Tripod or monopod?

[mknabster]

What would be the best to own? A tripod or a monopod? I own a Walmart tripod right now, it has served me well in the past, but I just bought the Tele lens for my G6 and it is considerably heavy now. And when I first used it on the tripod without the lens when i first got the camera, the tripod fell over w/ the camera into the sand. I had to get it fixed, but I wanted a tripod that would prevent something like that from happening. Now I was looking at the Giottos MV 825 monopod because it looks like a good one without the price that Giottos normally sells them for.

All I really use the tripod for is for portraits and for night shots when I use a slow shutter speed. I think the monopod would come in handy since it's smaller and probably could be carried around more easily. What do you guys think?

[gardenstate]

Tripods and monopods typically sold at Camera Pro shops and online are considerably stronger and more well balanced than the units I've seen at the large department stores. I use a monopod and triopod with my G6 that are made by Bogen-Manfrotto. Both are rock solid and allow me to take shake-free images.

Tripod
http://www.adorama.com/BG3001N.html?searchinfo=bogen%203001&item_no=14
I use this with a swivel head....

monopod I use..
http://www.adorama.com/BG681.html?searchinfo=bogen%20monopod&item_no=1

To save money -- try buying a used tripod or monopod from somone on ebay. I think Gitzo also makes pro-quality units.