A region of a imaging subject (20) to be imaged is longer along a translation axis (36) than an imaging field of view (40). The imaging subject (20) and a radio frequency coil (30) are translated together along the translation axis (36) in an inward direction respective to the scanner (10). The inward translating of the radio frequency coil is stopped at a loaded position (ziS0). Subsequent to the stopping, the imaging subject is further translated in the inward direction while the radio frequency coil remains stationary so that the region of the subject to be imaged translates through a stationary field of view (40) of the stationary radio frequency coil. During the further translating, the region is imaged using the stationary radio frequency coil and the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.