monopod with 3 short legs &

[Sibil]

No, I am not talking about a tripod.
I have seen pictures of monopods that have 3 short legs at the bottom. What are these called (monopod, tripod, or?) and what's the advantage of them?

&

Is there a gizmo that attaches to the center section of a tripod to extend its lenght?

Thanks

[Digitally_Altered]

adds a ''slight" bit more stability

[Lowner]

Sibil,

A lot of tripods are equiped with adjustable centre columns. They do however come with a slight extra vibration issue when extended and add a little to the weight. Better to buy a tripod a shade bigger if you frequently plan to use the centre column at full height.

[SYS]

No, I am not talking about a tripod.
I have seen pictures of monopods that have 3 short legs at the bottom. What are these called (monopod, tripod, or?) and what's the advantage of them?

&

Is there a gizmo that attaches to the center section of a tripod to extend its lenght?

Thanks

Methinks you're talking about something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-560B-Fluid-Video-Monopod/dp/B000M19LES/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3DTZZVA2E0LMY&colid=3H5LRX20WOEUJ

It's designed for video use....

[TheHoff]

No, I am not talking about a tripod.
I have seen pictures of monopods that have 3 short legs at the bottom. What are these

I have one (from Manfrotto -- http://www.adorama.com/BG682B.html) and it isn't really used for stability but for a quick free-standing support. I wouldn't put anything heavy on it for any length of time but it does fine for a quick self-portrait (like on vacation) or even better it is the smallest, lightest flash stand I own. Oh wait, besides the Gorillapod... it still makes a good flash stand.

[rang]

No, I am not talking about a tripod.
I have seen pictures of monopods that have 3 short legs at the bottom. What are these called (monopod, tripod, or?) and what's the advantage of them?

&

Is there a gizmo that attaches to the center section of a tripod to extend its lenght?

Thanks

You mean this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5495-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_682B_682B_Monopod_Black _.html

The legs described here are also available as an "add on accessory" for some other models of Bogen/Manfrotto monopods. They collapse together and then the unit screws back up into the bottom of the shaft of the monopod.

However in general be forwarned...in a slight breeze...this rig shakes with a DSLR mounted with good glass attached. I use mine with a Bogen 488RC2 head attached.
The problem isn't with the parts...there all beefy. The problem is all that weight perched on top of those "spindly" legs...they get kind've "springy". You can push down on the rig and feel the "give".

Not a substitute for a decent set of real legs.

On the other hand...I have used this in a museum where the guard said a regular set of legs was "verbotten". But in other art gallaries even a monopod was not allowed. So in those cases I just used a dog leash (the clip attached to a bogen QR plate that had a d-ring on it thus screwed into the bodies 1/4x20 screw hole...and the other end "weighted" down with a another metal clip attached to the leashes hand loop).

[rang]

I have one (from Manfrotto -- http://www.adorama.com/BG682B.html) and it isn't really used for stability but for a quick free-standing support. I wouldn't put anything heavy on it for any length of time but it does fine for a quick self-portrait (like on vacation) or even better it is the smallest, lightest flash stand I own. Oh wait, besides the Gorillapod... it still makes a good flash stand.

I used it for a flash stand too...works great until one day I added an umbrella to the rig.

And mother nature added some breeze...bad situation.

:(

Stupid me. I should've remembered Mary Poppins outdoors. Duh.

[rang]

"So in those cases I just used a dog leash (the clip attached to a bogen QR plate that had a d-ring on it thus screwed into the bodies 1/4x20 screw hole...and the other end "weighted" down with a another metal clip attached to the leashes hand loop)."

Oh yeah I forgot...in case you haven't tried this in a pinch...you have to step on the dog leash and "pull up" while you hold your rig. The tension helps in stabelization some what.

...and hope your dog comes back on command.

...especially in the art gallery.

:lol:

[rang]

No, I am not talking about a tripod.
I have seen pictures of monopods that have 3 short legs at the bottom. What are these called (monopod, tripod, or?) and what's the advantage of them?

&

Is there a gizmo that attaches to the center section of a tripod to extend its lenght?

Thanks

In answer to your second question...

There is a German tripod mfg that makes a tripod where you can screw on a section to the center column and use it as a monopod. They also make a very good traveling set of short legs, tree mount screw, window tripod/suction cup mount kit. And they make a tripod set that folds ...FLAT.

The company is called Cullman.

And I think long ago Bogen made a center column extension for what was then called the 3021 tripod as well as an extra short center column piece for macro shooting close the ground. But I'm sure this has been discontinued as they don't have them for there current tripod model offerings. Not that I've found anyway.

