Monopod recommendations?

chris00nj

chris00nj

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I was thinking about picking up a monopod for when I need a couple extra stops of stability. I know it's not a tripod, but sometimes space doesn't allow for setting up a tripod (i.e., indoor graduation).

There are so many models at adorama or bhphoto that it is hard to tell them apart without seeing and holding them. The $20 ones look similar to the $180 ones in those small pictures.

Any recommendations? I'm looking for something that collapses compactly and is under $70 or so.
 
I'm using a Manfrotto 681B with 486RC2 ball head for both my rf gear and Nikon D90.
 
Honestly, most are good enough. There is not that much you can make wrong when building monopods - the only flaws I ever encountered were ones that were too heavy or had locking screws which were hard to use or prone to defects.

I particularly like one old monopod which I got some twenty years ago when Tamron was bundling them with PJ kits of their new line of fast teles - this is a somewhat bizarre rapid action thing that can be opened and collapsed in half a second with just one hand. On the heavy side, but it can hold even heavier medium format cameras. It probably is only labelled Tamron for the marketing campaign, and made by someone else - I am not aware of Tamron being otherwise involved in tripods at any rate in that time frame.

Apart from that, I like walking sticks with camera screw - in terms of rigidity by weight, these are superior to four- or five-step collapsible monopods.
 
Is there a significant difference between aluminium and carbon fiber construction? (Is carbon fiber worth the extra cost?)
 
As already stated, they all do the job. Frances and I have half a dozen between us, ranging from a Benbo the size of a quarterstaff to a carbon fibre Gitzo Traveller. The Traveller is easily the most expensive but it packs away to nothing and weighs so little you don't realize you're carrying it. Is it worth the money? Only you can decide...

Cheers,

R.
 
At the low end of the price scale is a Hakuba model which can serve also as a table tripod. I'd buy one but for the fear that it may be flimsy.
 
Peter & Colyn, thanks for the suggestion. That's in the range of what I was looking at. The $70 isn't a hard number, but I don't want to spend $350 on one either.

I had been looking at a few:

Cullman 2741 Magic - most compact but shortest.

Giottos MM 9160 - a little taller but less compact. Each leg has it's own locking section.

Velbon Neo Pod - This stretches the budget further, but it is carbon fiber if that is the way to go?

Then a Giotto mini ball head. Are all the heads essentially interchangable?
 
- Adorama Podmatic Monopod (linhof copy)

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A versatile monopod and head .....

A versatile monopod and head .....

A cheaply made monopod will drive you nuts.

Indoors perhaps, you won't run into too many problems, but outdoors a well built monopod can be worth it's weight in gold - depending on what and where you may be photographing.

On rough paths, on steep slopes or simply in tight spots, a solidly built monopod can give you something to 'anchor' yourself onto. In high winds they can make the difference between a shot or no shot, especially if you are using a longer lens. Invaluable in my opinion.

My own choice with a Nikon D700 is the Manfrotto three piece 680B, - a good solid 'pod that I can lean and brace myself on. Along with the 486RC2 ball head, it makes for a nice portable combination for those hikes or sports events.

A little more than your $70 perhaps, but so versatile and well worth the extra dough if there is a chance you may eventually use it outside.
 
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