Originally Posted by
Loren Pechtel
Aren't photo vests for carrying little things like film? I would think carrying lenses and the like on a vest would be pretty awkward.
Oh, HECK, no!
There are a huge number of photo vests on the market, from those that look like fishing vests up to massive multi-pocket affairs that look more like the kind of tac vests worn by special forces operators.
I don't use them myself, but I have known lots of photographers who do use them, and they can really come in handy if you're on a location shoot where you might need quick access to lots of gear like lenses, filters, cleaning cloths, light meters, and of course, batteries and memory cards. They can also be used to hold external batteries for large flash units.
As for the appearance factor - they don't make you look dorky, they make you look like a professional photographer. Which only looks dorky to those who know that you're not a professional photographer! If you are a pro, a vest is part of your kit, as much as your camera and lenses.