Tripods and Monopods

[photobob]

It is quite useful to have a monopod when you are shooting at slower shutter speeds with heavy lenses and you need to be mobile or shooting with extremely heavy lenses that simply can't be handheld. Guys you see shooting football games generally are shooting with 400mm f2.8 lenses which weigh in the 12 pound range and the simply can't be handheld and tripods are not only impractical they are not allowed on sidelines of games.

They do help but in no way could replace a tripod when shooting very long exposures.

 

[iggbees]

i know this has probably been asked a million times, but i can never get the search function to work for me.

i'm looking for a good monopod or tripod that is inexpensive (i'm a poor grad student) and easily portable in a small backpack. we're going to disney in january, so i figure if i ask this now i'll hopefully be able to purchase one before we leave. i have a gorillapod for both my dslr and my point and shoot. i like the gorillapod, but i never can seem to get the shot i want by setting that little guy up in a convenient spot - especially during night time events (parades, fireworks, illuminations, etc).

also, on the topic of monopods/tripods... which is better for easy night time shooting? i seem to have very shaky hands when i take photos. would that be a problem if i use a monopod or would it be stable enough?

any advice is very welcome, thanks!

 

[JeffPoth]

Best Buy has their store brand Dynex monopod. Is pretty big but will support something like 17 or 18 pounds. Of course if you put a ball head it will change but the pretty much always have one.

 

[edolyne]

I am beginning to look for either a monopod or tripod. I came across the Trekpod XL, anyone have experience with this or the Trekpod Go? There seems to be very few reviews on the web and I didn't stop at the booth at Photo Plus to check it out. Ultimatly it would be nice to have a monopod with legs so that I might have some stability for doing some longer exposure shots and be able to avoid the hassle of a tripod.

 

[Quicklabs]

I met EPCOTKilterFan on my last WDW trip because she had a Trek Pod II that I drew my attention and got us to talking. I actually think that I am going to buy it for my next trip to Disney in November. It looked incredibly versatile. Now, I wouldn't leave it unattended in the wind with a lot of gear on it, but I think it would meet most of my needs at Disney well. Plus, it folds down to a small size for travel.
I used my Gorillapod on the last trip. It did the job pretty well, but it was kind of a hassle to find places to which to attach it. And it took a long time to do just right. I couldn't take any decent fireworks shots with it, so I think it will be the Trek Pod for me next time.

 

[annnewjerz]

My question is, for daylight shooting...do you notice a much better quality image when shooting handheld v. using a monopod?

I'll be bringing a full-sized tripod (which just arrived yesterday ) and the Gorillapod just in case DH doesn't feel like carrying the tripod around, however, I have realized a lot of my shots during the day aren't all that crisp and sharp--I find myself doing at least some sharpening in PE. I figure it has been user error since all of my shots have been handheld and was thinking of investing in a lightweight monopod. That being said, money is tight and I don't want to waste any extra money this year if the general concensus is that they really don't make that much difference.

Thoughts?

 

[boBQuincy]

My thoughts are that a monopod can make a big difference in sharpness. It completely stops camera movement in the vertical plane, the one that is most likely to occur.

Some books I have read indicate that even at shutter speeds we consider to be "safe" there is still enough camera shake to affect sharpness. I always carry a monopod and try to use it as much as possible. I feel it makes a difference.

The anti-aliasing filter and the digitization process itself both lose sharpness, for anything but a small print or small web image some sharpening should usually be done. Most of our in-camera JPG conversions do some sharpening but most RAW files are not sharpened in the camera.

 

[jann1033]

My thoughts are that a monopod can make a big difference in sharpness. It completely stops camera movement in the vertical plane, the one that is most likely to occur.

Some books I have read indicate that even at shutter speeds we consider to be "safe" there is still enough camera shake to affect sharpness. I always carry a monopod and try to use it as much as possible. I feel it makes a difference.

