Jump to content

Monopod for SL and 90-280


SP0

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

For simple sports photography I'd like to put some of the weight of the 90-280 onto a monopod.  

 

I don't think I need a complicated head and want to keep travel weight/size down - I was thinking of just getting a Gitzo carbon fibre monopod and screwing it directly to the Leica lens foot.  Is that what others do?

Link to post
Share on other sites

I use sometimes an old monopod from Linhof - it is so old (bought in the nineties) I have no specs or name for it. Just that it consists of four (aluminum ?) rods with a total length of about 1.5 m.

I have it usually with me, but most of the time I use the 90-280 handheld.

It needs a bit getting used to the weight, but the lens is very stable as it is of constant length. So I find it easy to hold. And it is much more flexible than even with monopod (in a crowd for example).

And OIS is very strong - I have almost no "losses" anymore

 

So thinking about it, a monopod is not necessary - but maybe you use it differently, sitting for hours at a tennis court for example. Then it would be useful.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Sorry, just checked again, it consists of 5 rods. All 5 parts are held in place with a single spring (no screws) in the lowest link. For me it is an "evergreen". There was also a black (alu) version.

Small and nice, also fine on a sunday walk (with a smaller lens).  :)  With film (Kodachrome 64ISO) and manual lenses and no OIS it was very useful.

Edited by steppenw0lf
Link to post
Share on other sites

It is traditional on a forum to avoid giving an answer but to tell the OP that they are asking the wrong question :) .

So therefore I suggest that IMO you should think again about choice of monopod vs tripod+ballhead.

I haven't used a monopod but I have used that camera and lens for similar purposes (dance, children's play etc).

The SL and big zoom are indeed heavy, and I suspect you might find even a monopod doesn't relieve all the weight as you move it around, or take tension out of your muscles.

I use a tripod and a loosely tightened ballhead. The tripod I used was heavy enough for static work, but as one is not trying to make a rigid, vibration-free platform, I am sure a lightweight one would be adequate just for weight relief. A tripod also allows you to let go from time to time (if you tighten the ballhead!). I now have a Gitzo Traveller 0545 and Markins head that I would use, but there are plenty cheaper.

Edited by LocalHero1953
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I prefer to use a smallish monopod head (tilt only) when I use a monopod. If you fix the lens collar (or the camera) directly onto the monopod you have to swing the monopod forward and backward in order to adjust the vertical angle (angle above the horizon). With a tilt-head, and a turnable collar, you can adjust the monopod also in awkward situations/terrain. But of course, it is hard to beat the flexibility of a handhold system... 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Adorama has/had a similar monopod (Adorama podomatic): https://www.adorama.com/tpp.html?discontinued=t

So I know the "original" name now of my old pod: Linhof Monomatic

https://www.adorama.com/pdfs/pop1.pdf

Amazing that others also remember it.

 

P.S: I just found, that Herbert Keppler (the author of above story) is also gone. So you start learning things and then use them daily and soon afterwards the things start disappearing ...      :unsure:

Edited by steppenw0lf
Link to post
Share on other sites

I prefer to use a smallish monopod head (tilt only) when I use a monopod. If you fix the lens collar (or the camera) directly onto the monopod you have to swing the monopod forward and backward in order to adjust the vertical angle (angle above the horizon). With a tilt-head, and a turnable collar, you can adjust the monopod also in awkward situations/terrain. But of course, it is hard to beat the flexibility of a handhold system... 

Yes, if you use it for a longer time, a small head is making it more flexible. Linhof also has/had some tiny heads for that. Or the old Leica head (ball head 18, long or short) is also sturdy - though a bit longer, which is not bad for tall people.

What is better depends if you are steady or sitting, or walking around.

Edited by steppenw0lf
Link to post
Share on other sites

I us a simple tilt head on top of an old manfrotto monopod.  A ball head IMHO would have too many axes of rotation, no head is too few.  I typically position the foot of the monopod ahead of my feet so that I have a "tripod" consisting of my feet and the monopod.

+1

Link to post
Share on other sites

i have a monopod consisting of fairly chunky aluminium sections, which is great to carry as a security device :D  :ph34r: ...But seriously, I have not used it in years and instead now use a lightweight carbon fibre tripod with a loosely tightened ballhead with the legs folded in and used as a monopod sometimes, but mostly used as a tripod.

Link to post
Share on other sites

For simple sports photography I'd like to put some of the weight of the 90-280 onto a monopod.  

 

I don't think I need a complicated head and want to keep travel weight/size down - I was thinking of just getting a Gitzo carbon fibre monopod and screwing it directly to the Leica lens foot.  Is that what others do?

 

 

I use an old Gitzo carbon fibre monopod + old Manfrotto tilt head with an old RRS (Arca-Swiss type) clamp mount screwed/glued on it.

 

I assembled this combo long time ago following the advice of the creator/first owner of RRS - Really Right Stuff.

 

It was a great advice. The tilt head and clamp make the use of the monopod more flexible.

 

Nowadays the guys at Really Right Stuff offer their own solutions.

 

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Monopod-Support-Packages

Edited by Leicaiste
Link to post
Share on other sites

For simple sports photography I'd like to put some of the weight of the 90-280 onto a monopod.  

 

I don't think I need a complicated head and want to keep travel weight/size down - I was thinking of just getting a Gitzo carbon fibre monopod and screwing it directly to the Leica lens foot.  Is that what others do?

