p.1 #1 · where to leave your long lens when you're not using it?
I have a Canon 400mm F4 ii. I'm going to be shooting NASCAR for the first time in June. While I'll also have with me a 70-200 and a 28-70 on two other bodies, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that the long lens will still get a good workout at an event like this.
I shoot a lot of field work (football, lacrosse, soccer) with these three lenses and when I know I won't be using my 400 for a bit (say on-field celebration after the game), I can place it along the edge of the field and collect it later. For NASCAR, I don't think that's going to work.
Pit shots and Victory Lane are a big deal for my client. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to deal with shooting the shorter lenses while keeping my 400 safe? The 400 will be on a monopod, and while not as big as a lot of other tele lenses, it is still bulky enough to be difficult to deal with when managing multiple cameras. Maybe this is the price I will have to pay for using that lens!!
The other two cameras/lenses are on a two camera shoulder sling similar to the moneymaker. I also have a backpack that has my laptop in it an some other items as well. It's at the Michigan Speedway, which is a pretty large venue with a lot more walking than what I'm used to.
p.1 #2 · where to leave your long lens when you're not using it?
When shooting field sports with three cameras, one with a 500/4L IS on a monopod, and one hanging from each shoulder, I would 'clip in' from a short loop attached to the top of the 500 (above the monopod attachment point), to a sling that's diagonally across my body. You can see the short loop in the attached photo; it's the bit of blue cord held in place by a piece of sling (in this case, from a Manfrotto gizmo).
So, when I want to "let go" of the big lens, I lower the monopod so that the top of the lens is at about waist level, at which height, its weight is almost supported by the carabiner that attaches the lens-loop to the body-sling. IOW, it won't tip away from my body. The only downside is when the monopod gets between your legs, as you try to walk. That happens about once. If you hitch it off to one side, then you can sort of drag it along beside you, but it's best used when standing still.
I prefer to use this approach with my one-handed-action Manfrotto Neo-Tec monopod (squeeze the grip and it goes up or down), but it also works with my rotary-lock Feisol monopod, which just requires two hands, for a moment.
p.1 #3 · where to leave your long lens when you're not using it?
I often have a couple of lenses out doing wildlife RF 100-300 on a Black rapid sling strap and an RF 400 in a Think Tank Glass Limo back pack and carry a mono pod. If stationed in one. Spot for a while I lay the Back Pack at my feet open so I can you the camera lens I want, and leave the idle. One in the Back w here to reach. If I change positions it’s easy to zip up the back pack and move.
p.1 #4 · where to leave your long lens when you're not using it?
thanks for the replies! i might try a hybrid approach - while having to walk get the long lens into the backpack somehow and have the monopod attached to the backpack too. when dealing with quicker scenarios using what @jcolwell suggested.
i do have a question about the center area for the connection. how do you manage that with the two cameras on each end? do you use a center type strap that connects to the dual harness, or do you have a separate strap that has a connection in the center?
i also have a single sling that can go accross the chest, but the attachment is at the end so that probably won't work (although op/tech has ways of customizing things that i might not have thought of). here is the single sling:
p.1 #5 · where to leave your long lens when you're not using it?
Back in the day when I used to shoot professional football regularly, I would carry my long lens (I was a poor photographer working for a small newspaper, so it was my own personal 300 2.8 + 1.4x) with monopod using a strap attached to the lens. When I needed to move with both hands free, I could briefly hang the rig off of one shoulder by the lens strap.
I would carry a second body with a shorter telephoto (back then a 200 2.8) on the other shoulder. If I needed a third camera with a wide/normal lens, I would sometimes carry a lightweight body (and A-1 with winder instead of an F-1 with motor drive) on a short neck strap with a 35mm f/2.
This was decades ago before we had the kinds of harnesses, tilting monopod heads, and other accoutrements available to us today.
Now, I use only two lenses for my equestrian event work: a 24-105Z and a 100-300L, often with the 1.4x. I hang both off of a Black Rapid double harness. The 100-300 is surprisingly hand-holdable and I don't use a monopod with it.
p.1 #6 · where to leave your long lens when you're not using it?
The 400/4 isn't that large or heavy. In your scenario with the two-camera harness, I'd probably just carry the 400 with its supplied lens strap around my neck hanging in front of me. While I normally don't use one, this would probably be a good situation for a monopod tilt head so the monopod can be turned 90 degrees so it's not sticking out to the side when not in use where it's more likely to poke someone or get caught on something.
I'd look for an option to ditch the laptop and backpack. It's been ages since I've been to the Michigan Speedway but IIRC there should be a media workspace where you could set up your laptop. Or maybe your client has an area where you could leave it. Spare batteries, cards, etc., could be carried in a smaller pouch.
If you're working in a specific pit stall you can probably leave the 400 out of the way somewhere in a team's area. You probably want to be as light and mobile as possible in this area to keep out of the way of the pit crews.
p.1 #7 · where to leave your long lens when you're not using it?
Thanks @garyvot and @rscheffler@ for your replies! I wish I could own the 100-300 lens, but that's out of my price range. that's even smaller I believe than the 400 F4.
@rscheffler@ - I'll try to see where I can ditch it. that is the best scenario if possible. this is my first time ever shooting NASCAR (or even watching it for that matter) so there's plenty to figure out. What I'd like to do is use the 400 for shooting around the edges where there's the hole in the fence (hopefully I get one) and then be able to ditch it for a while when I go to the Pit or right after the race for closer images.
