Suggestions for Photographers Vests or alternative

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/08/2005 10:18:19 AM · #1

I do a fair amount of hiking and carrying a beltpack (Lowepro Orion) with 20-D and 3 or 4 lenses gets very uncomfortable if you wear it on your hip. If you wear it in back nothing is accessible and you might as well be wearing a backpack. I am considering a vest but would like to hear from others on solutions they find acceptable.

Thanks

Prof_Fate

09/08/2005 10:22:34 AM · #2

I looked at vests and didn't find one that would carry mroe than batts or film or memory cards (as in not lenses).

I opted for a back pack and belt system. While i am not a hiker, it works for me.

PollyBean

Canon EOS-5D

09/08/2005 10:28:08 AM · #3

how about a velcro suit, the suit being the soft fuzzy side. Attach velcro stickgummies to all your photog items and hey presto!

Or maybe a frontpack. (if it can carry a beloved ferret, I'm sure it could carry a beloved camera w lenses: ferret frontpack)

:D

Message edited by author 2005-09-08 10:35:15.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/08/2005 10:43:38 AM · #4

Unfortunately my belly precludes front packs :-)

I would be very worried about knocking things off when I brush against trees if I used velcro.

PollyBean

Canon EOS-5D

09/08/2005 10:47:34 AM · #5

Hummmm. How about a utility jacket: (utility jacket) or a v cool police style vest (Police style vest). With the right 500mm lense you can play look really hard oin your hiking adventures!! hehe

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

09/08/2005 11:37:28 AM · #6

I use Lowe shoulder bag along with their waist belt. The waist belt puts most of the weight on your hips, where it belongs, when you are walking a lot. When you want to shoot, just unclip the belt and now you can access it as easily as a normal shoulder bag.

And, as an added bonus, it's nowhere near as dorky as a photog vest.

scales

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3

09/08/2005 11:43:21 AM · #7

If it would help, I don't mind doing a swap... my Z3 for your 20D. I'll even include a bag to carry it in :-)

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

09/08/2005 12:13:47 PM · #8

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

....it's nowhere near as dorky as a photog vest.

I resemble that remark.

For those who do not mind the "dorkiness" and feel it a useful item, Cabella's list one in their catalog that has lasted me for several years. Pockets are not for lenses but rather for all the little items like lens caps, extra CF cards, filters, batteries, speedlight accessories, etc, that are sometimes easier to access while "working" instead of digging through one's camera bag/dugffle/backpack/Pelican case etc. plus business cards, pen and pad and on and on.

But you may be perceived as "dorky" ;-]

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

09/08/2005 01:54:24 PM · #9

Originally posted by Flash:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
....it's nowhere near as dorky as a photog vest.

I resemble that remark.

For those who do not mind the "dorkiness" and feel it a useful item, Cabella's list one in their catalog that has lasted me for several years. Pockets are not for lenses but rather for all the little items like lens caps, extra CF cards, filters, batteries, speedlight accessories, etc, that are sometimes easier to access while "working" instead of digging through one's camera bag/dugffle/backpack/Pelican case etc. plus business cards, pen and pad and on and on.

But you may be perceived as "dorky" ;-]

I have no doubt they are functional, but then again so is my pocket protector.

I have no problems with my shoulder bag retrieving an item without fumbling.

It's more about finding a solution that works for you and the way you shoot.

At one time, I thought a backpack would be the best way to carry camera gear, until I got one. I hated it. I had to take it off and set it down every time I wanted to get inside. Had to lay it over to open it because if the front fell open, there was nothing holding my camera in. I sold it. Other people swear by backpacks.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

09/08/2005 02:54:45 PM · #10

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

I have no doubt they are functional, but then again so is my pocket protector.

So if one were to place a pocket protector in a photographer's vest, then they would be multifunctional.

Cool.

09/09/2005 10:38:41 AM · #11

I decided to just add a shoulder strap to the beltpack. Hopefully that will relieve some of the stress on the hip. Off to Ouzel Falls //users.aol.com/marcconly/rmnp.html#ouzel tomorrow to test it out.

photodude

09/09/2005 11:34:52 AM · #12

Depending on the type of hiking you do, I would carefully consider whether a vest is a good choice.

If you're hiking more toward the hardcore end, then breathability and wieght distribution might be important factors to consider.

I'm personally partial to a daypack. In my opinion the equip is safer there if I fall