Worth bothering to get a monopod?

omens

omens

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Hopefully this weekend we'll be going on a driving experience thing (weather permitting). I plan to take the 70D. My brother in law is going as well as my sister. The guys will be on the track so I wondered about giving my sister the 70D and leaving it on burst mode. Then figured she's probably crap at panning (though TBH she's better at taking photos than me - she has a knack for getting good photos of people). So I wondered about getting a monopod for her to use.

Worth it or should I leave things alone and just buy whatever photos they sell to us?
 
While a monopod can be a very useful tool, I'm not sure that using one is going to help much if she has poor panning technique - at short notice it'll be just another thing for her to have to learn to use/do.
 
Without knowing what glass combination you'll be putting on your 70D it's hard to answer. Up to 70-200L I'd say don't bother, above that I'd say it may be a good idea to take some of the weight but then its easiest to use with a ballhead so potentially you're looking at £100 of kit off the bat. You could always go and spend a bit of time this week and practice some panning together!
 
Kit lens 18-135mm only. We won't have much time to practice. Just figured it'd be better than her using her point and shoot camera.
 
Well a monopod won't help with panning, and a 70D with an 18-135mm isn't really a setup that I would ever consider putting on a monopod.

Personally unless you have a need for one, and this would be your excuse to buy, then I'd keep the money in your pocket or put it towards some of the track photos/video.
 
I have found a monopod to be a waste of money. Damned cumbersome piece of kit. Easier to find some natural supports to help stabilise your camera. I binned mine.
 
arclight said:
I have found a monopod to be a waste of money. Damned cumbersome piece of kit. Easier to find some natural supports to help stabilise your camera. I binned mine.
Click to expand...

Or a versitile, light, space saving support used extensively by sports photographers to support long lenses for long period of time in often cramped, or restricted areas.

I have two - because when I need to use one on a job I want to have a backup (most likely in the car) - just in case.
 
Indeed, or a handy support and some modicum of stabilisation for low light situations when a tripod is impractical or not permitted.

I have a Manfrotto carbon fibre monopod that weighs not a lot and can hang off my belt when I'm not using it.
 
For that focal length, I personally wouldn't use a monopod. I tend to use one for anything over 300mm
 
For long focal lengths yes, short, not so much.

Have never felt the need to use one for less than telephoto / supertelephoto lengths.

Panning with a shorter lens won't really be aided by the use of a monopod or tripod.

If you need stabilisation for shorter distances in other types of photography you're probably doing work that requires a tripod.
 
Had one, but found it a bit cumbersome. Rather look for another support like a tree or dyke etc. or my ultra lightweight carbon fibre walking pole.
 
I have one and have used it only a few times. I have a 170-500 sigma (yes I know, but I couldn't afford the 150-500) and even with that unless I was going to be stationary with it I wouldn't bother. Certainly not for a 18-135. It will just restrict movement with the camera.
 
The experience days I've been have the spectator areas some distance from the track, would say a 135mm would be quite short, you'd probably need a 200+ lens. I know that's not an option so I'd just say concentrate on getting nice shots in the 'paddock' areas.
 
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