Peter Loew
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What exactly is the difference between a monopod and a tripod apart from the obvious 1 legged and 3 legged stand; why own a monopod when you can buy a tripod?
Hopefully not a silly question...
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purpleclouds
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Monopods are easier to carry, quicker to set up, and more flexible! The downside is, they offer less support...
garymercer
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what they said
OP
Peter Loew
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I see, so do you find you can take night shots blur-free with a monopod?
It would be easy enough to rig up a set of guy ropes on a monopod.
The other advantage of a monopod is the footprint. There are places where the area needed for a tripod isnt available.
Oh - and presumably all those security bods twittering about H&S and people killing themselves falling over tripods have to shut up if you have a monopod.
The other advantage of a monopod is the footprint. There are places where the area needed for a tripod isnt available.
Oh - and presumably all those security bods twittering about H&S and people killing themselves falling over tripods have to shut up if you have a monopod.
theMusicMan
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No, not really. With a tripod you can leave the camera un-held and use remote or delayed shutter release, but try not holding the camera on a monopod and you're looking at an insurance job!!
I am sure you can ride a tricycle, can you ride a monocycle...?
Jim B
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Generally a monopod is used for support, especially when the photographer is using something like a big telephoto prime! A tripod is more often used when you're shooting in low light or at night with slower shutter speeds. That's my take on it anyway... 
swanseamale47
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They wouldn't know what to call it anyway lol. Wayne
noah
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or even a unicycle
monopods are great for long fast lenses and sports as you can move them about quicker.
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Some folk use converted walking sticks or poles as camera supports when out country walking.
I have a chest height stick with a vee shaped handle that doubles as a monopod.
They help reduce camera shake, but not to the extent that a tripod does.
I have a chest height stick with a vee shaped handle that doubles as a monopod.
They help reduce camera shake, but not to the extent that a tripod does.
Dave_Taylor
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A tip I've seen used by some photographers taking pictures of birds in the wild. They carry a tripod mounted to their camera (or more usually the lens) but if the bird is mobile and they just want a bit of extra support for those large 500+600mm lenses, they simply extend one leg of the tripod and use it as a monopod. Then when the bird settles in an area and they have a little more time they extend the other legs to get better support.
CopeImages
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Simple upshot of the question is:
A monopod is for support, primarily taking the weight off of your wrists/arms of a heavy (as mentioned prime) lens and camera combo. It does not keep the lens still, it just enables you to concentrate on keeping the lens more still but not having to worry about continually supporting the 10kg you have in your hand. You wouldn't use a monopod in instances where the shot requires rock steady composition.
As an aside, a monopod is easy to setup and doesn't limit your camera movement in the way a tripod does which is why they're used in sports photography and tripods aren't
A tripod is designed to keep the camera and lens rock steady in instances of photography where that is important. Simple as that.
Alternatively to the monopod, a tripod is more cumbersome to position, setup and use, which isn't really an issue in the main instances it's used i.e. where you need rock steady composition, the right moment, the right lighting etc etc, so the extra 5 mins needed to set the thing up isn't really an issue.
Each item lends itself better to certain types of photography. Which you choose is more down to personal opinion and preference. Like I don't see the point in a monopod for a 80-200mm zoom at motorsports. Hold it in your hand for crumbs sake.. Likewise I laughed out loud at the shot on here recently of the chap with a full-on NBC style video tripod setup being used for motorsport (zero mobility).
Guy
A monopod is for support, primarily taking the weight off of your wrists/arms of a heavy (as mentioned prime) lens and camera combo. It does not keep the lens still, it just enables you to concentrate on keeping the lens more still but not having to worry about continually supporting the 10kg you have in your hand. You wouldn't use a monopod in instances where the shot requires rock steady composition.
As an aside, a monopod is easy to setup and doesn't limit your camera movement in the way a tripod does which is why they're used in sports photography and tripods aren't
A tripod is designed to keep the camera and lens rock steady in instances of photography where that is important. Simple as that.
Alternatively to the monopod, a tripod is more cumbersome to position, setup and use, which isn't really an issue in the main instances it's used i.e. where you need rock steady composition, the right moment, the right lighting etc etc, so the extra 5 mins needed to set the thing up isn't really an issue.
Each item lends itself better to certain types of photography. Which you choose is more down to personal opinion and preference. Like I don't see the point in a monopod for a 80-200mm zoom at motorsports. Hold it in your hand for crumbs sake.. Likewise I laughed out loud at the shot on here recently of the chap with a full-on NBC style video tripod setup being used for motorsport (zero mobility).
Guy