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Hypothetically Speaking
July 24th, 2008
Ok, y’all know me, and I know some of you. I think we’re now close enough that I can ask those really personal questions - like, say, those of you that never wear a photographers vest - why not? For those that have them - what do you hate about them, love about them, or want to see changed about them? Dream big folks. I dare say, dream the IMPOSSIBLE DREAM! (As long as it’s a dream about vests.) What’s a must-have, and what’s a deal breaker?
Let’s just pretend this is all a hypothetical question - like we were in Photography Vest 101 back in college and the teacher might be thinking about making a photo vest and gave you a chance to contribute in exchange for not flunking you. Now let’s pretend he wasn’t exploiting you just to supplement his meager teaching salary by doing a little sideline project. What kind of input might you give him? Hypothetically…
I have one and I have never worn it, yet. That will hopefully change in a couple of weeks when I spend a week shooting around Georgian Bay.
I never think to wear mine and feel a little ‘dorky’ wearing it. I suppose it is because it is new. I dunno. I suspect it has more to do with the fact that I’m not a professional photographer though.
I think that the RS-2 would be the one that I would chose so that I could possibly leave the big camera bag at home while shooting.
My mother, a seamstress, custom-made two vests decades ago to fit the camera bodies and lenses (and hoods) used then. But eventually newer, fatter lenses didn’t fit.
I looked at photo vests on the market and found only one which was my preferred color, gray (from Canon, with alas bright red trim). Most were earth tones I wouldn’t wear.
Most of these vests are designed for men. “Breast pockets” are completely useless for someone who actually has breasts.
Mine isn’t actually a dedicated photography vest. It’s a Columbia brand vest I’ve used for fieldwork. I have no idea what it was originally intended for.
My want list:
Inside pocket, lower front, for portable digital storage device.
1) Two deeper, expandable pockets for the occasional quick lens swap on the front bottom of the vest. I’d like to be able to stuff a flash in here if need be.
2) One lens cap / body cap mesh pocket sewn on the front right deeper pocket.
3) A pocket for lens cloth, brush, and memory cards on the front left pocket (perhaps a little clip in there to attach a pixel pocket rocket, etc)
4) A breast area pocket (sorry Wilsonian) for note book, pens, digital voice recorder.
5) A zippable breast area pocket for credentials, passport, etc
6) Clip on the front for media tag, VIP tag, etc.
7) Inside pocket, lower front, for a polarizer.
9) One or two large pockets on the lower back that I can actually reach without taking the darn vest off. These are for lager papers (shot-lists, schedules, etc). Perhaps one could carry a water bottle.
Yeah, I tend to be a mule even with the slowly growing ThinkTank gear. I just hate to put stuff down anywhere and I always need the one thing I didn’t bring. My current vest comes fairly close except for the pockets not being large enough for a flash or mid-range zoom.
First off I have asked myself why I would ever need a vest. There are modular belt systems that will hold my lenses, a backpack for my bodies and accessories, and add-on pockets for my backpack straps/belt that hold my cards. So why would I make myself suffer the indignity of wearing a vest that looks like a 70s safari suit? No need to spend the dough.
However, IF someone (hypothetically speaking of course) came out with a vest that was really a jacket (zip-off arms for those hotter climes) and it did not come in KHAKI only, I might consider it. It could even come with a zip-off hood, which might help to make it a bit more stylish….don’t make it look like a photovest. I can think of way more times when looking like a photographer was not what I needed and NO times when looking like a photographer was necessary to get the shot.
I could envision the vest/jacket coming with the ability to add or remove pockets/pouches similar to the lowepro accessories…or heck, was even compatible with them. That way if you don’t need a giant pocket for lenses you don’t have to put one on it that day. Also…I’m a rather slender guy and those vests look like I’m 8 years old wearing my Dad’s suit…make something that fits…and fits fashionably and I might consider it. Just don’t make it Khaki…please….
I would like the passport/notebook pocket to be made from inside-out gore-tex so I don’t sweat all over my passport. I’ve had issues getting in and out of countries after my passport got wet.
I really like a back pocket to keep a larger notebook, lens or travel guide.
Ok, so let’s say I agreed with you about the Khaki colours - what colours WOULD you like? I know black is hot, but it’s good looking. Charcoal? Lighter grey?
Thanks for the input folks, keep it coming!
I actually don’t mind khaki or gray, but if I had to think of another color I would go with some version of a darker blue. Blue seems to be a standardized neutral color ala U.N. and press corps. I stay away from olive-drab or any color that resembles it when traveling out of the country.
Colour is tricky…and I think it depends entirely on the material type as well. I’m no fashionista, but I tend to like the higher-end stuff from MEC. I’ve got some travel shirts from them that are brown (small white specks in it to make is a little lighter in colour) and steel blue…nice colours IMO.
Having a weather sealed pocket is a good idea for memory cards/passports. I’d also like to recommend a hidden pouch between the shoulder blades or somewhere out of the way.
