John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

Anyone know of a Beanbag that attaches to the lens?
I am planning my next photo safari and working on the gear to bring on safari. In the past, I had folks bring three bean bags, but now that gear has changed so much, there might be a better answer. Does anyone know of a smaller bean bag designed to attach to the lens collar foot? I am sure I could make one and will if no commercial one is available, but perhaps this is already done.
Why do I want a smaller bean bag to fasten to the lens tripod collar you ask? On our Kenya safaris, everyone has their own roof hatch and row of seats in the safari vehicle. It makes the safari cost more, but being able to shoot out either side of the vehicle is enormously useful and having your own roof hatch is super too. Now most photo safaris do this. On safari, you might shoot out the roof hatch on either side of the vehicle, and for shorter animals, it is often best not to shoot from the roof hatch, but shoot out the lower windows on either side of the vehicle. That means you need to cover all four locations. That is a lot of bags and you also have to secure them to the windowsill or roof hatch railing or you will lose them when they fall outside the vehicle or on your head. And if you secure them to the window, there will be times when they still need to be adjusted to let you easily photograph toward the front of the vehicle or to the rear.
Now that many zoom lenses are available and because IBIS is on many cameras today, and because they are smaller, it makes sense to use a smaller bean bag and attach it to the tripod mount on the lens and then it is always ready to be used. For example, my Canon RF 100-500mm on the Canon R5 is most effective, and with the RF 1.4x teleconverter, it reaches 700mm. That would cover most mammals and birds in Kenya, and I still have the option of going to the 1.6x crop factor for the tiny birds and now that is a reach of 1120mm! (I find the crop factor is useful when I need the reach because I can see the subject better in the viewfinder since it is larger and then I better know when to shoot images.)
You get the idea, any thoughts or suggestions?

Leopard - for this on the ground photo, I shot out the lower window to get as eye level to the leopard as possible.

(Download)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I think there are but I do not have any exact link. I am thinking an AIR bag might be even better for your application .....

JimmyTB

http://www.lenscoat.com/lenscoat%EF%BF%BD-lenssack%EF%BF%BD-p-2562.html?osCsid=68d29bbd2df4ab1d03aec55664628731

I just happened to meet someone last week that recommended Lenscoat. Here's a link, I'm sure they have other models.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

A bean bag for your lens mount. The thread is a 1/4-20 (most common bolt size), I would look at the exercise items that are used to wrap around a persons ankle when exercising. Over the yeas I have found these used at different locations for near to nothing, collected them, and use these to counter weigh light objects. The canvas wrap could easily have a small hole made into it and a short 1/4-20 bolt pushed through with a washer on either side to keep it stable.

John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

I don't know what an air bag is but I will look it up.

John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

I now know what an airbag is as I remember I got popped in the nose once with one. My worst injuries in the crash were from the airbag, and not the tree on the side of the mountain. I got more ideas now. Rather that put the lobes over the window, I could wrap them around the lens and then I would always have a flat firm place to sit my camera on while on safari. I need portable as I have to continually move the camera to one of four places - roof hatch on both sides and windows on both sides.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, you could get a small tire inner tube and poke the lens through it 8-) there are also large plastic bubble wrap that could also work !

Quixdraw Loc: x

You might consider small ID, thick wall, slit Armaflex foam pipe insulation. Light, cheap, easily cut and can be slipped over the edge of a window, etc. - held with a strip of tape if needed to secure it.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Super shot of that big cat! Speaking of cats- I purchased my bean bag in a pet store. It is a bed for a small dog or regular size house cat. My cat prefers to sleep on everything else in the house except his bed. So, I packed it in my camera cases and use it for low-angling shots and shooting from awkward places lie as Sky-Jacks and other elevating devices on industrial and construction sites. It set me back 39 bucks- it has a claw-proof covering and it is very durable.

I never, as yet, found it necessary to attach it to the came orhte lens collar. The camera and lens simply sit on it, it conforms s the shape and enables the steading of the camera and absorbs external vibration.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

This is what I use, I simply attach it to the tripod and put my camera bag in it, which weights about 20 lbs. Easy to carry around.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1038289-REG/oben_stb_10_stone_bag_for_tripods.html

Jrhoffman75 Loc: Conway, New Hampshire

Check the red pod beanbag at B&H Photo.

Bill_de Loc: US

I have a LenCoat bean bag. It came with a plate that slips into a sort of pocket at the top of the bag. It has an attached 3/8 inch bolt.

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tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

I use a product called The Green Pod. You can get it at B&H for $27.99
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/762981-REG/The_Pod_GR0079_The_Green_Pod_Camera.html

DogFriend

You might check outdoor supply stores for a rifle rest. Some are soft bags to hold a rifle and have a round groove that would cushion a lens.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

A "ground pod" might also be workable for your application......
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