Carrying a monopod

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Jonathan
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Hi all
What solutions exist for carrying a monopod? Specifically, I am using a Manfrotto 680B, which is about 50cm long. It will have a chunky ball-head mounted on top.
I am likely to be doing a fair amount of walking, with the camera and long lens over my shoulder. I want to be able to hang the monopod either off my other shoulder, or off a belt like a thinktank speedbelt, but I don't want it to be bashing my leg the whole time as I move about. The terrain will be quite challenging, and whilst I could carry the whole lot in a backpack with the monopod strapped to the side, set-up time will be much longer.
Can anyone suggest a solution? I am a birding photographer, my arms need to be free for my binoculars.
Thanks
Jonathan
 
Fix a karabiner to the hand strap. clip this to rucksack shoulder strap then put monopod over shoulder/rucksack. Not ideal, but it works!
 
That looks good, but way beyond me!! Is there anything similar that is commercially available?
I'm thinking that a shoulder strap, fastened around the neck of the monopod and between the last two sections may be the easiest, then I just sling it over my other shoulder.
I've previously tried just letting it dangle from the lens foot, but it is massively uncomfortable, there is no angle you can fix it at where it doesn't smash your leg all the time.
 
Thanks, I will investigate. The trouble with the 680B is that the sections have clips, rather than screw-twist like Gitzo. These tend to be the bits that bash my leg. The best solution may well be a humble tripod strap.
 
Why not treat the Monopod as a walking stick? I found that's the easiest thing to do whilst out walking hills, and surprisingly effective (with a 679B)... you might have to take the head off though.
 
Surprised no one has mention my cheap and effective method.
Manfrotto 679B monopod with a Manfrotto 234RC monopod head - very sturdy and plenty tall enough for me to use without stooping.

Strap from an old shoulder bag and cable ties.
Strap will not fit onto the monopod attachment point near the head, hence the cable tie to make a big enough loop to clip the strap onto.
There are two cable ties at bottom, one tight around the pole and a second loop to attach the strap to.
i-W7JhSNz-L.jpg


Fully extended, the strap does not need removing and does not get in the way.
i-BFxLzVH-L.jpg
 
I carry mine, attached to my camera slung over my shoulder!

Surprisingly comfey...
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
Surprised no one has mention my cheap and effective method.
Manfrotto 679B monopod with a Manfrotto 234RC monopod head - very sturdy and plenty tall enough for me to use without stooping.

Strap from an old shoulder bag and cable ties.
Strap will not fit onto the monopod attachment point near the head, hence the cable tie to make a big enough loop to clip the strap onto.
There are two cable ties at bottom, one tight around the pole and a second loop to attach the strap to.
i-W7JhSNz-L.jpg


Fully extended, the strap does not need removing and does not get in the way.
i-BFxLzVH-L.jpg
Click to expand...

That looks great!
 
Funny I found this thread... its one of the things that still frsutrates me with my gear setup. In case you don't know me, most of my photography is motorsport. I usually carry a 70-200 and a 300 with one body and associated crap in a photo vest. The monopod I use with 300mm (or longer with TC's) but need to get the bloody thing out the way to use the 70-200 or sometimes even shorter lenses. All the lenses and stuff goes in my vest no problem, but the monopod...

I've tried all sorts of things but not really found anything terribly useful.

1) Monopod mounted to camera - fine until you don't really want the monopod on the camera for the next shot, loosing time.

2) Use it as a walking stick... again, fine until you get into action, then you put it down and quite often I forget to pick it up (yesterday I left it in front of the podium and now its covered in champagne!)

3) Use the wrist strap lengthened to go over a shoulder - sort of works but keeps falling off.

4) Carabiner it to a dring on the front of my vest...keeps smacking me in the b****

5) Put the hand strap through the strap of the lens case I sometimes use strapped across my body. Monopod hangs down back of leg like etool/bayonet does and it does work but the lens case I'd really like to not carry.

Two ideas I had yesterday whilst cursing it (again):

a) Put a d-dring on my belt to one side, small carabiner on d-ring, hang monopod from that. Only problem is that photovest comes down over waistline, making access to carabiner difficult.

b) Samurai sword style scabbard over my back :)

Having said all of that, I think Duncan's idea will work best and I shall make that improv sling up this week. I have some spare rifle slings here that would do nicely :thumbs:
 
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