The anti-aliasing filter and the digitization process itself both lose sharpness, for anything but a small print or small web image some sharpening should usually be done. Most of our in-camera JPG conversions do some sharpening but most RAW files are not sharpened in the camera.

i got a really nice bogen/manfrotto monopod on amazon that is very light weight. so much so i sometimes just leave it on my camera for the whole day. i think that particular one has been replaced but i know there is a slik one for under $30 there now and i think the replacement for mine is under $50. worth it imo. i'm trying to get into the habit of using it when i don't use my tripod cause it does make a difference, esp. with my longer non is lenses. the gorilla pod is probably pretty similar but you need somethink to attach it to. i'd probably take a mono and gorilla unless i was planning on night photos ( so leave the tripod in the locker except at night) i think the gorilla is probably light enough not to really make a difference taking it but if so i'd leave it home and take the mono. you can find really cheap ones however i wouldn't bother with a quantary(sp) type/walmart cheapy, they wiggle. my bogen is very steady even completely extended

 

[DisneyDreamerK]

I've never tried a mono pod, but I love my gorilla pod and my "pod".

http://www.amazon.com/Pod-Bean-Port...3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231893828&sr=8-3

I usually keep the pod on the camera 24/7 in disney...it's squishy and feels good on my side lol

I usually find a trash can or railing to lean on to take photos with it...

 

[AndrewWG]

When shooting the local summer league baseball team last year, I noticed a HUGE difference in my shots using the monopod versus handheld shots. Not just in the motion shots but especially in the still/headshots. I have never gotten used to using it on a daily basis as I have found it to be a bit bulky and I like the freedom of moving around with the camera however I like and not have to worry about hitting myself in the shins with it. I should try to get used to it more as I am NEVER happy with the sharpness of my shots.

 

[annnewjerz]

i got a really nice bogen/manfrotto monopod on amazon that is very light weight. so much so i sometimes just leave it on my camera for the whole day. i think that particular one has been replaced but i know there is a slik one for under $30 there now and i think the replacement for mine is under $50. worth it imo. i'm trying to get into the habit of using it when i don't use my tripod cause it does make a difference, esp. with my longer non is lenses. the gorilla pod is probably pretty similar but you need somethink to attach it to. i'd probably take a mono and gorilla unless i was planning on night photos ( so leave the tripod in the locker except at night) i think the gorilla is probably light enough not to really make a difference taking it but if so i'd leave it home and take the mono. you can find really cheap ones however i wouldn't bother with a quantary(sp) type/walmart cheapy, they wiggle. my bogen is very steady even completely extended

Under $50 doesn't sound bad at all, any chance you can post a link to what you believe would be the replacement to the one you currently have? If not, no biggie...I'll just google it and hope for the best!

 

[jann1033]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009R6CO
i think mine doesn't have the "b" on the model # and don't remember how much mine weighs ( this one is 2 lbs, it seems like mine might be a little lighter than that by a couple ozs.) other wise they look very similar if not the same...when i bought this after looking locally and finding really wobbly ones for $50+ i was shocked at how nice and sturdy it is...yeah bogen !

 

[handicap18]

The "kit" Nikkor VR lenses are the "sharpest" in the world. They are good, very good, but could be a bit better. That being said, if you do use a monopod or tripod with the VR lens, you'll want to turn the VR off (it could create an even less sharp photo). With the basic VR lenses, the VR pretty much acts like a monopod for the most part. I'm not sure how much of an improvement you'll get for basic daytime photos using a monopod instead of using the VR.

Check over at nikonians.org's forum pages or nikoncafe.com. Unless others here have more experience with some specific lenses and the difference with VR and without VR but with a monopod/tripod.

 

[webshark3]

I carry a mini-tripod and use trashcans, etc around Disney. But the big question is; Just how sharp "must" your photos be for a vacation? I'm able to get great, sharp photos handheld (no VR or IS) by using fater lenses and higher ISO. True, mono or tripods could give that "little bit extra", but not for sizes I'm printing or using for the web. Nothing I'm shooting is art gallery bound.

You'll need to use USM on most images from DSLRs to bring out the detail to your liking. A monopod won't change that workflow.

