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#1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
Posts: 421
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I have a (small) amount of money burning a hole in my pocket and I want to buy something for my camera. As it's nowhere near enough for a lens and the camera bag is on its way I wondered about a monopod.
Does anyone here have one? Are they actually useful or just a good idea in theory? Keith |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: D/FW area Texas
Posts: 7,590
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yes they are keith, but you'll need an inexpensive head to got with it. it's a shame but i just sold a complete support system with a tripod, monopod, and 2 ball heads. you're in the UK so me looking on ebay for you probably wouldn't do any good. also, there's technique to using a monopod. the monopod i use for macros is nothing but a 12mm x 2m fiberglass rod. about $3 at the local garden shop..
roy |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicago Suburb, IL, USA
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Hi Keith,
I'm primarily a birder, and the monopod has a definite place in my gear, since I usually have pretty heavy long lenses mounted on my Pentax bodies. I use an aluminum walking stick that can be extended up to 57" and has a cork ball mounted on a 1/4-20 stud (which just happens to be one of the standard tripod head mounting threads). I put a Manfrotto 3229 QR tilt head on it and mount the QR plate either on the body or on the lens depending on the lens. This serves me well as a hiking stick when I venture off to some relatively remote lake to search out Egrets and Herons, and the like, and it's very light but does a good job of supporting the gear. One of the chief benefits is that it allows me to keep the camera at eye level for long periods of time -- like when a heron is scanning the water for fish, and it doesn't move for 5 minutes -- I can keep the camera, focused on the bird, at eye level just about forever, ready to shoot when it finally makes it's move. Try that without any support with a 6 lb lens like the Tamron SP 300/2.8. Of course, a tripod does this without having to hold the whole thing up all the time, but my "monopod" weighs about 1/4 of what even my carbon fiber tripods weigh, so if I have to walk a good distance, it's a good alternative. Scott |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Frazier Park, CA
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I also use one that sounds the same as the one Scott uses (I bought it at REI, an outdoors sporting equipment store). I like it because I hike quite a bit and use it as a walking stick. I can use it as a pole for macro (like Roy does), as well as putting a small camera mount on it (mine is a ball head). I'm more than willing to carry it, where I'm not so sure I'd bother with a tripod. And it was a whole lot less money than a good tripod would cost.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NW. England
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Hi Keith,
I use one with my heavier zoom lenses, and I'd say I get much better results than handheld shots. Mine is a relatively cheap model from The 7 day shop in the channel Islands, but it serves the purpose ... just google 7 day shop and have a look around. ... Jack |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hobart Tasmania
Posts: 489
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Apart from the photogrpahic benefits I find that in long sports sessions a monopod is handy just holding the lens.
Phil |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: California USA
Posts: 5,206
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Here is another thread (inSteve's Wildlife Photography forum) that may be helpful:
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...monopod+cradle |
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
Posts: 421
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As always, thanks for the info.
I think I'll definitely get one, just need to find one the right size. Being over 6 ft tall I guess I'll need one of the longer monopods. That lens cradle looks quite interesting, best thing is that I can get the monopod and get one of those later if I want. Jack - I'm a regular customer at 7dayshop so had alreaqdy spotted their 2 cheap sticks. The cheaper of the two is out of stock and I don't think I want a swivel/tilt head - but then again, what do I know. Oh well, a trawl through the various online shops sounds the order of the day tomorrow - beats working! |
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#9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: D/FW area Texas
Posts: 7,590
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believe me-- you want the swivel head or a ball head. believe me..
roy |
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#10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: D/FW area Texas
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surfing ebay uk, here's some items. these are the less expensive. you do have some good choices. basicly what you want is something tall enough for you that supports 3.5-4k at least.. something that has a largest section of at least 25mm.. a couple of these have a tilting head that only tilts up, you don't really want them.. i'll ck heads for you..
mono ck specs mono2 not bad mono3 so far , best i've seen mono4 ??? local?? mono5 this is what i have except i use the 679b. i think mine is rated a little lower. something like 8k mono6 probably a good choice as it has a head. mono7 anything by manfrotto is good |
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