Bean bags - have you made one?
 

I had a good bean bag but must've left it at the church when the exodus to the reception started. I went back to the church yard late that night and searched in vain. It must've looked a strange sight for the locals - a slowly moving shadowy figure moving in and around the gravestones, waving a movie light around..

But I digress. I want to make one this time and wondered what's best for the innards. Coffee beans, polystrene beads, glass balls, what?

tom.

Haven't done it but would consider a bag of blackeyed peas or similar.

What's the beanbag for? I'm assuming to sit the camera onto something and hold it in a fixed position?

Never used or owned one but I'm told the Cinesaddle is way more than just a bean bag. Not exactly cheap but I'm also told they spent a lot of time getting it just right.

Believe it or not, I've used mouse & keyboard wrist cushions from www.imakproducts.com from their ergobeads line. I've used the keyboard wrist cusion, in a circular shape for larger 3 chip cameras & the smaller mouse/wrist cushion for smaller hdv cams. It's also used to cradle the lens underneath when in it's bag. Good stuff! :)

Bill

i use a buckwheat hull pillow. the cinesaddle looks nice, but the price is outrageous.

We used a couple of 5 pound bag of rice.

and if you happen to get hungry.....LOL

Some good ideas here guys, and thanks for your input. I've finally decided on one of those 'neck support pillows' that I found in a shop. It's filled with some lightweight crunchy beads and I plan to sew some velcro along the two inner surfaces of the 'U', then I can close the arms together and the groove will nicely locate the Z1.

tom.

Tom, I use a tubular-shaped neck pillow from IKEA for the Z1 - it's been great: resting on car window frames, knees, the ground - anywhere! I wouldn't go on a shoot without it.
I guess I could even get a good night's sleep with it as well!

Robin

The Steadybag from Visual Departures is a nice affordable alternative to the Cinesaddle. They offer a variety of sizes, the 3lb version is only $42 @ B&H.

We'll be posting a review of the 3lb and 7lb versions at FresHDV soon. FWIW, I was impressed enough with the product while reviewing it to personally purchase the 7lb version afterwards.

Hey guys;
I just bought this bag at Calumet photo last week. I try it at home and I like it. Here is a link from another company but this is the bag.
http://thepod.ca/content/packaging/yellow_front.html
I just wish that it could be atach to the camera shoe rather than scew on to the bottom of the camera.

Hi Robin - I went to have a look around my local Ikea, but all their hundreds of cushions were filled with foam of some sort. Very good for a night's sleep, but I need some crunchy nut in there so that my camera can nestle down into it and be held rock steady. I don't want it bouncing about.

Did you find an Ikea neck pillow with beads inside? Do you have a name for it? (Erika, Leifan?).

tom.

Mike - I had a look at the cylidrical screw-in bag you bought, but even the biggest one I didn't think would be big enough for a fully loaded Z1. It was pretty heavy, too, so have they put small stones in there?

You could convert it to a 'quick shoe' if you could buy your tripod manufacturer's tripod plate seperately. Some sell these.

tom.

Hi Tom,
The name on the Ikea label is KLIPPAN, and it is filled with some sort of small bean - it's certainly not foam.
It's about 14 inches long and about 6 inches diameter.

Regards,

Robin

I've just checked out the name on the IKEA site and the only KLIPPAN that shows up is a two-seater leather sofa - yet that's the name on the label in front of me...
Ho-hum

Robin

Hi Tom
The bag that I bought is a small one. It is round and about 4 in. but it is definitely very low and for a loaded camera it will not give very much support. I have a second tripod head and I will look into possibly using the top plate to attach the plate.

Hi Robin,
Just read your post about bean bags, What's wrong with using a two seater
sofa ? You could sit on one seat and put your camera on the other one and
film in comfort.
I use pea nuts, They work quite well and you can use them to feed the
birds and badgers or yourself if you get peckish.

Steadybag Pictures and Review
 

We're posting our review of the Steadybag 3lb and 7lb models at FresHDV later this weekend. Here's a sneak peek.