Monopod Advice

[dazbaz_99]

I am currently considering buying a Monopod for my SLR camera. Being new to all this stuff i dont know very much about how they attach to your camera etc. Is there any models out there that you guys would recommend? For the record i have a Minolta Dynax 700si.

Cheers

[thebear]

Originally Posted by dazbaz_99

I am currently considering buying a Monopod for my SLR camera. Cheers

I would definitely look for one with a fully adjustable `head' as found on a standard tripod (full tilt/swivel). Some of the lower priced ones have only the attaching screw and you could find yourself in a place where you need the flexibility to change the camera's orientation. Other features are spring loading (handy for heavy tele-lenses), ability to elevate the viewfinder to YOUR eye level (it gets very tiring looking thru the viewfinder while bent over) and a carying handle/strap/case.

[SeaneyC]

You may find a ball head more flexible than a conventional tilt swivel type mount on your monopod, but be warned, most decent ball mounts cost as much as a decent entry level monopod! Personally, am going to be getting a decent monopod first, and then upgrading with a decent ballhead later when i can afford it. At the moment however, i use a £15 job which makes the world of difference at anything over 200mm.

[David L]

Oh well, I guess my contrary view makes your choice difficult..

Go for a simple, strudy pole without any sort of head whatsovever.. Attach to lens, not body (don't stress the bayonet mounts).. I use a Manfrotto pro pole..

[KennyG]

If you have a lens with a collar you do not need a head, and in fact it is worse with one. It makes the system look and feel like a bendy toy. You can always tell the beginners, holding the monopod with one hand and swiveling the camera with the other. The right way is hand on top of the lens, the other on the camera.

If your lens does not have a collar, then a simple tilt head like the Manfrotto 234 will allow you to swing into portrait orientation. Get a decent monopod like a Manfrotto as it will last you a lifetime. The weak point in all of them (tripods too) is the adjustment/clamping mechanism and you do get what you pay for.

[kdr]

Originally Posted by David L

Oh well, I guess my contrary view makes your choice difficult..

Go for a simple, strudy pole without any sort of head whatsovever.. Attach to lens, not body (don't stress the bayonet mounts).. I use a Manfrotto pro pole..

i'm with david on this one, i have a nice manfrotto...freebie from salt lake winter olympics...screws into the lens.

[dazbaz_99]

call me stupid but how does the monopod screw into a lense? do you need a lense that specifically supports this?

[MikeHoyer]

Most of the bigger lenses have a tripod/monopod collar, usually removable, so you can balance it properly. If you have a massive lens you want it to be balanced as well as possible, not down at one end for example.

[mcurtis26]

A lot of people don't like a monopod for a panning shot as it make you pan in an arc rather than a smooth follow through. What size lens are you using Daz?

[MikeHoyer]

I generally take it off for panning, but for headons I like to use it.

[SeaneyC]

Originally Posted by mcurtis26

A lot of people don't like a monopod for a panning shot as it make you pan in an arc rather than a smooth follow through.

Which is why some people like to use the ball head

Personally, i find a sharp panning shot impossible to achieve over about 200mm with a shutter speed of around 1/125th without a monopod, i'm just too shaky!

[G_Ilott]

To pan with a monopod, because I usually pre-focus, I can pick up the car at an angle and as I pan towards the point of focus, the angle will gradually straighten up. It might not be a great method but it works and means I don't have to keep changing kit.

I have a nice sturdy Manfrotto - not sure of the model but it was about £40 a few years ago. Atop this, I have a Uni-loc ballhead circa £60, which is weighty and well-made and handy for taking lots of different shots - paddock and track.

[Hugewally]

I use a monopod with a mini-ball head. The flexibiliy the ball head give you is great. Plus if needed, you make make the whole lens/monopod combo alot smaller when needed which helps in small places (photo shuttle/media center/car trunk). No Matter what you do, just make sure that whatever you get can support the total weight of the camera and lens you plan on using.

[RaptorUK]

my 1st post here

I use a monopod and ball head (Manfrotto) , I use it to take most of the weight and have it set very loose on the ball so I have lots of flexibility. In between shots I nip up the adjustment on the ball so that all the weight is then suported by the monopod. Works for me so far but I'm still learning so don't take what I say as the best advice you can get

cheers,