Manni - standby backpack for super-telephoto lenses with hip belt

Ready quiver for super-telephoto

Imagine you’re trudging through your patch at dawn, mist still hanging just above the meadow and a crane calling somewhere in the distance. In exactly these moments the Manni, ready backpack for super-telephoto lenses with hip belt shows what it can really do: you open the backpack, reach in, take out your fully assembled set and are ready to shoot in a fraction of a minute. No fiddling, no screwing things together, no lost seconds.

The interior is built like a generously sized ready quiver, just in backpack form. Your super-telephoto is already lying inside with the camera attached, a teleconverter (1.4x or 2x) and the lens hood mounted. You simply pull the whole thing upwards, the equipment slides out smoothly without snagging, and you’re ready to release the shutter. If you want to start shooting immediately outdoors without first assembling lens, body and converter, this is exactly the solution you’ll soon never want to be without.

Extremely dimensionally stable: Protection for expensive super-telephotos

Especially on long trips, when hiking in rough terrain or stalking along the coast, one thing is crucial: your equipment must be safely packed. Manni’s body is designed to be extremely sturdy and at the same time dimensionally stable. This means that your lens is not only softly padded, but also surrounded by a rigid structure that absorbs impacts and significantly reduces external pressure.

High-quality Cordura is used both inside and out. This material is known for being robust, abrasion-resistant and durable. The inner lining is chosen so that your super-telephoto, including protective cover or a somewhat bulky tripod foot, slides in and out easily. Nothing catches, nothing jams. Even if you transport a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM or a Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR with camera attached, everything remains well guided and protected.

Molle system integrated: Molle-ready for tripod, pouches and more

On the outside, Manni shows its flexible side. The Molle system is integrated, the backpack is completely Molle-ready. This allows you to attach additional pouches for camera bodies, more lenses, filters, macro accessories or even a small snack pouch exactly where you want them. No rigid concept, but a modular system that adapts to your trip.

A tripod can also be securely attached via the Molle system so you have your hands free while hiking. Whether you’re out with a Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM (2022), a Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS FE [SEL600F40GM] (2019) or a Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S NIKKOR (2022), you can configure your external setup so that everything important remains quickly accessible without getting in the way.

Quick access: From backpack to shot in seconds

When a white-tailed eagle suddenly dives into the water or a deer briefly steps out of the forest, you often have only a tiny moment. This is exactly what the quick access on Manni is designed for. The backpack is dimensioned so that even large combinations like a Canon RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM (2022) with attached camera and lens hood fit in safely and can still be removed quickly.

The interior, with its internal dimensions of 74 x 21 x 22 cm (H x W x D), is deliberately designed so that you don’t have to rotate or awkwardly angle your setup. You reach in, pull the super-telephoto upwards and in the next instant you can already be looking through the viewfinder. Many users report that this way they get shots that used to slip through their fingers because “assembling” the equipment simply took too long.

Made in Germany: Regionally produced with a small footprint

Manni is manufactured Made in Germany. For us this is not just a label, but a clear decision for short supply chains, transparent production and high quality control. Around 90% of the raw materials used come from Germany and the Netherlands. This results in a comparatively small ecological footprint, which in times of climate debates and sustainability discussions is simply no longer irrelevant.

The workmanship is designed for longevity. Seams, zippers, carrying system, padding – everything is geared towards allowing you to use the backpack intensively for many years, whether hiking in the Alps, birdwatching on the Wadden Sea or at sporting events in the stadium. We’d say: better to invest properly once than to have to buy something new every two years.

Developed by us for large super-telephoto lenses

This ready backpack was developed by us because our practical experience tells us how bulky and delicate super-telephoto lenses are. Our aim was to create a backpack specifically tailored to long focal lengths instead of just being “somehow big enough”. That’s why typical wildlife and sports setups fit in perfectly.

For Nikon photographers, for example, the Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR and the Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR with attached camera and lens hood are ideally housed. Canon users can store, among others, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM, the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, the Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS USM, the Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS III USM or the Canon EF 600mm f/4 L USM (Non IS) fully assembled. For the mirrorless system, it is designed for the Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM (2021) and the Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM (2022) as well as the Canon RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM (2022).

Sony photographers with the Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS FE [SEL600F40GM] (2019) and users of the Nikon Z system with the Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S NIKKOR (2022) will also find in Manni a backpack that doesn’t just “somehow fit”, but is truly intended for this class of lenses. If you spend a lot of time out and about with a super-telephoto, you’ll quickly notice that this backpack didn’t turn out this way by accident, but grew out of many practical assignments.

Hip belt for ideal weight distribution: Comfort even on long tours

Long focal lengths mean weight. A lot of it. That’s why the hip belt for ideal weight distribution is a central element of the carrying system. It is removable, but we’d say: especially on longer hikes or when waiting for hours for the perfect moment, you’ll actually always want to have it with you.

The proven backpack carrying system ensures that the load doesn’t rest only on your shoulders but is sensibly distributed across your back and hips. The hip belt takes on a large part of the weight, which noticeably relieves your back and neck. This way you can cover longer distances comfortably even with a fully loaded backpack, for example with a Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, additional body and accessories.

The weight is about 3.32 kg with belt and around 2.99 kg without belt. Please note the belt length of 85–102 cm for the version with belt. If you need a larger waist circumference, you can choose a separately available belt extension so that the backpack really fits optimally and doesn’t just “somehow close”.

Thought-out internal dimensions and handling for smooth operation

The internal dimensions of 74 x 21 x 22 cm are not chosen at random, but sized so that typical super-telephoto combinations with attached camera and lens hood fit in comfortably. The external dimensions of 81 x 25 x 26 cm still keep the backpack within a range that is easy to carry and stow away without looking like half a wardrobe on your back.

The inner lining supports easy packing and unpacking. Even if you have a protective cover on the lens or the tripod foot is somewhat larger, handling remains straightforward. You don’t have to rearrange or repad everything each time, but can rely on a consistently smooth workflow. Especially if you switch several times a day between transport and shooting, this makes a noticeable difference.

Rain and dust protection included: Backpack cover for rough weather

Weather doesn’t stop you? Good. The scope of delivery includes a MIL-TEC backpack cover as rain and dust protection, designed for up to about 130 litres (60 x 95 cm), in olive. This gives your equipment additional protection in sudden showers, dust, sand or snow flurries.

Especially on longer hikes or trips, it’s reassuring not to get nervous at every dark band of clouds. You simply pull the cover over, secure it and can go back to focusing on what really matters: the subject in front of your lens.

Optimised for hiking, wildlife and sports use

Manni is not just a studio or car-trunk product, but clearly intended for outdoor use. The backpack is optimised for hiking, wildlife photography, nature and sports assignments. The carrying system, the Molle interfaces, the robust materials and the quick access all come into their own especially when you move around a lot and still want your equipment to be safely stowed.

Whether you’re searching for golden eagles in the mountains, observing migratory birds on the coast or capturing fast action on the sidelines, Manni helps you transport your super-telephoto so that you’re ready at any time. And yes, sometimes it’s exactly that one moment that makes the difference between a good and an exceptional image.