Hey guys, finally here is a full review of the POTN vest like i have promised along time ago.... (sorry about the crappy pics, i was using the crappy Sony P&S)
Background-
If you are anything like me, I am sure that you already know about the photography vest but you are still not sure if it is the right accessory for you. I have been thinking about picking one up for almost 2 months and kept on going back and forth with the decision. Finally, I decided to just go for it based on the recommendation of CDS and the fact that I really wanted to try one out. I admit that I did do some research into different vests (Domke, Tarmac, etc…) but in the end, I decided to go with the POTN Safari vest because:
1) The POTN vest is very high quality
2) The price is perfect and the service just can’t be beat (I knew that because I already bought the POTN Neck Strap)
3) There is no better way to show your support for this amazing forum than by wearing the POTN merchandise and donating some money every time you make a purchase.
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The Reason for Wanting a Vest-
First of all, I am mainly a bird photographer and I also do some landscapes. I do some other photography as well but these 2 are main photography areas. Now, even though I own a couple of very comfortable bags (Lowepro Comuptrekker and Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home), I often found the bags to be a bit uncomfortable when I hiked or sat in a hide. Because of their size and the fact that they are hard to work out of when you are in the field (in a bush, by a waterfall etc…), I needed something that will allow me to take everything I need for a specific shoot with me and will allow me to have quick access to everything in it. This is exactly where the vest comes in and this is exactly where you will see its great benefits.
Down to Business-
As you can see from these images, the vest is extremely high quality and offers great storage options (so many pockets that it is easy to lose items in it ). When I first got it, I was very tempted to just put all of my gear in it and even though it worked, I do not recommend it. The main idea is to take everything you NEED to help keep the load light and also maximize the access to all the items. So, let’s take a look at my Lowepro Computrekker and what it holds:
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Now, normally everything that I need from that bag is:
17-40L or 24-70L
100-400L
Extra batteries
CPL filter
Remote Shutter Release
Extra CF cards
Marker or Pens
A few other misc. accessories…
Now, this is how it all fits in the vest. As you can see, I pack the gear in a way that will keep it “balanced” to help distribute the weight. With all the gear in the vest, the vest is still very comfortable and offers great mobility and quick access to all the gear.
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In the Field-
So far, I have used the vest in a couple of 15+ miles hikes as well as countless hours of birding (in the bushes, on the ground, near lakes etc…). During those times, the vest has been extremely comfortable and changing gears mid-shoot was a breeze. It does take some getting used to but once you get the hang of what works for you as far as organization, finding items is natural and takes about a sec. Normally what I do is take my full backpack with me in the car and before I leave the car, load up the vest with everything I need for what I am about to do.
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Verdict-
I have owned many accessories in my very short photography “career”. Most accessories do offer some value but most of them also have some weaknesses or compromises that needs to be made. With this vest, I have yet to find anything that I wish was better and I feel that as long as I use it for what it was intended, I don’t have to compromise on anything. Is this vest for everybody? I don’t think so to be honest. I really don’t see myself walking around the city with one and I don’t see myself doing a wedding with one. However, I do feel that for wildlife shooting, studio portraits, landscape etc… this vest is just the thing. The ability to have quick access to everything you need as well as the ability to rid yourself from the huge bag is just great. I think that for $60 (vest + shipping+ donation ), this vest is great value and I really can’t think of going out shooting with it after I used it for a few months. Also, the fact that POTN offers the vest in 3 colors allows you to choose the one that is right for your type of shooting. I bought the Khaki and I do plan on ordering the camo one sometimes soon. The also offer black which I think is just perfect for studio works and looks subtle enough to be used in everyday settings.
so, thanks to POTN and Phil for the great vest and the great service. Here is a link to the POTN store and make sure to donate some money along the way...
http://www.procameragear.com/potn/
