Outdoor photography – Monopod/Hiking staff

[Lynn]

My wife is a good picture taker (I hesitate to call her a ‘photographer’ in this crowd, but she certainly documents our family outings well!) and for her birthday we are going on an Alaska cruise with several ‘excursions’ planned. Some of the excursions are strictly for the photo ops.

Knowing nest-to-nothing about photography, I think that one of those combo hiking stick / monopod things might serve her well.

I like the idea of the dual-purpose nature. My first google produced one that has fold-out legs to make it a tripod, as well, but it didn’t look all that sturdy, and I’m thinking a monopod should suffice. I’m thinking that the extra tripod functionality might be just extra weight for a photographer who doesn’t want to be in any of the pix. It did, however, come apart and store in a small bag, which would be nice for an airplane/cruise ship-type trip.

She’ll be using her Maxim 5d dSLR with a 25-300mm?? lens, max.

What do the pros think? Any suggestions?

 

[Photog]

My dad uses a monopod designed for rifle shooting. The camera just rests in the cradel on top of the monopod. He has trouble with arthritus in his ankles, and also uses it as a walking stick. He actually made the cradel form a small shooting bag, and adapted it to the top of his monopod.

Cabela's Delux Outfitter Gunpod should work.

This might work nicely, from Cabela's. Shooter's Ridge Staff It has a retractable cradel, in the staff handle. Click on "more views" and the "retractable gun yoke".

I also use a monopod on occasion. Both mine and my dad's are the Bogen (Manfrotto). I use a small ball-head with my monopod.

 

[nwoods]

I use one of these as a hiking staff, and the cork ball top unscrews to function as a monopod. The pole has a shock absorbing tip, and the ball head shape is very comfortable in multiple hand positions. However, these are NOT suitable for trekking poles (using two at a time) if you are so inclined.

http://www.rei.com/product/745696

 

[haven]

Since the Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D has a CCD shift anti-shake system, you may not need a monopod to steady the shots, assuming the excursions will be in daylight. If your camera is mounted on a monopod, you'll lose a bit of freedom to quickly move and frame shots, which is important when you have the opportunity to photograph wildlife.

The 5D plus the 300 mm zoom plus battery probably weighs 4 lbs or so. Add an extra 5 lbs for a bag or vest with the usual gear (spare batteries, filters, lenses and so on). Perhaps carrying and handling that much weight for several hours becomes fatiguing. It's easy to build up strength by taking your gear with you on your everyday travels. Keep you camera and lens combo at your desk and pick it up every few minutes. Your stamina will increase rapidly.

Back to monopods. I have a Gitzo Monotrek. It has a head that allows the camera to quickly swivel from horizontal to vertical/portrait orientation. It also has an attachment that looks like the basket from a ski pole. This helps a lot when you're walking in snow or sand.

I use the monopod primarily to steady the camera in low light. I also use it to capture shots from different perspectives. For example, I have hung the camera over the rail of a moving boat to shoot the bow cutting through the water. I have held the camera high above a crowd, or close to the entrance to a tarantula's home (some South American spiders have a leg span as big as a Frisbee). Just set the camera's self-timer to give you a few seconds to get into position.

Two deficiencies of the Monotrek: The Monotrek does not have a camera quick release, so you may want to add a simple one to the monopod's mounting screw. You won't want to hike with the DSLR permanently attached to the monopod. Second, the Monotrek does not collapse to a short enough length to fit in a carry on bag. You may want to choose a model that does.

Chip Haven

 

[DiploStrat]

Another vote for a monopod.

I use one with a ball head and I have quick releases for my 500mm lens and Camera. Found it much better than simply handholding a lens of that length.

The combination of a monopod and a stabilized lens is very powerful.

I looked at the 'pods with the mini-feet and was unimpressed - didn't make it more stable and I would never trust it unsupported. YMMV

Couple of notes:

-- Remember that a monopod is NOT free standing - be careful and/or loop your strap around your hand.

-- Practice and experiment BEFORE you need to use the monopod - there are many different techniques. (Monpod as tripod - your legs being the other two legs. Monopod as pivot, straight up and down - often used by the sports shooters.) No wrong answer, but you will want to play around a bit.

 

[Lynn]

Next question...

