My monopod idea

[chemicalbro]

hey people i had this idea while thinking about how Brian uses the beanpole for stability and how it is easy enough for him to change the height of his camera very quickly......

I always find that using my monopod for macro that extending or retracting the leg sections to a suitable height to shoot a fly or something.. by the time i had the pod adjusted the fly was off....

so i modeled this in Lightwave :)
basically its just a normal monopod but the grip can slide up and down and it has a locking/release thumb button and a camera bracket attached to it.

somebody PLEASE PLEASE make me this "the vertipod"

it only took me about 25 mins to model it so it's gotta be easy in real life :)
http://hellmouth.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pod-up.jpg

http://hellmouth.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pod-mid.jpg

http://hellmouth.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pod-down.jpg

[Omri Alon]

That is great :D:D:D:D
I will defiantly buy one :D:D

[chemicalbro]

So would I :)
(wish i had some metal working tools and i'd make it for real)
ps...if anybody wants to manufacture it for sale I'm open to offers :lol: :lol: :lol:

[melvynyeo]

Nice looking pod! Wow you have excellent skill to draw this.

[LordV]

Neat idea Alan.
Some potential modifications- not sure how they could be achieved :)
1.Legs have one action drop on them all- so you can effectively hold the camera at the desired height and drop the legs with one simple action
2. The camera fixing would need to be flexible or rotatable in some way- I'm often holding the camera at an odd angle to my beanpole (ie anything upto portrait mode) obviously you can do a certain amount by just leaning the pole over but there are limitations to this.
Brian V.

[chemicalbro]

both good ideas Brian :)... number 1......it's not gonna be the dropping that will be the problem (gravity will do that) its how you get them to lock once its on the ground(i wonder how electric car antenna work:confused: )

number 2..... didn't think about that..... I can see it in my head how to make it tho so i'll jump back to modeler :)

[pxl8]

A couple of thoughts...

Sliding the camera down will be easy - gravity will do the work. Sliding it up will require an extra hand - one to support the camera, one to release the grip, another to hold the shaft. Maybe a foot rest would solve that?

Strength. The quick release mechanism needs to be able to support the weight of the camera gear and the weak point will be the t-join at the shaft. The further away the camera is mounted the greater the leverage will be.

Also the release system will need to work well at an angle as the weight will naturally hold it at one.

My mono uses a twist lock system which is a lot easier to operate and adjust than the folding clips that are normally used. Perhaps a re-design on that principal might solve some of the issues?

[hidden forms]

Good idea, would come in very handy
You could hanve a ball head attached to the camera bracket so you can ajust the angle of the camera.

[Action_Man]

I have a light alloy telescopic walking staff, and i`m sure it would be easy to adapt a bracket and attache it, similar to the way a telescope is attached to a rifle, and is adjusted with an alan key .

Thats an excellent model, how long have you been modelling and why ? ...

http://www.towsure.com/product.asp?p=9530

[BigAl-SA]

I like the idea and would also buy one from your supplier :p

I've ordered a "monopod bucket" from its inventor which I'm hoping will do the trick for me. Basically, it fits on your belt and the monopod hooks into it, so the length of the monopod is the length of your torso which means as you move your torso to get into position you don't have to adjust the monopod. If you scroll down through this thread you'll find a pic of it from the inventor.
http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=1304

[chemicalbro]

the weak point will be the t-join at the shaft. The further away the camera is mounted the greater the leverage will be.

Also the release system will need to work well at an angle as the weight will naturally hold it at one.



i see what you mean... the whole point i guess of a monopod is it supports the camera near it's centre of gravity....

the problem for me from the start with the monopod is the time it takes to drop the leg and lock it....... I may have to look into a twist lock one.....
i really loiked Brians idea of the drop leg tho..... (a button to drop and lock all sections...... (i don't know how that would work either :))

do you have a link for the monopod you have?

[chemicalbro]

Big Al ...that sounds real interesting so it works like one of those flag holster things :)
....where did you order it from?

[chemicalbro]

Action man i've been modeling for about 12 years.....
the model is actually very simple as i said it took about 25 minutes to knock up....
its all just basic primitive shapes like cylinders and boxes...

Why?

I 've always been into painting and drawing (i used to do a lot of airbrushing)
but it gets very tediuos cleaning out the brush every time you change colour.....it's messy takes a LONG time....
the programs you get for computers nowadays you can do all that at the click of a mouse..then undo it if it doesn't look right..... started off doing 2d in painting progs on my Amiga..the natural progression is to 3d...I had lightwave for the amiga.. and i've had it ever since (it's on version 8 now tho :))
and with practice can produce results you can't tell from real life...
(they use it on a lot of movies for effects and stuff....

[Angel_LCD]

Looking at your drawings and my monopod I wonder could it be solved just with a grip modification on an already working monopod? Then you have "solved" most of the production ;) and can concentrate on the grip :)

[pxl8]

do you have a link for the monopod you have?

