photo vest
About photo vest
Campco Photo Safari Vest
One of the challenges nature photographers face is how to carry all of the necessary gear into the field. For many this decision comes down to the choice between a vest and a bag. For a long time I carried my equipment in a Lowepro S&F Specialist 85AW, which I still own. About 2 months ago I decided to purchase a vest in order to allow me to quickly access my gear while in the field. I quickly discovered that there are a whole host of options available in terms of size, color, and cost. I wanted a vest that could accommodate a large amount of gear (including a large lens if needed), wasn't so long that is contacted my knees, and wouldn'tbe so expensive as to break the bank. In addition, I didn't want to look like a blimp wearing it. I settled somewhat cautiously on the Campco Photo Safari Vest for $49.99. This vest is identical to the one that Banana Republic used to sell before they went chic. It turned out to be a good choice… by: Matthew K. Whitley |
Photographers' guide to photo vests
Photography vests can be good for distributing the weight of a limited amount of photography gear and for keeping film and accessories handy. In fact, for carrying limited amounts of gear, no other tote option is more convenient
The drawback to photo vests is that a full one can be heavy on your shoulders and can be awfully uncomfortable in hot weather (I know an 85-year-old photographer who won't wear a vest for that reason, and still insists on lugging a camera bag with him instead). I own a vest, and sometimes I use it, and sometimes I don't, depending on the circumstances.
Majid Naghdi +98 912 204 3001
The best vest fit
The one thing I don't like about many vests on the market is that they're long. They hang down well below your waistline. Some photographers don't mind that. But I don't like it because, when you walk, the lenses in the lower pockets bounce around on your thighs. It's uncomfortable, and I get nervous that if I turn around too quickly, some thousand-dollar lens will swing into a brick wall.
The photography vest I usually use is a Domke, which I've had tailored to bring the bottom of the vest up to just below my belt, thereby solving the afformentioned problems. For about $10, a tailor can adjust the length of most vests. Still, a better, albeit more expensive, option is to have a shirt-maker work on the vest, as he or she will be an expert on making the altered garment fit the best it can.
Buy a good vest
Another issue is quality: Don't skimp. I have one photo vest that years ago was given to me as a media gift at a tennis tournament, but I can't use it — the material is so thin that pins on metal lenses rip through the pockets. Also, I suggest getting a light-colored vest; I have a black one I never wear because it absorbs too much heat from the sun
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There are hand warmer pockets on both sides of the vest that I plan to use for my hands when it gets colder. On the inside of the vest there are two large front pockets that I use to store my Better Beamer flash extender and the 500mm's front lens cap. The back outside of the vest features a large covered pocket that could be used to store a poncho, another lens, or other large items (I carry trash bags for rain protection in that pocket).
Other quality issues:• Buy a vest with good, strong seams that won't rip with heavy lenses in the pockets.
• Lined, waterproof pockets will protect your lenses and film from rain and perspiration.
• Padded shoulders are nice to have when you have the strap of a heavy 400mm lens draped over you.
• Some vests have mesh backs, which helps ventilation.
• A built-in waist belt allows you to tighten the vest, which helps keep your pocketed gear from swaying around too much as you move.
• Buy a vest with good, strong seams that won't rip with heavy lenses in the pockets.
• Lined, waterproof pockets will protect your lenses and film from rain and perspiration.
• Padded shoulders are nice to have when you have the strap of a heavy 400mm lens draped over you.
• Some vests have mesh backs, which helps ventilation.
• A built-in waist belt allows you to tighten the vest, which helps keep your pocketed gear from swaying around too much as you move.
Also, try to avoid vests made of 100 percent cotton. When you sweat, cotton absorbs and retains the moisture from your body, making the vest uncomfortable to wear on a hot day. A fabric constructed of a combination of cotton and polyester will breathe better and let moisture evaporate more quickly.
The strap
The thin straps that come with camera bodies are good for keeping a tight leash on your equipment. If you don't mind a bit of stretch, thick neoprene straps distribute the weight of a camera much more comfortably around your shoulder. The Tamrac "boomerang" strap is a good example of the maximum in width and comfort. I was a big fan of the Tamracs because the same plastic connectors can be used to switch the camera into a (discontinued) Tamrac "Action Strap" in about 20 seconds. The Action Strap was a clever contraption that has the camera hang down from your neck against your chest and a neoprene belt with a hole in the middle comes around your waist to sit over the lens. This presses the camera up against your chest so that you can ride a horse, for example, without getting battered by your camera. When the time comes to snap a picture, you can pull off the neoprene loop in about 2 seconds, raise the camera to your eye and expose. It cost about $20 but was discontinued during the Bill Clinton Administration.
The strap
Other usage notes
Some things to keep in mind when using a photo vest:
• If you want to carry snacks in your vest, keep them in their own pocket, separate from any gear or film. You don't want a bag of salted peanuts or a chocolate candy bar wrapper breaking next to your fisheye lens.
• Bogging down the lower vest pockets puts increased stress on your shoulders. To help distribute the weight of your gear, keep small lenses in the upper pockets. Also, if you have a lot of gear in your front pockets, the vest will pull against your neck; distribute the weight by putting some heavier gear (such as a medium-sized lens or a Turbo battery) in the vest's rear pocket.
• Photo vests are an airborne photographer's best friend. When boarding a plane, gear that you don't want to check as luggage might not all fit in your carry-on bag. Put the overflow in your vest and wear it onto the plane.
• Before you buy a photography vest, try it on in the store. Ask the salesperson if you can put some lenses in the pockets so you can tell how the vest will feel when you're using it in the field.
• Before you buy a photography vest, try it on in the store. Ask the salesperson if you can put some lenses in the pockets so you can tell how the vest will feel when you're using it in the field.
