How useful is a monopod???

mikebarger · Jan 2, 2011

I know four guys that own a monopod, not one of them used it after about 6 months. Hand held or tripod is the way these guys work.

Probably great for some people and not very important to others; just like any other piece of equipment.

MattKing · Jan 3, 2011

I'm in the market for one .

In the past I've used one with 35mm when travelling by train and bus.

I intend to use a new one with cameras that have waist-level finders and have no need to be flipped to shoot vertically or horizontally - so I don't need a "head".

I'd like to mount something like a Manfrotto 323 to it, because my tripod heads work with Manfrotto quick release plates.

This is a 323:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/webcontent/product_images/large/156/11032.jpg

Mlatterich · Jan 3, 2011

I bought a Gitzo travel but didn't see that much difference over handheld. I mostly shoot handheld or use a tripod whenever I am below 1/60 on my blads... Always use a tripos on my Mamiya RZ.

Paul VanAudenhove · Jan 3, 2011

Like others here, I have both a monopod and tripod(s) and don't use either as much as I should. But if you get one, try to get a least a small ball head for it. I find that sometimes I can get a better shot if I can lean the monopod against something stable, then level/frame using the ballhead.

Sometimes, nothing beats using a tabletop tripod to get the shot!

CGW · Jan 3, 2011

MattKing said:
I'm in the market for one .

In the past I've used one with 35mm when travelling by train and bus.

I intend to use a new one with cameras that have waist-level finders and have no need to be flipped to shoot vertically or horizontally - so I don't need a "head".

I'd like to mount something like a Manfrotto 323 to it, because my tripod heads work with Manfrotto quick release plates.

This is a 323:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/webcontent/product_images/large/156/11032.jpg

Those work nicely and use the standard RC2 plate. Ball heads are problematic with monopods for obvious adjustment reasons: locked, they're useless; and unlocked, they're unstable. Left a bit loose on the body, the RC2 plate can move a bit under tension for adjustment on the flip-head with short teles and under. Works for me.

hugopoon · Jan 3, 2011

I find monopods either totally useless or a lifesaver, depending on the situation.

alexmacphee · Jan 3, 2011

I regularly use two monopods (not at the same time), a Manfrotto 679 and an ART134. The ART134 is brilliant, and I use it either with the RC2 quick release head, or more commonly the 234 tilt head. In some situations, just having the closed 134 hanging from the bottom of the camera as ballast provides enough stabilisation coupled with manoeuverability. There are times when only a tripod will do, but it's unreasonable to disparage a monopod for having only one leg.

How useful is a monopod???

mikebarger

MattKing

Moderator

Mlatterich

Paul VanAudenhove

CGW

hugopoon

alexmacphee

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