Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Clik Elite CE704GR Telephoto SLR Chest Pack, Gray Review

Clik Elite CE704GR Telephoto SLR Chest Pack, Gray
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $125.00
Sale Price: $77.00
Today's Bonus: 38% Off
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A few months ago I purchased the Clik Elite Pro CE406GR Back Pack with Click Stand (Gray). This pack has a huge capacity for camera gear and provides a very comfortable way to carry a heavy load. I carry a large DSLR and several pro lenses and substantial tripod. The pack gives the capacity I need and workspace that keeps my gear and the pack out of the dirt in the field.

One feature that the pack offers is the capability to snap in a chest pack that holds a camera body and lens. The clips are integrated into the pack straps and waist belt. I decided to order this chest pack to use with my pack.

The chest pack came and it's great lots of room for a pro-body DSLR with battery grip, 70-200mm f/2.8, and even my Really Right Stuff L-bracket. It comes with a harness, strap, and built-in rain cover. There's room in the cover for memory cards, batteries, maybe a couple filters, your keys, stuff like that. There are pockets on the side that would probably be good for maps, or thin stuff like that.

Now there's one little thing this is the new-for-2011 chest pack with some new features (the built-in rain cover), but unfortunately the clips are not compatible with the back pack I listed above Clik Elite Pro CE406GR Back Pack with Click Stand (Gray). (Clik Elite provide a retrofit set of clips)... But if you want to get the features I described and attach the chest pack to the back pack without a retrofit kit, you need to get the 2010 version of the chest pack Clik Elite CE511GR SLR Telephoto Chest Pack (Gray) it's basically the same chest pack, but with slightly different harness, strap, and clips compatible with the back pack. The 2010 version of the chest pack does not have the built-in rain cover, so you'd need to pick up a little one here or there Camelbak Tactical Rain Cover

The chest pack is very large. My 12 year-old son told me he wasn't going anywhere near me when I have it on it looks like a baby carrier. But strange looks aside, I have been alone in the wilderness with my pro-DSLR around my neck with the 70-200 and fallen on the rocks. I got lucky and saved the camera and lens from damage, but it was too close for comfort. This case provides protection from that kind of accident, and gets the weight off your neck. With the camera in a chest pack, it's a lot more accessible for shooting than if it's in the back pack. So I may look a little strange, but given that I am going deep in the woods when I use this, there's probably not going to be too many people that see me anyway. And if I lose my balance, there's a good chance the camera isn't going to get destroyed...

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I use Olympus 4/3'rds equipment. My E-5 with HLD-4 battery holder along with my ZD 35-100 (70-200 equivalent in 35mm terms) mm f 2.0 lens fit inside this case with the lens hood (reversed) with little difficulty; the fit is a bit easier without the lens hood on the lens. In addition, my Olympus ZD 300mm (600mm equiv.) f2.8 lens will also fit in the bag (begrudingly), without the lens hood and without the camera attached, this is good for me as I do not like the lens swinging around in its supplied case while hiking Blue Ridge/Skyline Drive. In both instances above there is no way I could have my EC-14 (1.4X) teleconverter attached; also, tripod ring was attached to both lenses.

The pack is comfortable even with the heavy 300mm f2.8 lens in it. I also like that the pack can be attached to my QE backpack via the ports built into the shoulder straps, I have the 2010 Escape backpack. With this pack I will have fewer worries of my $$$ lenses hitting a rock or tree and being damanged.

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