photo jacket etc. for India?

[rparmar]

It's easy enough to find jackets with deep pockets for travel in cooler climes, everything from fleece-lined for mountains to hiking wear. But what about something suitable for India in the summer?

I've come across the Rohan Field Jacket which weighs only 845g but it looks pretty hot (dark colours) for the climate. It's a bit OTT when it comes to pockets but I guess one doesn't have to use all of them.

It would be great to get an Olympus PEN (digital/film) in a pocket. Not so different from rangefinder size.

Anyone with experience and advice? (Maybe I should just buy something when I get to new Delhi.)

 

[Sean Moran]

The coat looks perfect for a holiday in Ireland, but not perhaps for Delhi in the Summer.

My preference is for a linen jacket, or shirtsleeves, with the camera gear in a small Billingham Bag. A hat and sunglasses are also needed for my pale Celtic skin.

Enjoy your visit.

Sean in Tipperary

 

[Glenn2]

It depends on what month and where you are planning to go in India. Temperatures can range from chilly to blast furnace hot, so plan accordingly. Clothing is inexpensive in India so picking up what you need locally is a possibility although I didn't notice any photo type vests while there earlier this year. I took a light vest, but only used it once, a light cotton shirt was more comfortable and looked less like a feringhi photo tourist.

If you haven't seen the IndiaMike web site it might be of some help. Link --> http://www.indiamike.com/

PS... Delhi is presently around 36 degrees during the day falling to mid 20s at night. Later before monsoon hits it will be well into the 40s during the day.

 

[Tin]

I'd suggest a photo vest. In India or many foreign countries, we are the visible minority anyway, so why not dress like a real tourist!

this is what something like that would cost in Canada if you bought it in a Photo store or a sports store:

http://www.vistek.ca/store/BagsCase...est-42-46-blue-eng-efp-photo-sound-techs.aspx

But I have one that a friend bought for me from Hong Kong a few years ago, and it costs around $20. So if you can find a local to give you some directions, your best bet would be buying it in India.

The two main pockets on my vest measure 6 X 6 inches, so these should carry two small cameras.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

If you are going to be there in the summer, before the monsoon, believe me you won't want to be wearing more that just the thinnest shirt or t-shirt you can find. Delhi in April/May for example will be in the high 40's centigrade! Go south and it will be hot and very humid in addition! The only areas you might feel comfortable, in more layers, would be hill stations or the mountains during the summer months.

If you just want something to carry a small camera, then I suggest buying a very light weight cotton shoulder bag when you get there. That's the sort of thing I use to carry my camera and a few rolls of film when I go out on the streets there. Everything else stays in the hotel room.

India generally is very safe with very little confrontational crime on the streets. I've never felt threatened even when walking around streets of a large city at night time on my own.

 

[sevres_babylone]

There's a series of promotional videos budget travel writer Rolf Potts did for Scottevest. You might have a look at them. I've thought about getting one, but then thought they're just the 21st century Tilley 🙂

Here's a link to a youtube video for the promotional series: http://youtu.be/MYAOFAvjVG0

I've only been to India twice, but my memory accords with Nigel Meaby's comments with not wanting to be layered up.

 

[Tin]

Some of the photo vests have the back piece made of netting material, which would suit the tropics better.

 

[rparmar]

Thanks for all of these very helpful messages.

Yes, I may have to go to India in the height of the summer, which is totally crazy but unfortunately outside my control. I'll be in Delhi and going north to the Punjab. With luck a side trip to Simla where it'll be cooler, but otherwise I'll be in an oven.

The only reason I was considering a jacket at all was to minimise how much I need to carry on my back. For health reasons it is best for me to distribute weight. Not to mention that a big backpack/rucksack can get very sticky as well.

I will only carry a very light camera kit which was my whole reason for getting into MFT as an alternative to SLR.

If you just want something to carry a small camera, then I suggest buying a very light weight cotton shoulder bag when you get there.

Likely the best advice. Though this will mean a bigger backpack. I will be travelling for about half the time I am in India, so not too many chances to base myself in a hotel room.

 

[rparmar]

I have checked out the other links that were mentioned. I am toying with the idea that the Scottevest Explorer Shirt might fit the bill. It's 100% cotton and a light colour, with enough compartments to fit the essentials.

What I need to carry on a day outing is likely similar to everyone else: camera, EVF, 2 lenses (one on camera), passport, tickets, mobile phone, spare battery, memory card, small map. Plus, a digital recorder, headphones, and pair of lavalier mics. This shirt has the cool feature that allows a headphone cable to thread up from an inside pocket. I could also use that for the binaural mic setup and clip these to a baseball cap. That would be nice for discrete location recordings.

I do wonder how comfortable the shirt would be moderately loaded. Especially in the heat. Anyone here have experience with one?

 

[FrozenInTime]

I don't know if this applies to the scottevest shirt, but if the pockets are not vapour proof, there is a danger that items in them can get damaged by salt from sweat.

My experience was from hillwalking with a GR1 in a shirt pocket.
It got a white layer over the surface and into all the crevices - it needed a good clean after a couple of days.

I like the idea of making binaural recordings as you shoot.
I was thinking of trying the rode pin mics for doing the same.

 

[Pablito]

I have checked out the other links that were mentioned. I am toying with the idea that the Scottevest Explorer Shirt might fit the bill. It's 100% cotton and a light colour, with enough compartments to fit the essentials.

What I need to carry on a day outing is likely similar to everyone else: camera, EVF, 2 lenses (one on camera), passport, tickets, mobile phone, spare battery, memory card, small map. Plus, a digital recorder, headphones, and pair of lavalier mics. This shirt has the cool feature that allows a headphone cable to thread up from an inside pocket. I could also use that for the binaural mic setup and clip these to a baseball cap. That would be nice for discrete location recordings.