SPO,

 

To address the first part of your post, I wholeheartedly recommend a Gitzo or RRS carbon fiber monopod. I have used my Gitzo for years and couldn't live without it for birds, wildlife, motorsports, bicycle racing, Nat'l Parks, landscapes - you name it.

 

I would earnestly urge you to abondon any thoughts of "screwing it directly to the Leica lens foot.  Is that what others do?".......not a good idea - I sincerley hope no one does that.

 

As apersonal observation I believe nothing is more foolish, pointless and frustrating than a ballhead on a monopod, rather, when mounting a camera to a monopod, there's no more effective device than a Really Right Stuff monopod head. It only permits monvement in one direction, adds absolutely minimal weight to the whole set-up and is more than strong enough & sturdy enough to take the weight of 800mm and longer and heavier lenses. Including the head shown here in photo #3,the overall length of the monopod is exactly 24", so no problem as a carry-on in the overheads or you can clip it to your belt with the supplied loop / strap. FYI the QR base plate on the lens foot is by Wimberley, for the simple reason that I needed it immediately and the local Leica Botique had one on the shelf, instead of ordering from RRS - fits and works perfectly with the RRS QR plate on the head.

 

JZG

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for showing this.

Interesting that RRS is offering such a vast choice. Unfortunately RRS is just overkill for the casual user (and far too expensive).

Probably perfect for professional use, but not suitable for amateurs (not everybody wants to invest a lot of money in the most perfect equipment, a bit less perfect, but well usable and affordable is often the better choice)  

I use the SL 90-280 usually handheld, so for the rare case I want a monopod, this is overkill. Often a simple beanbag (or a rolled towel) does the job just as well. (always on the lookout for possible points of support)   :)

The older I get the more I try to reduce and simplify the equipment. Also thinking of "our paragons" (my photographic idols) that were much less in love with their gear/gadgets. 

 

Tastes are different.  ;)   (I prefer elegance to sturdiness/robustness).

Edited by steppenw0lf
Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't use monopod very much but have used a Leki whose top converts so you can use it as a hiking stick.   I had a rented 90-280 and the Leki for a Little League tournament this past summer and it worked well.  I put QR plates on the lends tripod mount and the monopod as I thought a big ballhead would be overkill.  I found that the monopod (even though small and relatively light) was restrictive in terms of moving to where the action is and I pretty much abandoned it in favor of handholding.  The outdoor light was good and at ISO 400 or 800 I could keep shutter speeds up more than enough to get sharp images.    If I were using a 400mm or 600mm I don't think I would have come to the same conclusion about monopod and would not handhold but use something sturdier.  The 90-280 is big and heavy to be sure, but it handles extremely well handheld. I passed on buying it because I could not justify the need -- even with my my chronic GAS syndrome.  

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for showing this.

Interesting that RRS is offering such a vast choice. Unfortunately RRS is just overkill for the casual user (and far too expensive).

Probably perfect for professional use, but not suitable for amateurs (not everybody wants to invest a lot of money in the most perfect equipment, a bit less perfect, but well usable and affordable is often the better choice)  

I use the SL 90-280 usually handheld, so for the rare case I want a monopod, this is overkill. Often a simple beanbag (or a rolled towel) does the job just as well. (always on the lookout for possible points of support)   :)

The older I get the more I try to reduce and simplify the equipment. Also thinking of "our paragons" (my photographic idols) that were much less in love with their gear/gadgets. 

 

Tastes are different.  ;)   (I prefer elegance to sturdiness/robustness).

 

That's funny...

 

Someone with a Leica SL and at least a 90-280 saying that RRS is overkill :)

 

RRS is expensive... but our beloved Leica stuff is INSANELY priced.

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for showing this.

Interesting that RRS is offering such a vast choice. Unfortunately RRS is just overkill for the casual user (and far too expensive).

Probably perfect for professional use, but not suitable for amateurs (not everybody wants to invest a lot of money in the most perfect equipment, a bit less perfect, but well usable and affordable is often the better choice)  

I use the SL 90-280 usually handheld, so for the rare case I want a monopod, this is overkill. Often a simple beanbag (or a rolled towel) does the job just as well. (always on the lookout for possible points of support)   :)

The older I get the more I try to reduce and simplify the equipment. Also thinking of "our paragons" (my photographic idols) that were much less in love with their gear/gadgets. 

 

Tastes are different.  ;)   (I prefer elegance to sturdiness/robustness).

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

A  preference for elegance, yet resorting to a rolled up towel, while favoring compromised performance from peripheral equipment no matter how infrequently it's used brings to mind John McEnroe's favorite retort to so many referees........................."You cannot possibly be serious".

 

JZG

 

 

Edited by John Z. Goriup
Link to post
Share on other sites

I can't remember which model number mine is but I use a lightweight Manfrotto carbon monopod that works fine with the SL. The key thing is the head, you want a quick release head but not too big and heavy (smaller than you would use for the same size camera  with a tripod) and with a ball head, not a tilt head (they are nightmares on a monopod). This lightweight setup is perfectly good enough for an SL and can be slung across the shoulder or attached to a bag and encourages you to take it with you. But the caveat would be it isn't nearly half as good as a tripod, even a flimsy tripod that would normally wobble (but can be pressed into the ground for rigidity) is better than a monopod.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...