Monopod recomendation needed

Hi all,
I would like to get myself a nice steady monopod with the following parameters :
1. Small when folded
2. Tall when extended (I'm 180cm tall)
3. Light (not carbon, as they are expensive)
4. Sturdy
5. Relatively cheap (about 50 $USD)

What woul you recommend ?

Did you look for manfroto monopods. Here in Europe they are one of the best ones, but i definitly don't know what is price at you. I buy my profesional monopod for less then 100 USD in Croatia and we are realy expensive in photo equipment. So probably they have some cheap model.

Monopod recommendation

I think I'm the only person who uses this monopod based on the fact that I seem to be the only one ever recommending it. Oh well...

I'm very pleased with my Giottos 5-section monopod. It's sturdy and can be purchased for about $65. The model number is MM9150.

Here's the link at B&H: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ails&Q=&sku=221​100&is=REG

No, no ....

You are not the only one using it ...

I've got one too, and really like it (and can easily recommend it). Not only is it a sturdy and well-built monopod, but when it's collapsed it can double as a night stick ....

I am VERY partial to the Manfrotto/Bogen 'pod that is adjustable in height by squeezing the grip handle.. (can't remember model#) ...

I suppose it depends on application.. ie on the sidelines of a football field,. the ground is obviously even and the subject is pretty constant height wise.. so the immediate adjustablilty may be of no advantage..

...but on a nature hike.. I love being able to put the camera to my eye at any height and give the handle a squeeze.. the 'pod drops it's foot into the gorund no matter what awkward terrain there is.

Very Handy.

I have the four-section Manfrotto (numbers with Manfrotto/Bogen are diabolical, so I can't recall), and the reason I chose it was because it packs small. I really like it, but I may move to carbon fiber to reduce the weight. Nonetheless, it has been working fine for me. I have the 484RC2 ball head, and I like that one, too.

The quick release ties me to Manfrotto, but that is not a bad thing. Think about that when you consider your monopod. If you like the concept of quick release, go with the same manufacturer for the heads (at least) of your monopod and tripod.

Cecil...nice to know of another Giottos monopod user! That thing is great, isn't it? Night stick is right, too!

CDS...great points. I use my 'pod for mainly sports, so it's right in line with what you said about shooting football. Maybe if I hiked I'd have looked for something besides the Giottos. I borrowed a Bogen/Manfrotto 680B and it felt so much thinner and cheaper than the Giottos.

I shall now disappoint all of those who love brand names but there is a store in the UK www.jessops.com that has a monopod with a tilt/pan head that is £16.99. It is really pretty light and I am very happy with it. The more discerning photographers may tell you why it isn't worth it but at that price, I think I got a bargain. Not sure how easy it is for you to get and shipping may make the whole thing pointless but if you know someone in the UK it could be worth a look.

All the Giottos users - how about the twist locks ? Don't they wear more quickly and are less reliable than the flip levers on other tripods ?

No, no, no....

I'm also a Giottos user, but this sucker.

Along with this I use Giottos tripods and heads and wouldn't buy anything else now. You can keep your over priced Manfrotto/Bogen stuff

I've not worn out the twist locks on my tripod or monopod yet. The tripod has been through hell and back, immersed in mud most of the winter etc. The locks still work fine and can be tightened with a quick twist, you don't need to go mad.

Cheers

Ian

How about the maximum height of this Giottos MM 9150 5-Section Monopod ? According to the B&H site it's only 151cm high ...

If you are going to use a ballhead, add the height of that - I looked at two of the Giottos on B&H, and they were 7 and 10 cm - and then consider the eyepoint of the camera, and the fact that your eye is not at 180 cm - and come up with a height that you need.

I don't know Giottos, but also consider that the more sections you have, the more likelihood of wobbling.

Have Fun

I just measured my Giottos 9150 (it's five sections) and it is right at 70 inches, which according to my calculations is 177.8 cm. Either way, I can tell you that 70 inches is WAY more monopod than I'll ever use and I'm 6'2" tall.

And wobble? I'm going to venture a guess that this thing is as sturdy as any monopod you'll find, especially in this price range.

A ball head ? How about the swivel tilt heads like this one ? After all the monopod is meant to perform very basic function which is to support the camera and to eliminate the vertical shake - do I need complicated ball heads for this ?

Olegis wrote:
A ball head ? How about the swivel tilt heads like this one ? After all the monopod is meant to perform very basic function which is to support the camera and to eliminate the vertical shake - do I need complicated ball heads for this ?

I think you'll find that that type of head is usually used on video, where you don't usually tilt from side to side, just up and down and panning. You could use it, but I think you will find that sooner or later you will want the ball head.

An example: I used my monopod to steady the camera in a theater, while I was sitting in a seat (the monopod was not vertical, and I propped the base with my feet). While I had the head mostly rigid, if I wanted to change a position, the two-way head would be very restrictive.