DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Beanbag
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 29, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 08/12/2005 10:04:13 AM · #1
Hello all

I was wondering if anyone had a sollution to make a beanbag. It seems that they are unavailable here in Iceland and I really want to try to use it as a alternative to the tripod.

All suggestions well appreciated.
 08/12/2005 10:06:42 AM · #2
Here's a link to a Canadian site for thePod. The cost here in Canada is around $20 + tax. They may do international shipping.

.... looking at the picture you may get an idea of how to make it yourself.

//thepod.ca/home.html
 08/12/2005 10:07:47 AM · #3
Fill a sock with rice and tie it up tightly or sew it closed. Alternatively, tiny little dried beans work well too. These can also double as hot packs for sore muscles...put them in the microwave for a minute and then apply them to your sore muscles. They retain heat well! ;)

Also...use a "beanie baby" type of stuffed animal. :)

Message edited by author 2005-08-12 10:08:11.
 08/12/2005 10:09:57 AM · #4
Originally posted by laurielblack:
Fill a sock with rice and tie it up tightly or sew it closed. Alternatively, tiny little dried beans work well too. These can also double as hot packs for sore muscles...put them in the microwave for a minute and then apply them to your sore muscles. They retain heat well! ;)

Also...use a "beanie baby" type of stuffed animal. :)


what ever you do do NOT use popcorn in a sock and in a microwave. man what a mess.
 08/12/2005 10:13:51 AM · #5
excellent advise, even the popcorn :o)

Thanks all

08/12/2005 10:15:04 AM · #6
I've heard no more than 20-30 seconds in most microwave ovens, for an average adult sock with about five cups of rice.

Except for the noise and appearance, there's no reason a Ziploc plastic bag (or two nested) filled with rice shouldn't work as well (as a camera brace, NOT for a heat-pack!). Brown rice has more vitamins and fiber.

Cooking tip: Don't worry about measuring water carefully when cooking brown rice; instead use a substantial amount of water and cook to desired tenderness, rather like cooking pasta, but you don't need quite so much water. Drain the rice through a sieve or colander and serve. If you reserve the water you can use it in soup or something.
 08/12/2005 10:17:52 AM · #7
I was just looking at the pics on the site and the thought of putting my XT in a position like this Camera balance just gave me a chill! I could just see it now falling lens first onto the pavement!
 08/12/2005 10:22:00 AM · #8
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I've heard no more than 20-30 seconds in most microwave ovens, for an average adult sock with about five cups of rice.

Except for the noise and appearance, there's no reason a Ziploc plastic bag (or two nested) filled with rice shouldn't work as well (as a camera brace, NOT for a heat-pack!). Brown rice has more vitamins and fiber.

Cooking tip: Don't worry about measuring water carefully when cooking brown rice; instead use a substantial amount of water and cook to desired tenderness, rather like cooking pasta, but you don't need quite so much water. Drain the rice through a sieve or colander and serve. If you reserve the water you can use it in soup or something.


ok I wanna know what the "or something" is??? I would also like to know why its important to have my camera get more vitamins and fiber???
 08/12/2005 10:34:55 AM · #9
Or something ...
@ add to pancake mix the next morning instead of plain water.

@ add a couple of tablespoons of white rice and cook for a couple of hours to make congee (roughly the Indian equivalent of oatmeal) the next morning.

@ add a couple of tablespoons of white flour to make a paste suitable for platering your prints onto smooth-surfaced walls around town (void where prohibited).

Brown rice still retains a relatively hard coating, which I think would lead to less dust formation than the starchy surface of white rice in the course of the tumbling it will take in use. Plus you'll look more hip.

As another alternative, you can go to a gun shop and buy some steel shot or BBs and sew those into a sock or bag; heavier and more expensive than rice, but very stable and won't attract rodents to your camera bag.
 08/12/2005 10:47:04 AM · #10
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Or something ...
@ add to pancake mix the next morning instead of plain water.

@ add a couple of tablespoons of white rice and cook for a couple of hours to make congee (roughly the Indian equivalent of oatmeal) the next morning.

@ add a couple of tablespoons of white flour to make a paste suitable for platering your prints onto smooth-surfaced walls around town (void where prohibited).

Brown rice still retains a relatively hard coating, which I think would lead to less dust formation than the starchy surface of white rice in the course of the tumbling it will take in use. Plus you'll look more hip.

As another alternative, you can go to a gun shop and buy some steel shot or BBs and sew those into a sock or bag; heavier and more expensive than rice, but very stable and won't attract rodents to your camera bag.


