Monopods and Slow Speeds - Limits

[Turtle]

A while ago I asked how much slower people could shoot with a monopod and few people answered. I decided to use up a roll of expired film and so a test:

Mamiya 7 wit 65mm lens from f5.6-f16

Pan-F film so loads of detail to nit pick!

Shot from 1/60th down to 1/15th and shot three frames of each.

1/60th - all three tack sharp. I have a feeling the monopod actually helped over handholding as the detail was a cut above. This is subjective, but a useful reference as this is a speed I would happily handhold as the limit of 'sharp frames every time,' assuming smooth release. I will handhold at 1/30th, but without support, brace, something to lean against, it aint as sharp. Might be good enough for a good prints, but I can tell the negs shot at 1/30th even when I feel I got everything right (without any support).

1/30th - Two sharp as 1/60 but the third a touch soft (I remember a rough release here - pulled it) The soft one would look normal to most eyes when printed, but under a 10x loupe the loss of edge was visible.

1/15 - One sharp as 1/60th, one extremely close to 1/60th and one soft - visibly so.

So, it seems that with me, a monopod rookie, I can shoot pin sharp down to 1/15th with a 65mm lens and get razor sharp results but not every time. It does require smooth technique and perhaps a few dupe frames to be sure. At 1/60th, I get better sharpness than I would handholding and so it is still worth using the monopod if possible.

I was free standing in all shots i.e. not also using a wall or another support. I tound putting a little 'arm' weight on the monopod helped reduce tiny movements from muscles. I am sure that with practice I will get better - have to apply the same principles as shooting a firearm to this.

This monopod is going to open up a new dimension to light travel photography. Sometimes those two extra stops are required for DOF and now I have them!

 

[Roger Hicks]

There are however innumerable variables. If you've been running, or ar hungry, you'll shake more than if you're well rested and well fed, and a monopod may be proportionately more valuable. If you can slouch against a door-frame, you may get the extra 2 stops without a monopod. And as you say, 'sharpness' is highly subjective -- shoot test targets instead of real subjects, and you may be shocked at the sort of speeds you need for tripod-style sharpness.

My own rule of thumb has always been that a monopod is worth at least a stop, and often 2 stops, for roughly equivalent sharpness, but that I'll shoot at whatever speeds I have to rather than miss the shot, even if I'm shooting at 1/8, 1/4, etc. I may shoot and fail, but if I don't try, I certainly won't get a picture.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Turtle]

In response to Roger's comment, I am sure that with practice and under the right conditions, good usable shots could be had with the aforementioned combo at 1/8. With a wall to your back, another stop might be possible yielding at least happily usable shots even if they are not 'test target' perfect. As roger states, the adrenalin that can come with being in a conducive environment wont help! I think one of the biggest benefits will come with the 150mm lens - hopefully I will be able to routinely get decent images at 1/60th with practice. We'll see.

I ended up getting one with a quick release head so I can pop it on an off as required, which should encourage me to use it plenty. I bought a relatively small light and cheap 676B Manfrotto model at $39 from B&H and all I can say is that it is very solid and tight and I cannot imagine the need for something heavier duty even with something like a Pentax 67. After all, the weight does straight down the pole.

 

[dmr]

A couple months ago I got a monopod, Manfrotto, from the area's surviving real camera shop.

I've found that it gives about 1 stop in the real world. I was hoping for a bit more. With a normal lens, handholding, I can do 1/30 most of the time and 1/15 some of the time. With the things I've shot so far with the monopod, I've found that 1/15 usually comes out sharp, and some of them, but not all of them, at 1/8.

I'm still learning how to use a monopod, however.

 

[eli griggs]

My old monopod has three 10-12 inch flat 'feet' as part of the bottom rubber sole; they are normally slid up into the tubing and are very handy for a bit of extra support. You can stand on them if need be for extra stability, or put your bag on them. If the camera is light enough, you can use the self-timer and let it stand on it's own. When the staff is not extended, it's a three section monopod, it's as stable as a light tripod.

What I like about this design is it's a twist lock, moderate in weight and very stable. The monopod types with latches are awkward in my opinion and won't slide in and out of the straps or flip top of a camera bag at all. It is also very handy as a club for aggressive dogs and two legged 'rats' that look for a easy mark who can't fight back. People really do think twice before tangling with someone with a metal club in hand, I speak from experience.

Back in the day, when I did lots of ballet performance shooting, I keep one long lensed slr on a monopod (usually a fast 200 or 300 mm Canon) and shot shorter lenses hand held. The quality of images from the monopod combination was always excellent and I often made large prints from slides and negatives without difficulty or compromised focus. I really became a believer when it comes to the value and utility of these tools, they really can deliver shots that can't be had else-wise.

Cheers

 

[dmr]

Another thing about monopods which I didn't expect, but I can see how this can happen ...

The weekend after I got the monopod, I went to re-shoot a scene I had shot before, handheld, but now could shoot stopped down 1-2 stops.

I parked the car maybe 1/2 block away from where I was going to shoot.

As I was walking to the place I was going to shoot from, I noticed a black and white police car slow down and kind of give me the once-over. They slowed down, then went on with their patrol.

I then realized that the monopod, the way I was carrying it, could appear from the distance as if it were a rifle.

 

[Turtle]

I suspect airport security staff might wonder too. Looks like a large extendable batton. Kabul and Dubai airports could be interesting...