Advice needed: Good Bag for 300mm Lens

tshaddick

I have recently invested in a Canon 300 2.8 lens, and my old backpack just isn't big enough to carry it. What I am looking for is a bag that I can carry the lens attached to a body, plus an extra body, 2 tele-converters, a flash, 100mm Macro, and maybe another lens. I often have to carry the gear around while walking/hiking, so a backpack tends to provide better support/less back pain.

Any one carry similar gear have any suggestions?

MDalby

Nice problem to have. How about I eliminate your issue and take your 300 lens off your hands?

Sorry, I have no answer for your question.

MD

bluesman graham

Hi, here's a link to a co that supplies larger backpacks but be warned they are big so check dimentions of the models shown! http://www.tamrac.co.uk/pages/product1.htm Kind regards Graham. good luck!
PS this is a UK page but there is a US one too!

racer

I use the National Geographic packs. These packs are not your typical packs, you wont find any cheap plastic buckles and cheap nylon materials, these are made out of heavy duty cloth, with brass buckles, about as high of quality as you can get. They are made to last a life time, and look like a backpack out of a Indiana Jones movie.
The medium pack will hold everything you listed and then 3 more lenses, water bottles, a tripod, and anything else you can strap on the outside.
The medium dosnt have a waist harness, so it is not as comfortable as the large, that has the waist harness. The large is huge though, and is more like something you would use for backpacking or a multiple day trip. There shoulder bags are also really well made, most of the time I just use a bag

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/photography/photography-gear-and-bags/earth-explorer-backpack
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/photography/photography-gear-and-bags/earth-explorer-shoulder-bag

I am not a big fan of the Tamrac packs, they are made cheap, and are made to only carry camera gear, no room made for personal gear like a jacket or rain gear, lack of anchor points for water bottles, etc, unrealistic if you are going out all day hiking

pathfinder

For long glass, Kinesis gear is very hard to beat. I own 4 of them for 300-500mm lens + body. Water proof, padded, and easy to carry. I even have a small tripod attached to one bag.

Check out long lens cases in the link above.


They are great folks and will even customize your case if you ask them nicely...

You can connect other pouches to the basic lens case to carry a second body and a small lens like a 100 Macro. I frequently carry my 300 + body, with a pouch with a 100-400 + a few TCs as well.

bluesman graham

Hi Racer I agree with your comments but I think the OP wanted a travel system to carry his lens not pay nearly the equivalant of another one

20DNoob

Here's a quick and dirty snap of the Lowepro ripoff(internal measurements a bit shy of the Pro Runner 450) I've used heaps of times.



Both of my 1s', both TCs', 70-200 2.8(or 100-400 depending on my needs), 135L, 580ex, and the 300s' CPL in with the flash. Spare batteries/step up ring/CPL/and ND filters in the external pockets.

It's an ok bag but it's starting to fall apart so I'll be looking for another soon myself.

Good luck with the search and let us know what you end up with.

racer

bluesman graham wrote: »

Hi Racer I agree with your comments but I think the OP wanted a travel system to carry his lens not pay nearly the equivalant of another one

I often have to carry the gear around while walking/hiking, so a backpack tends to provide better support/less back pain.

maybe I am reading it wrong

A price range wasnt listed, so I just went on the idea that they want a pack to hold ten grand worth of equipment

bluesman graham

racer wrote: »

maybe I am reading it wrong

A price range wasnt listed, so I just went on the idea that they want a pack to hold ten grand worth of equipment

Nope Racer it's me reading things too late into the night the first thing I saw on screen was a "Buy ALL" box @ $750.00!! this I thought was the price of the bag!!. Kind regards Graham.

racer

bluesman graham wrote: »

@ $750.00!! this I thought was the price of the bag!!. Kind regards Graham.

I just noticed that, lol.
You can buy the large on Adorama for $250 (or less when on sale)