I do wonder how comfortable the shirt would be moderately loaded. Especially in the heat. Anyone here have experience with one?

Never used this shirt but have traveled a lot for photography in very hot climate. This is not a garment I would get. Full pockets get sticky with sweat. Cotton can be very comfortable but it absorbs sweat, gets wet and then it's slow to dry. I find the synthetic shirts made for travel by REI, Eddie Bauer, LLBean, Campmor to be ideal. Very light fabric, well vented, dries fast, and easy to launder yourself in the hotel sink. I use a messenger style bag so you can wear the bag in different ways to shift the weight around.

 

[Pablito]

I like the idea of making binaural recordings as you shoot.
I was thinking of trying the rode pin mics for doing the same.

very hard to do sound and stills at the same time. You get the sound of the shutter, for one thing. And hard to monitor levels.

 

[rparmar]

very hard to do sound and stills at the same time. You get the sound of the shutter, for one thing. And hard to monitor levels.

Indeed. I generally do one or the other. But it depends on what I need to capture. Today's small digital recorders can last forever on their batteries, plus memory is cheap. So sometimes I simply keep the recording rolling, knowing that I can edit it afterwards and still have long enough segments free of shutter sounds.

Head-worn binaural recording is difficult enough, since it is subject to the sounds of your body moving, friction from clothing, breathing, and so on. So generally one has to be very attentive and still if you want a tape free of such things. But sometimes the verisimilitude of a sound walk is only enhanced by hearing the recordist in situ.

I enjoy making naturalistic recordings but, as a composer, also often need only tiny excerpts of particularly distinctive or useful sounds to work into my pieces. I am so looking forward to India!

 

[rparmar]

Never used this shirt but have traveled a lot for photography in very hot climate. This is not a garment I would get. Full pockets get sticky with sweat. Cotton can be very comfortable but it absorbs sweat, gets wet and then it's slow to dry. I find the synthetic shirts made for travel by REI, Eddie Bauer, LLBean, Campmor to be ideal. Very light fabric, well vented, dries fast, and easy to launder yourself in the hotel sink. I use a messenger style bag so you can wear the bag in different ways to shift the weight around.

The hottest climate I have been in was Southern Ontario, which could be 100% humidity and 30C for three weeks solid. But I have never experienced a place where 40C is a norm. So your advice I will take to heart!

Neat-o as some of these custom clothes I've found are, perhaps a plain white long-sleeve dress shirts would be an option? Since the cotton is thin and in a single layer it dries quicker. I will look into the ranges you mention.

For storage perhaps two smaller cotton bags, one over each shoulder, would work best. I favour packing extra lenses etc. in bubble wrap. It's cheap, flexible and takes up little space. Or would that melt?!

I am going to take very little, leaving behind my larger recorders, better mics etc. But I do have a certain minimal setup that is unavoidable. All things considered, the audio plus photo gear is no larger than a typical SLR kit.

I still haven't decided on the laptop, since I rather need it for backing up. But I predict I will loath the extra weight when travelling, even though it's rather small.

 

[rparmar]

I was thinking of trying the rode pin mics for doing the same.

Any half-decent plug-in-power condensers will do the trick. They are better than the built-in mics on the recorders and can be positioned where you need them. Most of the cheaper models, regardless of brand, use the same Panasonic 61 caps. You can save a lot of money over brand names by buying from hackers who solder them together themselves. Chris Church at Church Audio will sell you a pair for $100.

My set have small alligator clips. The pinmics are good for those situations where normal mounting methods are inappropriate. But if I'm understanding correctly, a pair would be $500, which is well over the odds.

 

[FrozenInTime]

I know you are right, I even have some omni capsules I bought a few years ago with that in mind.
They needed 5V i.e. more than the plug in power my pocket sized LS-10 could supply.
I never got around to building a battery box or buying one from Church Audio.

On the other hand the rode mics would just plug into the SD702 and be ready to roll.
But it would be nice to use the small light weight pocket rig ... must restart that battery box project.

I would like to do something along the lines of this http://soundlandscapes.wordpress.com/ but with more emphasis on B&W photography
Would be good to hear and see the results from your trip - if you post when you return.

You can save a lot of money over brand names by buying from hackers who solder them together themselves.

 

[victoriapio]

Another vest to consider is the extra hand vest. They make a tropical version with mesh netting and the build quality is outstanding. You can find them at vestedinterest.com. They can custom make one to your specs, at least they used to. Another consideration is a summer fly fishing vest.
One other caution. I live in south Texas where it may get as hot as India. I would not recommend any vest unless you are wearing a highly breathable synthetic t-shirt underneath. Stay away from cotton UNLESS it is the only layer and you are using a camera bag - which may be the best way to go anyway.

 

[FrozenInTime]

When I was hiking last year in Yosemite, I took only an E-P1 and 12, 20mm lenses.
I used a Newswear small belt pouch for the camera as well as wearing a camelbak rucksack.
It worked out really well on the hot days and the camera was always handy.

http://www.newswear.com/pouches.htm

It might also work for you instead of a vest.

 

[rparmar]

I know you are right, I even have some omni capsules I bought a few years ago with that in mind.
They needed 5V i.e. more than the plug in power my pocket sized LS-10 could supply.

Nice recorder. I have that one and use it a lot. The built-in mics are actually quite good for imaging and balance. The externals come into their own for ease of positioning and lower noise, though still not what I would call low noise. But I don't think I'll find too much quiet in India!

(Maybe this should be a different thread?)

 

[rparmar]

It might also work for you instead of a vest.

Yes, I can't see wearing a vest; it's just not my style. As well as being a tourist I will be meeting people and need to look a little neat and tidy.

Those pouches might be a good option.