Safari Sack/Bean bag size
 

Hi,
Just wondered if you guys knew what size bean bag to get? The camera is Canon Rebel with 400 zoom. Some of these sacks seem huge. Thanks!

I used this one in Dec. Took it empty and filled it with about 3kg of rice when I got there.
http://kgear.com/r/

Thanks a lot. So you got the 421 or 423? I guess they are probably so close it doesn't matter. Who knew you'd have to then worry over poly fill or husk fill. I laughed when I saw this but I understand the weight thing. Thanks so much!

lenlu - ha! I had to share when i read the title of this thread i thought a Safari Sack Bean Bag Size was what you were considering packing your safari clothes in - I had a vision of a big vinyl bean bag with handles stuffed full of khaki and beige stuff and some poor pilot somwhere trying to cram it in behind the last row on the 5 seater :))

lenlu,
The bags 420,421,and 423 are all the same size. The 420 is sold empty, the other two come with either polystyrene (421) or Buckwheat (423). The polystyrene works much better at damping vibration but weighs too much to take on safari. Rice or beans really work as well or even better and you can obtain either when you arrive. I usually ask for rice at the first camp or buy at a local market. It's kind of fun that way. I just leave the rice or beans with the last camp I visit. Some people don't even bother with rice or beans but fill the sacks with plastic bags or socks. This really does not accomplish the same thing but it is better than nothing. I think using a bean bag with a SLR is the single most important and least expensive way of improving your pictures. Enjoy.........
Chuck

SAFARICHUCK, thanks for the clarity on the bean bags, I was a little confused. I will take it empty and I appreciate the advice. THEMBI, you are hilarious! Wouldn't that be a site? I know I'm going to have more questions and you guys seem to be the experts so please don't abandon the board as I leave May 31st!

lenlu Have you asked your operator? We were going to buy sime and then I thought to ask Roys who supplied perfectly good ones for us. We too have 400 cannon lenses. We did ask in advance and the reserved them for us and they were ready & waiting in the vehicle.

Happy travels
J

I did not think to ask the operator, that's a good idea. It didn't even occur to me...our operator is Africa Adventure Company in Florida. I'll call them, thanks!

I use about fifteen Kinesis Safari Sacks for my safaris, and I fill them up before each safari when I arrive. Unfortunately this takes about 50 kilos worth of beans, but my guides are very happy to help me 'get rid of them' when each safari is over. I don't like to keep the beans in the bags for months on end, so each of my guides ends up with quite a bit of beans!!!

We always fill them with red beans. I have been thinking of trying buckwheat and just leaving it in there for good. I just don't know where to buy buckwheat in Arusha.

I've had a variety of beanbags over the years, but my latest and best is a 420 filled with wheat or sand...I needed it for my old 400/2.8 lens which weighed about 7 kg. Now I use it with the much lighter 300/2.8. Not on safari yet, though, as my operators in the Linyanti have always supplied excellent beanbags suitable for heavy lenses and hard-wearing enough for smooth panning, and I usually take a monopod anyway. I've found the monopod excellent on the seat or floor of an open vehicle, and indispensable when out of the vehicle.

John

John,
Do you use a 1.4X TC with your 300mm 2.8?
chuck

Chuck,

Both a 1.4x and a 2x.

John

Separately, of course...not together :)

John

John,
I have seen your gallery and you have some really beutiful stuff. Are you happy with a 2X on the 300mm 2.8? I had hoped to put off buying a 500mm until I felt more comfortable traveling with longer glass. If I can get decent results with the 2X on my 300mm then perhaps I can put it off until after Botswana and wait until my return to Tanzanina next February.
Cheers,
Chuck

Chuck,

Yes, I am happy. Such things depend, however, on the individual photographer's feelings and circumstances, so you may not be satisfied. As we know, no matter how good a particular teleconverter is, longer (quality) glass will generally produce better results. If I could afford, say, a 500/F4 and felt I was able to take it on safari with me, I would get one. I was quite happy with my 400/2.8 (non-IS) results with a 2x, but replaced it with the 300 for weight reasons. I considered that as time went by, it was going to become harder and harder to take heavy equipment to Africa without going to considerable expense.

John

John,
Thanks for you reply. I guess it's hard to overcome or ignore the laws of optics. No easy solution here.
Cheers, Chuck

Hi Chuck

Consider also the 1.7TC, I'll be taking it with my 300f/2.8 VR + 1.4 to Zambia(SLNP) in Sept. (With my Manfrotto monopod John. :-) ) Can't wait.
I'm off to the Zoo for another practice session with this new lens on Friday. ;-)

Cheers
Marc

Hi Marc,
I wish Canon made a 1.7X. Nikon makes three I believe but Canon only the 1.4X and 2 X TC's. When I went digital a few years ago, I switched to all Canon. Both make great SLR's and fine lenses. I'm going to take my monopod to Botswana as well. I don't know if it will be of any use but it might come in handy. I did put a Really Right Stuff B-2 Pro Clamp and a manfrotto swivel on the monopod. That was a suggestion of the folks at Really Right Stuff and it seems to do the job. Too bad there isn't a place to rent stuff in Africa. At least you could try out different arrangements before buying. Wish I had a zoo nearby, the local squirrels are becoming paranoid.
Chuck

John, when you say:
"my operators in the Linyanti have always supplied excellent beanbags" do you mean Selinda and Zib?.
I am going 3 days to Zib in november and will be nice to know if they provide bean bags so i dont have to use mine.
Do you know if Kwando have also bean bags in their vehicles? The rest of my stay(6 days) is at Lebala and L. Kwara.
I also take my monopod and like it very much in southern Africa open vehicles.

Thanks,Paco.

Paco,

Yes, Selinda and Zib. It would pay to check though, because I haven't been there since August '05. The new owners have since made a number of changes both good and bad (including vehicle passenger configurations), and while it's not likely that the beanbags have disappeared, you'd want to be sure.

I like the Selinda/Zib beanbags especially because they are quite large, heavy and firm, and made of very hard-wearing material...ideal for heavy lenses.

I don't remember if Kwando vehicles have beanbags, as I had my monopod while there and didn't bother to look or ask.

John