Giottos P Pod #5580

What do you monopod users out there think of this one? I don't really care about the tri leg thingee you can put on it for support, I like the fact that it can switch from landscape to portrait easily. I'd mostly have the 20d and 70-200 on it. Has anyone out there used this pod??

Look at this thread

http://www.photography​-on-the.net …=112611&highlig​ht=mm+5580

I've got an old Manfrotto (Bogen in the US) monopod that cost me less than $40. It is almost exclusively used with my 70-200 f2.8 and before that with a 300mmf 2.8 Nikkor. Both of those lenses have tripod collars and that makes all the difference to me. Having the weight on a stick (and make no mistake, a monopod is just a stick), instead of on my arms makes sense; but the ability to go from horizontal to vertical while keeping the weight over the centre of gravity is critically important to me.

The use of any kind of ball head, whether it's built in, or a third party product will force the centre of gravity to one side and the weight won't be directly over the 'pod. For a device that's inherently unstable this extra instability can't be good.

So when my Manfroto dies - or I lose it which is a lot more likely - I'd be in the market for another monopod with no features except that its legs don't slip and it will hold up to about 6-10KG. The rest (ball head, mini legs) is nothing I require, and if I did I only have about six tripods kicking around here that would do a better job.

I received this thing about a week ago and did not really need it till today when I had received my 100-400. I noticed one thing. The way the threads are, it will not line up straight on either the camera or the lens foot of the 100-400. you can place it in the holder but the indentation for where you tighten it down is about 30 degrees off. I messed around with it for about 40 min or so and end up with it off that exact about. I might use a dremel tool and create another indentation for the friction knob to gram hold of.

Anyone else dealing with this or am I just doing it wrong?