500L arrived today and yes, it is awesome and a dream come true and all that jazz
But curious as to what people use for a carrying solution for big glass. It came with a Canon branded strap and for now I am using that as the primary carry strap with an optech strap on the 7D body as a backup. Right now I am thinking to just get another optech strap for the lens and call it a day, but was wondering if there were any clever solutions I might have missed, I do have an R-Strap which I love, but there is just no way in hell I am trusting that thing with a 500L and 7D by itself.
Several factors relating to how you will be using your gear will contribute to making a good choice:
Will you be using the lens mostly hand-held, on a monopod, or on a tripod ?
Will you mostly be using it near your car, or will you have to carry it quite a distance ?
Will you be using this lens and camera on its own, or have another lens/camera combo too ?
Will you be wanting to keep the lens hood in the ready-to-shoot position, or reversed for storage ? (affects length of bag or case)
Do you have a Don Zeck lens cap, or will you be using the Canon bag that often seems to get in the way ?
Is a back pack suitable for you ? It is bulky and awkward to pack and unpack but it puts far less strain on your body while you have it on your back than hanging the lens and camera off one shoulder does.
Will you be using it in crowded areas ? (affects whether or not you can carry it while it is still attached to a tripod or monopod)
In some circumstances carrying it by the tripod foot might be better than using a shoulder strap - e.g. less stuff dangling around when you put the lens onto a tripod / gimbal head.
Many good questions, will try to answer below. I have been lugging around a 1Ds II with 1.4x and 400/5.6 quite a bit and kept that on an R-strap which was great, but I do not feel comfortable hanging the 500 off it...
Also, was out for an hour shooting birds last night and while it is a good workout handholding the entire time was not too terrible. I have tried doing the monopod/tripod thing in the past but much prefer handholding unless I am completely stationary doing something like waiting for a moose to appear.
Alan321 wrote:
Several factors relating to how you will be using your gear will contribute to making a good choice:
Will you be using the lens mostly hand-held, on a monopod, or on a tripod ? Handheld 90% of the time, the rest of the time possibly on a tripod with gimbal head.
Will you mostly be using it near your car, or will you have to carry it quite a distance ? Will be carrying it on longer walks.
Will you be using this lens and camera on its own, or have another lens/camera combo too ? Probably will carry a compact along for landscape type shots. Have a 1DsII with 100-400 but if I am dragging that monster with me I will be mostly in one place for wildlife watching and shooting.
Will you be wanting to keep the lens hood in the ready-to-shoot position, or reversed for storage ? (affects length of bag or case) Always ready.
Do you have a Don Zeck lens cap, or will you be using the Canon bag that often seems to get in the way ? Canon one, though I want the lens ready at all times more or less.
Is a back pack suitable for you ? It is bulky and awkward to pack and unpack but it puts far less strain on your body while you have it on your back than hanging the lens and camera off one shoulder does. Nothing against a backpack, but I prefer to have my lens ready to use. I could see using a backpack to transport it but when I am near anything worth shooting I want it out.
Will you be using it in crowded areas ? (affects whether or not you can carry it while it is still attached to a tripod or monopod) Unless you count moose and deer, no.
In some circumstances carrying it by the tripod foot might be better than using a shoulder strap - e.g. less stuff dangling around when you put the lens onto a tripod / gimbal head. Yeah, been doing that for a bit here.
- Alan ...Show more →
PetKal wrote:
Christer, again, congratulations on getting one of the Canon's best.
On all big lenses I use the stock Canon wide lens strap.
If I were to change, which I am not likely to do, I'd make sure that my new aftermarket lens strap doesn't have...
* quick disconnects,
* metal links and fittings which could come in contact with the lens.
I agree on that--went looking at the one local store here on the island and they had some Promaster brand straps that felt like OpTech ones, however were equipped with very small and not particularly confidence inspiring quick disconnects.
I use a 500 f4L in Yellowstone. When in the car, I have it lying on the front passenger seat, hood on, ready to shoot. When the subject is far from the road, I carry it, body mounted, shade reversed in a long, narrow REI backpack (paid about $30 for it). I find the body and lens much too heavy to carry for miles, with the lens dangling from my neck, supported by a lens strap.
Jun 09, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
I own or have owned many of the Canon super teles. But I have never used any lens strap on those lenses. I think it's very uncomfortable to carry those big lenses in a strap around the neck.
If I carry it a longer distance , it will be in a backpack/lens-case on my back. For shorter distance I will carry it in the lens-foot. Or mounted on a tripod/monopod if I use those together with the lens
Lars Johnsson wrote:
I own or have owned many of the Canon super teles. But I have never used any lens strap on those lenses. I think it's very uncomfortable to carry those big lenses in a strap around the neck.
If I carry it a longer distance , it will be in a backpack/lens-case on my back. For shorter distance I will carry it in the lens-foot. Or mounted on a tripod/monopod if I use those together with the lens
+1
IMO a lens strap seems like a good idea until you start actually using the lens out in the field. Then it's just in the way. I use the lens foot, but I am VERY careful to have a good grip at all times.
IMO a lens strap seems like a good idea until you start actually using then lens out in the field. Then it's just in the way. I use the lens foot, but I am VERY careful to have a good grip at all times.
galenapass wrote:
IMO a lens strap seems like a good idea until you start actually using then lens out in the field. Then it's just in the way.
Once in a while I take my supertelephoto lenses "out in the field" , and the lens straps do not get in my way. In fact, in my view they are an essential safety device which prevents a costly incident should I lose my grip on the lens.
Furthermore, the strap provides a short term lens support while I am changing camera settings on my 1DMkIIN/1DsMkII for which operation one needs both hands. For example, I can't hand-hold 800L and change ISO at the same time.
Another benefit of lens straps to me is that they allow me to pull out (and place back in) the lens out of the Tenba top loading shoulder bags quite conveniently.
Lastly, lens straps help me to avoid having the camera/lens combo hang by the camera strap which is a big no-no in my books.
Jun 09, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
PetKal wrote:
Once in a while I take my supertelephoto lenses "out in the field" , and the lens straps do not get in my way. In fact, in my view they are an essential safety device which prevents a costly incident should I lose my grip on the lens.
Furthermore, the strap provides a short term lens support while I am changing camera settings on my 1DMkIIN/1DsMkII for which operation one needs both hands. For example, I can't hand-hold 800L and change ISO at the same time.
Another benefit of lens straps to me is that they allow me to pull out (and place back in) the lens out of the Tenba top loading shoulder bags quite conveniently.
Lastly, lens straps help me to avoid having the camera/lens combo hang by the camera strap which is a big no-no in my books....Show more →
I don't belive anyone that don't like the lens-strap have it hang by the camera strap instead
I would find the Glass Taxi from Think Tank Photo and see if it would fit in it if not I would see which bag that TTP has designed to transport this lens. Here is a link to Think Tank PhotoThank Tank Photo
OK, I am drooling over the L511 as a good carry option now... thanks! Looks like it might work for air travel, general carry when hiking, and even for hanging a tripod off when needed.
I use the Lowepro Pro Trekker II AW and like it a lot. This bag may be a little too long for air travel, but I have a TT bag for travel so it's not a concern for me. It's best features are that it is a simple bag without a lot of fussy straps and pockets, and very comfortable on the back.
Lars Johnsson wrote:
I own or have owned many of the Canon super teles. But I have never used any lens strap on those lenses. I think it's very uncomfortable to carry those big lenses in a strap around the neck.
If I carry it a longer distance , it will be in a backpack/lens-case on my back. For shorter distance I will carry it in the lens-foot. Or mounted on a tripod/monopod if I use those together with the lens
