Bean bag or Monopod??

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fox in the box

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Stuart
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Afternoon all,

:help:

I am going on safari in December and I can't decide which would be the best to take with me. I am looking at taking either a bean bag or monopod. I don't own either at the moment but I'm not sure which would be the wiser investment.

I haven't decided which lens to buy yet either, the Sigma 120-400 or Sigma150-500:thinking:. However, I know whichever one I choose it would make sense to have something with me so that I don't awlays have to shoot handheld.

All help is welcome and greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Fox in the Box
 
Well, you can use a monopod while siting in a jeep but you'd need a HUGE bean bag if you're standing up ;)

I use a Sigma 150-500 with a monopod, an added advantage is that you can carry it over your shoulder like a pick axe :)
 
Cheers Mrgrubby, I'd never even considered the monopod being an advantage when carrying such a big lens.
 
fox in the box said:
Cheers Mrgrubby, I'd never even considered the monopod being an advantage when carrying such a big lens.
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I have a 50D + grip + 150-500 on the Redsnapper Monopod, I'm fairly certain that with a good swing I could stop an Elephant :D
 
I'm testing out the 150-500 on friday so I'll make sure I get a feel for it on a monpod too. I've looked at the 120-400 already and liked what I saw but thinking the extra length might come in handy.
 
Depends on the safari vehicle. In open safari jeeps (eg. Kruger Park) I prefer a monpod as bean bags are almost useless. In minvans with open tops (common in eg. Kenya) a beanbag is to be preferred.
 
Monopod would be ideal, beanbags are fine if your stationary and don't have to carry them around but after a few hours carrying one around you will notice the weight unless its filled with polystyrene
 
You could take a decent sized polythene bag with you - empty. Fill it with rice, beans, sand, socks or whatever comes to hand if you need it. If you want to, you can get a bit fancy and make a cotton bag to stick the full support bag in.
 
take both, you can use the monopod to take the weight and the beanbag to take out some of the vibrations :)
 
Nod said:
You could take a decent sized polythene bag with you - empty. Fill it with rice, beans, sand, socks or whatever comes to hand if you need it. If you want to, you can get a bit fancy and make a cotton bag to stick the full support bag in.
Click to expand...

:plusone: A bit of both for the win :)
 
Nod said:
You could take a decent sized polythene bag with you - empty. Fill it with rice, beans, sand, socks or whatever comes to hand if you need it. If you want to, you can get a bit fancy and make a cotton bag to stick the full support bag in.
Click to expand...
good idea! I'd take some running shoes too on safari LoL
 
Rover_Andy, your suggestion sounds like a very good option.

Nod, I like the novel idea of making my own bean bag.

Figge, the mini-vans/pop-tops are the sort of vehicles we will be travelling in so a bean bag will probably be the best solution.

Thanks to everyone for their input, all views are appreciated.
 
The shaped bean bags here....Click Me....was designed to be used on or in vehicles.The bag is zipped so that you can empty it here and refill it when you get to where you are going.The zip also has a field flap so that the whole filling does not land and scatter around the floor when emptying it.

I would take a monopod as well,just in case..........:thumbs:
 
Thanks Fracster (and everyone else). I think I'll be taking both.

At this rate I'll be taking so much kit with me I'll have nowhere to put my clothes:eek:
 
fox in the box said:
At this rate I'll be taking so much kit with me I'll have nowhere to put my clothes:eek:
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Surely you don't need clothes.... The animals prefer you without :lol:
 
Have you thought whether there would be room in the vehicle for a monopod, would depend on the number of people you're sharing the vehicle with, a bean bag might be more practical?
 
We are lucky enough to be doing a private safari. We considered the options and decided we'd like to have our own guide/vehicle. I hope that means that manouvring inside will not be a problem.
 
fox in the box said:
We are lucky enough to be doing a private safari. We considered the options and decided we'd like to have our own guide/vehicle. I hope that means that manouvring inside will not be a problem.
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might depend on the vehicle they use
 
Cheers Artyman (and everyone else) for helping me out - I'll take both. I hope this means every angle is covered!!
 
Both have their uses and their advantages/disadvantages.

The MP is better if you're standing and probably has the edge overall but beanbags can be brilliant to use too and they're far easier to carry. I've never heard of anyone complaining about them being heavy as I though most of them were filled with light materials but I may be wrong.
 
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