Beanbags?

[Alex90]

Hi,

Was hoping for a bit of input on a few questions.

Basically i've noticed a lot of people use beanbags as opposed to tripods, i also heard bean bags are actual more stable?

I have a small tripod nothing great just one of the bog standard jessops ones, it has thicker legs than the cheaper ones though.... but i'd like to give a beanbag a go... so which one would people recommend and what weight?

I've noticed when looking a lot of them come unfilled... what do you put in them?

Alex

[Boddie]

This is surely a question for Horizontal Dave

[squishy]

I've been told that birdseed makes an excellent filler. What's more, should you wish to tempt some birds a bit closer (obviously not if you're in a hide or anything), you can grab a handfull out to put on the ground or wherever. I just thought that was quite a neat idea .

[MeadsMan]

I got a cammo beanbag from wildlife watching supplies,it was not cheap but is very good.I used small polystyrene balls to fill mine up,using seed is a great idea,but is much heavier if your going to carry it around alot.

[rlchew]

I put rice in mine .... uncooked of course . .... value range rather than the expensive varieties

I hadn't thought of bird seed but I agree what a neat idea.

Richard

[Alex90]

which beanbag did you go for? i'm thinking of probably going with the double bean bag camo ones because they would be good on the car window.

How of you found the beanbags those of you that have them?

[rlchew]

Mine is the one you are considering .... a camo double bean bag which I bought from Wildlife Watching Supplies.

I use a tripod a lot but the bean bag is really useful for the car.

Richard

[PMG]

I have two doubles which came direct from Mike Lane empty and I then filled with rice and are very steady but much too heavy in use - when I can get some polystyrene balls I intend to mix some in with the rice. When out in the car and particularly the campervan which is a much taller vehicle, then they are invaluable for grabbing passing shots from the van window We have used them for flower photography too - ideal for lying your head on and getting steady hand held shots a few inches off the floor, without getting your hair or face dirty!!

Pauline

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Boddie

This is surely a question for Horizontal Dave

I don't actually own a proper beanbag! But I do make extensive use of a pod...



This screws onto the tripod mount of your camera or lens or you can just use it loose. I often use it in conjunction with a tripod by plonking the pod on the tripod head and then resting the lens on the pod. This gives great freedom of movement for composing the shot plus you don't even have to disengage the quick-release plate when the bird flies - you just lift and track it. I often use it on the ground too, as Pauline describes. And I have been known to use it at cliff edges - ask Fourwings about that!

Dave P.

[Alex90]

Right i have a double bean bag on its way looking forward to experimenting with it.