Quick monopod question before I buy!

I was looking to buy this Monopod...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ection_Monopod.​html#47751

Will I be able to use this, as is, with my 7D?

Or do I need to buy a head to go on top?


Newbie with tripods/monopods...

IF you want to use the monopod only in one mode - standing vertically with the vertical monopod in front of you and the camera's lens aimed horizontally - then you could use the monopod alone.

I use my monopod in the other extreme. I almost never use the monopod vertically and I seldom stand up behind it. Picture yourself sitting on a boulder with the monopod's foot wedged into a crevise a couple feet in front of you. You have the camera aimed up into a tree or maybe even at the ground out in front of you, waiting for some kind of critter to come into a place where you want to photograph it. The lens' axis is nowhere near at 90° to the shaft of the monopod.

For my ways of using a monopod, it's almost mandantory that I use a ball head on top of it. Only one of my three lenses has a tripod ring on it, and I use all three of my lenses on the monopod from time to time. Thus, I use a Manfrotto 486RC2 (today's 496RC2 would be the equivalent) ball head (with the same RC2 quick release system that I use on other heads for my tripods) on my monopod.

Well, you can use it as is on your 7D. Whether you want to or not depends on whether you shoot mostly level to the ground or whether you need to have up and down motion in addition to being able to shoot portrait orientation. If you just want portrait orientation or just want up and down angular motion then the Manfrotto 234RC will do fine, If you want both available, get a medium-weight ball head like the Manfrotto 496RC2 or commit to the Arca-Swiss style plates and get the Really Right Stuff L plate (which costs a bundle) and either add an Arca-Swiss style clamp to the Manfrotto 234 (not RC) or even more big bucks for the RRS swivel-tilt head.

Just the info I needed, thanks guys.

I ended up buying the 3290B Giottos Monopod (74", flip levers... Versus 70" and twist locks )... And I also picked up the Manfrotto 496RC2

Monopod: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …B_5_Section_Alu​minum.html

Thanks for the help! Should be here Friday for my trip this weekend.

Good luck handling ball head on monopod Only head I use is 234RC, and even this only for skiing (shooting with 500/4 up the 40+ degrees uphill is not really nice without it). Otherwise I never use head on monopod. It's just too clumsy. For putting camera to vertical, you have tripod collar on lens anyway.

Not on anything in his gear list, though . . .

primoz wrote in post #9994960
....For putting camera to vertical, you have tripod collar on lens anyway.

Not all lenses folks use have tripod collars....

Sorry didn't check it But I checked it now and based on list, monopod is waste of money in my opinion. It doesn't do much for reducing shaking, and lenses listed are light, or at least light enough that you don't need support for them.
PS: I didn't want to reply to your post in my previous reply, but to Invertalon's post about getting 496RC2 head. I just obviously wrote reply when I was under wrong post

I was going to suggest this: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …323_RC2_System_​Quick.html

Which I have atop my Gitzo monopod. I like the quick-release mechanism, and since I have a Manfrotto head on my tripod, the QR plates are compatible.

I was going to recommend that, but I'm late to the party!

I am getting it mainly for video recording come summer at amusement parks. Not so much for normal shooting (lenses have IS for that). However, for video I want stable as possible (and with IS off in some cases so you don't hear IS) with smoother panning... Well, spinning... It should work out good though.

I plan to get a tripod as well in the next few months... Just for now, I will try out a monopod. I use one at work for video recording and has great benefits so I want to try one out for myself with video recording.

If it doesn't work out, I will just sell it and get my tripod (but keep the head!).