Monopod and Head

Jackwow

Jackwow

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This might be a stupid question but are monopods intended to be used with heads?

To my thinking it would be difficult to adjust, say a ballhead, while on a non-stable monopod. Or perhaps there are heads specifically for monopods?

I have assumed that you fix your camera/lens directly to the monopod and just move the monopod to get the angle you want? Yes/No?
 
Actually, using a ball head on a monopod is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. You will find that you cant really use a monopod effectively without one, in my opinion. I like to think that I have 2 legs of a tripod, and the monopod is the third leg...if that makes sense, so moving it around to different angles might not give you a sturdy enough platform.
 
I have a small ball head for mine, it's usually better with it on, I even use it like that to do self-video clips, or hold a camera in an unusual spot which would be hard to reach otherwise.
You can use it without too.
 
I've experimented with a 3 way head, ball head and bare. It depends on your shooting situation- like so many photographic answers:D.

I started bare and just moved the angle of the monopod and suggest that's a good starter but experiment away if you already have a tripod and head. Using it bare worked perfectly well for motorsport/ football for me where I was primarily using the monpod for taking the weight of 3kg plus lenses. For shots where you are on the same plane or there is little angular difference I don't think it's an issue although clearly a ball head with friction movement is more flexible depending on the situation.

Used bare for climbing pictures (not ones rigged from above which need a different set up entirely) was a pain and it was much easier to use a head- personally I like a ball head on a monopod and a 3 way on a tripod but I have used a 3 way on a monopod although I was pretty much using it as a two way with the extra weight doing not a lot:rolleyes:.
 
For my type of photography I need vertical as well as horizontal panning/movement. Horizontal is easy with a monopod, but you need an extra joint for the vertical movement. On the rare occasions that I use a monopod, I use this head. Its £17.00 on that link, if that's the best deal around I don't know, but really its cheap enough and certainly does the job without the trouble of having to adjust at least two knobs on a ball head. There may be other variation, but for me the basic idea works well.
 
Yes I use the tilt ead as well, especially at track days for panning when my arms get tired ............ lol.
 
I've a ball head on my monopod - gives a bit of extra reach, adds more flexibility to the monopod as well as has been said.
 
Trev4 said:
For my type of photography I need vertical as well as horizontal panning/movement. Horizontal is easy with a monopod, but you need an extra joint for the vertical movement. On the rare occasions that I use a monopod, I use this head. Its £17.00 on that link, if that's the best deal around I don't know, but really its cheap enough and certainly does the job without the trouble of having to adjust at least two knobs on a ball head. There may be other variation, but for me the basic idea works well.
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That link comes up as a 'Potentially dangerous request' !
 
As Dr O said, it depends. Shooting things like motorsports, just panning horizontally, a bare monopod is fine. But shooting overhead for BIFs and aircraft needs a head of some sort, and also a tall monopod. Monopod heads are good, especially the better ones - not Manfrotto or Benro, but Custom Brackets, or RRS, Hejnar, Sunwayfoto. Personally I like a good ball head, particularly as you can flip it to vertical easily.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone, seems like some kind of head is a good idea and, come to think of it, without a head it would not be possible to take images in portrait mode unless using a tripod collar to attach your gear to the monopod.

Does anyone use a joystick type head such as Manfrotto 324 or 327RC2 as they look like they might work quite well?
 
Jackwow said:
Thanks for the responses everyone, seems like some kind of head is a good idea and, come to think of it, without a head it would not be possible to take images in portrait mode unless using a tripod collar to attach your gear to the monopod.

Does anyone use a joystick type head such as Manfrotto 324 or 327RC2 as they look like they might work quite well?
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They are very fast to use, but apart from that, not so good. Really accurate positioning is difficult, and they can't take much weight. And they're quite heavy.
 
IMHO, a monopod is really just to support weight in order to prevent fatigue... it's not really about "stability." IME, when using a ballhead for action work it needs locked down which minimizes it's benefit, otherwise it will quickly wind up in a weird alignment. Tilt only heads help here, but a good one will cost as much as/more than the monopod itself. If you're not using the monopod just to alleviate fatigue or for action, then a tripod is really the right tool.
I understand there are times where a tripod may not be practical/available...

For me, I have an arca clamp on my monopods and I normally just clamp the lens to them. But I also have a tilt head that can be mounted in the clamp instead. If not using a tripod (which I seldom do) and I'm using long lenses (which I usually am) I typically have the monopod along. If I'm not using heavy gear I'd rather just bring a lightweight tripod along. If you don't spread the legs it can be used just like a monopod pretty much any place a monopod is usable (i.e. some places won't let you set up a tripod).
 
Trev4 said:
I just checked it and its working ok for me, its actually a link to a Manfrotto 234 Monopod Tilt Head from WEX Photographic.
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Strange that, It works ok on my laptop, but not on my Samsung s2 phone! Cant get the WEX site to load at all on the phone!
 
I attach my camera, or rather lens, directly to the monopod but I only use it for my 200-400 f4 with f/f camera attached, which is quite heavy gear. If I need to take a shot in portrait I can always losen the lens collar and then turn the camera.
I have never felt the need for a head of any type, although a quick release plate wouls be useful.
 
BBR said:
I attach my camera, or rather lens, directly to the monopod but I only use it for my 200-400 f4 with f/f camera attached, which is quite heavy gear. If I need to take a shot in portrait I can always losen the lens collar and then turn the camera.
I have never felt the need for a head of any type, although a quick release plate wouls be useful.
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I have a Cullmann QR plate attached to both my monopods similar to THIS. Works very well and lighter than a ball head.
 
wontolla said:
Strange that, It works ok on my laptop, but not on my Samsung s2 phone! Cant get the WEX site to load at all on the phone!
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Hmmm, I cant help with the reason, but I can tell you that the link doesn't load on my S3 either, but its ok on my laptop and PC, it gives an error code on the S3, however, I can load the WEX site on my S3 and search for... anything. Why this is I have no idea, sorry.
 
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