Being an airsoft combat photographer, or even an actual war photographer is one of life's ironies. You get shot at and you can just shoot back with your camera, not with a rifle. You get hit in airsoft, get killed in a war zone, and for the latter, the rewards are not money or a medal, but your photos being used in history books, which means that your work has been preserved for posterity. It is exhilarating, it is also fulfilling.

In combat photography, you equip yourself with all the gear, including the bags that can protect your investments, and protection for your body. However, in terms of carrying the serious photographic equipment, which are in themselves more expensive our airsoft guns, the usual camera strap won't do the trick.

I have banged my camera equipment many times when covering airsoft games due to inadequate carrying systems. What I always worry about are my lenses, even if they are built like tanks, anything that disturbs their internal parts would ruin them, and you can kiss some thousand-buck equipment goodbye. So in my quest for a good camera carrying system, I have tried some slings, shoulder straps, and even some DIY straps that I can strap my camera to my combat vests. But they are just too inadequate. What I wanted was a camera carrying system that frees up both of my hands whilst not in use, and still allows the camera brought up quickly when an photo opportunity offers itself. Furthermore, I need a carrying system that won't be such a pain in the neck. Airsoft gun slings are already uncomfortable ones, and camera neck straps are even worse.

I have lurked in photography forums, and always a name crops up: Cotton Carrier. I've seen photos of photographers who swear by it, and checked the video at the Cotton Carrier since 2009. Their camera carrying system looked interesting,  but I never quite “pulled the trigger” since I was still building up my photographic equipment for use in Popular Airsoft.  However, early this year, one Youtube video of the Cotton Carrier, funny as it my seem, convinced me that this might fit my needs:

I emailed Cotton Carrier to request for a review unit of the Cotton Carrier System. I was in luck that Grant Vetters of Cotton Carrier responded immediately and they were very much open to Popular Airsoft reviewing their system. In less than two weeks, the package arrived at my doorstep and eagerly opened the goodies that they have sent me.

I was expecting their Camera Vest System in the package, but to my surprise, they also included the Carry-Lite System and a handstrap. Cotton Carrier gave me options on how to carry my cameras: the Camera Vest System for heavy lifting, especially during airsoft events, and the Carry-Lite System for regular photography, especially in in public places where the Camera Vest System may just make you out of place.

Also included is the Cotton Carrier Camera Holster which will allow you to carry two cameras with the Camera Vest System and the Carry-Lite if you get an extra holster.

Cotton Carrier is a system developed by the company's founder, Andy Cotton. It is a vest-strap system that does away with the bundled camera strap for DSLR cameras, and removes the weight from your neck. Using just the neck strap for serious photography work would leave you with a sore neck after a few hours of shooting. What's good about this vest is it's a one-size-fits-all unit and has a mounting plate called a “Lexan Camera Receptacle” at the chest area to mount your camera to. At the shoulder straps, you'll notice two camera tethers which provide extra security to your cameras in the most unlikely case they come off the mount plates. The rings included in the package are to be attached to your the camera bodies so you can hook the tethers to these. You can remove the tethers if you still want to use the bundled camera neck straps from the camera manufacturer instead. The back of the vest is a comprise of a mesh that is more comfortable than a shoulder strap (and the latter would leave strap marks on your back after a long day's work).

In order for you to mount your camera to the mounting plate, there are two types of hubs that were supplied by Cotton Carrier: a) Regular Camera Hub; and b) Angled Camera Hub for Pro-cameras with battery grips and these are made of up anodized aluminium with thick rubber washer and marine grade bolt. To distinguish one hub from another, the Angled Camera Hub is in black colour.

These hubs are mounted attached to the camera using the tripod mount. To secure the hub properly, Cotton Carrier thoughtfully provided a turn key which acts like a screw driver. In case you forgot the turn key, you can use small coins or keys to make fit it tight to the tripod mount. Make sure that the hub arrow is pointed towards the lens, ensuring alignment of the hub for easy mounting to the Lexan Camera Receptacle (vest mount plate).

If you attach the Cotton Carrier Handstrap to the camera body, you'll need to remove that rubber washer in the hub as the handstrap already has its own rubber plate. In certain cases, such as having heavy zoom lens, I remove the handstrap from the camera, and put the hub on the tripod mount of the lens itself. This way, I prevent the heavy lens from ripping away the lens mount of the camera body. For magnesium alloy camera bodies, it may not be an issue, but it's better be safe than sorry.

