Photo vest redux...

David_Manning

David_Manning

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The other thread on this closed before I had my say!

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105097

Yeah, vests can look a bit much, but I travel quite a lot and I'm really getting tired of lugging a bag or "man-purse" everywhere. A vest leaves your hands free for urban exploration.

I feel like I'm right in the middle of the demographic...not a young guy, not an old guy. But I load up that vest with hotel key, wallet, passport, sunglasses, notepad, pen, airline ID, lens hood, film...and then just wear my camera over my shoulder.

My Dad would wear a vest while traveling for all his stuff, and he managed to look like an experienced traveler (and WAS one). So, instead of giving my shoulder a cramp, or wearing a man-purse-satchel across my body, I'll take a vest. Wear a nice shirt, slacks, and nice but comfortable shoes, and you'll look "experienced." Wear a vest with jeans and a turtle-neck, and you'll look like an artist...that is, if anyone cares what they look like beyond the utility!

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I do agree that the bag is extra weight and doesn't really help that much. When I go out to shoot, I carry one cam, one lens, one meter and an extra roll of film. pants pockets or those in a windbreaker usually does the job for me. My only problem with the vest is that I've never liked vests of any kind. Photo or otherwise.
 
I agree that vests are a very good alternative to a camera bag. I think it is best to avoid the temptation to load them up too much with gear. I have a couple that have so many pockets that if I were to load them to the max, I'd have more gear than I could work with comfortably--or even remember where it was! I have a Royal Robbins vest that has only four pockets. It's not even a photo vest, particularly. In those pockets I can carry a Leica IIIc in one pocket; another IIIc in another; or the second IIIc around my neck, and a Leica D-Lux 3 plus D-Lux 4 in the second pocket; and room for film. And I don't look like I'm rigged out for a full military exercise. Alternatively I can leave one IIIc behind, and maybe one D-Lux, and bring along an MP with a 35 Summaron or a 40 Nokton, and still be traveling light.

Working with a vest is a good habit!
 
I wear a vest when shooting an event...I carry a Nikon F4 and F5 each with an SB-25 and a Quantum Battery strapped to my waist...I carry another 5 lenses plus the two already mounted...I have film in one pocket 8-10 rolls...keys, phone, AA batteries, notepad and a few other misc. items...
I would rather wear the vest than try to shoulder a bag through crowds while shooting...I have never been called a Dork or anything else while sporting this look...
I have also been allowed to get closer to the action because I look like I belong...I have been asked too many times which Paper I work for and people usually leave me be because they figure I'm working...
I wear the vest for one reason...It works for me...

I need to add that while shooting Street I don't wear the vest...then I just carry a green military backpack and will carry one camera and maybe have another in the bag along with film, a meter and a few more lenses...I blend in better this way...
 
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If it's good enough for Brad I don't see the problem ... and before you go saying "he has no taste" ... think about Angelina!

:D


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When I had a photo vest, I really liked it for the convenience. Mine had so many pockets that I used to 'lose' stuff in it. I had a cotton vest with a mesh back. I used to wear a t-shirt underneath, because it could get uncomfortably hot on warm days. The one I had—and I've read this same thing in online reviews for a couple of vests—had a funky/musty scent to it (right out of the box!). I'm not sure if it was a manufacturing issue, or if the vest was treated with something. It wasn't an overpowering scent. I had to sniff the fabric to pick it up, but it would not wash out. My wife really disliked that thing. It just kind of disappeared from my house, which was unfortunate, because I think I 'lost' a lens cap in it. :)




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But no one has an alternative method for working in 90-100F heat? A vest is just going to be too much.:eek:

I still like the hat, hawaiian shirt and jeans with small bag myself. Wish I actually had a Hawaiian shirt so I make do with my fishing shirt over a t-shirt. Anything warmer than 70F in the shade just doesn't beg for a vest or a jacket.
 
Here in Blighty we're not often bothered by such high temperatures. I've a very cheap (cost me about £14:00 a few years ago) Peter Storm safari style jacket that's got so many pockets it's very easy to lose stuff, or at least take quite a while to find the keys... I can hear 'em jingling, just can't put my hand on them...

When the heat rises I can just unzip and remove the sleeves and hey presto! the jacket becomes a weskit. Now THATS dorky!
 
What photo vest is Brad wearing there? It looks like the Humvee Combat photo vest, but without the mesh upper that one has. It also looks suspiciously like it was tailored a bit to look less dorky on him.

Interesting, too, that he's wearing the vest, apparently with only very light stuff in the pockets, and carrying an over-the-shoulder bag too. Just how much gear does he need?
 
If photo vests aren't your thing--because of looks--there is some crossover with travel, tactical and concealed carry vests. However, most of those vests (particularly the latter two) would probably bring the wrong type of attention. Some of those look very cool, but most have a paramilitary look to them. These days, when out shooting on the street, I think it's probably better to look more like Lee Friedlander and less like Travis Bickle. :p

Also, I think photo vests give off a little bit of a professional air, which one could use to advantage when shooting on the street or at public events.



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Ever since I started shooting film with my M's again I've considered going back to a vest rather than carry my Domke F3x bag.

To make it a little more streamlined I had a seamstress remove all the upper chest pockets. It's a little cooler in warm climates as a result, and looks less like a tactical combat vest. All I really need are the lower pockets for a couple of lenses and some film.

For colder climates, I've found that the perfect "camera bag" is an Alpha M-65 field jacket.

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Yep, always use a vest myself but then I usually wear it most of the time anyway as it's just so darn handy with all those pockets.

Tamrac 153 vest, I could probably carry 3 Leica M's with lens mounted in the pockets if I had to and wanted to crick my neck. Great for putting rolls of film, batteries, lenses etc, etc in. I don't see the associated stigma that some do on RFF to be honest, here in the UK you rarely see many photographers wearing them at all. Wouldn't be without mine that's for sure! :)
 
RayPA said:
If photo vests aren't your thing--because of looks--there is some crossover with travel, tactical and concealed carry vests. However, most of those vests (particularly the latter two) would probably bring the wrong type of attention. Some of those look very cool, but most have a paramilitary look to them. These days, when out shooting on the street, I think it's probably better to look more like Lee Friedlander and less like Travis Bickle. :p /
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Some of those camo vest designs you see on eBay are frightening, wouldn't advise anyone in London on Friday wearing one that's for sure! :D
 
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