Tripods and Monopods

[JR6ooo4]

I started with a manfrotto but it was too short for me. My heavy duty tripod has a removable center pole which is a monpod and it is about a half foot longer. I am 6'0" tall.

Mikeeee

If you do not need a super tall one I will sell you my Manfrotto at half price. PM me for a pic and model # if you are interested.

ps. Does Master Mason mean you are a young boy or realy good at the Masonary arts?

 

[Master Mason]

JR,

thanks, I am the same height as you, so I would probably have the same issues with that Monfotto as you did. But that is good advice. I will keep the hieght of the mono in mind. What size was your monfonto?

As to the user name, I am a member of the Masonic Fraternity. I have used this name at a few sites that I go to, so it is just really easy to remember

 

[ndelaware]

I bought a Promaster for $50 at my local camera store because it was the tallest one they had in stock. I am 6'3".

 

[tinksdad]

I've enjoyed the Bogen/Manfrotto . It's 63.3" height is fine for me with the camera attached. I like to see th top LCD on the camera and this is a perfect height for my 6' frame. My advice is to get a fairly decent one, because a cheap one won't do what you want and then it's just money wasted.....

 

[Furgus]

SunPak Versi Pod 2

I have this and I love it.
Cheap too. They have a mag ball head mount for $30 more, but I don't even really use the ball head that it came with.

 

[0bli0]

what body and lens(es)? What usage?

 

[Master Mason]

what body and lens(es)? What usage?

ObliO,

I have a Rebel XT, currently have the Sigma 18-125, cannon 70-300, cannon 18-55 and cannon 50mm f1.8.

Mostly what I would be using the monopod for is sporting events, currently american football with the 70-300 lens. The various kids also play baseball, wrestle, run cross country, and track.

 

[0bli0]

for sports - especially american football and baseball, you're going to generally want to sit or kneel. in which case the height isn't as important. but i would suggest taking your camera and lens to a good photo shot near you and look at the manfrotto 679B (the 3 section one) with a quick release (RC2) receiver. you won't need a ball head or anything like that.

look through and rest your left hand on top of the lens. try it both seated and standing. monopods take a little getting used to. if the height feels comfortable, you're set. i recommend avoiding the thinner range they make as they're largely ineffective and have cheaper materials.

 

[Master Mason]

Well, I just got my monopod. I mostly took your advise ObliO, I got the 680B. All the numbers were the same except it was a 4 section, so it folded a little smaller. I definately think it will fit the bill for what I am looking for

Thanks

 

[0bli0]

post your experience after you've had a few goes with it

 

[Groucho]

Looks like I was a little late on this, not that I have a great answer but I did a bunch of research myself recently.

I had settled on a Dynatran carbon fiber one, because if you buy via eBay and get a decent deal, you can get it complete with magnesium ball head for maybe $55-60 shipped.

But then, a friend gave me a Bogen one that he'd picked up at a garage sale for $2 (the seller had no idea what it was) that he'd never used. So now I'm just been keeping an eye on ball heads on eBay. The downside is that it's a lot heavier than a carbon fiber one would be, but I can't complain for free!

You should do well with the Bogen stuff - I've heard that the cheaper monopods are too flimsy to be really useful... and the cheap ball heads are often more frustrating than anything else, too, so it pays to buy decent stuff right off the bat rather than buy cheap now and have to buy better stuff later.

 

[ransom]

Has anyone been able to find an ultra-portable monopod that collapses to 12" or so? They all seem to collapse to the 18" to 26" size, which I consider too large to haul around the parks.

 

[YEKCIM]

I bought this one before last July's visit to The World:

http://www.buy.com/prod/Sima_SMP_1_Collapsible_Monopod/q/loc/111/90124835.html

It collapses to 15", which I found pretty manageable, clipping it to the chest pocket of my photojournalist vest. I also discovered that it was a lot more useful for videography than still photography.

~YEKCIM

 

[boBQuincy]

Has anyone been able to find an ultra-portable monopod that collapses to 12" or so? They all seem to collapse to the 18" to 26" size, which I consider too large to haul around the parks.

