Which bean bag to buy?

Hi all,

I'm thinking of buying a bean bag. Who owns one and what product features to look for?Which ones do you recommend? My budget is about $100-150 and should my 5D + 500mm f.4.

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

Pieter

I stabilize my 300mm with a small balsam fir pillow when shooting from a vehicle, works just as well as a beanbag and is much cheaper, plus it doubles as a air freshener when I'm not using it

I purchased the BLUBB from Birds as Art and I am very happy with it. Very stable and easy to carry.

Mike

Art Morris recommends the Blubb, and I'm sure it is excellent, but to me, $100 is way too expensive.

After looking at all the ones found in a web search, I got the Molar beanbag and have been very pleased with it.
http://www.vertexphoto.com/BeanBag.aspx

If you know a seamstress, she could probably make you a close approximation from the dimensions and diagrams shown, in a heavy canvas, for less still.

Sandy r

Thanks all,

I'm also looking for something that let's me position the bag on the floor, which not all bean bags out there allow me to do. E.g. the molar looks great hanging from a window ledge but not sure if it works well resting on the top of my car or on any flat surface ( I could be very wrong ;)). And a release adaptor would also be handy, do you know of any that have this and if it's useful?

Pieter
Geneva, Switzerland

Cut a sleeve out of an old jumper, fill it with peanuts. That's a great bean bag, been using mine for four years now.
Buy an ERGOREST; http://www.ergodirect.net/browseproducts/Ergorest-Multi-Tripod-Stand.html, fix a wooden platform on the top. Best set-up for shooting out of the car window I have ever used. I use a Nikon D3 & 500f4.

That molar bag looks just like a pair of summer shorts filled with beans. Now thats got me thinkin'

Thanks Colin, looks like a smart device. Will it let you balance the camera/lens when it stand on the floor? In that sense, is it useful for macro?

Anyone ever heard of the Apex Bean Bag? Any reviews?

Pieter, these articles are safari-specific, but go through a bunch of options :

Finding the Perfect Photo Bean Bag for Safari
Continuing the Search for the Perfect Photo Bean Bag for Safari

There are a number of commercial options out there but I would try a home grown solution first. You'll see if you like it and get an idea of what is most important for your applications which could influence what and if you want to buy something premade.

In my case, for use in my truck window I commandeered a ten pound back of Balsamic rice from my wife. It came in a burlap bag and sits on the window sill or hood of the truck just fine. It even has a burlap handle on the top for carrying. I have no idea what it cost but I think she got it at Sam's Club and I told her if she needs rice she's going to have to go buy a new bag.


Oops..... as David points out BASMATIC rice, not balsamic. Please don't tell my wife I said that, she's a gourmet chef!!

...a ten pound back of Balsamic rice...

Just guessing Keith, but you probably mean Basmati rice, in case anyone else goes searching for it...

Pieter, the Molar works great on the floor or hood of the car too - just flip it upside down, with the V legs UP and then they cradle the 500 or 300 lens perfectly.
Sandy r