What would you put between a monopod and a Canon 400mm f2.8 IS II?

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nigpd

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I am looking to sit a Canon 400mm f2.8 IS II on a monopod for sports photography, mainly wakeboarding, american football and football.

What would you suggest to join the monopod to the lens, if anything? Would you suggest a plate of some sort or a monopod head? If so what sort/make

Thanks in advance for your recommendations
 
I would just screw the monopod directly onto the foot
 
This is what you need

http://www.custombrackets.com/tilt-head-as.html

WEX sell them for £150 and you can check out my glowing review there as well.
Really is a great and tough bit of kit! Can take the weight of the biggest lenses.
Get yourself a Wimberley plate to mount to the lens foot as this head is an Arca Swiss type.
 
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If you don't need to tilt it much, then nothing. But if you do, Custom Brackets or similar designs (with a radial clamp) from SunwayFoto, Hejnar, Really Right Stuff.
 
HoppyUK said:
If you don't need to tilt it much, then nothing. But if you do, Custom Brackets or similar designs (with a radial clamp) from SunwayFoto, Hejnar, Really Right Stuff.
Click to expand...

By radial clamp do you mean the lens collar?

I use it set up for wildlife as follows

Nikon D300 + 70-200 2.8 VR + 1.7 TC mounted to the head via a Wimberley P20 plate. The lock on the head is off and the friction control set to the desired amount. Lens collar can then be used to lock the camera/lens in vertical or horizontal position or left open so as to gain motion on every possible axes.
This makes an amazing set up for wildlife/sport.
Custom Brackets also makes a flash bracket for this unit that attatches to the lens foot.
 
Another vote for nothing!!
 
matt83 said:
By radial clamp do you mean the lens collar?

I use it set up for wildlife as follows

Nikon D300 + 70-200 2.8 VR + 1.7 TC mounted to the head via a Wimberley P20 plate. The lock on the head is off and the friction control set to the desired amount. Lens collar can then be used to lock the camera/lens in vertical or horizontal position or left open so as to gain motion on every possible axes.
This makes an amazing set up for wildlife/sport.
Custom Brackets also makes a flash bracket for this unit that attatches to the lens foot.
Click to expand...

No, I should have explained. The cheaper ones like Manfrotto etc just have a locking centre pivot that is fine for lighter lenses, but for something like a 400/2.8 that can exert a lot of leverage, the likes of Custom brackets etc have a semi-cicular radial clamp with masses more locking strength. Better fine friction control too.

As said above, you also need quite a long Arca Swiss rail so you can slide the lens back and forth a bit to get perfect balance when tilting up/down.

I used a 400L 2.8 Mk2 over the summer and it is a totally fabulous lens, just unbelievably good if you're used to 400ish zooms like me, but a real monster. I borrowed it to shoot puffins on Skomer with a 1D4, but the friggin camera packed up before I got there :(
 
The Sirui monopod head gets very good feedback. Very high load capacity, 15Kg I think. Available from ebay but unfortunately no distributor in UK, buy from Poland (£54) or China for a tenner less.
 
+1 on the RRS MH01.

Expensive, but so is the lens you are putting on it, the Manfrotto monopod head is a little crude relying on a single nut and bolt through a magnesium casting to pivot on.
 
You dont need anything, i use a Manfrotto 681b with a D3S, 1.4X and Nikon AFS 400mm f/2.8, if you need to tilt then just lean back, if you need to rotate then just use the tripod collar and rotate the whole lot.
 
You don't need anything, but I use a Manfrotto 496RC2 Compact Ball Head so that I have an element of play. Have tried using it just with the camera on the monopod, but find the additional flexibility is invaluable.

Hope this helps
 
Ball heads and heavy telephoto lenses dont really work well together. The only thing Id put in between a 400 2.8 and a monopod is a heavy duty tilt or gimbal head. I tried the Really Right Stuff head and its very good, but way too expensive for what it is so it went back. The Custom Brackets head is just as good but a lot cheaper. If money really was no expense, then Id go for the Wimberley MK 2 gimbal head. After all ... when you'v spent that much on glass(400 2.8!), whats a few £100 more on a strong and versitile support?!
 
matt83 said:
Ball heads and heavy telephoto lenses dont really work well together. The only thing Id put in between a 400 2.8 and a monopod is a heavy duty tilt or gimbal head. I tried the Really Right Stuff head and its very good, but way too expensive for what it is so it went back. The Custom Brackets head is just as good but a lot cheaper. If money really was no expense, then Id go for the Wimberley MK 2 gimbal head. After all ... when you'v spent that much on glass(400 2.8!), whats a few £100 more on a strong and versitile support?!
Click to expand...

A gimbal is bliss on a tripod, nightmare on a monopod.
 
I have to say that after trying my mates 500 f4 vr on a Wimberley/monopod I couldnt disagree more ..... but as is with everything in life, it all comes down to personal taste :)
 
matt83 said:
I have to say that after trying my mates 500 f4 vr on a Wimberley/monopod I couldnt disagree more ..... but as is with everything in life, it all comes down to personal taste :)
Click to expand...

That's interesting, and yes, each to their own. But I gave up after nearly dropping the whole friggin rig for the third time!
 
Thanks everyone for your recommendations, views, advice and experiences.

I'm still not 100% decided, so I guess the sensible thing to do is see how I get on with the lens screwed directly to the monopod, and if that doesn't work, I may go with a replacement lens foot and a screw knob clamp on the monopod, probably RRS
 
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