Are monopods worthwhile?

[johnwolf]

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I'm considering a monopod for use with the M8 in places where tripods are not allowed. I've looked on several forums and some people say monopods offer nothing over handholding. Others claim they gain a stop or two.

 

Appreciate your experiences with this issue. Thanks.

 

John

[kobold]

people say monopods offer nothing over handholding

 

Nonsense. use the monopod to control vertical movement, and lean a solid body part against something to control the horizontal. Almost as good as a regular tripod. Keep basic triangulation in mind; you get the idea. hth, kl

[rwfreund]

I agreee with Kit,

A monopod is very useful and makes a good addition to a travel kit.

After some practice, I have found it useful down to around 1/4 sec or so.

Just remember that unlike the tripod, you can't let go

-bob

[Johannes Knightworth]

I think you might find that monopods are also not permitted in places where tripods are banned.

 

I shoot a lot of middle age art in churches, cathedrals and museums, most places forbid the use of tripods, most places also have a lightlevel where normal out of hand shooting is not possible. I have found that a little table tripod with and extension pices from the top of the tripod to the camera tripod screw is most helpfull. You can lean it against walls, table even your shoulder.... this enables me at least to shoot nice images at up to 1/4 - 1/2, and I have no problems using it any place I want. I use it with my M4 which ofcourse is pretty small to start off with, but also with my 5D with 17-40 or 85mm attached, and it does save you a couple of f stops, and it easily slips into my inside pocket.

[marknorton]

I'm a big fan of monopods. I use the Manfrotto Neotec which has a folding foot plate you step on and you just pull it up to where you want it to be, no locks, rings or levers.

 

Add a quick release plate and you can deploy, get the shot and move on. A tripod is a real hassle by comparison.

[Skippy Sanchez]

I usually use monopods with telephoto lenses in low-light situations, like courtrooms, or for support when using a 500mm lens. otherwise I consider it another darn thing to lug around and risk leaving it behind. I detest tripods, but use them when needed. And i can sure understand the value of a tripod when shooting art.

 

A monopod is maybe 1/3 the hassle of a tripod but a necessary evil. However, it can also be an effective defensive weapon when shooting in a hostile environment.

[grober]

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I used mine, a Manfrotto product, just last weekend on a cathedral shoot where a large tripod would have been objectionable. The self timer on my M8 gets exercised a lot.

 

Another recommendation, buy a sturdy one that also looks like and truly functions as a walking stick. This will help disguise the fact that you are a pro/serious shooter on a specific photo mission.

 

Lastly, the Leica or Manfrotto table pods are always worth their weight.

 

-g

[wparsonsgisnet]

I use a monopod -- whenever I can. For movement photography it is absolutely critical.

 

I shoot a lot of dance in performance and I SLAM the shutter down to get dancers in the air. The monopod is exactly the right answer.

 

I bot mine because when I started photographing dance performances in color, I noticed that every other shot was out of focus. This surprised me because I've been using M's for a l-o-n-g time. When I examined the shots more closely, they were not out of focus, they were blurred. I bot a monopod and the problem went away.

 

Monopod -- don't leave home without it.

 

I have 3, unfortunately no carbon fiber yet. The one I carry in my video kit case (I leave it there and rarely use it) is a 5-section one. I was looking for one that would close up to less than 20 inches. It goes to about 15 inches -- but it weighs a damn ton because there are so many sections.

 

I am looking for a 3-section, carbon fiber one. It's just not on the budget priority list, yet.

 

One nice thing about them is that you can tuck them into the back of your belt as you walk around. I've never had a problem with being allowed to use a monopod anywhere I am allowed to use the camera. Stupid museums!

[jtharvie]

I have a TrekPod Trek-Tech : Home

It's very handy in so many instances.

Well made, light and works well as a walking stick or a tri / mono pod. Fairly inexpensive at 129.00 Canadian.

[dugby]

I have three. My favorite is the new Velbon ultrastick 50LX.

it has nifty new twist lock pipe legs.

its ultra lite, ultra compact, very sturdy, collapses into a very short handle,

and is low priced.

