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Need Bean Bag Info
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Jul 23, 2019 19:13:29   #
DebAnn Loc: Toronto
 
Howard5252 wrote:
I just got my Movo Bean; it is like an upside down U; designed to go over a car door.
I'd like to get some suggestions about filling it ... besides the usual rice or beans.
It will be supporting a fairly heavy lens and I'd like the bag to be on the light side
if possible. Does anyone have an idea for filling; something not normally thought of?
I guess what I want is lead shot stability with the weight of rice :-)


I read a suggestion by someone who filled his with those drycleaner polythene bags. Apparently they are so lightweight that you can line your suitcase with a few of them and then use them to stuff the beanbag.

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Jul 23, 2019 21:36:45   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
Howard5252 wrote:
I just got my Movo Bean; it is like an upside down U; designed to go over a car door.
I'd like to get some suggestions about filling it ... besides the usual rice or beans.
It will be supporting a fairly heavy lens and I'd like the bag to be on the light side
if possible. Does anyone have an idea for filling; something not normally thought of?
I guess what I want is lead shot stability with the weight of rice :-)


I use uncooked red beans, still in their plastic bag. Good weight and might come in handy if you get lost in the wilderness.... you can cook them up for a meal!

They also work well for travel... Take the bean bag empty, so it can be packed in a suitcase. Then buy the beans at your destination to fill it and use it while there, then donate them to someone who's hungry when you leave.

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Jul 24, 2019 01:52:41   #
JoeM845
 
amfoto1 wrote:
I use uncooked red beans, still in their plastic bag. Good weight and might come in handy if you get lost in the wilderness.... you can cook them up for a meal!

They also work well for travel... Take the bean bag empty, so it can be packed in a suitcase. Then buy the beans at your destination to fill it and use it while there, then donate them to someone who's hungry when you leave.

Good idea!

I'll also ask the tour people. Thanks everyone for the info.

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Jul 24, 2019 02:54:59   #
TonyP Loc: New Zealand
 
I have a cloth 'bag' my wife for me years ago.
Originally it had a velcro opening but that got pretty, grubby, so was replaced with a zip, that jammed up after awhile so replaced it with the velcro again.
Whenever I need it, and remember I have it in the bag, I just fill it with what ever is available.
Ive used stuff ranging from sand and dirt to small river pebbles ..
Works okay.

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Jul 24, 2019 07:58:24   #
Streets Loc: Euless, TX.
 
amfoto1 wrote:
I use uncooked red beans, still in their plastic bag. Good weight and might come in handy if you get lost in the wilderness.... you can cook them up for a meal!

They also work well for travel... Take the bean bag empty, so it can be packed in a suitcase. Then buy the beans at your destination to fill it and use it while there, then donate them to someone who's hungry when you leave.


I see that you live in Silicon Valley where hunger is running rampant.

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Jul 24, 2019 08:15:31   #
AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire
 
Marbles

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Jul 24, 2019 08:59:43   #
Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida
 
Howard5252 wrote:
I just got my Movo Bean; it is like an upside down U; designed to go over a car door.
I'd like to get some suggestions about filling it ... besides the usual rice or beans.
It will be supporting a fairly heavy lens and I'd like the bag to be on the light side
if possible. Does anyone have an idea for filling; something not normally thought of?
I guess what I want is lead shot stability with the weight of rice :-)


Sounds like my shooting bag which I filled with very fine silica sands that I sourced from a supplier locally.
Although quite heavy , it was quite stable for those very long rifle shots and would provide stability for that large camera lens as well. Otherwise I would use dried beans or rice or split peas but you can't let them get wet for all the reasons you might imagine.

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Jul 24, 2019 09:11:02   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
JoeM845 wrote:
I am looking for camera support/stabilization for an African safari next year. 28# weight restriction on luggage. Most of party are not photographers. Is a bean bag a good choice for those conditions? Even with very light weight filling?


You can buy a bag that can be emptied and then filled after arrival. Take a fillable bag and bnuy beans or rice or whatever when you arrive.

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Jul 24, 2019 16:04:11   #
Streets Loc: Euless, TX.
 
Going to the nearest large zoo with a tripod would solve most of these problems. A lot cheaper than a safari as well as less chance of being eaten by the subjects.

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Jul 24, 2019 17:39:00   #
splatbass Loc: Honolulu
 
jerryc41 wrote:
I'd rather something inert, rather than food, though. I'm thinking mold and bugs.


I agree if you are just using it near home. But for travel take it empty and use whatever you can get at your destination. Rice, beans, birdseed, sand, etc. Since it is only for a short time food is fine. Birdseed is good because you can use it to feed the birds when you are done and ready to go home.

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Jul 24, 2019 17:58:08   #
splatbass Loc: Honolulu
 
JoeM845 wrote:
I am looking for camera support/stabilization for an African safari next year. 28# weight restriction on luggage. Most of party are not photographers. Is a bean bag a good choice for those conditions? Even with very light weight filling?


Take an empty bag and fill it with whatever you can find there, rice, beans, etc. Empty before you return home.

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Jul 24, 2019 21:25:18   #
PhilS
 
When I shot video professionally I used sand. It's heavy, dense, and formable. Cheap and available almost anywhere. Dump it when you're done and get new when you need it. No need to schlep extra weight.

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Aug 2, 2019 10:37:02   #
Opsafari Loc: Roodepoort South Africa
 
JoeM845 wrote:
I am looking for camera support/stabilization for an African safari next year. 28# weight restriction on luggage. Most of party are not photographers. Is a bean bag a good choice for those conditions? Even with very light weight filling?


Travel lite and bring an empty beanbag with two z-seal plastic bags that will fit into the bag. Once in Africa, and you have the time to buy some dry beans or rice, fill the plastic bag with bought stuff. Or, at the lodge or where ever, fill plastic bag it with some sand or fine gravel and place it inside your bean bag. Yes, bean bag is very handy even more if it has a strap to carry or to tie it to the vehicle so that that it will not fall of a game drive vehicle. Game drive vehicle's bunks can be very slippery and sometimes you need to hang on for dear life and hold your camera!

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Aug 5, 2019 21:29:33   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
Floam in a plastic bag. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwiAbiGP0xA, for example. If you keep it from drying, it firmly holds whatever shape you apply to it.
Or plasticine clay in a plastic bag. But that one needs to be 'worked' to get it pliant so it takes a shape. But it will never dry. The plastic bag is bc you don't want it contacting your car.

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Aug 10, 2019 15:06:21   #
Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)
 
For those still watching ... thank you PMorin: I went with a 5lb. bag of plastic pellets from Polly Plastics. Just tried it out today on the driver side sill of my car - perfect.

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