Can moldable play foam be used as filler for a camera bean bag?
Asked 11/29/2014
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I’m making a DIY camera bean bag and considering using moldable play foam as the filler because it’s very lightweight, compact, and seems to hold shape well. Has anyone tried this, and are there any drawbacks compared with a traditional bean bag filler? I’d also like something convenient for international air travel.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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It works well enough that I'll continue to use it.
Drawbacks:
- Significant pressure is required to mold the play-foam to conform to the shape of the camera.
- There seems to be very slight motion as the play-foam springs back a bit once the camera is resting on it.
Advantages over a bean bag:
- Extremely light weight.
- Compact. A small bag supports the camera with almost no foam displaced to the sides.
Coincidentally, in the airport while I was traveling, I saw a store selling sand with goo (probably the same goo) holding it together. It would be heavier, but I think it might overcome both drawbacks.
Originally by user34986. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user34986
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—moldable play foam can work as a lightweight DIY camera bean bag filler, especially for travel. Based on user experience, its main advantages are very low weight and compact size, since a small amount can support a camera without much material bulging out to the sides.
The tradeoffs are stability and support. It may take noticeable pressure to shape the foam to the camera, and it can spring back slightly after the camera is resting on it, causing a small amount of movement. It may also slowly creep under constant load, so it’s better for temporary support while shooting than for long, tripod-like static support.
So if your goal is a very portable support for occasional use, play foam is a reasonable option. If you need maximum rigidity or long-duration stability, traditional granular fillers may work better.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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