Mono-unipod reduce shake?

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AndyG123

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Hi guys, so I was just wondering if it was worth getting a monopod for those quick portrait modes where light takes away the option for a 1/100 shutter speed.
Obviously I know the perks of a tripod at those long exposure shots, but for shots of 1/30th to 1/80th etc. Would a monopod be suitable to eliminate that hand shake?
 
I would have thought a flash might be a better option
 
Fast lens and higher iso, I hate my monopod, never use it, shouldn't have bought it.
 
AndyG123 said:
Hi guys, so I was just wondering if it was worth getting a monopod for those quick portrait modes where light takes away the option for a 1/100 shutter speed.
Obviously I know the perks of a tripod at those long exposure shots, but for shots of 1/30th to 1/80th etc. Would a monopod be suitable to eliminate that hand shake?
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A monopod will help you steady your hold on the camera so should reduce problems from shake.
 
The d3300 doesn't have a commander mode so off camera flash can get expensive for me at the moment and don't like the direct in your face flash.
 
AndyG123 said:
The d3300 doesn't have a commander mode so off camera flash can get expensive for me at the moment and don't like the direct in your face flash.
Click to expand...
Can you not use a cable to link hotshoe to flash?
 
A monopod would certainly help with camera shake etc, but an additional 'problem' would also be your subject moving too.
As mentioned above, a flash would assist greatly. You don't necessarily have to get it off camera. Bounced on camera flash gives very pleasing results.
Look at Neil Van Nierkerk website for tutorials on it.
 
MatBin said:
Can you not use a cable to link hotshoe to flash?
Click to expand...
I tried looking for something like this before but wasn't exactly sure of the name of the cable. I'd looked for hotshoe cable etc and didn't find a lot in a decent length. I wanted one Which could attach to a tripod from the base and the flash go Onto tripod aswel?
 
I would not necessarily want to introduce flash for portraits as natural lighting can look so much better.
look at Jane Bowns natural light portraits... she never used flash.
 
AndyG123 said:
I tried looking for something like this before but wasn't exactly sure of the name of the cable. I'd looked for hotshoe cable etc and didn't find a lot in a decent length. I wanted one Which could attach to a tripod from the base and the flash go Onto tripod aswel?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't consider cable for flash these days. Third party wireless triggers are inexpensive, versatile, and convenient. No trailing cables, work over hundreds of meters, usually both handheld and hotshoe operated, and many include shutter release function too.
 
blakester said:
A monopod would certainly help with camera shake etc, but an additional 'problem' would also be your subject moving too.
As mentioned above, a flash would assist greatly. You don't necessarily have to get it off camera. Bounced on camera flash gives very pleasing results.
Look at Neil Van Nierkerk website for tutorials on it.
Click to expand...
Agree with this. A dedicated bounce and swivel head flash can be aimed into a nearby wall or ceiling corner and maintains TTL exposure. Where possible, I prefer to take flash off-camera entirely and set exposure manually, but if you're shooting at family gatherings or events then using on-camera bounced can get you a decent shot. Especially useful for kids engaged in activities.

In answer to the initial question, a monopod isn't much use for portraiture. I find mine most helpful for wildlife and sports, where it smooths out the motion of a long lens and takes the weight. This also applies to some macro shots, where it's often easiest to fine tune focus by rocking slightly back or forth. For your portraits the answer is in increased exposure (more light, wider aperture, higher ISO).
 
AndyG123 said:
Hi guys, so I was just wondering if it was worth getting a monopod for those quick portrait modes where light takes away the option for a 1/100 shutter speed.
Obviously I know the perks of a tripod at those long exposure shots, but for shots of 1/30th to 1/80th etc. Would a monopod be suitable to eliminate that hand shake?
Click to expand...
The problem with slow shutter speeds is that living beings move, it takes great timing as well as great technique to use slow ss.

