hi again, Mary, - just to say, we bought a new camera & equip't bag today, it's more like a backpack. So I finally have a proper bag to carry all this stuff around : ) - it sure felt a lot better when I tried my camera and telephoto lens in the backpack in the store, rather than having the other bag over one shoulder!

thankyou Mary. I was quite a distance away from the ship, but the lens pulls it in. The lens is heavy alright, but when it's on the camera and am walking with it, I lean it on the front of my shoulder, supporting the base of the camera with my hand and that works for me. It's such a great lens that I don't consider the weight, - just don't let myself think about it, knowing what the lens can do. When its off the camera, while the wide angle lens is on there, - the telephoto lens has a lovely padded case with strap, so is good to carry that way over your shoulder also. But we usually put it and the other equipment, lens hoods etc, in a travel bag (bought for $2 at the local Thrift : ) That has worked fine for us all this past summer, til I can see something else that might be better. Hope that helps.