So I just recently got into Canon because of the 200-800 lens availability. Sometimes I need to hike to places where I want to shoot, and there is no reason to have the kit dangling when it is still dark and I'm not going to use it yet. I did not want to put much money into a backpack for possibly low usage, and there are actually not a lot of backpacks out there that will fit the R6 Mark II and RF 200-800 Lens, in fact I found none (I have since found that the Ruggard Alpine 600 should work). So I stated looking for large enough backpacks that were not expensive.I found an Adidas Backpack on clearance for $16. I had already decided that a dense exercise mat could provide the needed padding. and I found one for $13. I also got a bottle of vinyl glue for $5. Next step was actually build it. I wanted to be able to put the kit in from the top of the bag pointing down, preferably with the lens hood on. I knew that I did not want the lens hood to support the weight of the kit, so I decided the weight should be on the non removable tripod foot and a little on the front edge of the camera body. I Measured and cut the foam as I put it together. There is a piece of foam wrapped around the lens with a cutout for the tripod foot, the tripod foot then has another piece wrapped around it. Then there is another piece of foam going around the inside of the bag, which gives the bag some shape as well as an extra layer of protection, between the two main layers of foam, I stuck some other foam material in for stability and keeping shape. I have not actually used the bag in the field yet, just a little test at home. I will possibly add another piece of foam to the top.
Tom, adapting things to suit your photography needs is what makes what we do worth while and makes our photography interesting,.
After using the bag I built for some time I realized that the biggest problem was the placement of the zipper at the top, having to manipulate the top to get the camera in and out. I have since found a commercial bag that actually fits the combo, the Ruggard Alpine 600. It offer a lot of protections it feels very safe, but it is large and weighs about five pounds alone. I've carried the Ruggard with the combo and a five pound tripod on a hike, and it worked very well. Usually though I just transporting it in the truck to shooting locations.
Unfortunately Tom, age has been catching up with me and hiking into places with a heap of gear on my back is a thing of the past. Now I limit to what I take, I still have a heap of gear but have resorted to putting it in a pull along cart with a seat on it.
have you tried looking for telescope carry bags etc whe i was looking for a shoulder / back bag for my 150-600mm and M50 i found an "astrostar" telescope bag which suited very well, i do have a mindshift / thinktank back pack also but thats bit on the big side just for a day out walking and shooting JJC make some larger lens pouches, i found one to fit my 150-600mm only which was what i wanted there, it also fits the girth of the 105mm ƒ1.4 siggy JJC DLP-8II 140x370mm Deluxe Lens Pouch, don't know if its any use to you but its a direction to look
I only use it as a backpack when needing to hike to where I want to shoot, and to store it attached to the camera while traveling. I have several lens pouches, my largest would probably come up a little short for the 200-800, but maybe strangely, I want to keep the lens and camera together. I don't change lenses very often in the field here, it is usually humid and also often windy. Many mornings I have two cameras on me, one with a wide angle to normal zoom, one with the telephoto. It works well for me.
