LensCoat vs TravelCoat for the Canon 800mm f/5.6

Quick answer

For most Canon 800mm f/5.6 owners, the LensCoat® Canon 800 5.6 is the more practical everyday cover because it adds bump and scrape protection while breaking up the lens's shape for wildlife. Choose a TravelCoat only if your priority is a simpler travel-only barrier and you do not need camouflage or control access.

What the LensCoat cover actually adds in the field

The LensCoat® Canon 800 5.6 is cut for that specific lens and includes clear plastic windows over the autofocus and Image Stabilization controls and the distance scale. That means you can check and change settings without peeling the cover back, which matters when a subject is moving and you do not want to fumble with fabric.

The camouflage effect is the other half of the value: it helps break up the shape of a large white lens so it is less noticeable to wildlife. If you photograph skittish birds or mammals, that reduced visual signature can be as useful as the physical protection.

Where a TravelCoat makes more sense

TravelCoat is the lighter, travel-focused option in the LensCoat lineup. It is designed to shield the lens during transport rather than to stay on the lens as a working cover. If your 800mm rides in a case or pack and you only want a barrier against scuffs while moving, a TravelCoat keeps the setup simpler.

The trade-off is that you give up the in-use features that make the LensCoat® Canon 800 5.6 convenient: the fitted control windows and the camouflage breakup. For a lens this large, many owners end up wanting those features on the lens, not just in the bag.

The honest trade-off: protection versus simplicity

Neither cover is a hard case. Both are fabric-style covers that reduce scrapes, bumps, and visual attention; neither replaces careful handling or a proper case for rough transport. The real decision is whether you want protection that stays on the lens while you shoot (LensCoat) or a simpler travel barrier you add and remove (TravelCoat).

The LensCoat® Canon 800 5.6 is also available in multiple colors, so you can match your environment or preference. That color choice is a practical advantage for field use, but it does not change the fundamental fabric-cover limitations.

Key trade-offs at a glance

• On-lens protection: LensCoat stays on the lens and guards against scrapes and bumps during use; TravelCoat is mainly for transport and is removed before shooting. If you want protection while the lens is on the tripod, favor LensCoat.
• Control access: LensCoat® Canon 800 5.6 has clear windows over AF, IS, and the distance scale; TravelCoat does not provide in-use control access. Check whether you need to see settings without lifting the cover.
• Camouflage: LensCoat helps break up the lens shape for wildlife; TravelCoat is not positioned as a camouflage cover. For shy wildlife, the visual breakup is a real field benefit.
• Simplicity and travel: TravelCoat is the simpler, travel-oriented barrier; LensCoat adds more features and color options but more material on the lens. Choose TravelCoat only if travel-only protection is your sole need.

Product facts

• LensCoat® Canon 800 5.6: Fitted cover for the Canon 800 f/5.6 with clear plastic windows over the autofocus and Image Stabilization controls and the distance scale. You can read and adjust key controls without removing the cover, which keeps protection in place during active shooting.

  

Who should choose which

Best for

• Wildlife photographers who keep the 800mm on a tripod and want bump protection plus camouflage
• Owners who want to adjust AF, IS, and distance settings without removing the cover

Not for

• Photographers who only need a simple transport barrier and never shoot with a cover on the lens
• Anyone expecting hard-case-level impact protection from a fabric cover