Diy beanbag/flyingsaucer mount

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Right, I would never thing to go out without a bean bag but the saucer
is a cool idea… matter for thoughts! Thanks.
 
The wooden saucer is a nice idea, I could see it being useful when photographing owls from a car. That's the one time where a bean bag is very useful but difficult to track birds in flight. I noticed the ground pod on another page is similar to the frying pan I use except I use a cheap gimbal head with it.
 
Hey guys,i like making things the ideas,especially the saucer seems so simple(oft good ones are;)) and might save a bit. I haven't yet got a beanbag like this I've looked ye gads not cheep so it's somewhat appealing!! . It's also interesting to hear the opinions of you guys who have more knowledge. Rob i've come across the frying pan before ,how do you get on with it, where do you use it ? I can see it being useful at the shore edge but wonder how limited it's use is or put another way can't think of how practical it would be say pushing a lens across pasture. Although it might be more practical than carrying a tripod to a "prone shot" the idea of moving it in the prone position while stalking say a hare, is what i'm curious on.

have a wonderful new year both

stu
 
Stuart Philpott said:
Hey guys,i like making things the ideas,especially the saucer seems so simple(oft good ones are;)) and might save a bit. I haven't yet got a beanbag like this I've looked ye gads not cheep so it's somewhat appealing!! . It's also interesting to hear the opinions of you guys who have more knowledge. Rob i've come across the frying pan before ,how do you get on with it, where do you use it ? I can see it being useful at the shore edge but wonder how limited it's use is or put another way can't think of how practical it would be say pushing a lens across pasture. Although it might be more practical than carrying a tripod to a "prone shot" the idea of moving it in the prone position while stalking say a hare, is what i'm curious on.

have a wonderful new year both

stu
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I use the frying pan at the beach, it's good for keeping the camera/lens off the sand. For hares etc in fields/on grass I find a beanbag is easier to use.

The problem with beaches and beanbags is once wet they get covered in sand that gets everywhere. The frying pan stop that from happening and makes it easier to slide in front of you. A friend I was with used a baking tray with a bean bag inside the tray. It'd gets funny looks/comments from people but they both worked well and quite low cost too. I purchased a cheap aluminium frying pan,removed the handle, drilled a hole in the bottom and use a 3/8 round head bolt to attach a gimbal head. It doesn't get much use as it's quite specific to beaches but it only cost about £5-8 to make it so cost/use wise it's not so bad, it's much cheaper than the £100 ground skimmer you can purchase. I have some photos/description on my website, you can find it on the link below.

http://www.robcainphotography.com/norfolk-grey-seal

I've also taken a hacksaw to an extra centre column I purchased for my manfrotto 055 tripod. Now the tripod legs lay completely flat with the lens 10-15cm above the ground. I've lost the ability to raise the centre column but I didn't use that function much any way. I'm hoping it will be great to use the tripod low in a hide I have, problem is now just trying to find the foxes I imagined getting low shots of with this setup.

I too like making things like these, it makes photography easier and cheaper too.
 
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Interesting links, I saw a guy at Donna Nook a few years back using something like the frying pan idea as a very low level 'skid' sitting down with it with angle viewfinder attachment.
 
Rob great informative reply and also appreciate the link many thanks mate.Ha as replying I'm watching seals on country file over in Norfolk. Yup as I thought not so practical inland,I still don't feel at home here in the midlands(even after 20plus years), so wish we lived down in the SW where we grew up. Tools like that would get so much more use,but as you say cheep enough to make!! Hope you get lucky with the foxes,I got out for an hour today saw little but somewhat ironic I was also think how long it's been since I've seen charlie.. I'm hoping to try and find a den in the summer I have the sites and land here. I've been very lucky in the past Rob seen cubs so young their eyes were still blue and had some wonderful times watching older kids playing. But as always no camera maybe one day I'll learn to use the damn thing;)

Thanks bro really appreciate the reply good luck

take care

Stu
 
A couple of quid at an autojumble or scrapyard will get you a hub cap or wheel trim. Hole and 3/8" UNC nut and machine screw and you can mount whatever head you like onto it.
 
Nod said:
A couple of quid at an autojumble or scrapyard will get you a hub cap or wheel trim. Hole and 3/8" UNC nut and machine screw and you can mount whatever head you like onto it.
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That's exactly what I've done except used a cheaper aluminium fry pan that only cost a couple of quid.

The idea behind the small wooden disc/saucer seems to be to act as a ball head when using a bean bag as support. I can see this making it easier to pan.
 
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Nod said:
A couple of quid at an autojumble or scrapyard will get you a hub cap or wheel trim. Hole and 3/8" UNC nut and machine screw and you can mount whatever head you like onto it.
Click to expand...


Nod that's cool are you saying the hub cap could replace the saucer, or the frying pan ,ha I'm intreagued mate:),thought back to some older hubcaps that have a doom shape and quite small hence why i'm unsure .

cheers
stu
 
Sorry, Stu, missed this! Basically, yes, an old Morris Minor or similar hubcap is relatively small and portable. Make sure you get crappy old rusty ones - good ones will probably be expensive!
 
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