Belt/strap or swing bag set up advice needed with a freaking big heavy zoom lens

<p>I am a city-slicker with little wildlife photography experience beyond pigeons, squirrels, ducks/geese in Toronto harbor and my dogs. But I am going on a cruise to Alaska with the in-laws. However, I will have some time to do a few day hikes as well as a small boat excursion in the Kenai fjords and want to photograph the wildlife (bald eagles, puffins, whales, bears, sea lions ect.). To that end, I recently purchased a Tamron 150-600 Tamzooka that is VERY large and heavy - even when compared to my Canon 24-70 L Brick.<br>

Urban photography is my hobby and for that I carry my 5D3 and 3 lenses in a Tamrac Velocity 9 sling bag (I also attach a monopod). I am wondering how I am going to cart this new lens around when I incorporate it in to my hikes. Easiest solution may be to put the Tamzooka in a lens bag that attaches to a belt. I suppose I will hike with just the Tamzooka, 24-70 brick and a wide angle for the landscapes. The Tamzooka will fit with the 5D3 body in the middle column of the bag but not the 2 outside compartments. This means I will have to do a TON of lens swapping whenever I take a photo and return the gear to the bag. So I need a different system. I am considering a second body (a 70D) for the Tamzooka.<br>

<em>So how do you wildlife photographers get your gear around in the great outdoors (please there is no mule rental in Alaska AFAIK)?</em><br>

<em>Similarly if you are an urban shooter how do you carry a multi-body setup containing at least one huge telephoto zoom?</em><br>

I don’t really want to use a back pack that requires removing the pack every time I need to shoot. My tarmac velocity is quick as I just swing it around. But rather than a new bag, I am more open to a belt/strap system as it would take strain off of my back/neck. I have given cursory looks at Think Tank, Cotton Carrier, LowePro and Spider systems but would love to hear from those that use them or others I am not aware of. I defer to the wisdom of this board.<br>

Wildlife photographers: How would you carry around 2 DSLR bodies, the Tamron Tamzooka 150-600 and 2 other lenses and a monopod?<br>

Also what monopod accessories should I get in order to use my heavy Tamzooka on a monopod? I doubt my monopod ball head is up to it.</p>

As a carrying case see: http://www.thinktankphoto.com/categories/camera-backpacks/glass-taxi-backpacks.aspx

 

Do not use a ballhead on a monopod: you will quickly get frustrated by having the ball loose when you want it tight and

vice-versa and since your new lens has its own rotating tripod mount, you can attach the lens directly to the monopod for

switching between vertical and horizontal orientation of the camera and you can lean the monopod to change both pitch

(fore/aft) and roll (left/right) angles. My experience is based on using big telephoto zooms; most recently with the far

heavier lens, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II plus a Canon 1.4 tele-converter and a Manfrotto monopod while shooting

from a small (25ft) work boat.

 

I do recommend you get an Arca-Swiss type quick-release clamp and plate system for both

your tripod and monopod. Get an L-type bracket for the camera. I like Really Right Stuff's Arca-Swiss type quick release

gear but since you are in Canada look at Jobu as well.

<p>I agree with Ellis, a dedicated carrying case and quick mounting system is the way to go. But I think you won't need an L-bracket, as the mounting ring for the lens should allow you to rotate the camera.</p>

He'll need the L bracket for the camera body when he's not using the "Tamazooka."

 

Oh and Phil, if you aren't doing it already, hit the gym.it sounds like you need to build up your stamina.

<p>You might want to start off with Secrets of Digital Bird Photography's <a href="http://www.digitalbirdphotography.com/3.12.html">"Carrying Lenses In The Field"</a> article. He's talking about much larger lenses than your Tamzooka. Canon's 500mm, 600mm & 800mm are all significantly larger and heavier, and folks take them to all corners of the earth daily, often just attached to their tripod.</p>

<p>As far as carrying them on a hike, I think you may need to prioritize. By that I mean, is the hiking more important or the photography? If the former, you might want to use a backpack, and have to "put up" with unpacking, changing lenses, etc, when a photo op comes up. But, it will leave your hands free, and nothing heavy will be dangling from your body if you need to clamber over rocky terrain.</p>

<p>If, on the other hand, if you want to prioritize photography, and the hiking trails aren't too difficult, then you could opt for one of the cross-body strap options, some of which offer a dual arrangement, whereby you have one lens/body on one hip, and a second lens/body on the other.</p>

