Army Surplus Camera Carrying Belt
I said is a few times before. Army surplus stores are a great place for photographer to hang out at and find some nice finds. I think that there is a strong connection between the needs of a soldier and the needs of a photographer.
One particular point where needs converge, is carrying equipment. It is only reasonable that both will need systems that will help them carry dedicated equipment. The soldier needs to carry riffle parts, bullets, field accessories; The photographer needs to carry lenses, small strobes, memory cards and so on.
Soldiers use something called LBE (Load Bearing Equipment - I just love army slang) to carry most of the equipment that is not a weapon. That's extra clips, flashlight, small radio, and loads of other stuff that I can not even begin to tell you. Actually I can tell you, but then I'll have to kill you.
An LBE is basically a belt with pouches and suspenders. The belt provides ample space to place pouches for easy access, and the suspenders help to load share the weight between shoulders, hips and back. Reader David Slocum came up with the idea of using an LBE for carrying your camera gear.
The weight is heavy on both parties - photog and soldier alike. A camera/lens combo along with a strobe and a few spare lenses can easily make it to 5 or 6 kilos. A lot of time this is small change in comparison to what a soldier has to carry on mission, so it is only natural that a carry system that can carry a standard mission load can take care of a single photography assignment.
The question is will it also be convenient to carry photography equipment in terms of exchanging lenses, storing and unstoring a flash unit and so on.
I think it provides that LBE provides the best of all worlds. First it is a good price match for the more professional systems. Price is same or lower, depending on the brand. If you have one from your army time, swell! If not, this may be a good time to give grandpa a call.
David also gives some details on how he is using the LBE. There are two big pouches - one holds a Canon 70-200 with a hood (and this lens is kinda big) and the other one holds a strobe. Now, both of those are in the front and available for easy access.
The rear holds some extras, two prime lenses, and battery pouch, some misc like lens pen, memory card and more.
In addition, David carries two bodies in an R-Strap like strap, each in an opposite cross and an extra body attached to the front clips of the suspenders. This gives David a total of three always accessible cameras.
As far as pricing goes, getting a new LBE, like this one from Blackhawk costs almost the same as getting a dedicated set from Lowepro. So I am no sure if buying a new one is the best option. Hunting and army stores may have cheaper ones (but how much cheaper can you go from 35 Dollars). The other thing to remember is that those LBEs come in green, camo, desert and other exotic colors, so they are usually great nature photography. Weddings? Not unless you find a black one.
The last gear not that I have in this context is that carrying loads of gear is not a sure guarantee to make you happy. David Hobby (AKA Strobist) carries very minimal gear set in a shoulder strap. And David is good to shoot about 90 percent of his assignments with this set.
Another option is to go as minimalist as you can. Brian from Epic edits has a nice peace on the liberation he experienced when taking less gear on a shoot.
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Comments
Nice - but you can end up
Nice - but you can end up looking like a bit of a dork. Also, and this is a free tip, don't wear army surplus gear in Africa.
Nice idea but ...
Nice idea but not something you'd necessarily want to be wearing in terrorist-paranoid London, especially at some of our tube stations! :-/ *Especially* not if you're also carrying a monopod..
Nice But...
Hey, The two first comments say the same, and mark two locations where waring an LBE may win you a nice policeman prize.Have we really gone so far with terror feer?
Peter, what's the deal with using a monopod in London?
Scary world we are in
Scary world we are in sometimes! Where is or freedom and trust?
Practical...
Only if hiking and doing a landscape and nature photography. The above comments are true in a city setting. You would look like a nerd and might possibly be victim of a citizen's arrest or beating by the fashion police.
Pink
Hehe...I think it might be the models Pink shirt that might be throwing everyone off. Personally, I'd rather get passed off as looking like a dork and having all my gear handy and ready to go.
Pink
In the original post, it was pointed out that my wife agreed to model the rig so I could photograph it. That comment never made it to the article.