And the moral of this storey is to not eat rice at GeneralE's place cuz he might use it to hang your prints. lol
 08/12/2005 10:47:46 AM · #11
Originally posted by JayWalk:
I was just looking at the pics on the site and the thought of putting my XT in a position like this Camera balance just gave me a chill! I could just see it now falling lens first onto the pavement!


That looks like the small size 'thePod'. Not that I'd ever place my camera on such a small spot in the first place, 'thePod' comes in different sizes, largest for SLRs.
 08/12/2005 01:35:31 PM · #12
Originally posted by laurielblack:
Fill a sock with rice and tie it up tightly or sew it closed. Alternatively, tiny little dried beans work well too. These can also double as hot packs for sore muscles...put them in the microwave for a minute and then apply them to your sore muscles. They retain heat well! ;)

Also...use a "beanie baby" type of stuffed animal. :)


That's a good idea. I'd recommend using a plastic baggie (so no dust comes out or if it gets wet, it won't matter) then placing the baggie in a sock.

I also like the "beanie baby" idea, but it might scare a few kids to see you doing that to a stuffed animal. ;)
 08/12/2005 01:55:30 PM · #13
Could use buckwheat kernels too.
 08/12/2005 02:25:30 PM · #14
Originally posted by heatherd:
Could use buckwheat kernels too.

Groat Scott! Who'da thunk it : )
 08/12/2005 02:41:29 PM · #15
hey... any one think of trying a gel? put an "otmealie" (like my word?) substance in a ziplock and sew it in a nice material... that would work jus as well~!
 08/12/2005 02:44:20 PM · #16
Originally posted by Telephoto:
hey... any one think of trying a gel? put an "otmealie" (like my word?) substance in a ziplock and sew it in a nice material... that would work jus as well~!

Might try those "blue ice" bags -- just wrap in extra plastic because the leak a lot; they also may not be viscous enough.

Message edited by author 2005-08-12 14:44:55.
 08/12/2005 03:09:31 PM · #17
I used a ziploc bag full of flour for a while.

Gave it up because
1) Didn't use it much
2) Needed the flour (JK)
3) False appearances could've gotten me in trouble.
 02/09/2006 07:10:47 PM · #18
I got a 1lb bag of lentils and it works great. I cut it open and threw out about 1/4 of the bag then taped it back up and put it into a sock. Works great. Im gona use it tonight for a quick shot from my car off the highway. Ive been wanting to get a good steady shot of this place for a while but its an awkward spot.
 02/09/2006 07:27:21 PM · #19
I guess it's lentil soup for you today.
Ha ha ha =)
 02/09/2006 07:29:15 PM · #20
my (future) mother in law made me a beanbag with buckwheat and it works great. My only advice is that it isn't too big, otherwise its too heavy to carry!
 02/09/2006 07:40:47 PM · #21
I use a home-made beanbag filled with silica gel (the moisture-absorbing stuff from the "do not eat" packets that come in the box with shoes, furniture, pills, etc.). If it gets wet with even a moderate amount of water it'll just absorb it and remain dry to the touch. Throwing it into my camera bag actually removes any moisture that's accumulated on the camera.

This probably sounds like overkill (and it is), but if I'm going to keep additional stuff in my camera bag, I figure that even when it's not in use it should be performing a service (in this case, drying out the air) rather than just adding bulk and weight.
 02/09/2006 07:45:43 PM · #22
I have 2 of the POD's actually, I use them when doing static macro, like fungi and stuff.

You can ask if they deliver to Iceland, the owner is super nice, at least when I corresponded with him before purchasing over a year ago.

Another bean alternative, that a friend uses with great results are, cannellini beans.
 02/09/2006 08:48:46 PM · #23
you might consider something like this. it's 6.5" tall, it's sturdy, it will sit on the floor, and, unlike a beanbag, you can brace it against a wall.


i used it to get these shots, among many others...
sitting it on fleet st


on a counter


on the floor
02/10/2006 03:58:22 AM · #24
I just rolled down my window and sit the bag on the top of the door ledge and took these 1/2 hour ago. The BG color wasnt good but i kinda like how they turned out.



Message edited by author 2006-02-10 04:06:35.
 02/10/2006 06:40:35 AM · #25
I stole one of the small cushions from the house, took out the filling and replaced with polystyrene balls (the ones used to fill beanbags). Works a treat.

Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/14/2025 04:17:45 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/14/2025 04:17:45 PM EDT.