Equipment Suggestions

[Dave Walz]

I AM IN THE MARKET FOR A BEAN BAG. I WILL BE USING IT WITH A 100-400MM LENS AND A 500MM LENS. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF CHOICES ESPECIALLY IN THE TYPE OF FILL USED.

[Dave Hassell]

The Birds As Art is a good one but a bit pricey. Fill it with pinto beans and you get an excellent bean bag.
See it at https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=12

Dave Hassell.

[Chris Brennan]

I bought the Wildlife Imaging bean bag from Naturescapes and filled it, at their suggestion, with bird seed. Not only does it ably support the same equipment you'd be using, but I've been able to open up the bag a couple of times, grab a small handful of seed and toss it near the car, and attract more subjects :-)!

[Danny J Brown]

I use the one from Kirk Enterprises. I ordered it filled with crushed walnuts for a few extra dollars and it stays on the floorboard of my Chevy truck 24/7.

[Jim Longworth]

This page does a round-up of the various models, the BLUBB doesn't fair so well...

http://www.chobesafari.com/photograp...or-safari.html

btw, I have the Molar that performed very well for me on my last African trip.

[Dave Hassell]

Jim,

The URL link http://www.chobesafari.com/photograp...or-safari.html does not work.

Dave.

[Jim Longworth]

It should work - the link gets abbreviated in the message appearance but if you click on it (don't copy the text) the link should get you there. Or right click on it and copy link location (depending on your browser).

This is it split in two, copy both parts and paste together:

http://www.chobesafari.com/photography-tips/
finding-the-perfect-photo-bean-bag-for-safari.html

Jim

[Buddy Eleazer]

Hello all, this is my first post at BirdPhotographers. I am the owner of www.ChobeSafari.com and found this site through examinging referrals to my site. What a nice find. Looks like a great forum! The link noted by Jim above seems to work for me.

I plan/hope that my review of bean bags will be a 'living article', so if you find other models, PLEASE let me know so I can review and add to the list.

BTW, down the road, I hope to add a review of rigid mounts for vehicles.

[Jeff Donald]

Great idea, an article on a real neccssity when on safari etc. However, you don't list the ratings and scores, you only list a "winner." Showing the ratings would make the article much more useful as I might place more value on some ratings than you do and it would allow me to find the best bags for my needs.

[Gerald Kelberg]

Agree with Jeff on this one - great article, but how about a table of individual ratings/scores.

Also, I would be interested to hear people's experience of the Apex-type with a head mount versus the BLUBB-type without the mount. Any view in which is easier to use?

Thanks,

Gerald

[Buddy Eleazer]

Gerald,
Thanks. I am digging up my rating table (it is on a computer hard drive that I decommissioned). Also, makers of another bean bag is sending me a copy or their product for testing. I will add that review to the write-up.
Buddy

[rwhitaker]

I used the APEX bag on Safari drives in Sabi Sabi (Outside Kruger National Park) last month. The lodge uses open Land Rovers with staggered row seating. I mounted a D700/200-400mm to a ball head, attached to the plate on the bag, over the head rest of the seat in front. It held position over very rough terrain with just my hand resting on it, mostly for my peace of mind.


A gimbaled head is the ideal with this bag, if height is not a problem.


Big, can be heavy, and is expensive, but it does what it is designed for, very well.
Robert