monopod usefull?

[Pilot Dane]

Has anyone got experience using a monopod with a longer range zoom (like a 100-400L)?

Previously on day hikes I would carry my 70-200L alone or with a 1.4 converter mounted and would hand hold my shots (braced on a tree if possible). I am taking fleeting wildlife (little to no time to set up) and scenery shots in moderatley rough (no trails) terrain so I am trying to avoid a full (properly sized) tripod. I am quite sure the long end of my new 100-400L will be too long for my hand holding skills so I am considering a monopod like the Gitzo GM5561T for my ultralight needs and for travel. I would also be using the monopod as a walking stick. Would this be a waste of money or usefull with such a long lens? Is it usefull without a ball head?

[Perry Ge]

I like monopods a lot for my 400 5.6. I'm currently in the market for a better one though.

Tilt/swivel head is good enough, since you can turn the pod itself easily. I love the mobility it gives, as well as taking some of the weight off my hands and adding stability. Definitely a great option for hiking.

[TheHoff]

Useful, useful, useful.

As PG said, stick with a tilt/swivel or no head; ball-heads are accidents waiting to happen on monopods. Since you're at such a long range, all you have to do is lean your body forward or back slightly and you are doing all the tilting you really need.

I have a Gitzo tripod but Manfrotto monopod.. I'd like a Gitzo mono as well but they're so expensive and I don't hike to justify it... but yea, that would be my choice, too.

[Perry Ge]

For the record I think I'm going for the Manfrotto 685B monopod + 234RC head. I LOVE the pistol grip action of that monopod - it's so much faster than flips or twist knobs.

[adam8080]

I use mine a lot with my 70-200, but occasionally use it for my 24-70 and 50mm. When a tripod is too much and too slow, the monopod is the way to go.

[TheHoff]

Not a fan of the pistol grips here, but YMMV.

[Jim G]

Very useful. I use up to 420mm on my monopod; I don't like using a ball head with it as it's too loose when you have free movement, a tilt head is excellent imho. Helps when you're pushing low shutter speeds and don't have IS!

[Pilot Dane]

Thank you for the quick sanity check. I was a B&H last week when I was in New York and fell in love with the Gitzo GM5561T. While in the store I was still suffering from sticker shock but that has finally worn off.

[Perry Ge]

Not a fan of the pistol grips here, but YMMV.

Just to be clear, it's not a pistol grip head, the monopod itself uses a pistol grip to extend and retract the leg, instead of flip or twist locks. You press the trigger, and the legs can extend or retract, but once you let go, it locks into place.

[stathunter]

I have a plain jane manfroto monopod ($50) and take it with me-- but rarely use it--- typically use it for football games/marathon races-- or places that I am stuck in one spot taking tons of photos.
I do not see much use for a head on it--- but that might just be my limited use.

[col4bin]

very useful for long glass. I rarely use my 300/2.8 without a monopod when I need to be mobile.

I have a gitzo with a wimberley QR clamp.

[stathunter]

Thank you for the quick sanity check. I was a B&H last week when I was in New York and fell in love with the Gitzo GM5561T. While in the store I was still suffering from sticker shock but that has finally worn off.

woa...... $350 monopod -- that is a bit pricy.

[TheHoff]

woa...... $350 monopod -- that is a bit pricy.

You would think it should cost only 1/3 of their tripod price, not 1/2! :D

If I hiked 50 days a year, it might be worth it... otherwise, Manfrotto for me.

[col4bin]

woa...... $350 monopod -- that is a bit pricy.

That is a hardcore monopod. most people will never need a monopod that supports that kind of weight. i have a 2 series that works great. check out my gear link.

[stathunter]

That is a hardcore monopod. most people will never need a monopod that supports that kind of weight. i have a 2 series that works great. check out my gear link.

You list everything in your gear.....are you sure you did not miss anything? :D

[TheHoff]

That is a hardcore monopod. most people will never need a monopod that supports that kind of weight. i have a 2 series that works great. check out my gear link.

