TheHoff Don't Hassle....  8,804 posts Likes: 21 Joined Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC More info | Dec 23, 2008 09:31 | #16 col4bin wrote in post #6932499  That is a hardcore monopod. most people will never need a monopod that supports that kind of weight. i have a 2 series that works great. check out my gear link. True... the 2-series is (only!) $200. So 1/3 of the tripod price, as it should be. ••Vancouver Wedding Photographer
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edrader "I am not the final word"  More info | Dec 23, 2008 11:32 | #18 Pilot Dane wrote in post #6931952 Has anyone got experience using a monopod with a longer range zoom (like a 100-400L)? Previously on day hikes I would carry my 70-200L alone or with a 1.4 converter mounted and would hand hold my shots (braced on a tree if possible). I am taking fleeting wildlife (little to no time to set up) and scenery shots in moderatley rough (no trails) terrain so I am trying to avoid a full (properly sized) tripod. I am quite sure the long end of my new 100-400L will be too long for my hand holding skills so I am considering a monopod like the Gitzo GM5561T for my ultralight needs and for travel. I would also be using the monopod as a walking stick. Would this be a waste of money or usefull with such a long lens? Is it usefull without a ball head? i use a monopod whenever possible with my 100-400L. i get more keepers that way. the key to a great monopod, imo, is light, cheap, portable, sturdy. http://instagram.com/edraderphotography/
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PCthug Goldmember  1,265 posts Likes: 28 Joined Dec 2008 Location: Durham UK More info | I couldnt get by without my monopod for my 400d and 100-400L. I have a couple of cheap ones, one i got given off a friend, the other given free when i subscribed to PhotoPlus (UK Canon mag).    Equipment: Canon 5d mkIII, Canon 24-105L, Canon 100-400L, Canon 70-200L f2.8 mkII, Canon 100mm macro, Canon 85mm f1.8, Canon 430EX Flash.
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joepineapple Senior Member  288 posts Gallery: 2 photos Likes: 2 Joined Apr 2007 Location: Washington DC - Born, Bred and Still Live Here. Who's this Obama guy? More info | I use a monopod with my 100-400 most of the time. It makeds the push/pull zoom easier. I occasionally hand hold it if there is plenty of light, say at an afternoon sports event or when I bring it inside a basketball arena or the like when I want to travel light. My students ask, "Where's that bazooka lens?"
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Dec 23, 2008 16:14 | #21 Well, I bit the big one and have a platinum wrapped, diamond studded, carbon fiber Gitzo on order. I'll try to write up a review and photos after I receive it and have a chance to work with it a while. I went with the GM5561T. It is massive overkill for photo use but I went big to get the extra strength and stiffness for use as a walking stick. 50D, 24-105L, 100-400L, EF-S 17-55, 430EX, Gitzo GM5561T monopod
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bps Cream of the Crop 7,607 posts Likes: 406 Joined Mar 2007 Location: California More info | Dec 23, 2008 16:25 | #22 |
brecklundin Goldmember  2,179 posts Joined Jun 2008 More info | Dec 23, 2008 17:19 | #23 I love my Vanguard ELITE-CP324 carbon fiber monopod. It was the only monopod I could get shipped overhnight from Amazon last summer. I was totally unsure about it but was thrilled with it once it arrived. I added a Manfrotto swivel-tilt head to it; now use it exclusively (as in over a tripod) when I go to the zoo or on hikes or simply need to have a steady platform yet remain mobile. Real men shoot Pentax because we're born with our own Canon's!!
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cheryltee Member  73 posts Joined Jan 2008 Location: Michigan More info | Dec 23, 2008 19:21 | #24 I have a Manfrotto monopod and the 100-400L. I can shoot handheld okay but need more stability with the longer focal lengths (>300mm). I found that I definitely needed a head, so I bought the 234RC about a week ago. Cheap but very effective. 7D, 6D
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SuzyView Cream of the Crop  More info | Dec 23, 2008 21:56 | #25 I have the REI walking stick monopod and it works very well. I've used it for my 100-400. Suzie - Still Speaking Canonese!
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PerryGe Batteries? We don't need no... . . . or cards.  More info | Dec 24, 2008 04:40 | #26 I just bought the Manfrotto 685B + 234RC. This is the monopod I've always been waiting for. It works EXACTLY how I want a monopod to work, and I don't know of anything else like it on the market. So sweet. Perry | www.perryge.com
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 My new Gitzo GM5561T monopod has arrived and here are my first impressions. OMG! I could fight off a swarm of zombies with this thing. It is rock solid and when placing the tip down to a concrete floor it makes a dull thunk sound. No "tink", no vibration. Just a solid "thunk" sound.  I do not have a head so I will be mounting my camera directly to the monopod unless I find I need more pointability. The top of the platform is covered with a broad flat disk that appears to be a hard plastic. The camera screws down firmly against the plate with tension building smoothly. There is no sticking or "play" like screwing down on to a rubber pad. The camera feels very solid with no tendancy to work loose on it's own but it unscrews smoothly.  The head unscrews to break it apart to reverse the mounting screw (3/8 or 1/4) and the wrist strap is also removeable. If you think your 0, 1, 2, or 3 series tripod legs are solid. Imagine a 5 series. It is big, beefy and up to any challenge. (notice how I have NOT mentioned the insane price...). Since I will also be using this monopod as a hiking walking stick I tested its ability to carry weight. As a quick test I applied moderate force to twist the locks in place. About what you would do for a quick shot or two. All sections except for the bottom most were fully extended. The bottom was left fully retracted. This yielded a height of 48.25". The monopod was held vertical and weight applied to the top. The 3rd section started to slowly slide at 135 pounds. I assume I had that section tightened slightly less. Again all but the bottom section were fully extended (bottom/smallest section fully retracted). I firmly tightened all the sections, about how I would tighten it to be used as a walking stick. Tight but still loosened with normal effort. The monopod held 165 pounds without moving (and I was out of weights). So I braced myself in a corner to keep from falling over and placed all of my 162 pounds on it and it held. I bounced as much as possible and it still held. There was no flexing. It just stayed there. The height fully extended is 60.375" which puts the viewfinder of my camera exactly at eye level when wearing boots (I'm about 5'8"). I did not do the weight test at the higher height because I will never be applying insane loads while it is fully extended, but when at walking stick length it may be called apon to carry a good part of my weight. Any questions? 50D, 24-105L, 100-400L, EF-S 17-55, 430EX, Gitzo GM5561T monopod
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col4bin Goldmember  2,264 posts Joined Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA More info | Dec 30, 2008 12:17 | #28 congrats. you can't go wrong with Gitzo and while the price is high, you won't have to buy another. Frank
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RoyWebber Goldmember 3,187 posts Likes: 7 Joined Nov 2006 Location: Corralejo, Fuerteventura....Canary Islands Spain More info | Dec 30, 2008 18:29 | #29 I use mine with the 100-400 ....depending on the subject Canon 7D, 40D,100-400 IS L, EFS 15-85 IS, EFS 10-22-With Faulty USM, 055XPROB+488RC2, 430 & 580 II Flash, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8-
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Snow001 Senior Member  328 posts Joined Oct 2008 More info | Congrats I'm sure you'll love using it. I bought mine with a Bogen 234RC Swivel/Tilt Head. Initially I bought a Manfrotto 681B but it was just too long to pack on carry on so I closed my eyes and went with the Gitzo Traveler.
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