Steve'sDigicams

Keithw · Oct 24, 2007, 4:46 PM

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

robar · Oct 24, 2007, 5:13 PM

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

snostorm · Oct 24, 2007, 6:34 PM

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

mtngal · Oct 24, 2007, 10:59 PM

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.

jachol · Oct 25, 2007, 3:42 AM

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

philneast · Oct 25, 2007, 5:13 AM

Apart from the photogrpahic benefits I find that in long sports sessions a monopod is handy just holding the lens.

Phil

penolta · Oct 25, 2007, 12:18 PM

Here is another thread (inSteve's Wildlife Photography forum) that may be helpful:

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...monopod+cradle

Keithw · Oct 25, 2007, 4:44 PM

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!

robar · Oct 25, 2007, 5:24 PM

believe me-- you want the swivel head or a ball head. believe me..

roy

robar · Oct 25, 2007, 5:51 PM

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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Oct 24, 2007, 4:46 PM	#1
Keithw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 421	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

Oct 24, 2007, 5:13 PM	#2
robar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: D/FW area Texas Posts: 7,590	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

Oct 24, 2007, 6:34 PM	#3
snostorm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Suburb, IL, USA Posts: 2,770	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

Oct 24, 2007, 10:59 PM	#4
mtngal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Frazier Park, CA Posts: 16,115	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.

Oct 25, 2007, 3:42 AM	#5
jachol Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NW. England Posts: 1,201	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

Oct 25, 2007, 5:13 AM	#6
philneast Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hobart Tasmania Posts: 489	Apart from the photogrpahic benefits I find that in long sports sessions a monopod is handy just holding the lens. Phil

Oct 25, 2007, 12:18 PM	#7
penolta Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California USA Posts: 5,206	Here is another thread (inSteve's Wildlife Photography forum) that may be helpful: http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...monopod+cradle

Oct 25, 2007, 4:44 PM	#8
Keithw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 421	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!

Oct 25, 2007, 5:24 PM	#9
robar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: D/FW area Texas Posts: 7,590	believe me-- you want the swivel head or a ball head. believe me.. roy

Oct 25, 2007, 5:51 PM	#10
robar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: D/FW area Texas Posts: 7,590	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