Monopod big lens with or WITHOUT ball head?

[Flats]

Hi, looking to perhaps save some weight. Rather than have a large and heavy ballhead (arca z1, in my case) mounted atop a monpod, could I instead just have an arca style QR clamp atop the monopod?

What would I lose. I've only ever shot with the ballhead in place, it has been fine, but I cannot recall how much I used the ability to angle the lens (which is a big and heavy one). It occured to me that I could simply, if it were not too acute, angle the whole pod instead.

The 234 head seems a lot lighter than my arca, is that any good for heavy equipment atop a monopod? They seem to often be sold together

Rgds
Jonathan

 

[mho]

Just what I have a QR clamp on top of the monopod.

 

[Flats]

Would you use a Wimberley C12 clamp, or a Kirk QRC 2.5 (2.5 inches being the diameter of my monopod top plate). Any alternatives?

 

[Damon_S]

I use the 234RC quick release head on my monopod. I can't really see much advantage in using a ball head. Like you say, if you need to change the angle then you tilt the monopod.

 

[Canon Bob]

I just use a Gitzo Arca clamp directly on a Gitzo monopod. It's a 90mm clamp and works fine for the 300/2.8 and 600/4 (occasionally) and my 180L macro if I'm having a shaky day.

Bob

 

[Flats]

Hi Bob,
That's what I am thinking too. Part of the reason for using a monopod on my upcoming expedition (bird-watching and photography) is to save weight. I could shave 600g off my total load by ditching the ballhead in favour of just an arca-style QR clamp. Although I have successfully used the ballhead in the past, I cannot recall using the ballhead to change the angle all that much, I just swiveled or tilted the pod (although you are limited if you want to retain a solid centre of gravity), and in some cases reduced the height rather than point the whole lot downwards. And in any event, when you loosen the ball tension, as well as the tilting up and down that you want, you also introduce the possibility of side to side flopping, which could go badly wrong fast. The tilt-only attraction of the 234 is easy to see, but I worry about its sturdiness for a 5.5kg load, plus it raises the centre of gravity.
I really like the look of the Really Right Stuff monopod head, but at £260....

 

[HoppyUK]

RRS, Custom Brackets, or Hejzal http://www.dentonimages.com/page.php?id=HEJZAL_Monopod_Head_Review

 

[Flats]

Just a quick report back that I have been using a QR clamp directly on top of the monopod, no head, and it works exceedingly well.

 

[Tugster]

Hi, looking to perhaps save some weight. Rather than have a large and heavy ballhead (arca z1, in my case) mounted atop a monpod, could I instead just have an arca style QR clamp atop the monopod?

What would I lose. I've only ever shot with the ballhead in place, it has been fine, but I cannot recall how much I used the ability to angle the lens (which is a big and heavy one). It occured to me that I could simply, if it were not too acute, angle the whole pod instead.

The 234 head seems a lot lighter than my arca, is that any good for heavy equipment atop a monopod? They seem to often be sold together

Rgds
Jonathan

What lens Jonathan ?

What are you shooting?


I have a 400mm 2.8 on a manfrotto monopod and do not use any head at all...no QR plate or anything...But I mostly shoot rugby

 

[Flats]

300 2.8 + 500mm f4 + converters.
Getting sharp images at 500mm at 1/80, so much easier than mucking about with a tripod as well.

I bought the 234, as I expected, no good with these heavy lenses.