Need Head Advice...

...For a monopod.

Until about a month ago I had never used a monopod. I bought this Manfrotto 3229 head because it seemed like a good idea. I'm not happy with the way this works on a monopod. I'm starting to think a ball head might be much more useful. Anyone have any advice to offer? Any particular model?

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I use a Bogen/Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my 680B monopod, and wouldn't trade it for anything. It is very versatile, easy to use, and works quite well with some rather heavy equipment on it.

SkipD wrote in post #2645751
I use a Bogen/Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my 680B monopod, and wouldn't trade it for anything. It is very versatile, easy to use, and works quite well with some rather heavy equipment on it.

Skip, I can see that it would have great side to side pivot motion. How does it do with forward/back pivoting? It looks like the motion might be a little limited. Do you ever have that problem?

Jeff Solenberg wrote in post #2645790
Skip, I can see that it would have great side to side pivot motion. How does it do with forward/back pivoting? It looks like the motion might be a little limited. Do you ever have that problem?

There is no problem with the forward/ back pivoting, when the lock lever is loosened the head can be rotated giving you the option of moving the camera into portrait mode or rotating it so the slots are at the back and front allowing you to tilt the camera up as high as you want to, or point it downward.

bonefish wrote in post #2645872
There is no problem with the forward/ back pivoting, when the lock lever is loosened the head can be rotated giving you the option of moving the camera into portrait mode or rotating it so the slots are at the back and front allowing you to tilt the camera up as high as you want to, or point it downward.

:o Having never used a ballhead, that didn't occur to me. I guess that should have been obvious. Thanks.

SkipD wrote in post #2645751
I use a Bogen/Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my 680B monopod, and wouldn't trade it for anything. It is very versatile, easy to use, and works quite well with some rather heavy equipment on it.

Ditto on the 486RC2 as a monopod head.

Jeff Solenberg wrote in post #2645743
...For a monopod.

Until about a month ago I had never used a monopod. I bought this Manfrotto 3229 head because it seemed like a good idea. I'm not happy with the way this works on a monopod. I'm starting to think a ball head might be much more useful. Anyone have any advice to offer? Any particular model?

I would think that you would be wanting to use the monopod with your 70-200 and not much else. The tilt head should work just fine with that lens. Just mount the tripod collar of the lens on the plate in such a way that the head will allow you to tilt the lens up and down. If you need to shift the camera to portrait orientation, just rotate it and the camera in the tripod collar.

I have used the same setup for years and it's worked just fine for my 100-400 IS.

jphotow wrote in post #2655408
I would think that you would be wanting to use the monopod with your 70-200 and not much else. The tilt head should work just fine with that lens. Just mount the tripod collar of the lens on the plate in such a way that the head will allow you to tilt the lens up and down. If you need to shift the camera to portrait orientation, just rotate it and the camera in the tripod collar.

I have used the same setup for years and it's worked just fine for my 100-400 IS.

Very good point. I just got my 70-200 a week ago and haven't had an occasion to try it yet with the monopod. My frustration stemmed from trying to use it with my 24-105. Thanks.

I also use the 3229 head on my 680 and love it. But I also only use the monopod with lenses that have mounting rings. If you are going to be mounting a body on the monopod I would second the 486RC2.

Jeff Solenberg wrote in post #2645743
...For a monopod.

Until about a month ago I had never used a monopod. I bought this Manfrotto 3229 head because it seemed like a good idea. I'm not happy with the way this works on a monopod. I'm starting to think a ball head might be much more useful. Anyone have any advice to offer? Any particular model?

Why? What are you using it for?

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #2672626
Why? What are you using it for?

J.

Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Football, etc. (Mostly)

Get the 486 RC2. It is great on a monopod.

Jeff Solenberg wrote in post #2673976
Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Football, etc. (Mostly)

In that case, for sports shooting, the most you will need is a 3232 and probably not even that if you don't want to. I shoot a lot of sports (soccer, volleyball, and alpine ski racing) and I have no need for anything beyond the 3232 and in reality, not even that. You would be very good to go just to mount your QR clamp straight to the top of the monopod - especially if you have an L bracket.

J.

I use the 3229 on my pod...shooting mostly sports...never had a problem with it. I can quickly shift between horizontal and vertical axis shots. Adding a ball head to a monopod seems like a bit of overkill.

Woolburr wrote in post #2674769
I use the 3229 on my pod...shooting mostly sports...never had a problem with it. I can quickly shift between horizontal and vertical axis shots. Adding a ball head to a monopod seems like a bit of overkill.

If every lens used on a person's monopod has a tripod foot that can be rotated around the lens' axis, I would agree. However, the ball head provides the ultimate flexibility for users with ANY lens on the camera.