The Manfrotto Catalogue Is Baffling Me!

68lbs

68lbs

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I have been looking at their monopods, and I don't know where to start.

Heads?
Feet?
Spikes?
Shoulder Braces?
Supports?

...and then there's a whole page dedicated to the actual monopod.

I could really do with some help here. I just thought it'd be a case of buying a stick, and screwing the camera on. Hey presto, I don't shake as much when taking pics.

I have no idea what I want or might need. All I know is that I'm not likely to carry my old jessops tripod out with me. And it wobbles anyways. I think the only sensible question I have is "I guess the head connects the camera to the top of the 'pod. So could 1 head be used for a tripod and a monopod?". Other than that I am just... :shrug: :thinking: :shrug:
 
Whats your budget? My monopod arrived a few hours ago - not had a chance to use it, but looks and feels awesome. £110, without head. I added the GRIPSHIFT head for ease of use, £80.

685B monopod model number, 322rc2 head model number.

Gary.
 
I don't know how much I should expect to have to spend. If it's too expensive I either won't buy, or my daughter will be on a diet of baked beans for the rest of the month :)

There's no point me buying something cheap and crud th0!
 
68lbs said:
I don't know how much I should expect to have to spend. If it's too expensive I either won't buy, or my daughter will be on a diet of baked beans for the rest of the month :)

There's no point me buying something cheap and crud th0!
Click to expand...

I guess you need to get down to Jessops, Calumet or some other shop and have a play about...otherwise a forum meet? I dunno how to recommend, monopods are new to me. I liked the feel of the gripshift as so quick to pan and tilt the camera.

The monopod itself seems very easy to operate, and its very light. You squeeze a trigger and pull or push, no catches, nothing to tighting, just let the trigger go and it locks...seems simple, light and quick. I liked it out of a collection of 4 or 5 (all manfrotto) at my local calumet.

G.
 
68lbs said:
I have been looking at their monopods, and I don't know where to start.



I just thought it'd be a case of buying a stick, and screwing the camera on. Hey presto,[FONT="Arial Black" ]and that is all you need if the monopod has a1/4 thread on it[/FONT]

I think the only question I have is "I guess the head connects the camera to the top of the 'pod. So could 1 head be used for a tripod and a monopod? :
Click to expand...

yes you could use 1 head for a tripod & monopod if you want , i use a 234 RC 2 head on my 679 monopod
the RC 2 relates to the type of quick release plate used ,you can also get heads without a QR plate. example 234
 
As I said... baffling... I cant even find the 234RC2.

Gary, I can see yours being very ergonomic, if not a little cumbersome.

From what daftbugga said, can I deduce I would need...

1. Monopod
2. Head
3. QR plate
4. Foot

And that would make a basic monopod? But some parts could be used for a tripod too, saving money later down the line?
 
68lbs said:
As I said... baffling... I cant even find the 234RC2.

Gary, I can see yours being very ergonomic, if not a little cumbersome.

From what daftbugga said, can I deduce I would need...

1. Monopod
2. Head
3. QR plate
4. Foot

And that would make a basic monopod? But some parts could be used for a tripod too, saving money later down the line?
Click to expand...

You get the foot with the monopod and the QR plate with the head, or at least I did.

The head will be useable on your tripod too, yes.

G.
 
Ah, many thanks. That makes life a lot simpler, just looking for two bits :)
 
I have got a monopod with 3 feet that store away inside its 'leg' that allow it to stand unaided, they are not sturdy like a tripod though so I'd not be wanting to leave a camera on it like that. They are part of the pod so not needed separately.

A head can also be used on a tripod so yes you could save money later, and you should get a qr plate with the head so not needed as an extra (unless you want one for each lens!)
 
I thought exactly the same as you, and bought a Manfrotto monopod from MBP Photographic. I can, and have screwed the camera straight on the top and it worked fine. I don't know if I need a head too, although a QR plate sounds like a real good idea.
 
I have a 190XPROB tripod, 460MG head, and a Manfrotto 670 monopod with a 323 adaptor.

I leave the QR plate attached to my camera, the extra QR plate lives on my 100-300mm lens tripod collar, and means I can swap my camera between monopod and tripod without having to mess about with taking QR plates on and off the lens or body...

Does that make sense?
 
Yep, starting to make a little more sense now.

jgs001 - I wondered the same, just screw the camera onto the 'pod :) Are we cheap, doing that?

For all you monopod experts - why would you spend nearly £200 against £50 ?? Excuse any inuendo, Gary's head looks the mutts. But is it necessary? On a tripod yes, but I'm thinking daftbugga's would be just as good on a monopod cos you can tilt the leg, rotate the leg, etc.
 
reddeathdrinker said:
I have a 190XPROB tripod, 460MG head, and a Manfrotto 670 monopod with a 323 adaptor.

I leave the QR plate attached to my camera, the extra QR plate lives on my 100-300mm lens tripod collar, and means I can swap my camera between monopod and tripod without having to mess about with taking QR plates on and off the lens or body...

DOES that make sense /
Click to expand...


yes it does, it makes perfect sense i do a very similar thing.

susie meanwhile is baffling me a monopod with THREE feet :thinking:

;)
 
being able to rotate the camera to portrait is exactly the reason why i have a pan/tilt head on ,also by using a head with a QR plate gives the ability to do a quick change .
 
daftbugga said:
yes it does, it makes perfect sense i do a very similar thing.

susie meanwhile is baffling me a monopod with THREE feet :thinking:

;)
Click to expand...
You just unscrew thw floor end of the pod and the feet come out, but its NOT suitable for standing it up with a camera on top. Useful if you are swapping lenses as you can release the one you are using and it will stand up on its own while you swap them on the camera. So far I have never used them but I expect they will come in handy one day :lol:
 
:) probably, but I like the 323 adapter idea, a QR plate on the top is a v good idea.
 
I'm 6'1" and use a Manfrotto 679 with a 234RC2 head- plenty tall enough for me! I also use a 190PRO tripod and a 322RC2 head. 2 extra plates (available seperately from most good photo retailers) mean I can have QR plates permanently fitted to the D200, D70, F80 and the tripod collar of the Sigma 170-500.
 
I also have an 190 XPROB tripod with a 488RC2 head. One RC2 head lives on my camera, the other lives on the tripod ring of my 100-300. My tripod ring allows me to spin from landscape to portrait (or tilt in between) easily.
 
Also use a 679B monopod 32 quid out of jessops I believe and a 234 qr titlhead 25 quid at the same shop. Both work a treat and are a solid build but not too heave. Supports my 40 and 100-400 fine. If someone tries to mug you, giving a whack with the monopod will see a mugger off. LOL Oh! it makes a good walking sick too. I'm sure a hunt around the net will have cheaper prices.
 
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