[Guest tummydoc]

I believe the main reason some people discount the effectiveness of a monopod is in the way they position it. I've often seen people with the monopod straight down at a right angle to both the lens axis and the ground. It offers only vertical stability in that orientation whilst the camera can move in every other direction. A sports photographer once showed me the correct way, which is the monopod extended forward at the foot whilst the photographer leans his body forward at a similar angle and spreads his legs to each side at a similar angle as well, thus forming a tripod. It sounded silly when he described it but blast if it doesn't work a splendid trick!

[dannirr]

Monopods are terrific - and certainly improve over handholding. But, as others have said, they are also sometimes not permitted in places tripods are not permitted, or may be cumbersone to carry - so here is another useful solution that works very well:

 

Tie a piece of strong (not thick) string to a tripod screw (you can buy one of these at a camera store, or use the quick release plate from a tripoed etc). When you need additional support, screw it into the tripod hole and drop the string to the floor. Stand on the end of the string and pull the camera UPWARDS. The tension on the string will prevent you having any vertical shake. Works well with marginal shutter speeds, not very slow shutter speeds. Keep it in your pocket when not in use.

 

Danni

[bill]

Another vote here for a stringpod. I've used mine on a number of occasions to get me an extra stop. It's completely portable, quick and easy to use and if anyone does notice they laugh before they challenge you. Only useful for horizontal shots though...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[johnwolf]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm convinced. Now I need to decide which monopod to buy.

 

Danni and Bill, I use a stringpod sometimes, too. It combines a Manfrotto tripod base plate, which has a metal ring for turning, and a thin 6 foot dog leash with a metal clip.

 

John

[topoxforddoc]

Yup. I like monopods too. I use a small Cullmann as it fits neatly into my bag and I can carry it anywhere. I looked at the others eg Manfrotto and they were just too big. I use mine with my R9/DMR and 280 apo telyt for sports - essential. As for my M shooting, I just normally hand hold.

 

Charlie

[Ben Marks]

I keep a small Bogen tilt/pan head on mine as I often want to have the camera's lens axis at other than a right angle to the monopod leg. I would say you get 2/3 of a tripod's edge in stability at 1/2 the hassle. The Bogen monopod collapses to about 40 cm in three sections. I think Adorama has an in-house brand that is spring loaded. A very useful bit of kit, particularly for the price. It will get me an extra stop or two in low-light situations and is very low tech.

 

Ben

[telyt]

I believe the main reason some people discount the effectiveness of a monopod is in the way they position it.

 

Exactly right! I'm a big fan of the monopod. I'm using it with a simple tilt head (Bogen 3232, under US$20 at B&H) and a QR clamp, oriented for up/down tilts so I can extend the monopod in front of me. Combined with the shoulder stock I find it an excellent balance of stability and mobility with my long lenses.

[cmarbach]

Don't forget that one of the big advantages to a digital camera is that you can use some high ISO values. When I go into a building where I intend to use available light I routinely shoot at 1600 - usually I can hand hold most pics that way. With a Monopod you can get away with a lower ISO (and noise).

[macpaladin]

I have the Manfrotto 682B Monopod with detachable legs and really like the support it gives me with my DMR. There are other lighter monopods that have legs.

 

Without the legs I can use it as a monopod/walking stick. With the legs it becomes a pseudo tripod.

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[Philinflash]

I just got back from 9 days in Mexico exploring pyramids and other archaic momentos of the Toltecs and the Olmecs over the past three thousand years. I used a Velbron UP-4000 monopod with a Sunpak ball-head (both purchased from B&H) under my M-8.

 

This was an very useful combination. Interior spaces (where thousand-year old wall paintings tend to be found) are usually about 10 f-stops darker than the outside daylight. That's when the monopod came into its own. I don't know how many f-stops a monopod is "worth," but it sure comes in handy to offset deep-breathing unsteadiness that sometimes accompanies high-altitude physical exertions.

 

The Velbron is nice because you can basically hold the camera to your eye with one hand and drop the three-strage telescoping leg down to the ground and lock-in the right height. You can adjust the ball-head with one hand, too, so you can be ready to shoot without taking your eye from the finder. You can even swivel to portrait format; it doesn't always have to be landscape.

 

And, finally, the monopod served as a walking stick on irregularly surfaced climbs and steep pyramid stairs, as other posters have suggested.

 

Chosing the right monopod is important: you do not want it too heavy to be a burden or too light and flimsy to not support the M-8. The combination above seems to be a pretty good compromise.

 

 

Philip Kozloff