A suitable head monopod head for the Manfrotto 680B?

I just picked up the Manfrotto 680B monopod. Now I’m looking for a sensibly priced monopod head.

One possibility that I’ve seen is the Manfrotto 3232 Swivel Tilt Monopod head. I understand that the weight capacity of it isn’t great, but at the moment I have no heavy lens, and the heaviest I will ever get would probably be a 24-70mm f/2.8 L.

Any suggestions?

-Fi20100

I prefer to use a Bogen/Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my 680B monopod. It seems that quite a few folks on the forums have followed my recommendation (or have thought of it themselves) and like the combination. It allows you a lot of versatility that the one-way tilt head won't give you.

Ok. I did consider a ballhead at first, but that I thought that it would be harder to handle on a monopod. I guessed that a ballhead would work better for a tripod.

Since I don’t have any experience of a ballhead, my perception might be very wrong

Thanks for the recommendation though. I will defenitly think of it as an option.

-Fi20100

I also prefer the 486RC2 on my monopods. Tried the 3232 and it just didn't cut it. I prefer the multiple degrees of freedom I have with the ball head.

Doesn't that depend on what you are going to be using it for? I have the 488RC2 and it's great.

I do prefer the 3232, and note that the rated weight capacity is much lower than reality. It works pretty well with the EF 500mm. I have an Arca QR on it. But yes, it depends on how you use it as to whether the tilt only will be adequate. Many use monopods with no head for the big guns.

Thanks for all advices. Perhaps the best thing would be to get both the 486RC2 and the 3232. When I sometimes get a better tripod (have some cheap Velbon now that I got for my handycam a long time ago), I guess it will be good to have both heads.

I would recommend a 488RC2 for tripod use because it has a separate panning control compared with 486. On a monopod that's not really necessary since you can spin the whole "stick". I do like the 486RC2 on my 480B (thanks to the forum's recommendations); it's a good size/weight and the ballhead allows use of monopod in various angles so you can use your feet as the rest of the "tripod". I just got an extra RC2 plate adapter that screwed into my circa 1982 old tripod's 3 way head allowing me to use the quick release plates and it works well.

I just think the 486RC2 is more sensibly priced. I rather save a bit on the tripod / monopod equipment, and put a bit more in the lenses. In a perfect world, price would not be an issue

In that case I'd suggest either just getting a 486 and using for now for both tripod and monopod or just getting a 3232 for monopod and get 488 later for tripod.

Yep, either or seems to be a good idea.

I understand that photography is a very long-term hobby. Investing in good equipment should be done over a long period of time, as one’s skills improves and needs grow larger. However, in the beginning, there are so many things (lenses, flashes, etc) that seem appealing (and visiting this forum does not help). I guess it will be either the 486 or the 3232 for a starter. Thanks everybody for the advices!

-Fi20100

One more vote for the 486RC2. I use my monopod lots for macro and you can't beat it for all the twisted positions you need to get into while using the monopod. Can't beat the price either.

I converted the 3232 to Arca Swiss type of head and it works great. Here is a link on converting http://reallyrightstuf​f.com/tutorials/monopo​ds/index.html

Heh, I've just mounted a RRS screw-type clamp directly onto the top of my monopod (a Gitzo 1588 ) - with no head at all. Haven't found it to be a problem at all yet, except if I want to shoot up at a significant angle (which I pretty much never do).

Well, usually it’s good to be able to angle the camera separately from the angel of the monopod. To keep the monopod really still, you want to use yourself and the monopod to form a tripod so to speak. This usually means that you are not trying to keep the monopod exactly vertical, but slightly angled towards yourself. In this case you really need to have some kind of a head that will let you angle the camera differently from the monopod.

-Fi20100