[Richgsr]

Maybe the OP meant something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Sunpak-VersiPod-Monopod-Tripod-Bronze/dp/B000FFUDIO

Doesn't look very stable...

[Eagle i]

No, I am not talking about a tripod.
I have seen pictures of monopods that have 3 short legs at the bottom. What are these called (monopod, tripod, or?) and what's the advantage of them?

&

Is there a gizmo that attaches to the center section of a tripod to extend its lenght?

Thanks
There is one major thing that it would allow that a normal Monopod wouldnt and that would be for it to be carried on to an airplane....at least from what i understand is that a Monopod is not an allowable carry on but a tripod is...so with those "tripod" legs you should be legally able to carry it on a plane.

You mean this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5495-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_682B_682B_Monopod_Black _.html

.
i agree that is probably what the OP is talking about.

[Sibil]

Thank you all for the replies and links. Your cautions on not to use such a contraption as a replacement for a tripod is well taken. Manfrotto 682B seems to be the closest to what I am looking for.

See, I am planning on using it as a sort of a tripod but not unattended.

Here is my challenge. A few times a year, I find myself inside auditoriums where flash photography is not permitted but photography is allowed. These are dark places where a fast lens doesn't even cut it. I once took a medium size tripod and tried to set it up in front of my seat and it didn't work well (not enough space). I felt stupid carrying a tripod inside and others staring at me. I want to try a monopod next time. The type of monopod that has the 3 small legs so that I can hold it steady with my feet long enough to snap a few shots at slow shutter speeds. The monopod has to be strong enough not to wobble under the weight of the 40D + 24-105, or possibly a longer zoom.

Do you think this idea is workable?

Thanks

[TheHoff]

I don't think you need the 3-legged version for that -- a standard pod held with your feet will work (and make a "tripod" with the rest of your body, with the one leg angled out just a bit). The 3-legs don't add much weight or cost so if you might use them at some point, it doesn't hurt to get that model.

Learn better slow-shutter technique and you should be able to manage... breathe gently, squeeze the shutter / don't push it, make a tripod out of yourself and whatever you have available, etc.

[rang]

Thank you all for the replies and links. Your cautions on not to use such a contraption as a replacement for a tripod is well taken. Manfrotto 682B seems to be the closest to what I am looking for.

See, I am planning on using it as a sort of a tripod but not unattended.

Here is my challenge. A few times a year, I find myself inside auditoriums where flash photography is not permitted but photography is allowed. These are dark places where a fast lens doesn't even cut it. I once took a medium size tripod and tried to set it up in front of my seat and it didn't work well (not enough space). I felt stupid carrying a tripod inside and others staring at me. I want to try a monopod next time. The type of monopod that has the 3 small legs so that I can hold it steady with my feet long enough to snap a few shots at slow shutter speeds. The monopod has to be strong enough not to wobble under the weight of the 40D + 24-105, or possibly a longer zoom.

Do you think this idea is workable?

Thanks

Hey, have you thought about a chest monopod...Sima makes one so does Cullman. I think the Cullman one is beefier. You can put a this Bogen mount/QR setup on the monopod so it just hangs from your neck via the neck strap.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/284628-REG/Cullmann_CU_2702_2702_Chestpod_Magic.html

If you've standardized on the Bogen PL200 QR plate you can add this to the Cullmann

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554141-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_323_323_RC2_System_Quic k.html

if not you could just use the existing Cullmann QR plate.

[Sibil]

Hey, have you thought about a chest monopod...Sima makes one so does Cullman. I think the Cullman one is beefier. You can put a this Bogen mount/QR setup on the monopod so it just hangs from your neck via the neck strap.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/284628-REG/Cullmann_CU_2702_2702_Chestpod_Magic.html

If you've standardized on the Bogen PL200 QR plate you can add this to the Cullmann

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554141-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_323_323_RC2_System_Quic k.html

if not you could just use the existing Cullmann QR plate.

rang,
That's very useful information with links and all. I really appreciate your input and time. I'll look into them.
Thanks again

[mattograph]

Try this == Trek Pod Go!

http://www.trek-tech.com/

[rang]

rang,
That's very useful information with links and all. I really appreciate your input and time. I'll look into them.
Thanks again


Your welcome...it just occured to me that if your stuck in a chair, front row...no raked seating and you don't want to become the hunch back of Notre Dame...the chest monopod might work for you.

Have fun.

[SYS]

I'm often in similar situations as the OP, except that I need more for my video than photo shooting, so I've been meaning to make one for some time until this thread pushed me over the edge finally... :) Here's my DIY that I worked on today:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=660326