Lowepro Vest Harness vs Shoulder Harness?

vaio2006

I'm looking into purchasing a Lowepro Vest Harness or a Shoulder Harness.
I can't decide which to get. Have any of you guys used one of these before?
Which one do you guys think would be a better buy?

Photoskipper

I got the vest and the belt. Just found the vest seems a bit overkill. Use the belt more often for wedding photo and short outdoor project. The vest only for long walk and 2 camera bodies with multiple lens.

Althought the vest has more hooks for addition pouch and pockets, it may be just too heavy and blocking the front chest and arm movement. It can take away some weight from the belt and more balance. I like it because I have everything I need on the body and not need to worry about the camera bag or backpack.

One of the problem using the vest is difficult to move in between the crowd. I got the 70-200 lens pouch and the external battery on the backside, filter pouch and another 2 small lens pouch on the front, note book, handphone, spare batteries on the chest, I just don't know how to turn my body when I need to squeeze thru the guests.

I am only 5 ft 7 and about 170 pounds, the vest is a bit too big for me. Will consider the shoulder harness later.

davidweaver

Photoskipper wrote:

...

One of the problem using the vest is difficult to move in between the crowd. I got the 70-200 lens pouch and the external battery on the backside, filter pouch and another 2 small lens pouch on the front, note book, handphone, spare batteries on the chest, I just don't know how to turn my body when I need to squeeze thru the guests.

I am only 5 ft 7 and about 170 pounds, the vest is a bit too big for me. Will consider the shoulder harness later.

I have an advantage being 220 and 6-1. I wear a think tank Speed Racer and keep a 70-300 tucked in there with a ton of other stuff.
Some tricks for moving through a crowd:
* Always smile
* Always apologize
* Wrap the camera strap around your right arm 2x and raise your right arm high into the air when moving through a crowd. Combine this with the smile and the apology and you are in like Flynn. (so to speak )
Think of being a waiter with a full tray of glasses except you don't take up that much aerial space. Having a pro-dslr raised up actually helps you keep spills and scuffs off the lens too.

I wear the pack at 45 degrees to the front right of my body and I move sideways and slightly forward when I'm in cramped quarters. This allows the bag to bump folks and then I smile and say pardon or sorry or excuse me or .... You get the idea.

Try to move along the sides of walls as they are much easier to navigate in crowded facilities.

Have fun!

David

Photoskipper

davidweaver wrote:

I have an advantage being 220 and 6-1. I wear a think tank Speed Racer and keep a 70-300 tucked in there with a ton of other stuff.
Some tricks for moving through a crowd:
* Always smile
* Always apologize
* Wrap the camera strap around your right arm 2x and raise your right arm high into the air when moving through a crowd. Combine this with the smile and the apology and you are in like Flynn. (so to speak )
Think of being a waiter with a full tray of glasses except you don't take up that much aerial space. Having a pro-dslr raised up actually helps you keep spills and scuffs off the lens too.

I wear the pack at 45 degrees to the front right of my body and I move sideways and slightly forward when I'm in cramped quarters. This allows the bag to bump folks and then I smile and say pardon or sorry or excuse me or .... You get the idea.

Try to move along the sides of walls as they are much easier to navigate in crowded facilities.

Have fun!

David

Hi, David,

Thanks for your tips.

One thing I learnt thru the years is to get to the right position in time instead of squeezing thru the crowd. Many times, I need to do a pre-event survey, check on the full dress rehearsal and get the program in advance so that I can find the best positions before it happen.

For wedding, I like to check with the host and manager what they want for the photos and move in earlier.

With 2 cameras, big flashs, full body pouches and just small size body, I need to plan better.

Art Scott

vaio2006 wrote:

I'm looking into purchasing a Lowepro Vest Harness or a Shoulder Harness.
I can't decide which to get. Have any of you guys used one of these before?
Which one do you guys think would be a better buy?

I decided I wanted to save money....I love Lowe Pro stuff (all my bags and accessorie bags are Lowe Pro that I carry now....have some going up for sale that are not)....so after looking atthe vest and belt and such....I opted for general usability and inexpensive.....I purchased a black Military webbed Pistol belts and suspenders....total cost her was ~ ~ $30 +/- ..... off of that I hang to LowePro toploader 75AW containing 1 KM7D with 2.8 70-210 with hood attached, Minolta flash Meter lll upto 10 batteries for camera and still ahve room for more small stuff, the other has 1 KM7D with 2.8 24-70 with hood attached and Minolta 5600HS(D) flash and 12-24 batteries for the flash ad lots of room left for other stuff. ,,,,,, by the sliplock system I have 2 DMZ memory card holders that hold 6 - 8gb cards.....DMZ on right is unused cards numbered and the LowePro DMZ on the left holds shot cards in sequence of being shot.

So for half of what my local Retailer was asking for the the LP stuff I saved a lot....it is not bulky or heavy the suspenders could actually be worn under my vest and not even show ( I needed the suspenders to Keep the belt up with 2 cams attached to it).....but I did not get it for weddings at first it was for Motorcycle trips and to keep cams in reach but still protected and balance for a comfortable bike ride......Works Like a Dream!!!!barbthumb

I have a set of sand colored suspenders for $25 including s/h +3% for Paypal..................

Photoskipper

I did the same as Art a year ago. The military suspender and belt is pretty useful but i could not use if for the wedding photos as it looks a bit odd in the party.
The vest make me look "professional":ivar

For short hunting (butterfly and bird photo) trip, i prefer to use the hip bag with suspender. The bag carry the rain coat, snack and other "survival essentials" and the belt can hang the topload, 70-200 pouch, 2X TC pouch and a filer bag, may be the water bottle as well. So I can change the lenses without putting the bag on the ground.