Best monopod head for largiesh lens

Hertsman

Hertsman

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Looking for recommendations for a good head to go on my monopod, to take either D500/300 F4 OR D500/70-200 2.8....

Looking at some of the better tilt heads on ebay, but open to suggestions.

Anyone used a gimbal on a stick ?
 
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I do, sometimes, use a monopod with quite longer
lenses and I would not think of putting a head on it
for my purposes.

Hertsman said:
Anyone used a gimbal on a stick ?
Click to expand...
Should ever someone say he/she does… :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

…a gimbal on a stick, that would be the most contra
productive investment… ever! :cool:
 
Hertsman said:
Looking for recommendations for a good head to go on my monopod, to take either D500/300 F4 OR D500/70-200 2.8....

Looking at some of the better tilt heads on ebay, but open to suggestions.

Anyone used a gimbal on a stick ?
Click to expand...

Recently bought a Sirui L20s to use on a big foot Gitzo monopod, Using a D810 or D500 and with a Sigma 150-600mm its a stable bit of kit. The L20S has 360 panning but there is a cheaper version (L10) without the panning which is also good.

L20s......https://www.amazon.co.uk/SIRUI-Tripod-Height-79-mm-Weight/dp/B00YV67S6S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494527132&sr=8-1&keywords=sirui+l20s

L10 >>>https://www.amazon.co.uk/SIRUI-Trip...id=1494527132&sr=8-1&keywords=sirui+l20s&th=1
 
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When I had a 70-200 f2.8 it came with a tripod collar which I attached directly to the monopd; as it rotated within the collar I saw no need for an additional head

Mine was a £25 monopod and served me well for about 8 years before I sold the lens - I still have it, I just have no need for it now

If your lens options have such a collar are you missing the obvious and looking to spend money where you don't need to?

Dave
 
I've got the Sirui L10 on my Sirui monopod, I use it with my 7D + 150-600 sport...

But I've never ever slackened it off, it's just easier to tilt the monopod :)
 
DG Phototraining said:
When I had a 70-200 f2.8 it came with a tripod collar which I attached directly to the monopd; as it rotated within the collar I saw no need for an additional head

Mine was a £25 monopod and served me well for about 8 years before I sold the lens - I still have it, I just have no need for it now

If your lens options have such a collar are you missing the obvious and looking to spend money where you don't need to?

Dave
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Current stick is a mega cheapo with crap balljoint. Ive bought a 'Frotto stick off the bay but will still need a tilt type head for angles that a fixed stick wont achieve.
 
with a mono pod the problem is rotation
with a simple pan and tilt head you have the ability to stop that...by gripping the stick out handle
my monopod came with a gitzo ball and socket head...which did have a bit of something to hold onto
hold onto the camera you say
well having retrofitted my slik pan and tilt i could almost consider the monopod..wedged against something
as you would a tripod and use the pan and tilt...which had the advantage of a quick release camera attachment bolt...somewhat like a tripod
i got a giant benbo later with my pan and tilt fitted but it was sooooooooooooo heavy
i reverted to the slik and kept it nearer to the ground...i could sit and compose then
cheers
geof
 
For smaller lenses, say 300 F2.8 or less, my Sirui L10 is great.

For the big stuff (over 3 kilos or so) I would look at Canon Bob's suggestion.
 
I just take my gimbal of my tripod for motorsport and put in on a monopod. 500f4 and Sigma 120-300s. I looked at the Surui L10 which seemed the best other option but the gimbal works fine just loosened of a bit for tilt.

I sold a cheap gimbal recently which I realised after it would have been ideal for a monopod head.
 
I use this rather battered but beautiful Manfrotto 234 RC I only use it with a 70-200 2.8 and a 300 2.8. Up and down movement comes from the head and rotational (Leveling) movement comes from slackening off the collar on the lens.
So as long as the lenses you use have a collar fitted then I don't see why anything more complex or expensive than this would be required.

20170512_070017.jpg
 
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Graham W said:
I use this rather battered but beautiful Manfrotto 234 RC I only use it with a 70-200 2.8 and a 300 2.8. Up and down movement comes from the head and rotational (Leveling) movement comes from slackening off the collar on the lens.
So as long as the lenses you use have a collar fitted then I don't see why anything moe complex or expensive than this would be required.

View attachment 101874
Click to expand...


Good idea!

One axis is already luxury! (y)
 
I would also suggest the manfrotto head above or this manfrotto 234 which does not have a mounting plate but can be useful for mounting another plate system on top of it. The thing with both heads is that there is no tensioning as such ... they either feel too loose or too tight but such is life.
 
Slackening the collar sounds a bit dangerous to me, does it only work with certain collars?
 
I take the gimbal off my tripod and use it on my monopod. I don't need it for horizontal movement, but it's easier to tilt.
No point buying another ball head etc if I don't need to.
 
Archie747 said:
Slackening the collar sounds a bit dangerous to me, does it only work with certain collars?
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That's how the collar works. It's designed to "Loosen" to facilitate rotation, without that it would be pretty much useless.
When you loosen it it is still locked in place, it just allows you to rotate the camera by however many degrees tickles your fancy.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
No, it isn't… and that's the only
way to keep the horizontality!
Click to expand...

Graham W said:
That's how the collar works. It's designed to "Loosen" to facilitate rotation, without that it would be pretty much useless.
When you loosen it it is still locked in place, it just allows you to rotate the camera by however many degrees tickles your fancy.
Click to expand...


Understood now, you were writing about rotating the camera from horizontal to verticle shooting, I was thinking there was some fancy device that fitted between the tripod/monopod screw and the base of the collar that allowed rotation on the horizontal plane.

I'll give up thinking today.
 
