Monopods - How much help?

[Mitch]

Does any body know how much you can lower your shutter speed by using a monopod?

How much of an influence, if at all, does the focal length have?

What's the comparative effectiveness of a monopod to a tripod with regard to shutter speed reduction?

You know, I've never seen a post on this subject with any specifics in terms of shutter speed stats.

[leony]

your shutter speed is determined by manu factors, besides camera shake. the reason to have a monopod is that it is smaller, lighter and more mobile than a tripod. the only time i see having a monopod over a tripod as a prefference is when you just need a stick to hold your camera up for a long time (like at a fashion show, or a car rally) and you really don't want to hold the camera with a tele lens in your hands for 30 min. it does add more stability but if you're shooting people it's not mobile enough and if you're shooting stills it's not stable enough.

just my two cents.

[aam1234]

From my experience, I was able to get 1/30, 1/60 sec. on around 200mm without problem (cam shake).

[elfyrulz]

just to add in the topic.. anyone recommend a good Monopods

[aam1234]

elfyrulz, check this out. They are talking about monopods:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41732

[leony]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5495&is=REG

Is a good monopod. It's not the cheapest around, but it does have 3 leggs that you can set it up on that you get when you reverse the cap on the bottom foot. It's not great, but it does make a good support for off-camera speedlight, and now with Canon's wireless E-TTL it's a breeze. It's not a substitute for a light stand due to it's stability issues.

The only downside is that it's a bit heavy, so not too good as a walking stick for hiking and such. I have this exact model and love it. I bought it when I used to shoot weddings - this was just right for the dark church and also served as a small light stand for the 2nd flash for portraits.

And of course it will take all the ball/swivel heads you can think of...well, except the huge pro-video ones.

[CyberDyneSystems]

On a good day.. I can get a usable shot at 1/60th @ 500mm using a monopod.

It can definately help.. a lot.

Particularly if you are shooting telephoto 200mm or more.. and don't have IS.

[Mitch]

Well, so far, out of 5 posts, two provided some stats. I wonder why it is so difficult to get objective stats on monopod usage? Maybe very few people, like myself, have not actually used a monopod very much or, like myself, have not paid specific attention to shutter speed reduction derived from using a monopod. Maybe a monopod isn't very effective(?).

I find it curious, though, that there is more info and interest on which brands or models are good monopods but not much info on how it affects the shutter speed. Though one post makes a very good point about the relief from the weight of the camera.

This reminds me about the time that tennis became all the rage with stars like Jimmy Connors and Billy Jean King, and Martina Navratilova. People were buying all the expensive rackets, tennis shoes, and expensive clothes, but their tennis playing sucked.
Mitch

[samdring]

Mitch
I suspect that there is not a real answer to your question. A monopod is just replacing either your left arm/hand or the nearest wall/temporary support and, to be fair is probably not as firm as the nearest wall. The problem here in England is that the nearest wall is often too far away :wink:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well part of the trouble.. albiet only part .. is that there are no hard and fast rules.

Monopods DO NOT offer consistant results. There is too much possibilty for user error,.. even if you use one all the time. They are by no means rock steady.

Thus,.. all the things that can effect a percentage of shots while hand holding a camera can also effect the monopod mounted camera.

It's just with a monopod you are more likely to get the shot that hand holding alone would offer in many cases. How much more likely depmds solely on the user. Just liek with Handholding.

If you want to eliminate hand held camera shake there is only one way. A tripod and cable release.

[MediaMagic]

Well, the stats are going to be averages or guesses because how much of a shutter speed reduction you can achieve relies on both the type of shot you are going after and the steadiness of the photographer. I'm assuming you are refering to a shot where the shutterspeed really wouldn't matter as long as correct exposure and dof is attained. For me, I can get about a stop to a stop in a half, sometimes two using a monopod, but, I tend to sway or create other minor movements that can ruin the shot even with a monopod. So mine is a photog limitation even using a monopod. I get *steadier/better* shots using a monopod at normal or slightly slower shutter speeds. I use a monopod to get better shots, and switch to a tripod for slower shutter speeds. Is this rambling making sense?


I can get better results using the new IS on the 70-200 2.8L IS than I can using a monopod w/o IS, but that's just me (1/15 @ 200mm using IS is pretty consistent, but, with a monopod, I'd have about a 50% success rate or lower at this speed).

[Cordell]

Like others have already stated, it depends on many factors including what you are shooting. For me a monopod is absolutly great for weddings. It allows me to shoot shutter speeds of 20s and 30s with great results. Next I plan to try 15s. It's also a lot cheaper than a Canon IS lens :lol:

I think a cheap monopod is better than any wall any day. Why? because you won't always have a wall around. I have a cheap monopod ($36.00) and love it. I'm glad I didn't spend over $50.00 over it because from testing others after the fact I'm not missing anything.

Cordell

[J Rabin]

Mitch.
I believe you answered your own post about few direct objective answers! People use monopods differently and post from their own perspective.
There is likely no substitute for a fast lens under low light. Pods are just a compromise, not a solution. For event photog use the fastest shortest lens that will do the job getting as close as possible and forget thinking pod will solve problem.
Shutter sp is only one part of composition. Maybe frame your question about your shooting goal?
I use where pod where tri less convenient, doesn't fit, not allowed. A "compromise tool." I do not know any folks who spectifically prefer to use pods to obtain lowest shutter speed blur free image as THE goal.
Helps me support camera at bicycle races. The shutter speed still has to stay above 1/400 to get sharp image, at least above 1/100 or 200 panning. Sometimes I monopod pan slow speed to creatively blur background. Works great eliminating vertical blur. Prevents arm fatigue.
For walking around photog, I use small lightweight discrete Adorama Podmatic. A pro may scoff, but I can walk with it contracted, left connected to camera, ball head on side, pod under arm. Walking vigorous, near sunset, at 100-135mm, and desired f/5.6-8, I can extend pod quickly and take candids, but still limited to 1/50 for motion blur free images. That sounds like little gain, but alot when breathing hard.
Does that help?

[Olegis]

With monopod I manage to get sharp results at speeds as low as 1/60s with my 70-200 f/2.8L (non-IS). That would be 2 stops below the "recommended" speed of 1/250s at 200mm.
Just remember that a monopod eliminates only the vertical camera movements, the horizontal ones still stay and may ruin your image.

[Kenski]

If you only want to spend HALF of that other monopod

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5535&is=REG

Same brand one step down... This is the one I picked up. VERY NICE. I actually was going to pick up a carbon fiber one till I opened it up all the way and put pressure down on it and it collapased down. Then I held the carbon fiber one in one hand, and this one in the other, There is a difference, but for $100 less, I can handle it...

I find the monopods work very well when you are shooting in low light situations at great distants and you tend to have that ever so slight camera shake... This monopod has helped out ALOT. Improved my pictures. WELL worth them money!

BTW, that is the going price for it...

[JLS Photo]

I've been very happy with mine: Manfrotto 681B

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5480&is=REG

[Kenski]

I've been very happy with mine: Manfrotto 681B

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5480&is=REG

Hmmm, can we we see a pattern with the Bogen / Manfrotto??? :)

[GPR1]

I can get a couple extra stops with a monopod, when I'm careful with my technique. Watch the pro photographers at major sporting events -- they're often using monopods with long glass. Monopods are quick to use and quick to aim. I have a Manfroto aluminum monopod, the 680, and it's very solid. It's also heavy, but good for sporting events. I wouldn't walk around with it all day; I have a carbon fiber tripod for that kind of work.

Greg

[Andy_T]

From an older thread ... some information on how to use a monopod to its best effect:

http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo5.php3

Best regards,
Andy