monopod with or without ball head

I am going to buy a monopod and I was wondering if there are any recommendations as to whether or not I should get a ballhead to go on it. Can I just get one and use it on both my monopod and tripod? I am going to get the 055XProB Tripod with 488RC2 ballhead, but I will be picking up the monopod first. I was also wondering if I even needed any type of head at all? I will be mounting the monopod to the actual camera since I have not picked up my telephoto lens yet FYI.

Yes you could switch the head back and forth, they just screw on and off.

Personally I like to use a swivel head like the Bogen 3232 or 3229 on a monopod, but many like to use ball heads so they can put the camera into the vertical position.

For most shooting with a monopod though, especially with a telephoto, you dont really need a ball head as you can twist/lean/tilt with the monopod. The 3232/3229 are useful since they add more tilt for shooting high or low.

Thanks for the input. I will definitely check out those heads.

Grentz wrote in post #6151756
Yes you could switch the head back and forth, they just screw on and off.

Personally I like to use a swivel head like the Bogen 3232 or 3229 on a monopod, but many like to use ball heads so they can put the camera into the vertical position.

For most shooting with a monopod though, especially with a telephoto, you dont really need a ball head as you can twist/lean/tilt with the monopod. The 3232/3229 are useful since they add more tilt for shooting high or low.

you can put your camera in the vertical position with the 3229 by rotating the QR plate.

for anything i shoot i think a ballhead would be a liability with a monopod.

ed rader

I'm buying a manfrotto 234RC2 for my monopod. It just swivels in one direction (standard is left/right) but can be up/down if you turn the plate on the camera.

I use a ball head with my monopod. Sometimes I find myself leaning the monopod against a tree, fence, building, whatever for additional support and without a ball head that would often not be possible. I have 3 tripods and a monopod. Each has it own head.

I use Manfrotto 3232 for short to medium lens. I don't use any type of head for outdoor longer zooms. I only need to tilt just a little to get what I need.

jr_senator wrote in post #6152697
I use a ball head with my monopod. Sometimes I find myself leaning the monopod against a tree, fence, building, whatever for additional support and without a ball head that would often not be possible. I have 3 tripods and a monopod. Each has it own head.

if your monopod is connected to your camera you may be right but if it's connected to a tripod ring and you are using a tilt head you have a full range of motion, imo.

ed rader