Do you use a head when using a monopod?

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matt_wright

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Matt Wright
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Yes
I am buying a monopod (Giottos 3290B), mainly to assist when shooting football!
Just wondering if you guys use a head when you use a monopod?
I guess the answer would be yes, so you can flip to potrait as well as landscape!

If so does anyone have any advice on what one to buy, I would like one with a pan facility, and it would need to hold a gripped 450d and 70-300 IS USM , which weighs around 2kg, But would ideally like with the potential to hold more in future!

Thanks in advance, Matt
 
Yes I do, but only because I just found out that Manfrotto hide the smaller screw inside the larger one :lol: So might be trying that out soon....the head does have the advantage of being able to keep the pod upright whilst the camera points elsewhere :)
 
Nope, I just screw it straight into the tripod ring!
 
Yes. I think you need one. Otherwise you are unable to move the camera about properly and you won't get the best out of your monopod. Purple Clouds has it right.
 
I have to ask, why do you need a pan facility on a monopod?
 
matt_wright said:
I am buying a monopod (Giottos 3290B), mainly to assist when shooting football!
Just wondering if you guys use a head when you use a monopod?
I guess the answer would be yes, so you can flip to potrait as well as landscape!

If so does anyone have any advice on what one to buy, I would like one with a pan facility, and it would need to hold a gripped 450d and 70-300 IS USM , which weighs around 2kg, But would ideally like with the potential to hold more in future!

Thanks in advance, Matt
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Hi Matt,
I have the same Monopod and use a trigger/ballhead grip head made by Seben in Germany, its ideal for sports etc and is solid enough for using with a Sigma 50-500mm etc.
You can flip it and it comes with 2 quick release jobbies. As usual got it on Ebay.
The Giotto's Monopods are great unlike many which collapse with any decent sized lens set-up.
Cheers
Brian
 
Thanks for the replies so far guys!

RichardtheSane said:
I have to ask, why do you need a pan facility on a monopod?
Click to expand...


I dont want the pan specifically for the monopod, but i am also thinking of getting a decent tripod in the upcoming months and would therefore like it for that!:)

Matt
 
I slacken the tripod ring to rotate between landscape and portrait mode.
 
admirable said:
I slacken the tripod ring to rotate between landscape and portrait mode.
Click to expand...

The lens i use doesnt have a tripod ring (i wish i had the 70-200 2.8 IS like you ;))
 
I just take half a step back.
 
Tried a head on my pod once and did not like it so now I use a RRS QR and its superb, tilting is no problem just move your self about a bit lol.
 
Claymore said:
Hi Matt,
I have the same Monopod and use a trigger/ballhead grip head made by Seben in Germany, its ideal for sports etc and is solid enough for using with a Sigma 50-500mm etc.
You can flip it and it comes with 2 quick release jobbies. As usual got it on Ebay.
The Giotto's Monopods are great unlike many which collapse with any decent sized lens set-up.
Cheers
Brian
Click to expand...

Like one of these?
Manfrotto http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails~man~Manfrotto~productID~4112~categoryid~158.html



Or Redsnapper http://www1.clikpic.com/Redsnapper/photo_2331748.html

Edit: Just saw your reply, was posted whilst i wrote this!
 
I only use the monopod to take the weight of the camera. If I'm going to be standing at the same point for half an hour taking more or less the same pic, ie runners or horses going over the same jump.

If I'm going to be moving the camera about a lot I use the tripod.

I'm interested in what you pan vertically? airplanes?
 
matt_wright said:
What head do you use Badger?
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I've got a Manfotto 685B pod, with a Manfrotto 234 head. It's a very small head which cost about £13 from Jessops.

I used the pod for about a year without a head and thought it was OK. But, I have got much more use from my pod since I bought it. Much better it is.
 
Claymore said:
yep the Redsnapper looks identical to mine
Brian
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice Brian!
This might sound wierd but does the handle not get in the way of your chin when your taking pictures?

Also is it literally as easy as pulling the trigger to switch the poistion of the camera, i.e. to flip it to vertical?

Matt
 
matt_wright said:
Thanks for your advice Brian!
This might sound wierd but does the handle not get in the way of your chin when your taking pictures?

Also is it literally as easy as pulling the trigger to switch the poistion of the camera, i.e. to flip it to vertical?

Matt
Click to expand...
yep, won't touch your chin unless your Jimmy Hill LoL
Its very easy to use, quick and solid (get the Redsnapper as Joe's on the forum and he's a top bloke)
Cheers
Brian
 
Ok cheers (dont think i'm jimmy hill;)), I'll give the forum a search for reviews on the redsnapper one!

Anyone want to try and convince me the manfrotto one is worth the extra?
 
The biggest advantage of using a head on a monopod is being able to use a quick release plate. I use the Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Tilt Head with Quick Release.

I have used a ball head in the past, and while you can tilted the head 90 degrees, it does unbalance the whole set-up. If I were using a lens with a tripod clooar and were extensively shooting portrait format with a monopod then I'd put serious consideration to an 'L' type bracket to retain the balance.
 
I use a 234RC2 head on my monopod - a) to allow easy flipping from lanscape to portrait format if the lens has no tripod collar and b) to get QR. I know I could just get a QR adapter for the top of the 'pod but IIRC the 234 head was very little more expensive than the QR adapter and gives an extra inch or 2 of height (in landscape format).
 
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