Cotton Carrier Review
July 2010
I am always looking for ways to ease the weight of my equipment. I use a Canon 1D Mark III camera, an assortment of Canon f2.8 lenses, and if the show is indoors, a Canon 580 EX II flash. This is a very heavy combination of gear to carry around continuously for 10-12 hours a day, for several days during a horse show. Plus, I am small, standing 5'1” tall.
My first 1-series camera, the 1D, was even heavier, and after my first season with it on a nice, comfy Tamrac Boomerang neck strap, my neck, shoulders and right arm were a painful mess. I had to find something else. So, I got a Kinesis X-Harness, which was a very welcome relief. It criss crosses over the back with padded, adjustable straps, which go over the shoulders and down the chest. It has two secure snap straps for quickly attaching the camera.
The pros were, immediate relief for my neck & shoulders, and its very well made.
The cons were, the snaps fit only Kinesis equipment, the camera swings around freely in front, and my lower back would ache badly if I could not find a chair every once in a while. However, a chair is nearly impossible to find in the middle of a horse show ring!
I used the Kinesis harness for several seasons, the relief it provided was worth it, however my lower back was soon nagging me at every show. I couldn't wait to get the camera off me. I heard about the Cotton Carrier camera vests this spring on www.fredmiranda.com, and after searching out user reviews on the internet, I purchased the vest unit only, for pro series cameras, because I don't use two bodies at the same time, plus an extra set of safety straps.
Fitting: I found the Cotton Carrier needs to be precisely fitted to get the best performance from it. My husband helped me, and it took us a couple of hours of adjusting to get it properly balanced with the camera attached. The lower body strap needs to be snug, not tight, but snug enough and placed on the ribs (rather than the waist) so it doesn't move around when putting the camera on and pulling it off. I found it is important to make sure the lower body strap is adjusted equally in the back, on each side of the back panel. If it isn't equal, the vest soon begins to get skewed. As I mentioned, I am small, and the extra strap lengths were hanging all over the place. Luckily, the ends can be neatly tucked into the elastic keeper on one side, and the buckle unit on the other.
So, I sent the vest to a local seamstress who took some material off the bottom of the back, so that it fits me properly now.
The second use was at a First Nations PowWow. We were there for several hours, shooting pictures of the magnificent dancers in their regalia, shopping and having lunch. So I was standing, sitting, kneeling, walking, visiting and carrying stuff in comfort all day. It was a warm day, but the Cotton Carrier again did not add any discomfort for me. The local newspaper photographer spotted me and came running over to grill me about the vest. He said his shoulders were strong enough to handle his two big pro Nikon bodies & lenses on their rather thin neck straps, but we saw him constantly moving them around his neck and shoulders all day. Several people approached me to ask about my camera, which often happens when using a big lens at a public event, but I didn't feel like I looked like a geek wearing the vest. One lady was so thrilled to see the Cotton Carrier because she had been desperately looking for something to carry her camera on hiking trips. So I gave her the web site info.
Show time! Next I used the Cotton Carrier in the situation that I would be most commonly using it, as official horse show photographer. The two day show was held indoors, so I used my camera with the Canon 28-70L f2.8 lens and the 580 EX II flash. What a relief!! The Cotton Carrier was like having a portable shelf with me to set the camera on whenever I wanted. Its very well balanced. Between classes, waiting for judge's decisions and waiting on entries, walking to and from the arena, I could just holster it and remain comfortable. My lower back did not bother me! The flash does stick out when the camera is holstered, but I am not among any crowds in the show ring, there is lots of space. I just put the flash in my camera bag when I was walking outside of the ring.
Conclusion: The Cotton Carrier is well constructed of durable material. I've had no trouble with the screw mount coming loose, or easily placing the camera in and out of the holster. Smaller people may want to consider modifying the back panel, or maybe the manufacturer could consider offering a small size in the future. It performs exactly as I need it to, relieving my neck, shoulders and back, plus keeping my camera & lens safe and secure. I have shown it to several other pro photographers, all with very positive comments, and several have purchased their own. If its worn with black or dark coloured t-shirts, or with any overshirt or jacket, it visually disappears. I find I tend to put the camera on and off the holster with my right hand, by rotating the camera body towards the left, lens to the right, and pulling upwards at the same time.
I have added a Think Tank “All The Other Stuff” bag on the right side, for my notepad, pens, batteries, business cards, etc., and I use the extra safety strap to carry two Lexar CF card holders. I'm finding that I would rather carry the camera on the Cotton Carrier than carry it in my camera bag!
Overall, I'm pleased with the Cotton Carrier's performance, and would not hesitate to recommend it to other photographers.
For more info, check it out here:
