Which monopod for a heavy lens?

Gary Kinghorn

Gary Kinghorn

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Morning all.

I'm looking for recommendations for a monopod and head I can use with a body fitted with a heavy lens (120-300 f2.8).

Periodically I shoot Motorsport and would also like to try portraits at 300mm and would like a monopod to help.

It needs to have a head which will quickly and easily go from portrait to landscape mode while shooting.

Nothing silly expensive, but good quality preferred.

Thoughts???
 
dancook said:
I have this monopod, I'm not sure how many have the same rapid trigger feature

http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/neotec-monopod-with-safety-lock

Very quick to change the height.

Just one thing to consider if you think you need that.
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Would it not be easier Gary to just rotate the camera/lens in the lens ring to go from landscape to portrait? Most heads will move the centre of balance when you flip them to portrait mode which could cause the whole set up to become unbalanced.
 
Gaz J said:
Would it not be easier Gary to just rotate the camera/lens in the lens ring to go from landscape to portrait? Most heads will move the centre of balance when you flip them to portrait mode which could cause the whole set up to become unbalanced.
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Yes for sure, that's what I would do :) my post was not to suggest any heads, just a monopod extension feature.

I just use a simple tilt head, so I can tilt forward back, loosen lens collar to go between portrait/landscape.
 
Monopods are not so weight-critical as tripods and spending extra on carbon-fibre is frankly a waste of money for the tiny weight saving. I use a mid-range Benro, with lever-locks that I prefer on a monopod for easier height changes.

The head is a different matter though. For motorsport, it's quite common not to have any head at all, but if you need to make bigger angle adjustments, eg aircraft, then you'll need a substantial head for that lens. I prefer a ball head (Arca-Swiss P0) though the recommended route is usually a monopod head, like this Sirui - note the locking mechanism, compared to say Manfrotto or Benro http://www.amazon.co.uk/L-10-Tiltin...&qid=1437735974&sr=1-45&keywords=monopod+head Also look at SunwayFoto, Really Right Stuff, Custom Brackets etc.

For verticals, just rotate the lens collar as mentioned, though highly recommend an L-bracket for lenses without a collar.
 
I have the Sirui head on a monopod. It is mostly pointless and I usually only "adjust it" in order to get to a lower height than the monopod will allow.
Panning with a monopod (or a even tripod) is a bit of a cludge because you have to move your body around the point of rotation... if you don't, it *will* ruin/limit the panning motion/results.
 
I also shoot motorsport with a 120-300 and although I do have a monopod I tend to prefer handheld, due to the restrictions of panning (not a great look over-balancing and tripping over your own 'pod ;) ). However if I do use it I stick with a man frito tilt head and loosen the tripod ring slightly to allow it to rotate between portrait and landscape.

I have tried a ball head but could get on with it. I am thinking about getting one of this belt holster thingies to stick the end of the monopod in to allow me to rotate my body rather than feet for panning
 
Panning is a real skill. If you watch some of the motorsport professionals with monopods, they hardly move the camera and certainly no dancing around in circles. They have a knack of picking up the car very quickly, getting into a smooth pan immediately, then firing off a shot or a short burst right away. It's all over in a couple of seconds, feet don't move, then they're on to the next car. To minimise body movement, position the monopod leg a bit closer.

Sometimes more panning movement in unavoidable. This is one of the reasons I prefer a ball-head, that allows you to keep the camera straight and square as you pan around and maybe a bit up and down as well. With a normal monopod head, or no head at all, the camera can end up on the squint.
 
I started using a waist belt with a small monopod and tilt head with a 500mm. Worked quite well. Never really got the hang of panning with a monopod. Didnt do it often enough i guess.
 
Gary Kinghorn said:
Or maybe the manfroto tripod with the sirui L-10 head you mentioned earlier in the thread? That be better you think?
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Can't really add anything to my previous posts above.
 
HoppyUK said:
Can't really add anything to my previous posts above.
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Hello chap. I think I recognise your username from scoobynet of old?

I'm new where monopods and heads are concerned. I can see the head is designed primarily for video work and understand your comment ref panning. In your opinion do you think the fluid base is unsuitable for DSLR work, or just the head?

I quite like the look and idea of the fluid base, but thought I would ask for opinion before investing.
 
Gary Kinghorn said:
Hello chap. I think I recognise your username from scoobynet of old?

I'm new where monopods and heads are concerned. I can see the head is designed primarily for video work and understand your comment ref panning. In your opinion do you think the fluid base is unsuitable for DSLR work, or just the head?

I quite like the look and idea of the fluid base, but thought I would ask for opinion before investing.
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Not been on Scoobynet for years! What a great place that was in its heyday (y)

All I can say is what I use and why - as above. The Arca-Swiss P0 I use is light, being a ball-head it's infinitely flexible in terms of positioning, and has good friction control. If not that, I'd use a custom-designed monopod head, and I can see why people like them, though I find the movement in just one plane restrictive. I would have no use for a fluid head on a monopod.
 
Scoobynet was great back in the day.... I remember the wasp nest in the garden, cow on the bonnet of the car, PS Lewis doing the business on a daily basis. All good fun. I haven't been on there for years either. I was guttmanpug and infracted on a monthly basis. I run the northloop forum now. Small, but fun.

I think I'm going to give one of the manfroto's a go and see how I get on.

Cheers for the replies
 
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Gary Kinghorn said:
Scoobynet was great back in the day.... I remember the wasp nest in the garden, cow on the bonnet of the car, PS Lewis doing the business on a daily basis. All good fun. I haven't been on there for years either. I was guttmanpug and infracted on a monthly basis. I run the northloop forum now. Small, but fun.

I think I'm going to give one of the manfroto's a go and see how I get on.

Cheers for the replies
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OT. Haven't we met then? Nurburgring trip? Floyd, Simon, etc. I was with my son Evan.
 
I have a manfrotto 680B which I've used with a sigma 120-300 and more recently a 300 2.8 VR, it's very solid and fairly light for non carbon
 
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