What monopod you sports guys fancy?

I'm using a cheap manfrotto with a head on it just to make it eye level for me and I'm hatin' it. Looking for a quality monopod that won't break the bank, some of those Gitzo's must be gold plated. Don't have a quick release now, I do for my video monopod, lost the camera somehow (wife is involved) and the plate went with it, but anyway. I do mostly LAX and football. It's for a 1DXii and 70-200 and 300 for night games. Thanks

Personally for monopod, you don't need Gitzo. $50-$75 bogen is plenty. No head either. For tripod, I will spend the money on nice Gitzo.

Sirui P324 would do the job nicely. I prefer Gitzo but they are pricey, however if you could find a nice used Gitzo GM2541????

I picked up a used Gitzo carbon fiber monopod from Adorama a year and a half ago - it was still expensive but its one of the most satisfying pieces of camera equipment I've ever bought. Its so much better than the Manfrotto I was using before its night and day.
I saw another photographer with one at Pebble Beach two years ago and was so impressed with how short it collapsed I had to go over and ask him about it. He warned me it was expensive and then handed it to me - it was love at first touch. New they were around $400, I think I paid $275 and don't regret it for a second.

I use a Calumet 8000 Series 5 carbon fiber monopod. It is relatively light in weight, sturdy and it collapses short enough to pack in my carry-on luggage.

I top this pod with a Kirk Monopod Tilt head.

If I were to buy now, I would seriously look into a Sirui monopod and tilt head.

My pod was not terribly expensive but the tilt head cost $200 USD. There was really no other choice when I purchased it...

I like tilt heads but not ball heads for monopod use, I don't like the monopods with the tripod type foot because it just adds weight and bulk to the monopod.

However, for sports, I prefer the clamp type extension rather than the twist type simply because it adjusts faster.

I used to kneel (getting too old at 78 to kneel now) with a long lens on a body mounted on the tripod and a shorter telephoto on a second body. The ideal combo would be a pair of 1DX (series) cameras with a 400mm f/2.8 IS on the monopod and a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens on the second body.

However, since I was not shooting for pay, my outfit comprised the 300mm f/4L IS lens on a 7D body and a 70-200mm f/4L IS lens on the second 7D body. This is a poor mans sports setup.

BTW: when shooting sports, don't forget a pair of knee pads. They make kneeling much easier. This is one of the best basic sports (in this case American Football) YouTube video.

I treated myself to an upgrade, lighter monopod about a month ago. Having a very reliable Manfrotto 681B, I went Carbon Fibre. Induro CLM 304L with TH-2 Tilt Head. Used it the next for charity Golf outing paired with a 5D Mark III and 100-400 L IS Mark II. Well balanced, and very solid.
Very happy with it.
Now I guess I will have to get a second one as well...............

Get three, then you’ll have a tripod!

I also like Induro monopods. I have a GIM304L and it holds up my 1DX and 400/2.8 well. I highly recommend it.

One more thing. I shoot a lot of sports and I don't use a head on my monopod. I don't find it at all necessary. For birds, I do like to use a head.

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #18667368
Get three, then you’ll have a tripod!

BADADUMP! Pshhhhhhhhh...........

johnf3f wrote in post #18666919
Sirui P324 would do the job nicely. I prefer Gitzo but they are pricey, however if you could find a nice used Gitzo GM2541????

Same here Sirui P324with k40x ballhead on top a Caruba Fast loading plate Long (Swiss Arca compatible). For a 1DX with Sigma 150-600 SPORT.
i use it like this to get more stability
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=edIKz_9Otbc

evelakes wrote in post #18667454
Same here Sirui P324with k40x ballhead on top a Caruba Fast loading plate Long (Swiss Arca compatible). For a 1DX with Sigma 150-600 SPORT.
i use it like this to get more stability
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=edIKz_9Otbc

I prefer a tilt (only) head or no head at all on a mono pod - but we are all different! Not knocking the K40X, I have one, great piece of kit!

I suggested the P324 as my P424 is a bit OTT for the OP's needs. They are both very good mono pods though - reasonably priced and not too far from the quality of my Gitzo which is not reasonably priced - I was lucky though, £90.00 new.

I went with this one between a coupon I had and additional 15% off, it was 60.00 out the door. Of course it wasn't in the store and had to be ordered, but I have nothing coming up anyway. I got a chance to compare it next to the Gitzo GM2542 and actually preferred the Sirui. It folded shorter, the action on the locking rings seemed smoother, and the Sirui was lighter by 2oz although I could hardly tell by holding them. So glad I was able to go to my local pro camera store and do a side by side comparison. But...those were the only monopods available from those manufactures. Manfrotto had one too, but wasn't in the running. The Gitzo could hold 66 lbs, but jeez, I'm not sure I'd want to balance 66 lbs on top of a monopod. Cheers and thanks for all the info.

I am using Sirui CF pods as well, P-326.

I hardly use one these days as I no longer do sports but i used one of the older version of this one Benro Aluminum Series 4

Sirui no longer makes the P424/P324 according to their website. The 424 is a monster. Thick leg and it extends nice and high and take a lot of weight. It also has the little extendable spike as well. However, I've found that I use my cheap aluminum Manfrotto exclusively because it really doesn't weigh any appreciable amount more when you have a big lens and camera attached.

According to the Sirui website they only make the 6 section monopods now, which are short enough to fit in an airport carry on. The P424 and my Manfrotto 681B will not fit the carry on. That said, if you can find a P424 at a good price, you won't be disappointed. I think I paid maybe $100-$125 for mine through Greentoe but I don't think it shows up anymore as being available through there.