Oh, let go of the fear of Khaki. Safari people wear Khaki for a reason. Not dying of sunstroke is way cooler
than being a fashionable corpse.
I’d go for medium grey, as Jeremy said a good blue would work. I’m not sold on the black unless you make it very, very vented. Us, uhm, lets say “stout” guys don’t need to be wearing a giant sponge.
The only thing I would ask is to make one i a size that fits me.
I bought one from B&H a couple of years ago (Black, the smallest they had) and was quite happy with it until my girlfriend refused to be seen with me if I wore it, she said it drowned me.
so please remember us little guys.
I have considered one a few times (more and more lately) but never seriously because I relaly don’t wan’t to look like a total dork. I already look bad enough on my own that I don’t need my clothes to spell it out for me. If somehow a photography vest could look like normal clothes, then I’d be all over it!
No vest here lol ..you’ve got to be kidding
I live in Manchester. When I go out taking photographs it’s a dirty great big set of ‘don’t even think about robbing me!’ boots and a bad attitude lol. Seriously though, I did consider a harness setup for a while but I tend to carry the kitchen sink with me “just in case” and the only way I can do that makes vests and harnesses redundant really
If they could come out with one that was air-conditioned for the tropics I may be interested. I have one which i used to wear when birding during the cooler winter months (you could stuff some of the extras like tc’s tec into the pockets. But for half a year at least I don’t want more than one layer on me.
Why not get the Think Tank belt with two or three lens bags, the R-Strap (or two of them) for your bodies and for all your accessories a nice vest. Doesn´t need to be a Canon vest…I mean everything with pockets works, huh?
That´s at least my dream combination..You have your stuff all over your body, it´s accessible and leightweight..not like with your backpack that has 2 kilogramm by itsself
I have a vest and never wear it. Pointless! The pockets are too small for my lenses, it’s made from Polyester so makes me hotter and sweatier than a very hot and very sweaty thing. Ridiculous purchase. The Think Tank harnesses work best for me but if there was a jacket that combined all the best elements of their pouches with a jacket that didn’t look nerdy then I’d be interested.
Two deep, big pockets at the front, large enough for a 70-200mm zoom. Perhaps some sort of drawstring or elastication to tighten it up and stop it bouncing around. Breast pockets for memory cards, large enough also for phone and/or GPS etc. (sorry for those with breasts, I’d never considered that as a problem Wilsonian but can see how it would be). External hip pockets for spare batteries (large enough for BIG batteries). Secure, water-resistant inside pockets for wallet, passport etc. Other internal pocket for notebook with attachment loops for pen/pencil. External shoulder pocket with soft material inner for temporarily holding filters, polarisers etc.
Here’s my deal-breaker: No frickin’ Velcro. It’s a marvellous invention but you want to draw attention to yourself in a quiet location then Velcro’s the ideal tool. Seriously, burn that velcro.
Light grey perhaps? Not fussed about colour but not khaki and definitely, 100%, NOT camouflage
Try to make it look like something other than a photographer’s jacket. Large, rear pocket for map/guidebook with access at the side so you can reach around to access. Second hip pocket for water bottle.
OK, I’m going into stream-of-consciousness fantasy mode but having a decent, workable jacket like this would make my life a lot more comfortable so come on David. Get the job done. And keep away from that Velcro. Seriously!
Thanks, folks. This is excellent. Keep it coming - especially the nitty gritty. And for folks like Gavin who seem particularily passionate about things like Velcro - don’t hold back. Seriously, if this is going to happen it needs to rock. Otherwise there’s just plenty of mediocre vests already out there.
No velcro, I promise. And I’ll do my best to protect the nipples of everyone involved.
If it could come in both regular cotton and the super-breathable fabric at the same time, hopefully it could cut down the cost of the vest. For me, who lives in the Olympic Northwest, the super-breathable stuff isn’t really necessary and only adds to the cost. I got a pretty decent vest for $40 at a local outfitters and it’s been pretty decent.
Maybe we could have velcro in only one or two spots, above the chest pockets. It might be nice to have some kind of name tag spot to velcro on when on “Official” work. Also, it could act as a kind of modular small pocket with a window for photo-id - removable is a must though.
Lapels might be nice, for times when you want to secure the strap or a camera bag. Personally, I wear the vest for immediate access to small accessories. Large lenses go into a camera bag as I don’t like the big bulk in pockets. Inside pockets, lots of them, like four or more. My vest has an inside pocket on the back, presumably for the really important stuff.
Snaps, buttons and heavy flaps seem to work for securing stuff in pockets.
I’ll try to think of more.
I’ll second the no velcro idea.
Even better, do something a la ThinkTank where you can silence them if you’d like, but can have them close tight when you need to boogie. A definately a water (read sweat) proof pocket for documents, maps, etc.
Ok, just to blue-sky it a bit. How about something across the shoulder blades into which you could slip a flexible solar panel. Run the cord into a pocket and charge batteries, etc while you bake in the Tunisian sun.
On the inside of the back make a pocket deep enough for a CamelBak or some other bladder (heh-heh bladder) device for personal hydration.