Monopods are they anygood

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ste1976
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Great for panning shots. erm , not sure on anything else , did you try the search function on the forum?
 
Really useful on those occasions when you don't want to hump a tripod about and useful for administering Manfrotto Rash to would be muggers. ;)

I'd highly recommend a Manfrotto Neotec monopod for one handed operation - you can raise or lower it at the squeeze of a trigger. It can really relieve the strain of holding heavier lenses for long periods - I've had my 500mm f4 and gimbal head on the monopod a couple of times.
 
I find mine to be useful.

it's not always practical to carry a tripod, so the mono is a must with a longer lens on.
 
If you have a big heavy lens like mine then its a must :) Also it gives you that extra little bit of stabality in extreme conditions.. when every bit helps.
 
I find it useful for the occasions where you don't know whether you'll need a tripod or not....light enough not to worry about.

Elevated shots are a bit of a pain so I made a 30cm extension for mine...I can now point upwards without bending down.

Bob
 
I put a yard brush head on the end of mine, incase I need to clean the sensor.
Very usefull...:D
 
Only used mine a couple of times (only had it a month), but with a big non-vr zoom lens on, it can be a godsend.

I didn't want to splash out a fortune on one, so got a Giottos 9570. It's really well built...3 section, 2 way pan head and quick release shoe. I'm well impresses with it for just over £40.
 
I own 3 monopods (1 Gitzo and 2 Manfrotto)so I guess I’m with the guys that find them useful (I plan to sell one soon though) - I should add that I also own 4 tripods... (2 video and 2 still)

If you do photography that requires one or more of the following three things then a monopod would be useful
1) You use a heavy lens but a tripod is not practical {the monopod will save your arms}
2) You take repetitive photography - think cars around a track, runners at a finish line, athletics, {the monopod will help to make the shots consistent}
3) You need a slow Sutter speed but a tripod is not practical {climb a mountain, a long walk, at a stadium}

I would suggest if you are considering buying a monopod buy a tall solid tough one and if you are considering using it for wildlife buy Gitzo with the twist locks as they will not scare the wildlife as much. The noise that Manfrotto "snap to lock" type create will spoil some of your photos (due to the noise) but they are quicker to set up an break down then Gitzo
 
Had mine out with me on Saturday whilst out and about in Leeds taking photo's, always nice to have to wave at any passing junkies eyeing up your equipment, seems to do the trick they soon toddle off ;)

Alan

And Yes they are useful for when a tripod would get in the way, I wouldn't be without mine.
 
Thanks guy's I invest in one then,come in handy when walking about the local Lake when using the 90-300mm lens & can't be bothered taking tripod with me.
 
It does help, especially with a big lens or for when you're using slow shutter speeds and you need a bit extra support.

However, for panning shots I prefer to do it handheld, it can be a bit cumbersome with a monopod.
 
Monopods are the crutch of sports photographers. I used to spend half my life in football stadiums taking photos with a 300 f2.8 or a 600 f4, and without a mono I'd have lasted about 9 seconds.
 
Monopods are rubbish... I mean as soon as you let go of them they fall over :lol:
 
I tend to use mine for shooting motorsports, and find it useful for a fairly long focal length (maybe 300mm with 1.4tc on a x1.6 crop camera) front 3/4 shot with shutter speed or arount 1/250s

For pans, which may or may not be horizontal depending on the track, I find its much easier to release the monopod and just do it hand held.

However, I don't like the pan style of shot so much, I prefer the 3/4 view.
 
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