Before anyone asks how I tested for flare, I've covered international ski and snowboard events, ski jumping and other winter events. If flare is going to show up, it tends to show up A LOT shooting these events in the early morning and at mid-day. I've also shot with this kit covering a lot of other events under nearly every potential lighting situation.

The benefit of the 1/2-length hood is gained space when packing, increased mobility when shooting on a monopod when in a cramped situation (covering politics in a pack, covering sports in a packed photo pit), a 1/2 length hood also cuts down on the movement when you need to hand hold the lens in any wind situation (or not wind situation,it's just better balanced).

Just an idea to make your gear more effective.

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Its a good idea i just dont feel comfortable modifying something like that.

NSWESP wrote in post #5844590
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Its a good idea i just dont feel comfortable modifying something like that.

I didn't do it myself. I had a professional machine shop do it. Took 5 min and cost US$30.

A lens hood is simply a tube that blocks light. It has no mechanical or technical function that cannot be performed by a piece of cardboard being duct taped to your lens

I think it may be best to change my requirements. However i need to also know does US restrictions allow for 2 mid sized bags like the australian ones do (refer to one of the posts above).

Bag 1 would need to hold my main kit - Would also like it to hold a folded flat Domke f2):
1x 1D MkII
1x 40D with Grip
1x 17-35 f2.8 L
1x 24-70 f2.8 L
1x 70-200 f2.8 IS L
1x 85 f1.8
1x 1.4TC
1x 2TC
2x 580EX II Speedlights
2x CPE4 Battery Packs
1x OCE3 ETTL Cord
3x Pocket Wizard Plus IIs
2x Think Tank CF Card holders
Various cords etc

Bag 2 would hold:
1x 300 f2.8 IS L
1x Gripped Body
and my remote gear:
1x Bogen Floor Plate
1x Bogen Super Clamp
1x Bogen Magic Arm

Any suggestions

You are not checking in any luggage? Because I'd chuck those PWII's and battery packs in the check in stuff immediately if I had to.

Oh, did I tell you that a pro I just talked to last week said, "I just pack my Pelican tight, lock it up, and check it in! It's all insured and I'm not sweating over it!" Crazy, I thought. Then I said, he's done this about 500 times in his 30 years working. I'm all paranoid.

Think you could cram it all in a Pelican 1514?

Dont like checking anything in really. Insured is one thing, turning up for a shoot overseas with no gear as the bagage handlers have screwed it is another.

That's what I said, but he said he never has a problem. He locks it and let TSA check it if they want to.

My Pelican 1514 has been checked on dozens of flights. I specifically purchased the 1514 when the UK had a strict limit of one carry on bag for flights departing the UK.

I often use London Heathrow as my 'hub' airport for Euro flights. With this I'd fly to the UK with 1+1 bags, when departing the UK I'd check my Pelican and carry my North Face backpack on. The Pelican had to be checked no way around it, on the flights departing the UK (for me, usually Heathrow, at times Manchester, sometimes Gatwick).

The 1514 is also used when I need to travel with an 'extended' kit of equipment, or two full sets of equipment for specific jobs.

No problems, no damaged gear.

Thanks, Fish. I liked hearing this as I'm probably going to check my 1514 on some trips this year.