Monopod - what to buy?

[Weslake-Monza]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 25 September 2012 at 21:16

[markmullen]

My dad bought me a Camlink monopod as it was the only one he could find on the highstreet which would extend high enough for me (I'm 6'3), it is sturdy enough that it has taken a 1D2 with 100-400 without buckling. I don't think it was too dear.

[tenohfive]

Some of the Gorillapods take up to 3kg, would that be an alternative?

[gingerpaul]

I've got a Giottos 3270B monopod and it's rock solid. It was something like 20 pounds so not too much money. I'd spend more on whatever you you're putting on top. I've got a decent Manfrotto ball head with friction adjustment so I can have it open and I can move it to compose but it takes the weight of the camera with a long lens on.

Very useful if you want to keep the camera to your eye for any length of time if you've got some heavy glass attached. Depends what you want to use it for of course but as a relatively new convert to monopods I quite like the set up.

[Simpo Two]

Stupid question perhaps but I wonder if anyone makes a tripod with a detachable leg...?

[markmullen]

Simpo Two said:

Stupid question perhaps but I wonder if anyone makes a tripod with a detachable leg...?

Yes, Three Legged Thing do one and IIRC the Giottos Vitruvian does. Even cooler is the Novoflex Quadropod with four legs, one of which can be removed to make a monopod, http://www.novoflex.com/en/products/camera-support...

[LongQ]

markmullen said:

Simpo Two said:

Stupid question perhaps but I wonder if anyone makes a tripod with a detachable leg...?

Yes, Three Legged Thing do one and IIRC the Giottos Vitruvian does. Even cooler is the Novoflex Quadropod with four legs, one of which can be removed to make a monopod, http://www.novoflex.com/en/products/camera-support...

I have a travel size Giottos Vitruvain that does just that. Easy conversion that takes a couple of minutes tops even if you you don't regularly practice.

For regular use I seem to have ended up with a couple of other monopods too - which is odd 'cos I don't often use a monopod. 7Dayshop usually offer one or two own brand items (one wih a vaguely usable head) that are ridiculously cheap and do the job but need a decent head on the headless one if planning to do serious work with anything like heavy kit. Quite useful for other purposes though - like getting a camera of a flash unit/light to a location that might otherwise be a bit tricky.