True... the 2-series is (only!) $200. So 1/3 of the tripod price, as it should be.

[Celestron]

Yes !

[ed rader]

Has anyone got experience using a monopod with a longer range zoom (like a 100-400L)?

Previously on day hikes I would carry my 70-200L alone or with a 1.4 converter mounted and would hand hold my shots (braced on a tree if possible). I am taking fleeting wildlife (little to no time to set up) and scenery shots in moderatley rough (no trails) terrain so I am trying to avoid a full (properly sized) tripod. I am quite sure the long end of my new 100-400L will be too long for my hand holding skills so I am considering a monopod like the Gitzo GM5561T for my ultralight needs and for travel. I would also be using the monopod as a walking stick. Would this be a waste of money or usefull with such a long lens? Is it usefull without a ball head?

i use a monopod whenever possible with my 100-400L. i get more keepers that way. the key to a great monopod, imo, is light, cheap, portable, sturdy.

this is what i use, and i love it.........

Professional Benro Carbon Monopod MC-66 n6 New !!!!! - eBay (item 310110884102 end time Dec-29-08 16:38:22 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/Professional-Benro-Carbon-Monopod-MC-66-n6-New_W0QQitemZ310110884102QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTripod s_Monopods?hash=item310110884102&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

i also use a manfrotto 3232 tilt head with a kirk QR.

love it :D!

ed rader

[PCthug]

I couldnt get by without my monopod for my 400d and 100-400L. I have a couple of cheap ones, one i got given off a friend, the other given free when i subscribed to PhotoPlus (UK Canon mag).
I use mine mainly for race meetings...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1125/1096470333_5b4dd51dd6.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1201/1097324584_5dee306a2c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/PCthug/motorbike/IMG_3625-2.jpg

[joepineapple]

I use a monopod with my 100-400 most of the time. It makeds the push/pull zoom easier. I occasionally hand hold it if there is plenty of light, say at an afternoon sports event or when I bring it inside a basketball arena or the like when I want to travel light.

[Pilot Dane]

Well, I bit the big one and have a platinum wrapped, diamond studded, carbon fiber Gitzo on order. I'll try to write up a review and photos after I receive it and have a chance to work with it a while. I went with the GM5561T. It is massive overkill for photo use but I went big to get the extra strength and stiffness for use as a walking stick.

[bps]

Sweet -- congrats! Definitely post a review and pics!!!

Bryan

[brecklundin]

I love my Vanguard ELITE-CP324 carbon fiber monopod. It was the only monopod I could get shipped overhnight from Amazon last summer. I was totally unsure about it but was thrilled with it once it arrived. I added a Manfrotto swivel-tilt head to it; now use it exclusively (as in over a tripod) when I go to the zoo or on hikes or simply need to have a steady platform yet remain mobile.

Since I have hand problems it is a great way to not only keep the camera stable but also reduce the stress on my hands from holdng the full weight of my rig when I am out shooting stuff.

[cheryltee]

I have a Manfrotto monopod and the 100-400L. I can shoot handheld okay but need more stability with the longer focal lengths (>300mm). I found that I definitely needed a head, so I bought the 234RC about a week ago. Cheap but very effective.

[SuzyView]

I have the REI walking stick monopod and it works very well. I've used it for my 100-400.

[Perry Ge]

I just bought the Manfrotto 685B + 234RC. This is the monopod I've always been waiting for. It works EXACTLY how I want a monopod to work, and I don't know of anything else like it on the market. So sweet.

