light monopod head

I got a light monopod for Christmas, but I need a head so I can use it for vertical shots too. I want as small and light as possible for travelling, but it would be nice if it were capable of holding my 70-200 2.8L and 20d. Any suggestions?

billh101 wrote in post #2560261
I got a light monopod for Christmas, but I need a head so I can use it for vertical shots too. I want as small and light as possible for travelling, but it would be nice if it were capable of holding my 70-200 2.8L and 20d. Any suggestions?

I use a Bogen/Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my monopod (a Bogen/Manfrotto 680B). The combination works extremely well and is extremely versatile.

SkipD wrote in post #2560294
I use a Bogen/Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my monopod (a Bogen/Manfrotto 680B). The combination works extremely well and is extremely versatile.

That looks like a pretty nice ball head with the quick release plate. I wonder if the 484 would be heavy duty enough though? I guess it's only $10 difference anyway. Also, I think my monopod is the 1/4" thread, would I need that threaded adapter to mount the head on my monopod? I assume the connector on the quick release plate is 1/4"?

I have two monopods. The baby bear is a Gitzo GM2560T and the poppa bear is a Gitzo G1588. Both of the monopods have mounted on them Bogen/Manfrotto 3232 Swivel Tilt Monopod Heads with Really Right Stuff Lever Release Clamps mounted on the very top. I tried the ball head first but with a wiggling monopod and a flopping ball head I thought there was just too much going on with over $4000 in camera gear sitting on the pinnacle.

http://www.reallyright​stuff.com/tutorials/mo​nopods/index.html

http://www.reallyright​stuff.com/clamps/index​.html

http://www.reallyright​stuff.com …opods/MonopodSo​lution.pdf

billh101 wrote in post #2560442
That looks like a pretty nice ball head with the quick release plate. I wonder if the 484 would be heavy duty enough though? I guess it's only $10 difference anyway. Also, I think my monopod is the 1/4" thread, would I need that threaded adapter to mount the head on my monopod? I assume the connector on the quick release plate is 1/4"?

I have the 484RC2, 486RC2, and 488RC2.

In my opinion, the 484RC2 is not sturdy enough for larger cameras. I use that one primarily for point-n-shoot cameras with some specialty setups that I have made (such as a board that sits right on the ground with the head on it).

I use the 488RC2 on my tripods for use with a number of cameras. It stays on my 3021BPro most of the time.

My 486RC2 stays on my monopod, and I use that with some fairly heavy lenses on my 20D.

The 486RC2 is a great ball head that is used exclusively on my monopod and I couldn't be happier with it!

SkipD wrote in post #2560294
I use a Bogen/Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my monopod (a Bogen/Manfrotto 680B). The combination works extremely well and is extremely versatile.

Ditto. With a 70-200 f/2.8 I wouldn't use anything smaller. Of course if you have the 70-200 2.8 you could mount the tripod ring directly to the monopod and just rotate everything in the ring. If you want QR, get a basic RC-2 QR assembly (3299, includes 1 plate) and a second 3157 plate so you can have one on the camera and one on the tripod mounting ring.