Best type of head for a monopod?

Techy Guy

Techy Guy

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Rob
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What design of head would you recommend for a monopod? Ball, simple tilt type, none or ... ?

I use a Manfrotto 055CB tripod with a 121RC head but it doesn't seem very suitable for use on my Manfrotto monopod so want to get another head for it.

Biggest (heaviest) lens is a Nikon 80-200 f2.8 on a D300 body and QR would be useful. Can't remember the monopod model number, it's certainly a substantial aluminium type though. Subject matter is mixed so it'll have to be quite versatile.

Suggestions appreciated, thanks :)
 
I prefer a light ball head for the monopod (Velbon do some very light ones). Many people recommend a simple tilt-only head, but I find the ball head allows more flexibility to lean the monopod against things, which makes it much more stable.
 
Thanks Graeme, good point. Leaning more towards a ball head here now.
 
I'm in the other camp! I bought a 234RC2 head (a simple tilt type) with my monopod after playing a bit in the shop it came from and, having tried a ball head on top of it, found that I far prefer the simple tilt type. Never found I needed any extra stability - if I do, I'll use a tripod! I found it hard to adjust the ball head's friction to be just so and kept catching the tension adjust lever with sleeves or ham like hands, whereas the 234 head's adjuster is very simple to get just right tension and the adjuster is harder to disadjust by accident.

As you can see, it's a matter of personal opinion and yours may well differ from mine or other people's. If possible try as many options as you can over as extended a period as you can so you can decide for yourself. One thing I would definitely suggest is that you match the QR system with your tripod head if possible - this saves messing around changing plates when you change supports. If necessary, Manfrotto do converters that can be bolted onto heads with no QR system or onto the QR plates of non matching systems.
 
I prefer no head at all - my lens has an ARCA style plate on the foot, and I have an ARCA style clamp on the monopod. Lens goes straight on.
I use a longer and heavier telephoto than you, and I only do one thing, which is photograph birds. I find the set-up very easy to use indeed. I generally always strive to get on the same eye level as the bird, so I rarely need to tilt it much.
Regards
Jonathan
 
Thanks for the advice and suggestions. Hopefully will get a chance to try them out somewhere before deciding, looks like horses for courses as is the case with so many things.
 
Typically, you're about as far away as you could be on this island, otherwise you'd be welcome to play with my 'pod and a couple of head choices.
 
Cheers Nod, that would have been a great offer. Love Devon, was down on holiday a couple of years ago, definitely intend a return visit!
 
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