As to the comments about terrorism, I don't think it will be a big issue. Photo gear companies like Domke and Lowepro sell the same style rigs, just at a much higher price.
The LowePro rig is $30 for belt, $30 for suspenders, $20-$40 each for pouches.
One of the reasons I put this rig together is that I saw the same style rig, but the more expensive version, on our local newspaper photographers at a race. In searching around, I have seen the same style of rig on photographers all over the place.
While overzealous security guards and clueless police are a danger, in that they can give you heartburn, I doubt that using this rig will cause any serious issues in most places.
So far, I have worn it three times in public and the only comments I have gotten are curious people wondering about the setup.
Yes, we have to be aware of perceptions, but let's not go off the deep end!
In any case, I am glad this generated some interest. It is not for everyone and not for every event, but it is handy for those times when you need lots of gear on the move.
Thanks!
A great tip which I will put to use soon. This is especially useful for travel photography, or as some others have said, nature shoots. I think the issues in cities are perhaps less likely to come up than some think - but I agree that as paranoia in the United States continues to be fueled, "enforcement" grows more and more zealous.
Sounds like a good solution to keep a bunch of different pieces of equipment ready to use though - while in China in August I started to grow very tired of keeping my 50mm 1.8 in my left shorts pocket, my 70-200mm f4 (!) in my left, and my Sigma 10-20mm UWA clenched tightly in my hand while changing things around.
Come to think of it.... this might be a great tip for a wedding photographer..
Fishing jackets are better,
Fishing jackets are better, webbing is not practical for this, there are load carrying systems out there by lowe, pricey but it will stop 9 mm rounds coming your way if you know what I mean.
Cool idea, just society wouldnt wear it.
Where is my Army Surplus Store ? in the lower 48 states ?
Where is my Army Surplus Store ? in the lower 48 states ?
This should be easy to find. I tried Google and Yahoo.....
This is a grat idea guys,
This is a grat idea guys, but be carefull when you trevel, I live in Mexico, an the situtation with drug lords is pretty bad and rule number 1 for photographers, never look as a cop or soldier it can be dangerous they can think you are one of them and get killed whit this gadgets, so don´t use it if you´re traveling or when you´re shooting in a dangerous situation.
Take care and thanks
MOLLE
I have a MOLLE waist pack (aka First Aid Bag) that I acquired through my girlfriend's friend. It holds my Rebel XT, flash, extra batteries and 4 lens
(50mm, Lensbaby 2.0, 18-55mm and 35-80mm) as well as a few other small things.
My poor husband. His being
My poor husband. His being a gear geek will actually pay off for me for once! I hope he doesn't need any of this extra stuff ...
Attracting Attention
I have the Lowepro belt system and recently spent four days in London, during which time I had my gear with me constantly. The only interaction with the police, was that of a nice officer helping us find our way toward Victoria Station.
Indeed, I had expected the worst, after reading so many stories about photographers being harassed; but my fears were totally unfounded. I did not, however, risk taking/bother with, a tripod.
Not to dismiss this great diy idea, but, the Lowepro belt is very well padded, essential for someone like me, without much padding of my own.
Another possibility for a padded belt that would be less expensive than a Lowepro, etc., would be a framing carpenter's tool belt. Most home centers usually have at least a couple of styles of belts sold individually (without the usual, nail bags/tool holders); watch for a clearance sale ; )
Fancy stuff
i does look like it might catch attentions of the public..... which most of the photographer wouldn't want.....
Although it might come in handy for tracking and nature photography....
Belt
Nice idea.
I did the same couple years ago but found the LBE belt is a bit soft and cannot hold the weight of the photo gears particularly when the 70-200 F2.8 big gun is loaded.
Got some fund to get the Lowepro belt and connect to the LBE shoulder strip, it works much better as the Lowepro belt holds the heavier gear better. Great for bird photography.
Consider to add the holster (leg belt) to carry the lighter stuff as the belt is full.
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