Monopod question

[treeman]

I've just started having a go at some sports shooting, and noticed a lot of togs using a monopod. So I had ago with one attached to my 300mm, it helped in taking the weight, but other than that it just got in the way, especially when I suddenly wanted to get down low for a shot, ended up doing a most embarrassing manoeuvre, looked like a right prat, and nearly knocked myself out! :bonk:
So whats's the deal why do sports togs use them? And bearing in mind I'm shooting at a shutter speed that means I could hand hold a long lens, say 500th sec on a 400mm, is there any advantage to using a monopod?

 

[Almost_Invisible]

Possibly sports togs don't tend to change position much?
I use a monopod when doing a horse show for the weight reason you mentioned. Depending on the type of event I am assigned a fence or four and the horses come one at a time so I can just swivel round.
I leave it behind for motorsport though as my panning technique deteriorates massively with it. Plus there isn't an age between shots with motorsport

 

[SealBeard]

I'll agree that I found mine quite a nuisance, got in my way a lot - but then it did save my arms from falling off guess thats the trade off lol.

 

[Tight Fart]

IS on or off with a monopod?

 

[mickledore]

Use mine quite a lot visiting wildlife centres and such. Putting a tripod up and down is PIA, and it gets in the way of the grockles. Can't say that I've really come to terms with a monopod though. For photographs of small birds, in the medium distance I still get soft images, and I think that is down to camera shake, even with IS on. Doesn't make much difference if it's on or off. Much prefer a tripod, so tend to go early/late when Joe Public isn't around.

 

[Kaouthia]

it just got in the way, especially when I suddenly wanted to get down low for a shot, ended up doing a most embarrassing manoeuvre, looked like a right prat, and nearly knocked myself out! :bonk:

That's why I bought one of these (with a 234RC head)...

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-685b-neotec-monopod-with-safety-lock/p1008712

No levers or wingnuts to mess around with to adjust the height. Just grip in the handle, and the height adjusts to what I want it to be in an instant.

So whats's the deal why do sports togs use them? And bearing in mind I'm shooting at a shutter speed that means I could hand hold a long lens, say 500th sec on a 400mm, is there any advantage to using a monopod?

Definitely. It takes weight off your arm, meaning you're not dragging ass by the end of the day. I don't shoot sports, but I use my monopod now on any location shoot. It just makes life so much easier once you get used to it (especially with a grip release to adjust the height - I believe the Manfrotto 685B is the only monopod that has that).

IS on or off with a monopod?

Same as hand-holding, it depends on your shutter speed, and whether you need to pan, and whether the lens has a version of IS/VR that supports panning (so it only counteracts vertical movement).

 

[Almost_Invisible]

I believe the Manfrotto 685B is the only monopod that has that.

Apologies to OP for going slightly off topic here. I have this monopod. If not actually shooting I have a tendency to hold the camera one handed and twist round looking about. Doing this for a while I find that the monopod lowers itself so the camera is no longer at eye level. Does yours?

 

[Kaouthia]

Not that I've noticed, but I have heard one or two reports.

Yuri Arcurs loves and hates these monopods. He calls it a "piece of junk", but as a working pro stock photographer shooting hundreds of thousands of images a year, he finds the grip height adjust invaluable and goes through 2 or 3 of these a year.

Personally, mine's been very well behaved in the few months I've had it. It's already earned its keep with the amount of extra keepers I'm getting, which in turn increases income (higher % of keepers == less time spent on a shoot, so more time for other work). So, even if I have to replace it annually, it's worth it for me.

[youtube]LOFkCZ6TtGQ[/youtube]