Billingham recently released their PhotoVest in an updated version. I wore one of them on a recent photoshoot – here are my impressions:
Good:
Pockets Galore: In fact, it will take you a few trips to figure out where to put what into one of 16 pockets this vest has and then to find the item quickly when you need it. But it is great to have so many pockets and I stored a huge load of gear in the vest without any problems at all.
Padded Collar: Often, the weight of all your gear pulls the vest down in the front, thus pressing the vest’s collar into your neck. Nothing you can do about it, but the Billingham collar is nicely soft-padded, thus no rubbing you raw in the neck. In fact, I did not notice any pressure in the neck, which is a good sign to me.
Comfortable wear: Initially, I wore the vest over 3 layers of shirts and sweaters. Later, I took on the layers off and tied it around my waist under the vest. No impact on the wear of this vest. It felt well balanced and “comfy”.
Short size: It’s shorter than most vests, which allows you to sit comfortably in a car with a lot of gear on your body. With longer vests, they get pushed up and are bunched around you. Not with the Billingham. Yet, its reduced length still allows you to carry long lenses.
Water-repellant, easy-to-clean outer material: Despite walking alongside a waterfall and getting even splashed on by a big dog coming out of a pool, water did not make it through the outer lining of the vest. I simply let it dry after using and then brushed off some of the dirt from the dog. Done.
Bad:
The price is high, but then, would you put $2000 worth of camera gear on a $60 tripod? With vests as with tripods, you get what you pay.
It feels thick, thus I assume that this is no summer vest, despite its vents in the back. More about that once I’ll wear it during summer excursions.
Verdict: Highly recommended!
Price: $398.00, Amazon: $279.95
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