Quick Release for monopod - ballhead or other option?

I recently bought a Manfrotto 488RC2 ballhead and a carbon fibre tripod.

Love the Quick Release. Bought a couple 200PL-14 plates for it.

I also use a monopod, a lot more often than the tripod, don't have a ballhead for it, and not sure I need something like that, other than to have the quick release capability. Is there something other than a ballhead (hopefully cheaper) I can add to the monopod to use those quick release plates? Or is a compatible ballhead my best way to go?

Manfrotto makes both a quick release adapter, that does nothing other than screw onto a tripod/monopod/existin​g head and grab an RC2 plate, and a "tilt" head that pivots in one direction and accepts an RC2 plate. I don't offhand recall the current model numbers. Personally, I use a 486RC2 head on my monopods since I may use them with shorter lenses which don't have tripod mounting rings and I like to use the monopod at various angles; having a ball head lets me tilt the monopod and still put the camera in portrait orientation.

Jon wrote in post #7084215
Manfrotto makes both a quick release adapter, that does nothing other than screw onto a tripod/monopod/existin​g head and grab an RC2 plate, and a "tilt" head that pivots in one direction and accepts an RC2 plate. I don't offhand recall the current model numbers. Personally, I use a 486RC2 head on my monopods since I may use them with shorter lenses which don't have tripod mounting rings and I like to use the monopod at various angles; having a ball head lets me tilt the monopod and still put the camera in portrait orientation.

Ditto.

I also prefer the 486RC2 on my monopod to the other choices. It provides extreme versatility that none of the other options offer.

After going through an RC2 phase I recently stepped up both my ball head and monopod to the arca-swiss system. There is a bit of cost going that direction but in the long run it was worth it.

I replaced the QR on my ball head with this QRC2.5:
http://www.kirkphoto.c​om/platforms.html

For my monopod I went with the Wimberley C-10.
http://www.tripodhead.​com/products/qr-clamps-main.cfm

A couple of body plates, a replacement foot for the 400 f2.8 and another foot that will fit my other lenses with collars and I'm set. I have no worries at all placing the 400 f2.8 on the C-10 QR on the monopod and only have one system now to deal with now. Just my 2 cents.

The next big step will be a better head for the field tripod.

If you haven't already started investing in a specific line of quick release plates then do yourself a favor and invest in Arca-Swiss ones. Sure they are a little more money or in some cases much more money for the custom fit ones then the cheap ones but I can say that they are so much better and you will realize their value once you do.

Take me for example in the past I went with some cheesy no named brand and sure they work but you tend to get a lot of movement. Then I decided to upgrade to a better solution so I went with a Manfrotto 055XPROB and their RC2 Quick release system. Don't get me wrong this was good but still not great. I've had my camera or lens mounted on it and it would wonder or twist.

Now I have a combination of Kirk and Really Right Stuff (RRS) on my Camera Body & Lenses (custom not generic) and even a replacement foot for my 500L. These plates do NOT flex or allow the body to move at all.

The other benefit is that these are NOT proprietary and will work in a bunch of different manufacturers heads. Unfortunately some of these are somewhat expensive but I'm sure that there are cheaper ones as well. I personally like Kirk but RRS and Markins all make excellent product.

I'm told that you can also use a Kirk or RRS clamp on other heads like Manfrotto but haven't wondered down that road yet.

If only I would have done this the first time I would have saved a whole lot of money in the long rung.

055XPROB, How high will in go? I need a camera set at about 60 inches, to avoid bending over continually.
Thanks

178.5cm (approx 70inches)

: http://www.manfrotto.c​om …UB2:AA&idx=71&l​ivid=68|69