What is the purpose of a photographer's vest?

Just so you would know who the 'real' photographers are!! Too many people running around these days with SLRs

With the number of pouches, I will need a search and rescue mission for anything I drop into any of them - extra CF cards, lens caps, lenses (?).

I use a lowepro field and stream deluxe belt with lens canisters along with whatever vest i happen to be wearing that day. Mega handy. All of the small stuff goes in the vest pockets, and the big lenses (300/70-200 2.8 etc) go into the pouches.

For those busy days when i need to carry an extra body etc - I slide my Stealth Reporter 300 onto the belt and slide it and it's accessories into that.

I own 3 vests, 3 bags and 1 belt system with a bout 9 accessories - I think I am addicted to buying stuff to carry gear.

This is my current favorite vest: http://oakley.com/o/o2​663a

lakiluno wrote:
smoking decreases the value of ones equipment...

And drinking in excess decreases the value of ones' other equipment....

Tom W wrote:
And drinking in excess decreases the value of ones' other equipment....

So does marriage.

tiefelj wrote:
I did not realize that the vest would hold such a large lens.

Guess I'll have to visit the POTN Support shop.

Jake

Yes, it does, I have the Safari one (the longer one, I mean, I may be wrong with the name) and you have two HUGE pockets (left/right) that are big enough to hold a 70-200 2.8 and a 100-400, one per side. With a little effort, you can even fit the lenses with the reversed hood installed, but in that case it becomes uncomfortable.

Another deep pocket on the top left shoulder holds easily anything up to the 24-105 or any big flash like the 550 or the 580. Or two smaller lenses (it happened to me with the 15 and the 50 stacked (possibly with something soft in between.

Plus, you have plenty of space for extra batteries, CF and other small stuf, plus of course for us smokers there is space for cigarettes and ligher

I do not use the back pocket, but that one also is VERY big and can hold a lot of stuff. But then getting seated somewhere becomes a problem A big white one that sticks in the bottom of your spine doesn't do well to both, the spine and the lens (and if its empty and you fall, ou can always try to fall on your shoulder then roll on your back, avoiding to hit the front pockets full of gear).

Overall, I must say that if you fill the vest with big white lenses it really becomes heavy. But personally I find that the weight is better distributed than with a shoulder bag, plus you have your hands free for taking pictures and at the same time, for safety reasons, just because you have all your gear ON you instead of WITH you. Once weared, you cannot forget it anywhere, and it cand be stolen easily. In certain circumstances, that is a great plus.

I have found belts, harnesses and vest are great when you need mobility (wildlife, hiking, football games, etc.). When you're gonna be stationary or going to be able to drag the thing with you ar have it handy or in sight at all times (hockey games, sometimes at basketball or wrestling events), I used a photo backback, positioned at my feet.

There have been times when having things hanging off my sides, back or front has been cumbersome, like trying to squeeze behind football players while going behind a bench, or during an after game press conference or celebration. It's times like these I've wished I had my kit stored somewhere else and just had my cameras with me.

They're a great way to stealthily increase your carry-on kit on airlines.