Other than fireworks, I'd enjoy shooting tripod free. My new XSi has a IS lens, so I may try that out next trip.

 

[jann1033]

When shooting the local summer league baseball team last year, I noticed a HUGE difference in my shots using the monopod versus handheld shots. Not just in the motion shots but especially in the still/headshots. I have never gotten used to using it on a daily basis as I have found it to be a bit bulky and I like the freedom of moving around with the camera however I like and not have to worry about hitting myself in the shins with it. I should try to get used to it more as I am NEVER happy with the sharpness of my shots.

i don't worry as much about hitting my shins as i do poking someone else in the rear with it but i do shut it when i move if i'm near anyone( ie at the zoo). mine only has 3 flip type knobs so it takes a second to open( not nearly as long as my tripod) closed it's only maybe 18" long or so and i can control it.

 

[jann1033]

I carry a mini-tripod and use trashcans, etc around Disney. But the big question is; Just how sharp "must" your photos be for a vacation? I'm able to get great, sharp photos handheld (no VR or IS) by using fater lenses and higher ISO. True, mono or tripods could give that "little bit extra", but not for sizes I'm printing or using for the web. Nothing I'm shooting is art gallery bound.

You'll need to use USM on most images from DSLRs to bring out the detail to your liking. A monopod won't change that workflow.

Other than fireworks, I'd enjoy shooting tripod free. My new XSi has a IS lens, so I may try that out next trip.

i understand your thinking here and personally like to travel wdw as unencumbered as possible but to me anytime any of my photos are not sharp it bugs me and who knows what shot i might decide to make an 8x10.

last trip i took my slr (at the time) only some days and planned on photo days. i'm not a big shooter of things like parades etc(to me they are kind of like souvenirs i have to have when i 'm there then never use at home ) but i do like the horticulture etc. if i had small kids with me and wanted shots of them or wanted just vacation type snapshots and didn't really care if they were all that sharp or not, i might take a good small p&s and just be done with that. otherwise i'd take the whole shebang, if i'm going to lug a 10 lb case full of lenses what's another 1 1/2lb for the monopod

 

[boBQuincy]

i understand your thinking here and personally like to travel wdw as unencumbered as possible but to me anytime any of my photos are not sharp it bugs me and who knows what shot i might decide to make an 8x10.

My thoughts too, what if one of the images is good and I want to make a 20" x 30"? That's why I always carry (and usually use) a monopod. I do grin when I read of a monopod that shaves off 8 ounces or so, mine only weighs 3 ounces total!

 

[Graeme]

I usually keep the pod on the camera 24/7 in disney...it's squishy and feels good on my side lol

I usually find a trash can or railing to lean on to take photos with it...

Think I'm going to have to get one of those!!

 

[annnewjerz]

My thoughts too, what if one of the images is good and I want to make a 20" x 30"? That's why I always carry (and usually use) a monopod. I do grin when I read of a monopod that shaves off 8 ounces or so, mine only weighs 3 ounces total!

3 ounces total?! What kind are you using if you don't mind me asking...just because most that I have been looking at (that are within my price range) and 2 pounds or so. The lighter, the better...if you ask me. I'll be carrying the monopod with the rest of my stuff so the less pounds to carry the happier I'll be. Now if DH were carrying it on the other hand...that would be a different story

 

[boBQuincy]

3 ounces total?! What kind are you using if you don't mind me asking...

A 6 section aluminum tent pole, custom fit to hold the camera right at eye level. This is not the aluminum we knew long ago, this specially tempered alloy is incredibly strong and takes over 10 pounds before it even thinks of starting to flex.

The whole thing folds to about 11" and assembles in seconds (just hold one end and shake it gently, it snaps together). Most decent camping stores can provide one, or there are online places that make replacement tent poles. I like about 0.380" diameter for a good mix of light and stiff, the 0.340" that I used for years was just a little bit too light.

Order one that is about 3"-4" below eye level for most SLRs.

For those with more $$$ and weaker backs, the carbon fiber weighs about 1/3 less (and costs 3x as much)!