any point to a monopod for landscape shots?

milorad wrote in post #6363541
I love monopods, don't get me wrong, but these: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Flexible_Mini_T​ripod.html are just so damned useful in a pinch...

Are these any good as a tabletop tripod - i.e just standing on a surface rather than being wrapped round a branch? I'm curious if they are sturdy enough if you put the legs straight?

Straight, holding the camera off the table, or straight, lying flush on the table? Lying flush on the table, you could go with up to a 70-200 2.8 IS on an ungripped mid-range EOS. With the legs holding the camera off the table, I'd avoid using your 55-250, but your other lenses should be OK. The Gorillapods are better thought of as bean bags with extra grip than tripod substitutes.

Ingsy wrote in post #6365619
Are these any good as a tabletop tripod - i.e just standing on a surface rather than being wrapped round a branch? I'm curious if they are sturdy enough if you put the legs straight?

I don't think they are... not for L-glass certainly, but for lighter combinations your milage may vary. They lose a lot of their appeal in that scenario mainly because it'd take you most of the afternoon to get it anywhere near straight after a good twisting session

They're awesome for wrapping around stuff, but there are much better tabletop choices out there.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #6362361
Any support is better than no support at all...

QFT. It's typically better when you can rely on some level of camera support, even if it's missing two legs.

Ok, thanks for the replies

Monopod? By all means, YES! Check out the link below for the "proper" way to use one:

http://www.outdooreyes​.com/photo5.php3

thanks for the link...i would've been using it in the weakest position for sure....now i need to try and remember those karate lessons from when i was a kid...

DreDaze wrote in post #6372281
thanks for the link...i would've been using it in the weakest position for sure....now i need to try and remember those karate lessons from when i was a kid...

Yeah - I read that over a year ago and thought "Who da thunk?"