[Pilot Dane]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/misc/Gitzo%20Monopod/GitzoMonopod1.jpg

My new Gitzo GM5561T monopod has arrived and here are my first impressions. OMG! I could fight off a swarm of zombies with this thing. It is rock solid and when placing the tip down to a concrete floor it makes a dull thunk sound. No "tink", no vibration. Just a solid "thunk" sound.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/misc/Gitzo%20Monopod/GitzoMonopod2.jpg

I do not have a head so I will be mounting my camera directly to the monopod unless I find I need more pointability. The top of the platform is covered with a broad flat disk that appears to be a hard plastic. The camera screws down firmly against the plate with tension building smoothly. There is no sticking or "play" like screwing down on to a rubber pad. The camera feels very solid with no tendancy to work loose on it's own but it unscrews smoothly.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee177/pilotdane/misc/Gitzo%20Monopod/GitzoMonopod3.jpg

The head unscrews to break it apart to reverse the mounting screw (3/8 or 1/4) and the wrist strap is also removeable.

If you think your 0, 1, 2, or 3 series tripod legs are solid. Imagine a 5 series. It is big, beefy and up to any challenge. (notice how I have NOT mentioned the insane price...).

Since I will also be using this monopod as a hiking walking stick I tested its ability to carry weight. As a quick test I applied moderate force to twist the locks in place. About what you would do for a quick shot or two. All sections except for the bottom most were fully extended. The bottom was left fully retracted. This yielded a height of 48.25". The monopod was held vertical and weight applied to the top. The 3rd section started to slowly slide at 135 pounds. I assume I had that section tightened slightly less.

Again all but the bottom section were fully extended (bottom/smallest section fully retracted). I firmly tightened all the sections, about how I would tighten it to be used as a walking stick. Tight but still loosened with normal effort. The monopod held 165 pounds without moving (and I was out of weights). So I braced myself in a corner to keep from falling over and placed all of my 162 pounds on it and it held. I bounced as much as possible and it still held. There was no flexing. It just stayed there.

The height fully extended is 60.375" which puts the viewfinder of my camera exactly at eye level when wearing boots (I'm about 5'8"). I did not do the weight test at the higher height because I will never be applying insane loads while it is fully extended, but when at walking stick length it may be called apon to carry a good part of my weight.

Any questions?

[col4bin]

congrats. you can't go wrong with Gitzo and while the price is high, you won't have to buy another.

[Roy Webber]

I use mine with the 100-400 ....depending on the subject

[Snow001]

Congrats I'm sure you'll love using it. I bought mine with a Bogen 234RC Swivel/Tilt Head. Initially I bought a Manfrotto 681B but it was just too long to pack on carry on so I closed my eyes and went with the Gitzo Traveler.

Now I have to get rid of of Manfrotto which I never used :(

[Celestron]

Congrats on the Gitzo MP ! it definitly is Pricey $$ :shock: !

[René Damkot]

Nice review!
Added to the sticky :)

[antitera]

OMG! I could fight off a swarm of zombies with this thing.


It's nice to have a pod that doubles a zombie weapon :lol:

[Celestron]

Any questions?

Can i borrow it ??

Initially I bought a Manfrotto 681B but it was just too long to pack on carry on so I closed my eyes and went with the Gitzo Traveler.

Now I have to get rid of of Manfrotto which I never used :(


I still have my 681B / 488RC2 BH . I don't have problems with the tilt and turns . I just set it and forget it :D ! It is taller collapsed but actually taller when extended which i never use full extended anyway . But i'm not a pro so i don't need the most expensive anyway . I can stay married that way :lol: !!

[jhom]

Congratulations on the 5 series Gitzo monopod. I've had my 5 series for over a year now, and I love it. I used Manfrottos for many years, but the Gitzo 5 is definitely in another class.

Enjoy.

[Eagle i]

For the record I think I'm going for the Manfrotto 685B monopod + 234RC head. I LOVE the pistol grip action of that monopod - it's so much faster than flips or twist knobs.

that is the exact same setup I have and I absolutely love it.

[2mnycars]

Thanks all; I'm very interested in the M 685B monopod. Michael at Luminous Landscape reviewed it positively.

DAveL