Ballheads on monopods:with or without plate?

On a given monopod (name your favorite),do you use:

1.A ballhead w/fast plate (Arca/Swiss or any other system) for a quick sweep,or

2.A ballhead WITHOUT fast plate (camera body screwed directly) thus less mobility but safer contact,or

3.Whatever of the above,or

4.No ballhead,camera directly on monopod.


If I'm not asking too much,please justify your option.
...or even post a flaming comment if you think this poll is meaningless!
Cheers,

I see no benefit to having a ballhead on a monopod.

ScatterCrSport wrote in post #12331933
I see no benefit to having a ballhead on a monopod.

You must use your monopod only in the classic position.

I use a ball head on my monopod because I use the monopod with the camera at many angles to it other than the 90° that would result by direct attachment.

I don't just stand vertically behind a vertical monopod and aim the camera horizontally. I may be leaning against a tree or a boulder, seated, or in many other positions. My camera may be aimed downward, horizontally, or upward while I am in any of these positions.

Since I use lenses that do not have tripod mounts attached, I need the versatility of a ball head on my monopod as the single-axis monopod heads are not versatile enough.

Skip is absolutely correct. You cannot always use the monopod in a straight vertical position (and even when you can, this is not the most stable option - see http://www.outdooreyes​.com/photo5.php3). I got one of the single-axis monopod heads when I bought it, but traded it in on a ball head the next day. It gives much more flexibility in the use of the monopod.

I use a single axis head...

I use a KIRK MPA-1 Monopod Swivel which is a Manfrotto Monopod Swivel with a KIRK Arca Compatible quick release.

The problem of shooting with my camera directly mounted to the monopod is shooting up or down. Without a swivel, I would need to tilt the entire pod significantly and therefore reduce the stability.

I don't shoot many images with the horizon significantly tilted, so a left to right tilt adjustment is not necessary for me.

I don't like a ball head because of the extra weight and because when you are using a non-tripod ring equipped camera/lens combination, you must hand the camera cantilevered over to the side.

The MPA-1 allows me to use my RRS L-plates for my camera which maintains the camera directly above the pod for more stability.