I got my from London Camera Exchange but Jessops stock it as well:

http://www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?product=CUL2741&refer=frg

I added a ball and socket head which I wouldn't be without - it means I can plant the mono at odd angles and keep the camera level.

[Leorooster]

What about an L shape mount which you can use it as a flash bracket :)

Great idea......I would buy one if someone manufacture it. Alan, seriously, I hope you obtain a patent(s) for it already......

Thanks for sharing!

[mecdave]

I use a Manfrotto monopod that has a pistol grip for height adjustment. There are two leg sections. One unlocks/locks by twisting, then the second one adjusts with the grip. I've added a mini monopod tilt head to the pod and find the combination fast and flexible. Here are links to the two items...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5523&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5491&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

[superdiver]

How many have tried the shock absorber walking poles from REI with a camera attachment?

[Mike Bell]

I like the idea and would also buy one from your supplier :p

I've ordered a "monopod bucket" from its inventor which I'm hoping will do the trick for me. Basically, it fits on your belt and the monopod hooks into it, so the length of the monopod is the length of your torso which means as you move your torso to get into position you don't have to adjust the monopod. If you scroll down through this thread you'll find a pic of it from the inventor.
http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=1304

I just took a look at this link and guess what, my fellow Scot Chemicalbro - he's re-invented the sporran!:lol:

All we Scots have to do is stick our wee monopods in our sporrans and we're off!:lol: :lol:

[zacker]

A couple of thoughts...

Sliding the camera down will be easy - gravity will do the work. Sliding it up will require an extra hand - one to support the camera, one to release the grip, another to hold the shaft. Maybe a foot rest would solve that?

You dont need to hold the camera, its screwed onto the holder, so you can grab the pod with one hand and grab the handle in the other while squeezing the release.. this could work!

id like to see some sort of ratcheting device on it, like a "wood clamp" has. this way if you loose your grip while the lock is in its off position, your cam wont go crashing to the ground.

also, i think if the camera will be off to the side, youll need some sort of brace on that side at the bottom, sort of like another leg, to hold the pod steady... on a traditional pod, the camera is centered on the top in the middle so its weight is pushing strsaight down the shaft, this one, the weight will want to pull the camera to the side. That might make it hard to steady for long exposueres.
just a thought.
good idea though.
-zacker-

[zacker]

also, insted of the little button to release it, a more of a "trigger" type device in the front would make it easier to use.
-zacker-

[pxl8]

You dont need to hold the camera, its screwed onto the holder, so you can grab the pod with one hand and grab the handle in the other while squeezing the release.. this could work!

I think with a heavy rig supporting the camera would be essential as the weight on the arm will pull the tube around the shaft at an angle causing the bottom of the tube on the camera side to scrap against the shaft and vice versa for the top of the tube. Could be a design feature tho, to stop the thing sliding down to the ground as you mentioned...

[Bald Eagle]

Guys, I hate to rain on this Parade, but I think, and I may be wrong, Manfrotto already has one out for sale. I looked at one the other day. it has a squeeze trigger that controls the height, quickly. I didnt get the model # but it was impressive and expensive. it has 2 sections, when fully extended, its about 6 feet, which is perfect for me. when you squeeze the trigger, it telescopes out, and when you release the trigger, it stays exactly there.

[mecdave]

Guys, I hate to rain on this Parade, but I think, and I may be wrong, Manfrotto already has one out for sale.

Yep. See my post above. That's what I use and am very pleased with it.:)

[Bald Eagle]

Yep. See my post above. That's what I use and am very pleased with it.:)
I thought so, I figured I would mention it again, just in case, not that I'm going senile or anything.;) now, where did I leave my cane, its always moving on me.:lol:

[mecdave]

I thought so, I figured I would mention it again, just in case, not that I'm going senile or anything.;) now, where did I leave my cane, its always moving on me.:lol:

Hahaha... my monopod does double duty as a cane to help pull these wore out bones off the ground after shooting bugs. :D

[chemicalbro]

mecdave.......that is the very item i need :)....
i've ordered one.... wonder if they'll give me a trade in for my standard manfrotto monopod :)

[mecdave]

Great! Don't forget the tilt head. You really need that too for looking up in trees or down on bugs.

BTW... the 1/4 inch thread is hidden inside the 3/8ths thread. The 3/8ths thread is spring loaded and will retract as you push the monopod up and screw the 1/4 thread into your camera/head. It's a unique setup but can be confusing at first. Just don't try to use pliers to unscrew the 3/8ths thread. It will lock in place and won't retract, besides running the chance of messing up the threads. Been there. :D

[RAitch]

It would be nice to leave the camera on the top of the pod so you didn't have that beam out the side.
Maybe think of a way that the locking mechanism would lock/unlock the movement of the extension pieces instead of controlling a slide. More complex and mechanical though.

I like people that are alwasy thinking... file for your patent before somebody steals the idea!! ;)