The big issue with adding light is that photography is about quality of light, you can't just add light to get your ss up, that creates crap pictures. You need to control the light properly. Some wireless triggers and a few other bits you've already had recommended will do this.
 
Phil V said:
The problem with slow shutter speeds is that living beings move, it takes great timing as well as great technique to use slow ss.

The big issue with adding light is that photography is about quality of light, you can't just add light to get your ss up, that creates crap pictures. You need to control the light properly. Some wireless triggers and a few other bits you've already had recommended will do this.
Click to expand...
Phil,can you explain in a bit more detail.is light more about the effect on the subject than being able to get a faster enough shutter speed, did you mean if the lighting is conducive to a good shot then upping the SS is quite ok and needed anyway?
 
AndyG123 said:
The d3300 doesn't have a commander mode so off camera flash can get expensive for me at the moment and don't like the direct in your face flash.
Click to expand...
Andy my D3300 used with a Newer TT560 speedlte in S1 and S2 triggers it
 
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SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Phil,can you explain in a bit more detail.is light more about the effect on the subject than being able to get a faster enough shutter speed, ...
Click to expand...
Yes.
Photography, both artistically and scientifically is the act of recording the light reflected from the subject. If the light is hitting the subject from the wrong direction, or isn't enough light, then the resulting image will be worthless.

In the same way that hitting a chord incorrectly or with too little force doesn't produce the desired effect.

SsSsSsSsSnake said:
... did you mean if the lighting is conducive to a good shot then upping the SS is quite ok and needed anyway?
Click to expand...

No. See above - if the chord isn't struck correctly, just turning up the amp isn't the answer.
 
khakoo said:
I wouldn't consider cable for flash these days. Third party wireless triggers are inexpensive, versatile, and convenient. No trailing cables, work over hundreds of meters, usually both handheld and hotshoe operated, and many include shutter release function too.
Click to expand...
And this^

Flash cable was all the rage 15 years ago, a Canon cable costs more than a pair of proper radio wireless triggers (as does the Canon infra red transmitter), its madness.
 
AndyG123 said:
Hi guys, so I was just wondering if it was worth getting a monopod for those quick portrait modes where light takes away the option for a 1/100 shutter speed.
Obviously I know the perks of a tripod at those long exposure shots, but for shots of 1/30th to 1/80th etc. Would a monopod be suitable to eliminate that hand shake?
Click to expand...


It depends on the focal length of the lens you are using. For example if you are using a 35mm or 50mm lens then you should easily be able to handheld the camera without getting camera shake at 1/60s with an aperture of f/5.6 or f/8 with 400 ISO. As a general rule of the thumb the shutter speed should be at least one and a half focal lengths of the lens or faster.

For portraits, my primary concern is not he shutter speed, (as long as I can freeze the subject) but the focal length of the lens e.g 90mm which is very flattering, setting the aperture to determine the depth of field (shallow depth of field or whatever look I want to achieve) and then adjust the speed / ISO accordingly to achieve that.

People do have success with monopods which is useful for working in crowded places etc but if you have a long lens and shoot at 1/30 using ambient light that won’t help unless you have a steady hand and can hold your breath whilst gently pressing the shutter. It’s not impossible and it’s a technique that can be practised to good effect. Personally, I’m not keen on them but they are useful for working in crowds and weddings where you can get your camera up in the air (expose with self timer, or remote release coiled round the monopod).

Lots of merit in shooting at 1/30 if you want to capture ambient low light, but then again a little blip of fill-in-flash / balanced flash so as not to burn the subject out can be very pleasing. I would favour a tripod over a monopod everyday (if space will allow), you’ve covered the perks so I won’t dwell any further on that, but in reality I would either ‘up’ the ISO or balance the flash off-camera with ambient light and use a reflector.

It’s horses for courses really and depends on how you want your final image to look and how much time you have, or your window of opportunity. There are many ways of achieving the result it just takes a while to work out which is best for you and then fine tune them. Using a monopod really boils down to personal choice.
 
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