Cheap vs expensive monopod, what so special

unlike tripods, i don't think it's critical to get the best monopod money can buy. with a tripod, you're leaving thousands of dollars on top of it unattended at times (if you want to be in the picture). with a monopod, you're still always going to have a hand on your camera. obviously, you want one that will support your equipment, but you don't really need a $200+ one. you're just paying extra for the convenience factor (lightweight, folds short, ARL, etc.).

You're right!

Monopods--bigger factor for me is how am I going to travel with it? (How short is it when stored? Will it fit in my luggage/is weight a factor if I'm doing that?)

An issue for me...

I've just added an R STrap to my dslr. Now I have an issue when I use a monopod. The R Strap connects to the tripod socket. I don't like using a monopod without a strap attached to the camera, and me. But I do have to remove the R strap to use the monopod connected to the camera tripod socket.

I don't know about monopods. But the cheap sunpak tripods from bestbuy will last you about 2-8 months, then it will break. And nobody will care. Store and manufacturer will not help you. You'll buy another one, and it too will break.

By the 3rd one, you'll realize you get what you pay for with tripods and get a nice one.

klr.b wrote in post #10837933
unlike tripods, i don't think it's critical to get the best monopod money can buy. with a tripod, you're leaving thousands of dollars on top of it unattended at times (if you want to be in the picture). with a monopod, you're still always going to have a hand on your camera. obviously, you want one that will support your equipment, but you don't really need a $200+ one. you're just paying extra for the convenience factor (lightweight, folds short, ARL, etc.).

sometimes people put their camera on a monopod and lay the stink on their shoulder and walk around with it hanging.

Dj R wrote in post #10838421
I don't know about monopods. But the cheap sunpak tripods from bestbuy will last you about 2-8 months, then it will break. And nobody will care. Store and manufacturer will not help you. You'll buy another one, and it too will break.

By the 3rd one, you'll realize you get what you pay for with tripods and get a nice one.

and by then, you've spent half of what a new one would cost :P

But the thing about cheap tripods is the inconsistency in build quality...you might get one that wont hold your camera and the mounting screw can snap in your camera...or you can get one that will do decently fine. I mean, it's worth the extra $30 as an insurance if you will, to know that your monopod isn't going to break on you.

how ironic my cheapy monopod got stuck to my tripod collar on my 70-200 (thank god i didnt attach to the body). I was tightening it gently and now its not loosing up. Ugh!

2mnycars wrote in post #10838386
I don't like using a monopod without a strap attached to the camera, and me. But I do have to remove the R strap to use the monopod connected to the camera tripod socket.

You attach a strap to yourself when you have the camera on a pod? Hmm, I've never used an R strap, but lately I have seriously been considering removing my straps all together, they are mostly in the way when doing sessions on a tripod or monopod. I just carry the camera around mounted on the tripod or monopod, resting it on my shoulder. Risky you might think, but nothing has ever happened...yet! I'm not sure why you would want a camera on a monopod and strapped to yourself, but I'm sure you have your reasons...

I use a super cheap one made by Slik. It was like $30 from B&H. It's worked really well for me and still going strong. I was surprised at what $30 got me.

viktorsundberg wrote in post #10839043
You attach a strap to yourself when you have the camera on a pod? Hmm, I've never used an R strap, but lately I have seriously been considering removing my straps all together, they are mostly in the way when doing sessions on a tripod or monopod. I just carry the camera around mounted on the tripod or monopod, resting it on my shoulder. Risky you might think, but nothing has ever happened...yet! I'm not sure why you would want a camera on a monopod and strapped to yourself, but I'm sure you have your reasons...

for those people that throw the whole monopod over the shoulder, a lot of them put their arm (or head) through the neckstrap as a safety precaution.

Be very careful with the cheap monopods, most of them have plastic heads which tend to break when least expected. I had one which broke with my 1D and 70-200 attached, luckily I noticed it bending where it mounted before it broke completely. It has now been replaced with Bogen 318 and Manfrotto 679.

cycletec wrote in post #10839249
Be very careful with the cheap monopods, most of them have plastic heads which tend to break when least expected. I had one which broke with my 1D and 70-200 attached, luckily I noticed it bending where it mounted before it broke completely. It has now been replaced with Bogen 318 and Manfrotto 679.

man im so pissed i cant get my 70-200 2.8s tripod collar of off the monopod's head. I tried everything from a wrench, wd 40 grease, screw driver. Ugh I think Im going to saw it off

Camera Nerd wrote in post #10839907
man im so pissed i cant get my 70-200 2.8s tripod collar of off the monopod's head. I tried everything from a wrench, wd 40 grease, screw driver. Ugh I think Im going to saw it off

If its one with plastic mount I would pull down the foam grip and you should see three screws, remove them and you will be able to pull the mount from the pole. There should be a phillips head screw going thru the plastic mount to the tripod mount on the lens. Most likely you stripped the plasic and the screw is spinning with the tripod mount. Hope this helps

cycletec wrote in post #10839990
If its one with plastic mount I would pull down the foam grip and you should see three screws, remove them and you will be able to pull the mount from the pole. There should be a phillips head screw going thru the plastic mount to the tripod mount on the lens. Most likely you stripped the plasic and the screw is spinning with the tripod mount. Hope this helps

i did unscrew the plastic mount just as you said, i was not able to find in the tiny plastic piece screws. I'll look for it now and report later.

What about the little screws on the tripod collar, on the 70-200s tripod collar there is a cover tightened with screws that maybe would allow me to access the foot of the collar? Does anyone know about this. The problem is that the screws on this compartment are super super small that i cant even find a small enough screw driver.

I use my Monopod all the time but mainly on the trail. I, as well as some other people have mentioned, use the $59.99 REI Hiker Staff with camera mount. I use it as a trekking pole first and after putting at least 100 miles of fairly aggressive hiking it has done well. I use it for a T2i with a Tamron 18-270mm lens and is very sturdy. In fact, its the only piece of equipment i used to steady my shots during my Jasper-to-Banff trip and got some amazing shots. Just my 2 cents on my Monopod experience.

I got a Manfrotto 680B. It's like 50 bucks when I bought it. I can't see why anyone would need anything more. It's so sturdy and build quality is great. I also prefer clamps over screw-tighten monopods since its faster to extend/retract in the field.