Monopod - Any favourites?

[madeinengland]

I'm thinking of purchasing a monopod but have never had one before. What are the favoured ones on here. I don't wish to spend more than £60 really.

Thanks

 

[dave_bass5]

I got this one last year. Im 6ft 2 so needed a tall one. Its pretty good. Strong enough fo rme to use my 5DMKIII and 70-200 f/4IS on it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001AZ3UHY/ref=wms_ohs_product

You also need to buy a head, i got this one. Its gone up a bit since i got mine, i paid £19 for it back then.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000JLM50I/ref=wms_ohs_product

The only issue i have is that i dont use them lol. It seemed a good idea at the time but i just cant find the need for them. I will keep them but god knows when they will get used.

 

[applemint]

I got one of these (Slik 350AF Monopod & AF1100E Head With Q/R )
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...Q&linkCode=shr&tag=1567&qid=1357738913&sr=8-1

Was £50 when I got it though which is a bit of a bargain as the head alone usually costs around that - so basically the monopod was 'free'.

In fact the head is currently £75 on amazon while the monopod + head is £65!

I use the head more than the monopod as I use it on a tripod too, but the monopod is occasionally useful: eg at crowded events where there is no space for a tripod and it would get in people's way or when walking around with a telephoto where a tripod would slow you down too much.

 

[madeinengland]

Would you chaps say that a head is essential or just a "nice to have" option?

I'm only 5'8" so a really tall one isn't really necessary unless I put it in a hole of course.

 

[dave_bass5]

It makes life easier but i could do without it if i had to. I find it makes it easier to point the camera in different directions without having to readjust the hight of the monopod, or my stance.

 

[3drstretch]

I would suggest buying one that has the option to go bigger than your height as if standing on a hill facing downwards the monopod will be lower than you ;0) Plus you'll prb find there slightly more sturdy when not completely extended

 

[applemint]

Would you chaps say that a head is essential or just a "nice to have" option?

I'm only 5'8" so a really tall one isn't really necessary unless I put it in a hole of course.

It's essential if you want to use portrait orientation. Otherwise not essential but I found it much quicker and easier to adjust shooting angles etc. Plus a head with a quick release makes life much easier rather than screwing the monopod top into the camera tripod thread all the time. Even a cheap ballhead will do - I got a cheapo Jessops own brand one to go with my previous monopod - something like this should do the job? : http://www.wilkinson.co.uk/benro-bh-series-ball-head-bh00.html

 

[Houston1863]

This Manfrotto gets my vote.

A little long I'll admit but it sure is fast to set up and put away

 

[StuartH]

Giottos professional monopod MM5570...got one off here and its superb. Very stable and solid plus it has built in head and 3 rods stored in the bottom so you can attach and use like a tripod or screw into the head for low down shooting. This is the one I have and some images to show how it can be http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=447205..

 

[Flats]

Cheap and awesome construction, Manfrotto 680B. Cannot go wrong for the money. I once used it as an icepick to dig my car out of snow and ice at -20C in Lithuania. Took a couple hours but did the job, both car and monopod functioned perfectly afterwards.

 

[rob-nikon]

Would you chaps say that a head is essential or just a "nice to have" option?

I'm only 5'8" so a really tall one isn't really necessary unless I put it in a hole of course.

I use either a cheap gimbal style head or a ball head on a monopod and both work very well. If you have a head with a quick release plate its quick and easy to detach when needed. Also with a plate you don't scratch the bottom the camera or tripod foot, connecting a monopod directly means twisting it on until its tight, that's why you see tripod feet that have all the paint scratched off.

 

[Phil V]

This Manfrotto gets my vote.

A little long I'll admit but it sure is fast to set up and put away

This is expensive

But is one of my most treasured items. It 'just works' in a way that no other camera support does (none that I've seen anyway).