Yep! The monopod is made from sections of aluminum tent poles, ultra-light, and folds to about 12" (depending on how many sections you use). I made mine but you can have them made at a local camping supply store. Just measure to about 3" less than your eye height, and divide by the number of sections.

For those with more money than necessary, the poles also come in carbon fiber to reduce the weight from 3 oz to 1.5 oz!

 

[jann1033]

Yep! The monopod is made from sections of aluminum tent poles, ultra-light, and folds to about 12" (depending on how many sections you use). I made mine but you can have them made at a local camping supply store. Just measure to about 3" less than your eye height, and divide by the number of sections.

For those with more money than necessary, the poles also come in carbon fiber to reduce the weight from 3 oz to 1.5 oz!

can you explain the set up of this...i remember you mentioning it before and I thought it was premade and couldn't find one..would most stores know how to do this or would i get my usual reaction to my more unusual requests...lots of eyerolling? ( we have a dicks and a gander mountain and a ski show in the general area)

 

[boBQuincy]

I get my pole pieces from REI, the poles are made by Easton and they have a web form for custom poles:
http://www.eastonpoles.com/upgradecustom.asp

I use .340 diameter, it is sturdy enough for my SLR. For the do-it-yourselfers, the tubing cuts easily with a tubing cutter (file the ends smooth).

The end that supports the camera will work well with just a rubber or vinyl cap, no 1/4-20 screw needed (unless you want one).
http://www.eastonpoles.com/mountain/accessories/end_tips.htm

Here's another place that has the parts:
http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm

 

[ransom]

Wow! Thanks! I'll check into that.

 

[jann1033]

I get my pole pieces from REI, the poles are made by Easton and they have a web form for custom poles:
http://www.eastonpoles.com/upgradecustom.asp

I use .340 diameter, it is sturdy enough for my SLR. For the do-it-yourselfers, the tubing cuts easily with a tubing cutter (file the ends smooth).

The end that supports the camera will work well with just a rubber or vinyl cap, no 1/4-20 screw needed (unless you want one).
http://www.eastonpoles.com/mountain/accessories/end_tips.htm

Here's another place that has the parts:
http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm

uh one more favor....could you post a photo? i'm trying to figure out how to make them interlock or what ever they would do to stay together..i am not an engineer like some people...but I am a pro at being annoying

just thought of something though ..if you make this to sell or something just pm me with a link for them or something..not trying to take advantage

 

[boBQuincy]

uh one more favor....could you post a photo? i'm trying to figure out how to make them interlock or what ever they would do to stay together..i am not an engineer like some people...but I am a pro at being annoying

If you are a pro at being annoying then you should be an engineer.

The illustration and photos on the
http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm
website probably shows the poles better than I could. The pole segments have a ferrule cemented into one end, halfway in. The half of the ferrule that sticks out fits into the next segment, connecting them together. What holds the whole thing together is the shock cord, a big elastic cord that is under tension.

To fold the monopod, pull each section in turn out of it's adjoining section. When the folded monopod is held up and gently shaken the pieces snap-snap-snap together into a rigid monopod (usually attracting some attention).

I thought about selling them but the tent pole places do it for far less than I could. What I can do best is the part they don't, such as modify the ends for a 1/4-20 thread or a nylon bumper (to reduce noise on the end that rests on the ground).

 

[Groucho]

I think I understand what you're describing, but any of the tent poles I've used when I've gone camping have been as wobbly as a drunk's legs, whereas my Bogen monopod is rocksolid and could easily be used as a bludgeon, like if I was fighting someone for the last cinnamon roll at the Main St Bakery.

I'm not trying to discount your setup in any way, I'm just trying to figure out if either there are far more sturdy tent poles than the ones I'm used to (quite possible) or if you have found that despite them being less stable, they perform acceptably for you.

No question that the Bogen one is awfully big and heavy, which is part of the reason I'll probably leave it behind on future trips (or look into a smaller, lighter one in the future.)