Anyone using a Monopod?

hoffy · Jan 16, 2015

OK, so the S2A that I am using is like a twin barrel shot gun when it goes off. There is plenty of recoil in the mechanism that there has to be a bit of camera shake.

BUT, when going to public events, using a tripod is pretty much out of the question. People get annoyed when you try and set up (& rightly so) and its a PITA to carry around. So, I have been thinking of a nice monopod instead. While its not enough to do long exposures, I figure that it should be enough to deal with camera shake @ 1/60th (or even 1/30th) and over.

Anyone here regularly use a monopod when out and about with their Medium format gear? Do you think it helps? Or do you think that there is not much difference?

Cheers

Vaughn · Jan 16, 2015

Rarely, but my hiking stick is also a mono pod and I have put the Rolleiflex on it a couple of times...and jamming it into the ground, between rocks or into the snow I have been able to do longer exposures. Tricky, though. But in general, it has been helpful, but it is hard to beat a tripod when you need one.

MattKing · Jan 16, 2015

I use one with both my Mamiya C330 and my Mamiya RB67. In both cases, with a waist level finder. It definitely helps, but I cannot say that I have evaluated exactly what exposure speed options it permits.

If possible, you will want one with an adjustable head, so as to permit using it and your two legs together as a "tripod".

BrianShaw · Jan 16, 2015

Almost always when not using tripod. For both TLR and MF SLR.

hoffy · Jan 16, 2015

OK, thanks. I can get my hands on a Manfrotto 3 section with a basic tilt head on it. I am going to go out this arvo to a Rod show, so I will see if I can use it today.

BrianShaw · Jan 16, 2015

I don't use a head when shooting square format. No value. But always a quick release.

hoffy · Jan 16, 2015

BrianShaw said:
I don't use a head when shooting square format. No value. But always a quick release.

Yes, I understand. The head on the tripod (its in my hands now) tiles on 1 axis only, with the standard quick release plate.

BrianShaw · Jan 16, 2015

I'm never sure how much better monopod allows slow shutter speed but there is always advantage against jitter.

Bruce Osgood · Jan 16, 2015

hoffy said:
OK, thanks. I can get my hands on a Manfrotto 3 section with a basic tilt head on it. I am going to go out this arvo to a Rod show, so I will see if I can use it today.

When I was shooting 35mm exclusively I used this monopod. I would put a foot on one side and my knee on the other side of the pod and it would beome very stable with a little leverage. Kinda like some kind of a three point stance.

hoffy · Jan 16, 2015

Bruce Osgood said:
When I was shooting 35mm exclusively I used this monopod. I would put a foot on one side and my knee on the other side of the pod and it would beome very stable with a little leverage. Kinda like some kind of a three point stance.

Good technique Bruce. Sounds quite stable.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 17, 2015

hoffy said:
OK, so the S2A that I am using is like a twin barrel shot gun when it goes off. There is plenty of recoil in the mechanism that there has to be a bit of camera shake.

BUT, when going to public events, using a tripod is pretty much out of the question. People get annoyed when you try and set up (& rightly so) and its a PITA to carry around. So, I have been thinking of a nice monopod instead. While its not enough to do long exposures, I figure that it should be enough to deal with camera shake @ 1/60th (or even 1/30th) and over.

Anyone here regularly use a monopod when out and about with their Medium format gear? Do you think it helps? Or do you think that there is not much difference?

Cheers

I use a monopod all the time;it's easy to carry and makes a world of difference.I have often been told that I cannot use a tripod in some places but nobody has ever complained about my monopod.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 17, 2015

BrianShaw said:
I'm never sure how much better monopod allows slow shutter speed but there is always advantage against jitter.

Like Vaughan my hiking stick is also a monopod. I've noticed a real improvement in sharpness when using it, often it's impossible to use speeds faster than 1/60 or so in dense woods. Better support always equals improved sharpness.

AgX · Jan 17, 2015

I use a Manfrotto monopod and Monfrotto trigger type ball head, the latter being defective from the start.

I added the tripod foot too. That all is heavy, but gives countless ways to use the combo.

grahamp · Jan 17, 2015

Monopods do two things. They support the weight of the camera which can be a good thing with larger kit over a long day, and they reduce the range of motion when holding the camera. How much exposure extension you can get from reducing camera shake from three axes to just two axes is going to vary from individual to individual. Maybe a stop, possibly two.

As I look at it, any support is better than none, and the monopod portability makes it much less of a trial to carry and use. I have to use a tripod with the 5x4 and pinhole cameras. For the rest the monopod gets a lot of use.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 17, 2015

Yes I bought one about 20 years ago. It's been in my closet ever since.

hoffy · Jan 17, 2015

Well, I used it yesterday arvo/last night.

I haven't dev'd the film yet, but it was much nicer and easier to compose shots with it. Looks like I'll be regularly taking it with me where I can't take a tripod.

Cheers

Ektagraphic · Jan 17, 2015

I used to use one very often with my Mamiya 645 when I was using that a lot on all day adventures. I loved it at the time and somehow forgot about it as time has gone on. I'll have to pull is back out!

fotch · Jan 17, 2015

I don't use one too often however, whenever there is less chance of being able to brace the camera against something, like a tree, fence, car, it becomes more valuable. I have a couple of them ranging from light to heavy duty, and consider them a tool worth keeping. However, while not as portable, I do have a well built ultra lite tripod that would be, in some cases, the tool of choice.

grahamp · Jan 18, 2015

My wife cannot hold a camera really steady these days. Even modern image stabilization is not a cure. I managed to persuade her to try using a monopod, and she was really pleased by the improvement. Any support is better than none. At least most film cameras are designed to be held against part of the body or stressed on a strap, and not held at arms' length as a matter or course.

Where you compromise between portability and stability is up to you.

benjiboy · Jan 18, 2015

Besides being usefull for steadying your camera they make great weapons, three teenage punks tried to mug me and steal my cameras in broad daylight in the city centre four years ago, I put two of them in hospital and the third one beat a hasty retreat.

macfred · Jan 20, 2015

I use an old Linhof monopod (5 sections, 286g) with Triopo ball head for my FUJI GA645 and GA645Wi.
It's small, handy and fits my Domke F-6 bag.

For my Bronica ETRSi I prefer a Linhof tripod.

Cycler · Apr 6, 2016

I saw a pro video photographer yesterday, using a ponomod with a 3-legged stand at the foot.

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 6, 2016

Cycler said:
I saw a pro video photographer yesterday, using a ponomod with a 3-legged stand at the foot.

A tripod for the monopod.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 6, 2016

hoffy said:
OK, so the S2A that I am using is like a twin barrel shot gun when it goes off. There is plenty of recoil in the mechanism that there has to be a bit of camera shake.

BUT, when going to public events, using a tripod is pretty much out of the question. People get annoyed when you try and set up (& rightly so) and its a PITA to carry around. So, I have been thinking of a nice monopod instead. While its not enough to do long exposures, I figure that it should be enough to deal with camera shake @ 1/60th (or even 1/30th) and over.

Anyone here regularly use a monopod when out and about with their Medium format gear? Do you think it helps? Or do you think that there is not much difference?

Cheers

I use a manfrotto monopod with my Hasselblad all the time and it makes a huge difference;not as good as a tripod but much better then leaning against a post or tree;1/30s any time of the day;even 1/8 is worth a try

rwreich · Apr 25, 2016

I use a monopod with my RB67 all the time (unless I know I'm looking for long-exposures). I mainly use it to support the weight while I'm composing. It's not a tripod, but it's a real life-saver when I'm already walking a lot.

Anyone using a Monopod?

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Anyone using a Monopod?

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