<p>As for the monopod, you might want to look into the <a href="http://acratech.net/long-lens-head/">Acratech Long Lens Head</a>. It'll give you all the maneuverability you need on a monopod. And always use the tripod collar on the big lens to mount the camera when the big lens is attached.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Ellis said:<br>

Oh and Phil, if you aren't doing it already, hit the gym.it sounds like you need to build up your stamina.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Not a bad idea, either! I know a photographer who shoots quite a lot - <em>Handheld</em> - with an EOS 1DMarkIV and a Canon 800mm f5.6L. That's <em>twelve and a half pounds</em> of lens and camera! Of all the times I've seen him, I've seen him use a tripod exactly twice, one time of which was while we were waiting in the cold for a light morph Rough-legged Hawk to do its hovering act.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice - I've only played with the lens hand held after I removed the collar. I guess I assumed the collar could be locked in place tightly to stop it from rotating. I hesitated from using it on my Manfrotto monopod because I assumed my cheap looking Joby Gorillapod Ball Head wasn't up to it.<br>

The ball head works fine with my other lenses (16-35 L, 24-70 L, 70-200 f4 L)</p>

<p>I really don't think I will go with a backpack option. The 8 hour fjords cruise will be a major part of my trip and I don't want to be reaching for the backpack when i need to go long lens. I also will be using the big lens in urban environments (festivals, parades, waterfront, sports ect.) and I think it is time I go to a cross-body strap or belt system. I think a lot of people avoid these because they look silly or scream 'look at me the professional". I used to use a toploader lowepro with 2 padded velcro'ed lens containers but the belt kept loosening due to the weight of the 3 lenses. And the camera pack rubbed against the thighs when walking (more so uphill) which expended extra energy.<br>

I guess I need to hear from those that have used Think Tank, Spider, Cotton Carrier, LowePro type systems......or maybe a simple belt and carrying case for the Tamzooka and I stay with the Tamrac sling bag (but this limits me to the single body)</p>

I have and sometimes use the ThinkTANK Photo modular belt system. Like all of TTP designed and made gear it works

great, and their belt is terrific. However, having a really big lens in a pouch dangling from your belt is a bit awkward.you

can lock the pouches into a set position on thir belts or let them slide around but wherever you put the big lens that's

where gravity will pull the belt down. Also if you are being transported in a small craft or vehicle it can make make getting

in a sitting down a bit clumsy. This holds true for all belt systems.

 

When I've worked in the Middle East with a multiple cameraand lenses set up, I used the ThinkTANK Photo ShapeShifter

backpack + TTP padded belt and various size pouches system. I used a good size carribiner on the D-Rings on the

backpack shoulder straps to carry the weight of the cameras (and to keep them more secure and I'd put a 70-200mm

f/2.8 in the pouch or keep in the backpack, pep ending on what I was doing and where I was going. I think a backpack +

belt solution beats a one or the other solution as it gives the most flexibility.

 

I like all of the ThinkTANK Photo gear I've used except for their camera straps. I honestly have found it to be most

practical and best designed and engineered gear carrying gear I've come across and I've used and tried dozens over the

years.

<p>I'm thinking maybe i'll have to do a hybrid system.: the heavy lens chest mounted (with a Spider, Cotton Carrier or LowePro bag) and a TT belt system for the other.<br>

What I don't like about Spider is how do you protect the gear if it rains?</p>

<p>"<em> However, having a really big lens in a pouch dangling from your belt is a bit</em><em>awkward. you</em><em> can lock the pouches into a set position on their belts or let them slide around <strong>but wherever you put the big lens that's where gravity will pull the belt down</strong></em>. "<br>

<br>

that is my experience with lighter lens attached to a Lowepro Toploader - I was thinking the TT "Keep it Up Shoulder Strap" might mitigate that (or gouge a slice in to my shoulder).</p>

<h2><strong> </strong></h2>

 

Haven't used that, but yes it would help.

<p>I used a Lowepro Toploader before I switched to the Tamrac sling bag. But with 3 lenses I felt gravity was pulling it downwards too often and at awkward places. Plus, the load obstructed my thighs when walking, especially uphill. But at least there was a nice bag to hold and protect the camera.<br>

I like the Think Tank skin and modular systems but I wonder where the camera goes when it is not in my hands. And how would I carry the Tamzooka if I eschew the backpack? I guess it would be the Digital Holster.<br>

And the Spider system looks fast but it seems to be it is a good weather setup. If it rains most of the time while I'm in Alaska how do you protect the camera? And it must be difficult/inconvenient to sit down or lay on the ground with it.</p>