The Angled Camera Hub tilts the camera body away from your body, especially with the Pro-Bodies with battery grips and long lenses. I appreciate this design, since using the Regular Camera hub with such body and lens, the lens press against your stomach and when in the move, it grates against your skin. The Angled Camera Hub protects you from such situations.

To secure even longer lenses, from 200mm and longer, the Vest has a velcro strap that included. Below the Lexan Camera Receptacle is a small pocket for putting extra memory cards in case you run out of a memory space.

Overall, the Cotton Carrier Vest System is a well-thought out product as there's nothing to fault with its features.

The Carrier Cotton Holster is just like the vest with its Lexan Camera Receptacle as shown below in the photo already strapped to the belt of the Carry-Lite. You can shift it to the left or right side of the belt depending on your shooting preferences. It's a cinch to place into the free areas of the Vest System or the Carry-Lite, given its tight velcro straps at the back. For us airsoft players, another velcro add-on to your gear wouldn't hurt. With the holster, you can carry two cameras on yourself without worrying about the weight exerted on your neck with the camera neck straps. In combination with the Vest System, your hands are always free when the cameras are not in use.

As mentioned, the Cotton Carrier Carry-Lite System can be used with the holster. Apart from the holster, you can also attach other pouches for extra lenses, flashguns, water bottles. It comes with a shoulder strap and with the tether. Whilst it can take it pro-bodies and larger zoom lenses, I would prefer this for backup cameras without the battery grip and shorter, wide-angle lenses. The smaller equipment you have on your side, the less likelihood you get to bump the cameras into walls and get caught in obstacles.

Now, how to mount and secure your camera to the Cotton Carrier System? It's easy but it just takes 3 easy quick steps:

1. Prepare the camera with the Camera Hub at a 90-degree angle.

2. Insert the Camera hub at that angle into the Lexan Camera Receptacle

3. Adjust the Camera with the lens pointing down

Removing the camera from the Lexan Camera Receptacle can be done by reversing the steps above. This same procedure also applies with the Carrier Cotton Holster. The 90-degree angle should provide adequate measure in preventing your camera from falling off.

Depending on the length of the lens, you can have the lens fully extended up to 400mm and still be comfortable. I cannot say about lenses at 500mm or more. For zoom lenses, you will be most comfortable at their shortest length.

TESTING AND CONCLUSION

I have the system for over 6 weeks as of this writing. I can say with conviction that this is the best camera carrying system available for us airsoft combat photographers. Whilst the Vest System may look odd in urban settings, as some members in photography forums say, it is at its best in the outdoors, and thus it is highly recommended to those who love outdoor photography. For me, I don't mind the stares when in the city when carrying the heavy DSLR and lenses. But most of the time, I bring the regular camera body and wide angle lenses with the Carry-Lite when not covering a major event.

The Vest System is really best at airsoft events as we have a lot of obstacles encountered when following the action. It frees up our hands to hold onto something when going uphill or going through windows and bunkers. You can run at full speed with your load without worrying about the weight of the camera straining on your neck or swaying from side to side and bumping into things. I have never experienced the cameras falling off and the provided lens stabilisation strap secures the lens firmly to the vest, preventing any movement.

Grant of Cotton Carrier confirms that the the system is in use by photojournalists doing combat or war photography. I have finally found a solution that does away with the neck strain that comes with camera neck straps, and a convenient way of being able to more things while the camera is with you. Rather than putting the camera in your bag while hiking in the outdoors and missing a shot of a scene happening in front of you, it's better having the vest system ready with your camera to snap that moment.

Cotton Carrier can take the system further, especially for war photography. The vest can be enlarged for it to accommodate ballistic plates at the front and the back. With the dangers posed to photojournalists in war zones, having a hybrid system that provides ballistic protection and convenience of carrying camera equipment would be a good recipe for getting the business among media organisations, whether private or military media.

Airsoft players are some of the ultimate geardos and camera huggers. They would always love to have their photos taken posing with their gear or doing an assault. With the Cotton Carrier Camera Vest System, you will fit in well among the geardos, and apart from being a camera carrier, the vest can provide adequate protection from stray bbs hitting your upper body.

The Vest System can be had from US$99.00, depending on the camera bodies you use. While the Carry Lite costs US$69.00.  An extra camera holster will cost US$35. Also, Cotton Carrier has some systems already pre-configured for two camera bodies and these are offered as packages starting at US$139.00.

Many thanks to Cotton Carrie for providing the review items.