Billingham Large Photo Vest (Stone)

Comments about Billingham Large Photo Vest (Stone):

Carrying bags are great for the out doors, but when Im on the run for a super light kit I choose the billingham vest, it holds all my needs to get the shot and move on. The material is strong and darn strong indeed, this thing can hold a 70-200 2.8 is 2 with a 580 speed-light, a 100mm macro, a 50mm and a ff body my filter wallets, lens pen, quick release keys and more. It can hang on a nail by the collar hook with no problems, the color is nice matches with just anything and it woun't keep you hot in the hot weather, it goes over any clothing just fine, but its not waterproof as the billingham site claims it to be. Another test went out with this in a down pour with paper in the pockets and indeed water did dampen the papers, this is after about 45min to 1hr in constant weather, this is good for L lenses that since it will not fill up with water even if the bodies of the lenses are damp that's nothing cause those lenses stands up to heavy water hitting them in the open. But I really wish manufactures notes these things, that waterproof does not mean things can get damp and soggy, and they can be more honest about there stuff. I still will not mind if they said this but as far as words from the inside the fabric is water resistant, anyway I really love the billingham and kept cause of its versatility and style, for the price it should have bin down pour resistant as well, 1 star taken away here. The vest has class and style indeed looks very good and you can even wear it on days when your not shooting.
The shoulder padding is very well made and is very breathable in all weather condition. This vest s tough and it still looks good after endless uses and works like the day I bought it.
Some may say the pockets are some what bulky when filled up, but its how you pack the vest, different pockets serve for different gear. Im medium build and it fits very nice my gear doesn't beat under my belt waists, it doesn't hang either and flop around when i bend, sit or move around even when the zipper is open and I down to the ground to shoot things don't fall out nor the lips of the vest rub against the ground. This is how a vest should fit, just enough so that things aren't slack.
5 year warranty is a nice touch to the vest, don't let the looks fool you.

Comments about Billingham Large Photo Vest (Stone):

I got this vest because I had tried all the other common forms of camera carrying. (Backpacks and shoulder satchels) but none had been quite right. Backpacks offer protection but the ones I'd had couldn't support the weight of my kit. (5D MKII 70-200f2.8L IS II, 35 1.4L 50 1.4 and an EOS-3 body with assorted caps and cloths and do-dads.

In a pinch I've hung it by it's coat ring with all of that in there and even though the ring is bit stretched it still feels solid (though I try to avoid doing that.

This lets me carry all that, over my coat and sweatshirt if it's cold or in a t-shirt if its not.

You can just feel the quality on this thing, unlike a lot of other vests it doesn't feel cheap. Just solid. Made in England, right there on the front under the Billingham name, it's a nice change

Also even though it gets a bit bumpy on my chest that doenst prevent me from strapping on my Chrome Metropolis, and then the 5D on a Blackrapid after that, and shooting for hours.

Also, I don't feel like a dork wearing t
My one complaint is that it can sometimes be a bit of a struggle to close the zippers on the front pockets or to get the 70-200 into the mouth of them. That could just be a sizing issue on my part but I'm 5' 8" and thin and that places the edge of the vest at about my waist which is I think where it's supposed to be.