I looked at the combo hiking staff / monopod setups at REI and wasn't impressed. All that they had were twistlock style, and I've had bad luck with twistlock treking poles. Besides, I think cliplocks will be much quicker and easier to use. I ended up picked up a cheap ($30) cliplock monopod for her to play with. (EDIT: the cheapy I got looks like the Manfrotto that Photog linked in above, but it's four sections, so will fit in a suitcase nicely.)

Anyway, now I'm looking for a ball head, and I'm wondering...

Does she really need a quick-release base? I mean, it's not like trying to use one of those stupid little thumb screws to put a camera on a tripod. For tripods I really see the usefulness of a QD base. But with the monopod, you can just hold the camera steady and spin the monopod onto it. Right? Or am I missing something?

If I envisioned her moving the camera between the tripod and the monopod, back and forth, within a few minutes of each other, I would get her a ball head with a QD base that matched her tripod. But for the trips where she will use the monopod, I can't imagine her bringing the tripod along.

What do the expert say?

 

[Photog]

If she already has a tripod, and QR bases, then it would be easy to just install a QR receiver on the monopod/ballhead that matches here current equip.

The QR system makes it easy to switch back and forth. If she has to thread the camera on each time, she will just leave it assembled, and carry it over her shoulder, when she could be using the monopod as a walking stick.

 

[Bogo]

Next question...

I looked at the combo hiking staff / monopod setups at REI and wasn't impressed. All that they had were twistlock style, and I've had bad luck with twistlock treking poles. Besides, I think cliplocks will be much quicker and easier to use. I ended up picked up a cheap ($30) cliplock monopod for her to play with. (EDIT: the cheapy I got looks like the Manfrotto that Photog linked in above, but it's four sections, so will fit in a suitcase nicely.)

Anyway, now I'm looking for a ball head, and I'm wondering...

Does she really need a quick-release base? I mean, it's not like trying to use one of those stupid little thumb screws to put a camera on a tripod. For tripods I really see the usefulness of a QD base. But with the monopod, you can just hold the camera steady and spin the monopod onto it. Right? Or am I missing something?

If I envisioned her moving the camera between the tripod and the monopod, back and forth, within a few minutes of each other, I would get her a ball head with a QD base that matched her tripod. But for the trips where she will use the monopod, I can't imagine her bringing the tripod along.

What do the expert say?

Manfrotto has a monopod head that allows side to side tilt only. Looks like ReallyRightStuff has also started handling a heavy duty version.

On quick release clamps. The addage you get what you pay for really applies here. The low cost RC clamp system Manfrotto sells with their monopod head sucks (personal experience). It is only good for light cameras and lenses. 5lbs is to much especially if the lens is long. If you want to go with quick release, get one of the Arca-Swiss style ones. They cast more but are sold by a number of manufacturers. I now use clamps and plates by ReallyRightStuff now and am very happy with them. Here is the rub, it will cost. Between my various cameras and tripods I have over $500 in quick release plates and clamps. The thing is I can now securely attach my camera to a tripod or monopod in 2 seconds or less. On my monopod I only use a quick release clamp. I don't have a head at all. If I did go with a head I think I'd get a good ball head. On the camera I use a L bracket. This allows for landscape or portrait orientations. Without it I'd have a ball head.

On a side note a quality monopod or tripod is good for years and will never need to be replaced. The same goes for tripod heads.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

Going back to this thread-

Has anyone here had any experiences and/or used a Feisol monopod, particularly their model CM-1471? It looks like a nice piece of equipment, and at $100, seems like a pretty good deal too.

 

[Photog]

Going back to this thread-

Has anyone here had any experiences and/or used a Feisol monopod, particularly their model CM-1471? It looks like a nice piece of equipment, and at $100, seems like a pretty good deal too.

There are a number of 4 section monopods in that price range. Do you need it to collapse to 21"? If 26" is OK, there are a few 3 section, aluminum monopods that are more durable and easier to use. Some of them come with a head too.

If you need the slightly shorter folded length, that one seems as good as any; but you still need some type of head on it.

B&H has a wide selection to look at. You can sort by camera weight, and then price. Click on the item, and then "specifications" to see how tall and short they are.

B&H Monopods , capacity , price range.

Some of the monopods that have the little "tripod" feet are good monopods; but I would never use the little tripod feet. I would remove them, if it were possible.

Here are the monopods that support 18lbs and up, and cost $80-$125. Link