heads for monopods and techniques for use

[camaz55]

I'm looking for advice/insight into what kind of head people use with their monopods and how they use it. I have a Gitzo monopod with a tilt head and end up not using it as much as I should because I find if awkward and difficult to adjust. Do most people "lock" the camera in place with the tilt head/ball head, or leave the locking mechanism loose (with the monopod still providing stabilization) so that you can make minor adjustments in your camera position as you compose through the viewfinder.

It seems like a simple thing, but I'm sure I would use my monopod more often and effectively with some tips from those with more experience.

[ed rader]

I'm looking for advice/insight into what kind of head people use with their monopods and how they use it. I have a Gitzo monopod with a tilt head and end up not using it as much as I should because I find if awkward and difficult to adjust. Do most people "lock" the camera in place with the tilt head/ball head, or leave the locking mechanism loose (with the monopod still providing stabilization) so that you can make minor adjustments in your camera position as you compose through the viewfinder.

It seems like a simple thing, but I'm sure I would use my monopod more often and effectively with some tips from those with more experience.


minor adjustments can be made by tilting and pivoting the monopod.

i use the tilt head for major adjustment...like if i'm standing on the edge of a cliff and shooting down @ 45 degrees.

i usually don't tighten the tilt head down all the way but it's pretty snug.

ed rader

[Headshotzx]

Manfrotto 680B + 234RC tilt head (1 axis), and usually used with 70-200 2.8L IS or 100-400L.

Extend bottom two sections completely, and extend the last section (highest and thickest) until the setup is at my height. I extend the section nearest to the top because its the easiest / fastest section to adjust, even though it might not be the most stable.

For the tilt head, even though it's not really a 'friction' kinda tilt head, I set it so that it's a only little loose, allowing me to tilt up and down with more effort, because I know that when I'm using a monopod, I'll usually just pan left and right.

For techniques, when my feet are at the same height as the foot of the monopod, i often tuck the leg between my legs (or have the foot of the monopod rest against my right shoe, which is shifted back behind my COG), cradle the second section with my right thigh, and shoot.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Zexun

[Lowner]

I use mine as Zexun has described. That is, with the monopod foot on the ground between my legs.

It becomes easier to pan with a fast moving subject that way. Placing the foot further forward means physically having to move your body "around the pivot" which I find very awkward to do.

unlike Ed and Zexun, I do shoot with my 486 locked well down and move the whole monopod as needed. The way I shoot, I've rehearsed the shot anyway, and adjusted things to where I need them.

I'm sure you will quickly find a method that you are comfortable with.