Monopod! and how to use one?

[jopfin]

I posted some pics I took in the nature and animals area using my new lens and a monopod. All day I felt very awkward with the monopod, it was my first time using one with a large lens attached. Are there any tips tricks in using one of these things? It seems the longer I extend the lens the harder time I had controlling side to side movement. I usually use a tripod, but got the monopod specifically for the longer lens. Any help you all have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.............Joe

[tim]

Best bet is to use a tripod. A monopod helps a fair bit once you get used to it, but a tripod is always better if you can drag it around with you.

[Cadwell]

Best bet is to use a tripod. A monopod helps a fair bit once you get used to it, but a tripod is always better if you can drag it around with you.

Well now that sorta depends... a tripod isn't much use for sports shooting and if you turn up with one to a race track I promise all the experienced photographers will point at you and laugh.

[Rigrider]

Will be watching this one Joe. Hopefully there's some answers here for us both. Considering picking up a mono next weekend.

L8r,

[Cadwell]

I posted some pics I took in the nature and animals area using my new lens and a monopod. All day I felt very awkward with the monopod, it was my first time using one with a large lens attached. Are there any tips tricks in using one of these things? It seems the longer I extend the lens the harder time I had controlling side to side movement. I usually use a tripod, but got the monopod specifically for the longer lens. Any help you all have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.............Joe

Like anything, using a monopod takes a little practice before you become comfortable with it. The trick is to make yourself into a tripod. The monopod is one leg and your own legs are the other two so a wide stance is helpful. Where you hold the long lens is significant and to an extent depends on personal preference and the lens. With something like my 500mm prime or the big Sigma 120-300mm I find leaning my left hand on top of the lens hood works best. With the Canon 100-400L I find this unstable and rest my hand on the lens directly above the tripod mount. I don't recommend using a monopod attached to the camera body unless you're using a small lens.

[LesE]

One of the big advantages of a monopod is that you can generally take it places that don't like you using a tripod. I have some photos in one of my galleries taken at The National Birds of Prey centre where a tripod would have got in the way and the monopod was perfect. I was amazed at how sharp many of the pictures are considering I only have the standard 75-300mm zoom.

Much of it is just practice but it helps if you can rest the lower part of the monopod against a low fence or wall to give rock solid support. Mine has a couple of arms which you can screw in near the top to rest against a wall as a sort of vertical tripod. Also works close to the ground as a mini tripod.

[pcasciola]

I cup my left hand on top of the lens hood which seems to minimize the lateral movement. Don't do this if you have the monopod mounted to the camera body though, because you'll put a lot of stress on the body that way.

Also, check out the Manfrotto 684B monopod. It has a squeeze grip to adjust the height rather than 2-3 clamps. I also sometimes connect the 322RC2 grip to it to give me more vertical range, but that's pretty rare.

[Jesper]

Found this in the archives about how to use a monopod: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-77343.html

Have a look at this: http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo5.php3

[jopfin]

Thanks for the help guys, looks like a little patience and practice are in order. Appreciate the help..............Joe

[bokeh'ed]

what do you guys think of just extending one leg of the tripod and still serves as a monopod?

[etaf]

have a read here
how to use a monopod
http://www.dpforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1912

[robertwgross]

what do you guys think of just extending one leg of the tripod and still serves as a monopod?

I leave all three legs extended, but sometimes I keep the three legs together so that it acts sort of like a monopod.

---Bob Gross---

[nation]

try all the moves posted in Jesper's links in your bedroom or anywhere private and get them down to pat so it becomes second nature. i suspect a lot of the awkwardness you felt had to do with not being used to using a monopod and the professional photographer image you create of yourself when you go out in public with a monopod. the last thing anyone wants is to look like a dork with the latest and greatest equipment but not a clue how to use it :lol: so you tend to become overly conscious of all your moves. i was the same when i first started with a dslr. i felt uncomfortable using it in public but just needed time to get used to handling my equipment.