Hi,
Did you order the lens from Allen's? How did you find dealing with them? As I said before, I've been more than pleased with them over the last few years.
How far do you intend carrying the lens and tripod? Will you have any other gear to carry?
I've tried a few different things but since that's never the ONLY camera gear I have along, a dedicated backpack for the 500mm really doesn't work for me. I use a backpack for another body and a bunch of other lenses. I hate to leave gear in the car and would hate it if I'd hiked into the woods with only my 500mm lens and then find I need a 180mm macro, or 300 2.8 or wide-angle, etc. etc. So I tend to carry a LOT of gear along. And it's TOUGH!!! (I'm not as young as I used to be.)
One of the things I've been trying (only works in summer and only on smooth paths) is one of those wired fold-open shopping carts with two wheels that (even) older people sometimes use to carry groceries. I made a wooden floor and sides out of masonite and can carry a lot of gear relatively easily. I quite often use this when shooting models when I want to carry a light head or two and portable battery pack as well as camera gear. Quite easy to pull along.
On rougher terrain when I'm shooting nature, I tend to keep the 500 with camera attached on the Wimberly on the tripod. I alternate carrying that over a shoulder with holding the tripod at the balance point at my side. It gets tiring really quickly but I can also carry more gear on my back and I can get the 500 up and ready in shooting position really quickly. And whenever I stop (often) I can easily spread the tripod legs, set it up, and relax.
Anyway, I'm following this thread with interest to see what others are using to carry that lens.
Eldor
Hi all,
As soon as Allen from Allen's Camera calls me back I will place my order for the Canon 500mm f/4 IS with a new tripod and Wimberley II head. I'm already starting to hyperventilate. I had seen a pack for the lens + camera at B&H, which was a Lowepro Lens Trekker 600AW, that I thought would work fine. However, now at B&H it has been discontinued. I'm going to look around to see who else might have one but was wondering if anyone has a different suggestion. Thanks.
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