Some lenses are gargantuan enough to warrant their very own case. Most telephoto lenses fall into this category. Storing a telephoto lens in your main camera bag can take up the space of three or four normal lenses. Not to mention that the front lens element of some telephoto lenses can be larger in diameter than the length of a standard lens. Instead of making a handful of lenses homeless, a dedicated telephoto lens case can be a terrific solution for storage and transportation.
One of these dedicated telephoto lens cases is the LowePro 13 x 32 cm. Named for its internal dimensions (13cm diameter and 32cm height). I purchased the LowePro 13 x 32 cm for my Tamron 150-600mm Telephoto Zoom lens. This case has a simplistic design for those looking to store their lens with minimal bells and whistles. Minimal designs reduce the bulkiness while keeping the weight and cost low.
SIZE
The internal dimensions are advertised as 13cm in width and depth, with a 32cm height. When measuring, the dimensions are not exactly as advertised, however the case is very flexible with compressible foam padding. There is definitely room for interpretation. My Tamron 150-600mm G1 is approximately 28.6cm in length and fits well with some room to spare. I did expand my Tamron to approximately 225mm, which made the entire lens around 32cm long and the lens fit perfectly! The case itself is also very light coming in at 1.1 lbs.
PADDING
There are no surprises with the quality of padding in LowePro products. Sufficient padding is found all around the 13×32 lens case with no real vulnerabilities. The bottom and back panels of the case contain a stiffer structure while the lid and the curved midsection are much more flexible. The lid has the least padding compared to all other faces of the case.
The lid’s shape matches the outer dimensions of the rest of the case. This allows the lid and body padding to meet and close completely resulting in a well-padded lid corner.
The lid zipper is located about an inch lower than where the lid foam padding meets. This is subtle but can tremendously help in reducing any dust or debris that can enter the case through the zipper.
OTHER FEATURES
Handles Straps
Though the bag is simple, it has multiple holding points and straps. First there is the standard shoulder strap mounted at the top of the bag. There is also the standard hand strap at the top of the bag. The top handle is the most natural holding point for me to use. There are also two handles available on either side of the rounded front face.
Internal Compartment
There is a small internal mesh pocket on the inside of the lid. I found this is not a great place for storage unfortunately. Whatever you end up placing here will contact your lens instead of the padding. This could be a good place for a microfiber cloth or something that will keep your lens safe. I usually keep this pocket empty.
Velcro “SlipLock” Attachment
There are a series of layered Velcro straps on the back of this lens case. LowePro calls this their “SlipLock” attachment. This appears to be a very firm way to attach this lens case to other LowePro products.
CONS
The shoulder strap can sometimes be a nuisance. It’s a very long strap that gets in the way more often than not in my experience. There are also no buckles or any other type of quick release system that allows you to remove the strap easily. Lastly, it’s a very thin for a shoulder strap. Telephoto lenses can get HEAVY and I definitely won’t be using that shoulder strap for comfortable transport.
My only other minor gripe with this case is the arch geometry. This takes up a bit more room than is really necessary for a lens. If you are putting your lens case into a different bag for any reason, the bulk of the case begins to show. At the same time, most telephoto lenses come with a protruding tripod mount which requires more space. A lens’ tripod mount fits well in one corner of the arch. Overall the entire arch was not fully needed and I think a more effective case shape is out there, but this is absolutely not a deal breaker. Below is an image of when I took my lens on a hike for some wildlife photography. I only had enough room for a sweater and a hat!
Overall the LowePro 13x32cm can be a huge convenience advantage for your larger lenses. It’s a lightweight and simple case with the essential features needed for dedicated telephoto lens storage and protection.
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