Is a monopod worth it (or what do I get for £50)

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I've been given a £50 voucher for London camera Exchange and not 100% sure what to spend it on.
Happy with the lenses I have at the moment, don't need any small bits and pieces like memory cards etc.
Was thinking about a monopod, I think they sell manfrotto stuff don't they ?

Will a monopod be worthwhile for motorsport stuff ? Don't do a huge amount and don't use a heavy lens, but I figured anything that will help with stability has to help whilst panning etc ?

Any other ideas ? will add money to the voucher for something worthwhile.

Thanks
 
I used a Manfrotto 680B for motorsport for a wee while, but I found with the lens I was had (Nikon 80-200 f/2.8) at the time it wasn't needed. If your lens has a tripod mount built in it works well enough, but if you would be relying on the mount on the base of the camera then it throws the balance out a bit for panning.
 
Some lenses accept a collar to mount the tripod on.
I got one for my 70-200 f4 IS - direct from China, very cheap and excellent quality. As recommended by an earlier thread.

Back on topic - monopod ought to be a useful accessory when panning, just make sure it goes reaches high enough as I suspect stooping may spoil the panning.
Most monopods come with no means of taking shots in portrait; My monopod has a manfrotto monopod head specifically for that purpose.
 
I take my monopod to every motorsport event I go to, yet I put it on and take a few shots then take it off because its stopping me panning properly. It's probably ideal if you have a big heavy lens and are taking head on shots though.
 
I use the monopod sometimes for scenery type shots.

A colleague of mine used to use a monopod on the canon 75-300 to good effect for motorsports
 
They are also very handy for warding off nosy cows, the four legged ones,alas just after they snapped my car ariel off.....:bang:
 
For a general "down in the forest what can we see" with 100-400 I grab the monopod every time and leave the tripe at home.
 
The only bad thing about a monopod, is that it can look like a truncheon
You might get security worried
 
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