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Hi everyone.  Quick question.  Does anyone know if the Think Tank Airport Roller Derby carry on bag will accommodate a Canon 600mm lens ?  I am trying to find the best roller bag for international air travel that is not too heavy.  Thanks.  Phil

I don't see why not.  The internal dimensions of the bag are 12.6"x18.5"x9".  The 600/f4 mk1 is 18"x6.6" and the mk2 is 17.5"x6.6".  I don't have this bag, but I have often taken my 600 in the similar TT Airport International.  You will need to put the lens hood into your checked baggage though.  I usually place the (slightly spread) legs of my tripod inside the lens hood and pack any space tightly with socks or other clothing and place in the centre of my checked bag so that it is well supported and padded.   

Then again. I have since contacted Think Tank and they said: Thank you for contacting us. The Airport Roller Derby fits most 400 f/2.8 and most 500 f/2.8 lenses as long as you aren't also packing a laptop in the bag. The 600's are simply too long however to fit with the Roller Derby. I wish I had better news. Our Airport Security V2.0 does hold a 600, but it's sized for US Domestic Airlines and may be too large for the Airlines you fly on.

So can anyone recommend a rolling bag for international air travel with a 600mm Canon ?

Phil Shaw wrote:I don't see why not.  The internal dimensions of the bag are 12.6"x18.5"x9".  The 600/f4 mk1 is 18"x6.6" and the mk2 is 17.5"x6.6".  I don't have this bag, but I have often taken my 600 in the similar TT Airport International.  You will need to put the lens hood into your checked baggage though.  I usually place the (slightly spread) legs of my tripod inside the lens hood and pack any space tightly with socks or other clothing and place in the centre of my checked bag so that it is well supported and padded.   

Are those inner or outer diameters?

I guess it depends what is in the bag.  The 600II with reversed hood fits in my TT Airport International.  I can carry 2 bodies and a smaller lens, plus flash, extender and other little things.  You can bet more stuff in if the bag if you put that huge hood in a checked bag.  I personally wouldn't though.

I think you probably have your answer - TTAI v2. I use roller bags for my camera gear all the time when travelling and shooting in urban locations. I think you would find that the 4-wheel roller derby bags worked OK in the airport lounge, but one you got outside the airport it would be a royal pain. I think you would be better off with a 2-wheel roller bag, but as always, I am happy to be enlightened .

PS - I still can't see why the 600 wouldn't fit based on the published dimensions and the fact that it will lie on a diagonal in the bag.

Thanks Phil. I too cannot understand why it will not fit. Your comment about the two-wheeler is take. Good advice. I will check out the TTAI v2 some more and keep looking. Maybe there is a backpack roller.

The 600 won't fit lengthwise in an Airport International, but it should fit diagonally. If you want it to fit lengthwise, I'd go with the Airport Security.

Thanks Doug.

I have just come across the Tenba Roadie II Hybrid. A roller backpak that is advertised as being large enough for 600mm or 500mm and also complies with international airline bag size regulations. This could be what I am looking for.

Doug Brown wrote:The 600 won't fit lengthwise in an Airport International, but it should fit diagonally. If you want it to fit lengthwise, I'd go with the Airport Security.

Check out the video.  It shows a 600 fitting nicely in the bag (straight).  I don't know if the dimension are the same as the Canon 600 though. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2qvjNOA1ps
 




I can get the Canon 600II in TTI v2 straight, it has a slight bulge at the top, but zips up no problem.  The Airport provides slightly more room though - just hope the airlines don't get more restrictive on the bag sizes.  TTI v2 looks so puny when compared to those bags travelers carry on that I don't get the slightest look from anyone.

Thanks.

Phil Perry wrote:Hi everyone.  Quick question.  Does anyone know if the Think Tank Airport Roller Derby carry on bag will accommodate a Canon 600mm lens ?  I am trying to find the best roller bag for international air travel that is not too heavy.  Thanks.  Phil

Hi Phil,
I have this bag, I just went to try fitting my 600 V1 and 800 and it doesn't. The 500 fits without camera body but the 200-400 fits perfectly with 1dx. Unfortunately the body just bulges very slightly on the top when the bag is closed. Hope that helps
Perry

From the sound of it I think I will be better off with the Tenba. Thanks everyone.