If you appreciate the practicality of a photo vest but aren't really into the beige or khaki safari design of most traditional models, the new COOPH photo vest might be worth a closer look.
The vest features a more modern reversible padded design and comes in several color options. There are plenty of storage options for gear, accessories and smaller lenses. COOPH also says the vest is easy to fold and carry when not worn. The outer material is a rip-stop fabric and sheep wool is used for insulation.
Despite the attractive design touches, the vest's real highlight feature is smartphone controlled built-in heating. The optional THERM-IC Heating System warms the hand pockets and heats kidney, back and stomach regions.
It is compatible with any 5V USB power bank and can be used as a simple "dumb" heating system. However, if you add the THERM-IC bluetooth dongle into the mix, it becomes smartphone-controllable. A dedicated app lets you control the temperature and a motion control mode provides more heat when you are static and reduces power while you are moving. An eco mode delivers a constant level of heat for best energy efficiency.
COOPH claims an approximate five hours runtime with its own THERM-IC 5200 mAh battery. Vest and heating system (including battery and dongle) are available as a bundle for approximately $440 (389 Euros). More information can be found on the COOPH website.
I expect the zipper is plastic but nevertheless a good photo vest should be completely smooth down the front and particularly over the belt to protect gear slung around the neck. I agree with what others have said, the sling over the shoulder looks remarkably uncomfortable and insecure. Time to design a MkII.
Much ridicule and some of it is deserved (phone app?) but many fail to understand that sometimes photography involves sitting still for long periods in cold, often nighttime conditions; e.g. wildlife, landscape/nightscape (waiting for the right light) and astro. Sometimes a heat source is very welcome regardless of "bundling up".
This could be useful though expensive and not the only solution.
I will give them some credit for trying. I have a "regular" photographers vest that quite frankly I'm a little embarrassed to wear. Aside from that, I don't really have a good use for a photo vest. I think a small camera bag works better for most things.
How about straps on the shoulders to keep the camera strap from sliding down the arms. Some of us oldies still carry cameras on their shoulders like the model in the photo.
What keeps the cam and strap on shoulder when moving? The vest looks slippery. I use a small hook on shoulder to prevent the cam to fall. The lens should to towards the body when carrying. In the picture it is outwards which means it clashes with ... say...furniture or walls etc.
What happens if your phone is updating or if your phone dies? and in cold weather, battery life sucks...useless vest. spend $400 on real outdoor clothing...
Can someone tell me what happens if it gets wet? What if it snows? Is it waterproof? Will it short out or start a fire? Can i use it as kindling then? Is there an option to have arms on this vest? Can I get an app for my smart watch to turn it on and off? How close do I have to be to the jacket to activate it? Is it blue tooth compatible? Does it work with Andriod and iOS?
Seems semi legit. But i don't think it'll work too well in practice. You wear a vest over a jacket because of heavy work and the stop start nature of it. The heating helps with long periods of down time. But i don't see photography as physically demanding as some sort of labour, like being a removalist or builder. And I don't see it holding up to the wear and tear it would take if for some reason you did. Heated clothing is tops in the right application. Don't think photography qualifies. If it gets that extreme you resort to proper layering of clothes. But hey maybe vests will become fashionable, and everyone knows Bluetooth makes things better
Good grief! A decent utility shell with multiple big pockets, worn over an insulated vest or sweater, worn over a base layer shirt, will keep you plenty warm. Stash your batteries in the shirt pocket.
The need for extra heat is for heated over-gloves or over-mitts to cover thin liner gloves, so that when you have need of dexterity, the hand in liner gloves starts out being warm. Everyone has their own preferences. I throw a disposable chemical hand warmer into the over-mitt (some over-mitts / over-gloves have pockets to accommodate standard-sized hand warmer). I like to have the hand warmer loose in the mitt so that I can stick it at the fingertips and still use hiking poles.
Is it April 1st already? A few decent base layers and a good down jacket would be a much better bet and you wouldn't look like a right t*@t plugging your jacket into a power source. And who designed it to be sleeveless!! Obviously they have never been in proper cold weather before.
5 volt USB is a fail for hearing. How many amps? At 2 amps / 10 watts you’ll barely know it’s turned on and the battery will be dead in no time. They need to advertise performance specs. Silly idea.
The Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 Mark II is a rather belated update to one of our favorite enthusiast compact cameras. Is it enough of a refresh to keep up with the times?
The Nikon Z6 may not offer the incredible resolution of its sibling, the Z7, but its 24MP resolution is more than enough for most people, and the money saved can buy a lot of glass. Find out what's new and notable about the Z6 in our First Impressions Review.
Many cameras today include built-in image stabilization systems, but when it comes to video that's still no substitute for a proper camera stabilization rig. The Ronin-S aims to solve that problem for DSLR and mirrorless camera users, and we think DJI has delivered on that promise.
The SiOnyx Aurora is a compact camera designed to shoot stills and video in color under low light conditions, so we put it to the test under the northern lights and against a Nikon D5. It may not be a replacement for a DSLR, but it can complement one well for some uses.
If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that while they're a bit older, still offer a lot of bang for the buck.
A question frequently asked on the Internet is 'what's the best DSLR?' In this buying guide we've answered that question – but also whether it's the right question to be asking in the first place.
What's the best camera for under $500? These entry level cameras should be easy to use, offer good image quality and easily connect with a smartphone for sharing. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing less than $500 and recommended the best.
Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Sony mirrorlses cameras in several categories to make your decisions easier.
Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Canon DSLRs in several categories to make your decisions easier.
The Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 Mark II is a rather belated update to one of our favorite enthusiast compact cameras. Is it enough of a refresh to keep up with the times?
Weeks after he was first reported missing, Chinese authorities have confirmed photographer Lu Guang has been arrested near China's far western region Xinjiang.
For the past few weeks, our readers have been voting on their favorite photographic gear released in the past year in a wide range of categories. Now that the first round of voting is over, it's time to pick the best overall product of 2018.
Thanks to camera drones, it's easier than ever to capture stunning photos from an aerial perspective. We present the 10 drone images that inspired us most this year.
Fujifilm has made firmware version 2.0 available on its website for its X-T3 and X-H1 mirrorless cameras, as well as an incremental update for its 80mm F2.8 macro lens.
Sony had the full-frame mirrorless market to itself for nearly five years, but it's no longer alone – the Nikon Z6 and Canon EOS R have both arrived priced to compete with the a7 III. We take a head to head to head look at these three cameras.
As if it needed one, the triple-camera smartphone might really be the final nail in the compact camera's coffin. DPR contributor Lars Rehm brought the LG V40 on a hiking trip recently and found it to be a huge leap forward in terms of creative freedom.
Renowned UK-based landscape photographer Nigel Danson has been using DSLRs for years. In this video, created exclusively for DPReview, Nigel discusses his experience using the Nikon Z7 and why he's excited about mirrorless cameras. (Spoiler... beautiful scenery ahead.)
Tune in this week to see Chris and Jordan's review of the Nikon Z6 full frame mirrorless camera, and also find out what Chris thinks of the popular 35mm focal length. (Rant alert!)
There are plenty of ways to spend well over $250 on photography gear, but we've picked out some standout accessories that are sure to wow the photographer on your shopping list.
Facebook has disclosed a major photo API bug that left the private images of millions of users exposed to third-party apps from September 13, 2018 to September 25, 2018.
Chinese optical manufacturer Kipon has added the Nikon Z and Canon R mounts to its range of adapters made to attach medium format lenses from Hasselblad, Mamiya, Pentax and others to full frame cameras.
Palette Gear has announced an update to its modular, physical editing interface that lets MacOS users now use their palette with Capture One 11 and 12.
Shopping for a photographer? We've got some gift ideas for all budget sizes, but here you'll find our budget-friendliest suggestions – just right for stockings.
It's not always easy to find marble, wood or concrete surfaces on demand. Enter Replica Surfaces, small tiles designed to replicate popular photo surfaces and backdrops.
Lensrentals Founder Roger Cicala set aside some time to take apart Canon's new 50mm F1.2L RF lens and in doing so revealed a number of interesting discoveries.
With a nickname like 'bokeh master,' we had to see what the Sigma 105mm F1.4 was all about. Take a look at our gallery of samples shot with the Sony a7R III.
Comments