Is there a monopod that's truly one handed?

I'm looking into buying a monopod....and i was intrigued by the "automatic" bogen/manfrotto monopod.

My first thought was "sweet, a monopod that has a trigger to release the head, and once i release the trigger, it locks? awesome!" ....and then i started looking into it... and it just raises it up and down? ..... weak.


anyone ever heard of a monopod that's a single unit (not monopod+ball head) that can release the head for tilting without taking my hand off of the monopod to release the thumbscrew, tighten the thumbscrew, check my viewfinder..... ..... (long process)

Sounds like you're looking for something like this:
Manfrotto 3265

Pair that head with a run-of-the-mill monopod (eg Manfrotto 679) and you'll have what I think you're looking for...

While the Manfrotto 3265 pistol-grip may help with minor adjustments to the camera position, it cannot properly support any significant weight if the grip is flopped over to the side. It will creep.

I use a Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head on my 680B monopod and have absolutely no problem setting it up. Once the position of the ball head is roughed in, any small tweaks can be taken care of by merely tipping the whole monopod in one direction or another.

I can also hold the CAMERA (and even be looking through the viewfinder) while adjusting the ball head. I just don't fully loosen the ball head's clamp. Leave a little friction in its movement and leave a little pressure on the monopod itself while doing this.

There is no monopod that I have ever seen that allows you to adjust the length and camera mounting angle with a single control.

funk1196 wrote in post #6297782
I'm looking into buying a monopod....and i was intrigued by the "automatic" bogen/manfrotto monopod.

My first thought was "sweet, a monopod that has a trigger to release the head, and once i release the trigger, it locks? awesome!" ....and then i started looking into it... and it just raises it up and down? ..... weak.

I have the Monfrotto 3245 "automatic" which I love. It may be weak for what you were looking for, but it's so convenient that when my first one broke due to mishandling on my part, I initially bought a much more expensive Gitzo GM-3550. But I really missed the "auto" feature that I got so used to using all the time that I decided to buy the second 3245. I use the Gitzo for heavy lenses and for hiking, but otherwise I use the auto monopod for the rest, lighter use.

No, I haven't heard of such monopod. I'd think that the one that comes closest to is the Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ball Head + the Manfrotto Auto Monopod itself in combination. While it's not exactly what you're after, the combo does offer one hand grip for up and down, and one hand grip for quick tilting and lock mechanism. I don't have the 322RC2, but that's going to be my next acquisition. The negative with this is that it can only handle up to 5.5 lbs in vertical position while up to 11 lbs for horizontal.

funk1196 wrote in post #6297782
I
anyone ever heard of a monopod that's a single unit (not monopod+ball head) that can release the head for tilting without taking my hand off of the monopod to release the thumbscrew, tighten the thumbscrew, check my viewfinder..... ..... (long process)

The way to do that is to get a ballhead with excellent friction control - a Markins Q3 would be ideal but pricey.

Personally, I don't see a need for a head on monopod except in rare instances.

J.