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View Full Version : Bought a new monopod today that I LOVE!


Golfhack
7th of December 2009 (Mon), 22:10
This seems like as good a place as any for a noob's first post in the forums!

I've had a ho-hum monopod for 10+ years and stopped by a local camera store today to "kick tires" while waiting to go to the airport and pick up my wife from the west coast.

I stumbled onto a Giottos MM 5580 P-Pod and it was love at first sight! This thing is built like a *TANK* and is tall, extending to 73". It also has 3 optional "legs" which are stored in the bottom tube section enabling the pod to become a "tripod" of sorts. (It would easily support a flash off-camera on a nice, level floor!"

It also has a 180-degree title head built in, and another knob which allows the top plate to rotate 360-degrees. I added a Manfrotto 323 RC2 Rapid Connect Adapter with 200PL-14 Quick Release Plate so my camera quickly snaps on and off using the standard 200PL-14 plate I use on my tripod and head. Quick, simple and rugged!!

Between the rotating top plate and the 180-degree built in adjustment you can instantly flip from horizontal to vertical, tilt up or down and rotate as needed.

One other nifty extra. Two of the three legs can be screwed into the top of the monopod creating a very, very low "tripod" for working close to the ground, macro work, etc.

All in all a VERY satisfying find that should last me the rest of my life!

Here's a link if I've totally confused you. It shows all the bells and whistles. Click on 'Products' tab and scroll down to "MM 55 Monopods" http://www.giottos.com

Steve

c2thew
7th of December 2009 (Mon), 23:01
how much was the total cost of the setup?

also, i noticed that the legs have to be screwed into the base of the monopod. how long does it take to screw and unscrew?

Golfhack
7th of December 2009 (Mon), 23:33
I paid about $165 at a local camera shop for both items. I'm sure you could probably find it all for $150 online somewhere.

Each leg takes 10-15 seconds to thread and screw into the hole so I'd say less than 60 seconds to convert it back and forth.

bohdank
8th of December 2009 (Tue), 07:08
How much does thing weigh ?

I assume the extra legs can be left at home ?

Golfhack
8th of December 2009 (Tue), 22:12
How much does thing weigh ?

I assume the extra legs can be left at home ?

Yep- you can remove the legs and leave 'em wherever you want. The monopod itself with extra legs weighs just under 3 lbs.