A photo vest that holds a FA 80-200/2.8!?! Wow! I carry mine in a
separate pouch/bag with its own strap.
Even so, I find the vest uncomfortable for anything over a couple of
hours even with just two-three relatively small lenses in the pockets.
My three main bags, in order of how long I've had them:
1. LowePro something-or-other AW. OrionAW?. This is the one with a day
pack on the top, a camera bag on the bottom.
a. Good news. The top & bottom separate, you can use the bottom
portion as a shoulder bag or waist bag. Top quality, great capacity on
the bottom portion, and the long lenses and water bottles and spare
batteries and lunch and a rain jacket and a bottle of whiskey from Duty
Free can go in the top.
b. Bad news. Somewhat heavy even when empty. The waist-bag
configuration is comfortable only if you have minimal gear. The design
is not the problem (I've used LowePro products for 30 years, starting
with their huge expedition backpack for long-distance hiking, and I am
convinced that their designs are second to none.) Problem is that a
waist-belt is inherently not a good way to carry a lot of heavy stuff.
I tend to supplement the waist belt with the shoulder strap, slip the
strap off when needing access to the bag.
c. Bad news. If you use it in full-pack configuration, then like with
any backpack, you can't reach your gear. So changing lenses can be a
hassle, exacerbated if you are in a place where the only level ground
is muddy, wet, occupied by a snake, whatever. You can unclip the
bottom, slide it around to the front, change lenses, slide the bottom
back around and reclip it to the top half. Not recommended as a way of
frequently changing lenses.
d. Bad news. Lots of straps to hold everything together and to allow
for the various usage options. One half to two-thirds are superfluous
for any given configuration; they add weight, they get in the way, and
are generally a nuisance. Except when you need them.
e. Bottom line - I love/hate this bag. Used it for 5 years all around
the world with no signs of wear or damage. Very functional and
versital, at the price of complications, fussiness, and weight.
2. LowePro something-or-other waist belt bag. Sideline shooter? Orion
Mini? Bought this a few months ago for "urban expeditions" when I don't
want to carry very much. Probably would fit your needs.
a. Good news. Hold a K10D w/ 16-45 or 77, plus two or three other
lenses.
b. Good news. Light, less bulky, and therefore more comfortable than
the above.
c. Bad news. Less capacity for the gear and no attached daypack for
large lenses and misc other stuff.
d. Bottom line - Has served me well the last few months wandering
around DC in my spare time.
3. LowePro CompuDaypack, Photo gear on the bottom, non-detachable day
pack on top. Just recently acquired, not given a thorough workout yet.
a. Good news. Significantly, noticeably, lighter than the OrionAW.
Fewer straps flapping about.
b. Good news. Accommodates my 15" Powerbook in a separate well padded
pocket.
c. Bad news. Smaller capacity top and bottom than the OrionAW.
(Essentially the same as my Orion Mini waist belt bag.) I may or may
not be able to accommodate the bottle from the Duty Free. Maybe if I
buy two half-bottles?
d. Bad news. Like any backpack, if you want to change lenses or access
gear, you need to take it off, open it up, dig through the gear...
e. Bottom line. This is probably what I will travel with, with
particular emphasis on its ability to carry my laptop which relieves me
of the need to carry a briefcase on the plane.
Stan
On Jan 3, 2007, at 7:35 PM, John Francis wrote:
> From experience, it's quite easy to load up a photo vest with far more
> gear than you want to carry around. I've had my FA 80-200/2.8, a
> couple
> of other lenses in the 50 - 100 range, a flash, a dozen AA batteries,
> a radio/scanner, two or three bottles of water, etc., etc. That's in
> addition to whatever camera and lens I was using at the time. And
> unlike
> a camera bag it's not that easy to rest some of that weight on the
> ground;
> you're pretty much stuck with it for the duration.
>
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