Recommend me a Monopod head ( Now sorted)

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I intend to order today from WEX a Benro Mach 3 Carbon Fibre Mono-pod


I shoot mostly wildlife and I use a Sony a7Riii / Sony a7Riv and the Sony 200-600mm lens - Obviously I need a sturdy head preferably with "Arca Swiss type mount" to accommodate this gear

I would welcome any suggestions / Recommendations

I did have my eye on this head -


would it cut the mustard?

Thanks in advance


Les :)
 
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I went for the Wimberley MonoGimbal. Haven't used it in anger yet due to work but it's very well made. Balanced. Light. Expensive (obviously).

Got it from Bob Rigby. Can't recommend highly enough. Great customer service.


I do have a budget of around £100 for the head Stew, I already use a Gimbal on my tripod so prefer a different head system Stew

Les :)
 
PS that monopod is spot on too.

I also went for an arca clamp for top of the monopod (cheap ish one from Amazon) to stop having to screw head onto monopod when putting away. The head has an arca plate ish built in.


I bought the "Arca" foot for the 200-600mm so prefer an Arca type system on the monopd head :) Hence my original choice above :)

Just thought some advice needed before I spend £160 Lol :LOL::LOL::LOL:
 
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I understand budgetary limits. But it's not like a normal gimbal head really.

Decided ball head wasn't for me as not trivial to adjust one handed while holding monopod and camera. Too many directions of travel and I'm a bit of an oaf anyway.

Good luck with search.
 
I don't like ball heads on monopods - I find as soon as I loosen the head it flops to one side!

I have a similar monopod (Benro carbon) and I ordered and use this head:


It works really nicely imo - I ordered the one shown, with the additional rotational option on the bottom of the head.


Oh I do like that- much better for me than the ball head option, thank you :) could I use the arca foot on my lens to mount to this ????
 
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I do have a budget of around £100 for the head Stew, I already use a Gimbal on my tripod so prefer a different head system Stew

Les :)
Why not get the monopod and try the gimbal on it first?
On my monopod I've tried a ballhead, proper monopod head and my gimbal, and the gimbal is by far the best for me....
 
Oh I do like that- much better for me than the ball head option, thank you :) could I use the arca foot on my lens to mount to this ????
Yes - the top clamp is an arca type clamp. You should be fine. Mine works with all my arca plates (from a variety of manufactures)
 
Why not get the monopod and try the gimbal on it first?
On my monopod I've tried a ballhead, proper monopod head and my gimbal, and the gimbal is by far the best for me....

I did think of that Bob, however: I have a trip planned starting Sunday to Sunday and need to have them here prior to leaving on Saturday night - thank you though :)_

Yes - the top clamp is an arca type clamp. You should be fine. Mine works with all my arca plates (from a variety of manufactures)


I have ordered the head from Amazon ( I have a Prime Account) I have 2 or 3 Arca Swiss mounts- and the Mono-pod from WEX - both be here tomorrow at some point, giving me time to get used to them, prior to using in anger :)

Thank you both for the assistance - appreciated


Les :)
 
I have a Surui L-10 tilt head.

PS I noted this thread whilst looking for some/a link for you

Oooops! A bit late to the party.........hope you have a good photography trip :)
 
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I did think of that Bob, however: I have a trip planned starting Sunday to Sunday and need to have them here prior to leaving on Saturday night - thank you though :)_




I have ordered the head from Amazon ( I have a Prime Account) I have 2 or 3 Arca Swiss mounts- and the Mono-pod from WEX - both be here tomorrow at some point, giving me time to get used to them, prior to using in anger :)

Thank you both for the assistance - appreciated


Les :)
Let’s us know your thoughts!
 
I did think of that Bob, however: I have a trip planned starting Sunday to Sunday and need to have them here prior to leaving on Saturday night - thank you though :)_




I have ordered the head from Amazon ( I have a Prime Account) I have 2 or 3 Arca Swiss mounts- and the Mono-pod from WEX - both be here tomorrow at some point, giving me time to get used to them, prior to using in anger :)

Thank you both for the assistance - appreciated


Les :)
To me that head looks to be complete overkill for a monopod. There's no need for rotation about the shaft, it's easy to just turn the pod.
Prompted by this thread & bearing in mind the 200-400 lens I picked up at the weekend (1.2kg gets heavy when on the camera, & held to the eye...) I had a quick look at cheaper options the VD-12 version on Amazon probably isn't as smooth, but should do all I need. - and yes it's Arca compatible.
 
I know it's too late for you Les but I use a Manfrotto 234RC atop my monopod. Cheap as chips and smooth as necessary. A cheap Arca converter on the QR plate would do the job and a squirt of threadloc would stop the 2 parting ways.
 
I know it's too late for you Les but I use a Manfrotto 234RC atop my monopod. Cheap as chips and smooth as necessary. A cheap Arca converter on the QR plate would do the job and a squirt of threadloc would stop the 2 parting ways.

There is the 'plain' 234 to which AFAIK you could simply mount an AS clamp to!

PS but as far as price and manufacturing choice goes re @Petrochemist I would rather spend a bit more and buy a brand that has a decent track record of user reviews and a reputation to protect. The VD-12 IMO is not one.......???
 
I know it's too late for you Les but I use a Manfrotto 234RC atop my monopod. Cheap as chips and smooth as necessary. A cheap Arca converter on the QR plate would do the job and a squirt of threadloc would stop the 2 parting ways.


As you say a little late as these items will arrive tomorrow and to be honest . I personally wouldn't trust expensive an camera + lens combo to a cheap as chips mono-head :)

I have an Arca plate foot for my 200-600mm so an arca type mount on the head was a must for me

Thank you for your input though :)

Les
 
There is the 'plain' 234 to which AFAIK you could simply mount an AS clamp to!

PS but as far as price and manufacturing choice goes re @Petrochemist I would rather spend a bit more and buy a brand that has a decent track record of user reviews and a reputation to protect. The VD-12 IMO is not one.......???
Yes I know I went for the budget option, the Andoer model linked to above might be a known brand but it's certainly not a premium brand - even a cheapskate like me has several items they've made.
Having not just one but two panoramic rotating sections on an support that's free to rotate is barmy, it's no wonder the head weights nearly half a kilo.
The Andoer head actually costs more than the lens I was going to use my monopod for, it it proves to be stiff I might investigate the Manfrotto 234RC but I don't like their QC system, so a simple bit of DIY using steel brackets (or even just a hinge) would probably be a better solution.
 
The advantage to the pano head ensures the lens can be rotated without fear of the monopod unwinding itself from the head.
It’s not possible to pan smoothly without a head with a bearing like this.

Having the second rotating section is useful as you can now manipulate the lens in 3 axis - important for some.
 
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