I have tried all sorts of heads on various monopods and by far the best and most practical is a Jobu jr-3 Deluxe compact lightweight (but strong) gimbal on my Gitzo carbon monopod fitted with a ball foot.

Having a fully rotational foot on my monopod allows me to 'permanently' lock the panning action on my gimbal. That flexible movement of the foot also allows use of the monopod to give support at various angles to suit the circumstances.

Loosening the lens collar just a tad (only when needed) offers fast change from landscape to portrait format shooting. I have a Canon battery grip on my Canon D-SLR, so all the button controls are reliably duplicated.

With a super-telephoto lens mounted (Canon 500mm) the gimbal's curved arm sits nicely on my shoulder and I use a cushioned shoulder pad. I usually don't bother with the pad when my Canon 100-400mm is mounted.

Gimbals aren't just for sitting on a tripod and balancing with one finger! I also sometimes use a Sirui PH-20 carbon gimbal on a Gitzo Systematic carbon tripod.

It all depends what you are shooting and where : Horses-for-Courses.

If anyone is interested please tell me and I can sort out and post a pic later.

Meanwhile.... http://carmarthencameras.com/tripod...-deluxe-gimbal-kit-with-swing-arm-hm-j3d.html
 
johnf3f said:
For smaller lenses, say 300 F2.8 or less, my Sirui L10 is great.

For the big stuff (over 3 kilos or so) I would look at Canon Bob's suggestion.
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I use the L10 with loads up to 7kg w/o issue.
My preference is for an arca swiss clamp directly on the monopod for anything that is very roughly the same height. The reasons I use the L10 are for when I'm stuck in rocks and placement is limited, or when I use it as a handheld aid (foot stuck in a belt pouch).

The point to a monopod *for me* is something compact and light, adding a big head is counterproductive IMO.
 
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Canon Bob said:
A Really Right Stuff MH-01 is more than up to the job and I've occasionally used mine with a 600/4.

Bob
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Exactly what I use......with an Arca type plat on my lenses it's dead easy to swap lenses.

George.
 
Now that I have a rotational foot on my Gitzo monopod that RRS MH-01 looks like it might suit me even better - Not from an operational point of view but only because it occupies less space than my Jobu jr-3 small gimbal when carrying or hanging off my belt.

I looked at the MH-01 before and rejected it but that's because the rotational foot wasn't then available for my monopod - That's what makes all the difference for fast mobility in all directions.
 
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It's a very good (but pricy) unit, and it'll last a lifetime, Robin.

George.
 
I seem to remember that not many UK sellers stocked RRS. Google is my fwend....
 
I've got a small ballhead, gimbal and trigger but for the monopod the Manfrotto 322rc2 just works a treat for my use with the Sigma 150-600c.

Its pretty solid however there can be some creep if the 322-ball is at an extreme tilt, the lens weight can overcome the friction.

I've reversed the handle so its triggered left-handed now, but for speed of adjustment of any axis it really works for me. Also if I can't get the correct height quickly when going from standing to crouched I can use the speed of trigger to flick the angle of the monopod out to the back or front and not have to try and release several locking collars to drop the height of the pod.
 
Graham W said:
I use this rather battered but beautiful Manfrotto 234 RC I only use it with a 70-200 2.8 and a 300 2.8. Up and down movement comes from the head and rotational (Leveling) movement comes from slackening off the collar on the lens.
So as long as the lenses you use have a collar fitted then I don't see why anything more complex or expensive than this would be required.

View attachment 101874
Click to expand...

+1
 
George said:
It's a very good (but pricy) unit, and it'll last a lifetime, Robin.

George.
Click to expand...

....Hi George,

I have now transferred my Jobu jr-3 gimbal from my monopod to my tripod (Gitzo) and much prefer it to my Sirui PH-20 gimbal (soon for sale when I can find the box!). I have bought the RRS for my monopod (Gitzo) and am shooting with a Canon 500mm F/4L II mounted.

The RRS operation and quality is perfect and I think that I have at last found the best solution having tried all sorts of weird and wonderful heads!

https://www.photospecialist.co.uk/really-right-stuff-mh-01-lr-b2-as-ii#group291
 
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Hi Robin

Which rotational foot do you use?

thanks
Peter
 
Peter123 said:
Hi Robin

Which rotational foot do you use?

thanks
Peter
Click to expand...

Hi Peter,

I use a Gitzo carbon GM2541 monopod with screw-in ball foot. All the new range of carbon Gitzo monopods now include the ball foot. It works perfectly for panning.

Personally I don't get on with ball heads and have tried many.
 
Thanks.
I have the same monopod, I will see if I can source a ball foot.
 
I use a Manfrotto 804RC2 on my monopod and you can put a 25KG bag of cement on it, the thing is not breaking lol.
 
I use a L-10 like a few people above. Having owned a Manfrotto head in the past I would not trust the clamping with my 500 F4 - it had too much play when clamped up. Arca Swiss all day long since then.
 
Peter123 said:
Thanks.
I have the same monopod, I will see if I can source a ball foot.
Click to expand...

....I got mine from Wex Photographic. I no longer have the page bookmarked but it's a Gitzo Big Foot. They are very helpful if you phone them - 01603 486413.
 
Thank you. Looks like Speedgraphic have them, so one ordered.
 
Manfrotto 393 Heavy tele lens support for monopod.
11050.jpg
 
Dave Semmens said:
I use a L-10 like a few people above. Having owned a Manfrotto head in the past I would not trust the clamping with my 500 F4 - it had too much play when clamped up. Arca Swiss all day long since then.
Click to expand...

Does anybody have a spare one of these, or a L-20 kicking around to sell on classified?
 
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