Recently I bought a Nikon 200-400mm and I am looking for an appropriate camera/lens bag to move the lens around with a camera attached. I have considered some LowePro models but I am not convinced yet. I do have a LowePro Lens Trekker 600 AW II that I got to carry a heavy 400mm lens and my experience with that pretty bulky bag has not been the best. While it protects the lens well, it is too heavy and difficult to manage. I would like a bag with enough protection but more flexible and less bulky (I am talking of the Trekker 600 AW) and not too heavy. Anyway, I would appreciate any suggestions specially from people who use this lens and have first hand experience. Thanks in advance.
the kinesis L511, read this http://www.kgear.com/l/
I have the lens and have also an older bag, called the Outpack, made in Korea that I bought a long time ago and can not find it anymore. It would hold the lens and the body. Other option may be the Think Tank Glass Taxi, I just got one for my Canon 300mm f2.8 and MK2 body attached with lens hood reversed. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=519447&page=3
santila wrote:
the kinesis L511, read this http://www.kgear.com/l/
I have the lens and have also an older bag, called the Outpack, made in Korea that I bought a long time ago and can not find it anymore. It would hold the lens and the body. Other option may be the Think Tank Glass Taxi, I just got one for my Canon 300mm f2.8 and MK2 body attached with lens hood reversed. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=519447&page=3
I went to the site and read a little about the Kinesis L511. I would like to see the bag before ordering it. I am planning to visit Adorama and B & H here in NY, to see if they have that bag.
Thanks a lot!
Hi Fpimentel. Why dont you check the Pro Trekker series of back packs. I am a canon user so dont have any practical experience with 200-400 lens. I am sure Protrekker 400 will meet ure needs. also it has very good design so carrying heavy weight is not always that much painfull.
I use the Kinesis L511 w/harness to haul my 200-400VR and 500VR around (one at at time of course). This bag will take either lens with a D300+Grip or pro body, but not much else. (There are some attachment options but the bag is really meant to carry the one lens.
The L511 is a dedicated, but highly effective solution. What I like most about it is that it's narrow and I can use it in conjunction with a full Lowepro modular harness setup - you just can't do what with most other backback solutions as the bags are too big.
I had the Kinesis L511 and carried the 400/2.8 with body attached.It is a big bag also but not as bulky as the Lowepro Lens Trekker.I sold the Kinesis and bought a TT Glass Taxi. The Glass Taxi will carry either 400/2.8 or 200-400 but not with a body attached.
Gary Irwin wrote:
I use the Kinesis L511 w/harness to haul my 200-400VR and 500VR around (one at at time of course). This bag will take either lens with a D300+Grip or pro body, but not much else. (There are some attachment options but the bag is really meant to carry the one lens.
The L511 is a dedicated, but highly effective solution. What I like most about it is that it's narrow and I can use it in conjunction with a full Lowepro modular harness setup - you just can't do what with most other backback solutions as the bags are too big.
What I like about this bag, the Kinesis L511 (according to the info posted at the vendor website) is that it is not too bulky like other bags for long lenses. If I can have the lens with a D300 attached to it, it would be a great solution.
I have had a LOT of bags, but i think this is the last big one i will ever need . I am amazed at what it can carry and the whole lay out of this fine piece of kit and it was made by a really great FM member too
That is one heavy package, then add your heavy duty tripod; jeeze most of us couldn't hike very far with that
If you're going to carry heavy duty iron in addition to the 200/400; I would consider the weight of the bag as well
I got a Tamrack expo 8 (heavy) when I had mine. I liked the many pockets in the picture, then they drove me nuts. When gearing down for a different shoot, I would forget things (cards, batteries) because I didn't look in every pocket. Then it didn't fit in an overhead plane rack and I don't like to put cam gear in the "hole".
It became my base bag. Put in the car & take gear out for smaller bag hike outs, until I couldn't put up with the pockets
Seriously, I use a soft-sided pelican case for mine and it works great. In fact, It can fit two long lens - I can get any two of these in there - 200-400 / 300 2.8 / 500 f4.
I just carry mine in the soft case that comes with the lens. If you remove the front element cover, you can carry it attached to a D300 body with the top closed, a bigger body with the strap opened to it's full length. If it's raining or otherwise obnoxious, I put a nylon stuff sack over the bag.
You can carry a smallish tripod attached to the bag.
This bag, the LowePro Computrekker AW is fantastic. It is just long enough for the lens, and yet has room for the D700plus BG, the D300 plus BG, a 28-105, teleconveter, flash and the usual odds and ends and room to spare for other stuff. The outer compartment has lots of room for more accessories and the laptop sleeve is a bonus. I have , quite literally a closet full of vests and bags from gear choices over the years, and this backpack with the 200-400 is perfect.
What about the Nikon CL-L2? That's the one supplied with the lens and this is what Nikon says about it:
"The Semi-Soft Case CL-L2 is designed for the larger Nikon telephoto lenses, e.g. AF-S 400 f/2.8 II, AF-S 600 f/4, AF-I 400 f/2.8. The AF-S/AF-I 400 can be stored in this case when attached to a camera body (including the digital SLR D1 and F5)."
