Monopod head reccomendations

chris954

chris954

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pretty obvious really.
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at the moment I'm using a cheap ebay ball head on my monopod but feel the need for something a bit better. I looked at a Manfrotto 498 but I think it may be a little long as I use my monopod in a belt pouch but its got all the features I want as in separate clamps for the ball and swivel, friction control and the clamp isn't a screw type you have to turn 3 times, any other suggestions?
 
It does Ade but I originally bought it as an experiment with using a monopod in a waist belt with my 500 mm for photographing jets in the Mach loop. I'm happy to use it but it has to be said it's not the smoothest tilt. I'm thinking of buying a Sirui L 10 to replace it
 
Gaz J said:
It does Ade but I originally bought it as an experiment with using a monopod in a waist belt with my 500 mm for photographing jets in the Mach loop. I'm happy to use it but it has to be said it's not the smoothest tilt. I'm thinking of buying a Sirui L 10 to replace it
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Ah, ok, . I need to use a monopod more and more as my shoulder problems get worse.

Thanks for the info.
 
Thats another thing for me to consider the weight. I will be using it to support my Sigma 120-300 f2.8 and 1D mkiii not exactly the lightest combination.
 
When I got my 300 f2.8 I found that the 234RC2 was totally inadequate - droop city Arizona. I cannot believe that it can handle the weight of a 500mm lens. At the time the RRS head was the only real alternative, so I spent a fortune buying one from the US. Nowadays there are similar heads from Kirk and Sirui that are easier to obtain.
 
Another vote for Sirui L-10, not that i use it often but for just over £80 it does the job and is well made.
LINKY
 
hollis_f said:
When I got my 300 f2.8 I found that the 234RC2 was totally inadequate - droop city Arizona. I cannot believe that it can handle the weight of a 500mm lens. At the time the RRS head was the only real alternative, so I spent a fortune buying one from the US. Nowadays there are similar heads from Kirk and Sirui that are easier to obtain.
Click to expand...


Well I can assure you that with my 500 it doesn't droop when locked down and it can carry much more than 2.5 kilos. If I had any doubts do you think I would entrust £10000 worth of kit on it. The only failing is that it's a bit rough on the tilt hence the possible purchase of the Sirui
 
That seems very good value. Decent height as well. I'd be up for that if I didn't have a decent monopod already.
 
BBR said:
I have never understood the need for any type of head on a mono pod. I appear to be in the minority so I guess I must be missing something?
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If you shoot stuff that's only moving about in two dimensions - football, motorsport, etc. - then I agree. If you're shooting stuff that moves up and down as well as side to side - aircraft, birds - then it's much easier to tilt the lens upwards with a head.
 
Mike.P said:
Anyone got an opinion on the L10/monopod combo? LINK

Was looking at the head but you get the monopod for an extra £50 and it looks a lot better than my aluminium pole.
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Just ordered that kit to hold my 7D + 150-600 sport, hopefully I'll get on with it :)
 
BBR said:
B

Bol##cks! I'll have to buy more gear...:)
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Well, you can always not bother with a head - or a monopod. Unless shooting video I'd much rather go handheld. But that's with a max weight of a 300 f2.8 - and I'm thinking about swapping that for a 100-400 MkII because the 300 gets heavier each year.
 
hollis_f said:
When I got my 300 f2.8 I found that the 234RC2 was totally inadequate - droop city Arizona. I cannot believe that it can handle the weight of a 500mm lens. At the time the RRS head was the only real alternative, so I spent a fortune buying one from the US. Nowadays there are similar heads from Kirk and Sirui that are easier to obtain.
Click to expand...
I found the RRS head easy to obtain, it took 43 hrs from time of order in the US to delivery to my doorstep in the UK!
Not cheap but excellent quality too.
I have found however that the weight of the lens and camera body can be tricky to handle with this product
even if it is balanced correctly, one needs to be quite careful making sure you don't have the adjustment knob set too loose.
Alternatively I have found my Benro GH2 gimbal head works really on my monopod, if it is balanced correctly it can be left loose as the lens and camera are perfectly balanced.
It is obviously a much heavier solution but it does work surprisingly well.
cheers
tony
 
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BBR said:
I have never understood the need for any type of head on a mono pod. I appear to be in the minority so I guess I must be missing something?
Click to expand...

I do see what you mean but it's handy having a head for the quick release
I use a cheap kiwi photo one that takes arca plates
It's handy having a quick release, saves unscrewing the thread
The kiwi photo one isn't really up to the weight of my 300 2.8 and 7D tho so when I can afford it I'm going to get something more sturdy
 
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