Tripods and Monopods

[Master Mason]

I have a bogen 680B that I use all the time, and I love it, very solid, not too heavy works like a charm. I have a cheap tilt head on it, more than anything because it made it a couple of inches taller.

A quick search shows them selling for about $56 bucks

 

[Furgus]

Well first I would look for one leg

Seriously, I have a Sunpak, not sure of the model, but I got it at Ritz. It doubles as a walking stick for hiking, and it has three legs that you can "unfold) to make it a pretty usable tripod.
Only thing I don't like is that it is not very compact, but it works pretty good.

 

[ktulu]

I just got the 680B, but I've yet to use it, but it seems sturdy

 

[jann1033]

i bought this one a few months ago and only used it once or twice but i am favorably impressed with it and the price( 33) imo is great! mine holds 10 lbs.they have one that's 20 more that holds 20 lbs. i got this one as it is lighter weight. it's really sturdy, has a nice grip, secure locks, don't know what else to say since it's basically a telescoping pipe
http://www.amazon.com/Bogen-4-Secti...5642348?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1182885354&sr=1-4
i checked them out at dodd camera pre-purchase and this is lots nice than the ones they sell for literally 2x the price. the basic problem i saw with some was they wobbled when they were extended.
i thought the lighter weight one was fine for me since if i use more than 10 lbs i probably would use a tripod instead

 

[PoohJen]

Well first I would look for one leg

Thanks for the heads up; I was immediately suspicious of the guy on eBay who tried to sell me a legless one.

and i do like the tripod-leg-extension idea, "just in case"

 

[Furgus]

Thanks for the heads up; I was immediately suspicious of the guy on eBay who tried to sell me a legless one.

and i do like the tripod-leg-extension idea, "just in case"

Yeah have to weary of those guys on eBay

 

[boBQuincy]

I would look for lightweight (under 8 oz), folds or collapses to a small size (12"), and strong (will support a large SLR with a long lens, maybe 5 pounds).

A monopod made of aluminum tent poles (or carbon if you don't mind the $$$) meets all these requirements. And has one leg!

http://www.polesforyou.com/
http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm

 

[MarkBarbieri]

and i do like the tripod-leg-extension idea, "just in case"

Be careful with a setup like that. I was reading somewhere recently (maybe here) about someone that set one up only to watch the thing topple over and smash his camera. I'm not saying not to do it, just be careful as it's likely to be easier to tip over than a normal tripod.

 

[PoohJen]

Hi!

Still haven't gotten a monopod; I think it would help with my sports shots, but I have no experience with these.

So...how "tall" should a useful monopod (heck, even tripod) be? I am 5'7" and would rather not be hunched over a smaller pod.

Also, do I need to get a swivel/tilt head for a monopod? the Manfretto (sp?) ads also tout the heads; the canon monopod (around $30) doesn't seem to have a corresponding head for sale. But I haven't looked that hard.

TIA!

 

[Mike©]

I travel with a Bogan ( now Manfrotto ) field tripod that goes up to 5'8" and two monopods. A Sunpak MX 450 that opens to 5'8" and a smaller Sunpak. One monopod ( the 450 ) has a swivel head that DOES come in very handy many times. I find monopods easier for shooting in crowd situations. Scew on the camera and hold it over the crowd.

 

[JR6ooo4]

My heavy duty tripod has a removable monopod for the adjustable center shaft. I use a pistol grip swivel head and do not need to extend it all the way up for my 6 feet height.

Mikeeee

 

[MICKEY88]

I have 2 pistol grip heads and one ball head, experimenting with both types I found that I liked the ball head better for situations where I would want to change quickly from horizontal to vertical, the bal head aslo keeps the camera closer to the monopod in vertical position, whereas with my pistol grip heads, the camera is 4-6 inches off center which seems to make things more unstable than I like

 

[0bli0]

i'm the opposite - i get as low as possible when shooting sport (i'm always kneeling or sitting to keep the horizon below the waist). i don't use a head either... only an rc2 receiver. wfiw all lenses that i'd use have a tripod collar, which i keep semi loose. this allows immediate transition from portrait (most shots) to landscape orientation (scrums, kicks, diving try, etc.)

 

[boBQuincy]

I use an aluminum tent pole for a monopod. It is light, stiff, and folds to about 13".
I do not use a head on the monopod, it is easier and faster to just rest the camera on the monopod (the only direction of interest for reducing camera motion with a monopod is vertical anyway). Without a head it is simple to place the monopod at the center of balance, which most heads can't do.

 

[PoohJen]

i'm the opposite - i get as low as possible when shooting sport (i'm always kneeling or sitting to keep the horizon below the waist).

good point, which I did consider; I do move around alot for sports shots and get down on the ground, and expect the monopod will be limiting at times.

 

[jann1033]

i'm 5'7"as well and have the bogen"lightweight" monopod( around 30ish,i got it at amazon...) i like it cause collapsed or with one section a little open, it's the perfect height for me to use if i am seated ie in the car or something but it's tall enough extended that i don't have to bend much if any( i'd try it out to see how much but it's in the car ) i usually just keep it on my camera and it's short enough collapsed it doesn't get in the way
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009R6CO/103-4468467-7158207

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I'm heading down to Disney in 6 days (yayyy!) and am just getting all my camera equipment ready (I know.. I'm lazy!). I'm going to be using an Olympus E300 DSLR and want to get some awesome pictures of Wishes, Spectromagic, and possibly the MVMCP (still not sure if I'm going). I do have a monopod... and figured I'd use that. Is a tripod THAT much better? I'm also considering running out and buying a shutter release for the camera. Either that or just throwing the settings on the 2 second self timer and let it just keep on taking sequential photos. What do you guys think? Thanks!

 

[jann1033]

I'm heading down to Disney in 6 days (yayyy!) and am just getting all my camera equipment ready (I know.. I'm lazy!). I'm going to be using an Olympus E300 DSLR and want to get some awesome pictures of Wishes, Spectromagic, and possibly the MVMCP (still not sure if I'm going). I do have a monopod... and figured I'd use that. Is a tripod THAT much better? I'm also considering running out and buying a shutter release for the camera. Either that or just throwing the settings on the 2 second self timer and let it just keep on taking sequential photos. What do you guys think? Thanks!

sorry don't know anything about your camera but i'd take /borrow/ buy a tripod...a monopod is fine for somethings but not sure it would be enough support for wishes as it's more like the support on an IS camera, fine for twilight maybe or dim light but i know it wouldn't be enough for me for fireworks....if you can swing a remote that would help as well...i lost mine and used my timer for some night shots but it's not as easy to get it to go off exactly when you want it to for something that changes like fireworks

 

[Master Mason]

A mono will not allow you to get long exposure shots like a tripod will, your still supporting it with your hands and the camera will move.

 

[boBQuincy]

Monopods work ok for fireworks, down to maybe 1/4 second. For those long trails at 1.5+ seconds a tripod is really required.
Here are two different approaches:

Monopod, 1/4 second

Tripod, 1.6 second