Monopod question

[Flyfisher Tom]

If you've had any experience using the Gitzo "Monotrek" Monopod, I would love to hear your impressions and thoughts on it.

Specifically, how it works as a monopod, and also its ancillary usefulness as a hiking staff. Is the alloy strong enough as a hiking staff?

Thanks very much 🙂

 

[kmack]

Can't help you with the Gitzo but I do have a Bogen-Manfrotto "Professional" monopod. A Christmas gift from my wife. I have been using it more than I thought I would and if the Gitzo is as stout as the Bogen it can be used as a light walking stick. I would not want to depend on it for supporting my full weight but the balance is good and it is light enough to collapse and keep attached to my camera even when using a neck strap. It has helped me a lot in low light situations.

 

[richard_l]

Real men use a Tracks Sherlock hiking staff with a Bogen/Manfrotto 3229 head. Other monopods are rather effete in comparison. 😛

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Real men use a Tracks Sherlock hiking staff with a Bogen/Manfrotto 3229 head. Other monopods are rather effete in comparison. 😛

There you go, Richard has laid down the gauntlet ... lol 😉

 

[JoeFriday]

you're not a real man until you've chopped down the mightiest tree in the forest.. with a herring... Nee!

 

[flashover]

" a herring " luxury when I was young we used worms to cut down trees

 

[Bertram2]

There you go, Richard has laid down the gauntlet ... lol 😉

Hear, hear !! Real men !? Real men which are kept as real men WHERE ? Real men HERE would this consider to be a wobbly toy for dwarfs !! Better take a Manfrotto Pro AND a decent hiking stick, this thingy looks as if a P&S would bend it !!
True, you can't abuse the Manfrotto as a crutch for aged dwarfs, but you can kill a bear with it. 😛 😛 😛

bertram

 

[Kin Lau]

I use the Manfrotto/Bogen 681's + the tilt-only head for use with long lenses. My 20D + 50-500 + 580EX is close to 10lbs.

I never use my monopods as a hiking staff... for that matter, I don't use hiking staffs either.

 

[BrianShaw]

you're not a real man ...

A real man doesn't need to buy mechanical aids... a real man supports his camera with the monopod God endowed him with.

 

[rpsawin]

A real man doesn't need to buy mechanical aids... a real man supports his camera with the monopod God endowed him with.

Doesn't that limit your ability to compose?

Bob

 

[richard_l]

LOL! Sorry about hijacking the thread, Tom. 😎

Seriously, though, I do use the Sherlock for almost 90% of my shots. Maybe I was just lucky and happened to get an exceptionally good sample, but I wouldn't trade it for any other monopod that I know of.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

LOL! Sorry about hijacking the thread, Tom. 😎

Seriously, though, I do use the Sherlock for almost 90% of my shots. Maybe I was just lucky and happened to get an exceptionally good sample, but I wouldn't trade it for any other monopod that I know of.

No worries Richard 😉

May I ask where you got your Sherlock? (Damn, now even that sounds dirty)

 

[Khaled]

I have one (monotrek) and I love it. It's strong enough to use as a hiking stick, very light and well made. The ball head looks wimpy but it's actually quite strong, enough to hold a 35mm RF.

Khaled

www.chaka.fr

 

[BrianShaw]

Doesn't that limit your ability to compose?

Bob

Perhaps real men shoot TLRs with WL finders??

 

[Bertram2]

Perhaps real men shoot TLRs with WL finders??

They do, yes, but anyway...... , just tried to imagine...huhh, no, I don't want to land in prison !? 😀

bertram

 

[John Robertson]

I have the Gizo monopod, its strong, the ball and socket looks quite small but seems man enough for the job. There is a clip on cover for this when you use it as a walking pole.
I found it very useful in London when some low life tried to mug me in Mornington Crescent tube station, I bet his ribs hurt like hell for weeks, it has a nice pointy bit on the end 😀

 

[richard_l]

No worries Richard 😉

May I ask where you got your Sherlock? (Damn, now even that sounds dirty)

I got it at Campmor http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?partNumber=80371&memberId=12500226
You may be able to find it at some other hiking/backpacking shops.
With the head attached it weighs about 1 lb 10 oz; maximum height is 58". The height is adjustable in 1.25" increments.

 

[PeterL]

If the monopod is anything like the tripod I have, you could use it to hammer thugs through walls and to stop loaded trucks and stuff. It's earthquake, tsunami and hurricane resistant. When the Big One will strike LA or SF, all Gitzo tripods will still be standing. They could build all houses on them and nothing would collapse. Looking at the specs, though, the monopod seems much lighter and less capable. But knowing Gitzo, it should be a really good product. As a matter of fact, I might check it out myself since I appreciate a walking stick for hiking, too.


Peter.

 

[John Robertson]

Looking at the specs, though, the monopod seems much lighter and less capable. But knowing Gitzo, it should be a really good product. As a matter of fact, I might check it out myself since I appreciate a walking stick for hiking, too.


Peter.

Its pretty strong, I accidentally ran over mine with the car last year, and except for some paint scratches, it was unharmed. And as for walking poles being "wimpy" thats fine if you don't have arthritis or other back problems, I do and find it extremely helpful at times.

 

[PeterL]

I accidentally ran over mine with the car last year, and except for some paint scratches, it was unharmed.

Sounds like Gitzo alright. When my tripod was damaged in transit through Heathrow (the death camp of airline luggage), the owner of the shop where I bought it said: "Did they drive over it with an airplane or something ? This never happens with Gitzo !"


Peter.