Monopod

**Genobreaker** · 05-12-2014, 07:57 PM

Hello everyone. Looking to get a monopod and was looking for suggestions.
Would like it to be pretty compact when collapsed, not too expensive and possibly have ball head. Though I've had some people tell me buy the ball head separately.
Load capacity isn't much of an issue since the heaviest be a little over a kg (Kr with Tamron 70-300 f4-5.6), but may add more weight in the future if I get more accessories like flash or a bigger lens. Primary use would be for shooting animals at zoos and parks.

If you guys have any suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

**crewl1** · 05-12-2014, 08:05 PM

Personally I prefer a tilt head on my monopods, a ball head swivels too many directions.
Oben ACM-1400 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with Swivel/Tilt Head

SpecialK · 05-12-2014, 08:40 PM

I have a 3-section (2 clamps) Manfroto 579B with a tilt head. I don't like the floppiness of a ball head, and more sections seems like too much clamping...

JayBee451 · 05-12-2014, 09:06 PM

I like the Sirui P-326 Carbon Monopod with Tilt Head L-10, it has 6 sections so folds up very small and is light to carry, but still able to hold 10kg if needed.

calculator01 · 05-12-2014, 09:41 PM

Manfrotto 580B here, with Vanguard or Joby (gorilla pod) ball head. I don't mind the ball head, but I see everyone's point and never considered a tilt head myself.

Steve.Ledger · 05-12-2014, 10:24 PM

I have one of these.
Blunty made me do it

You Tube

officiousbystander · 05-13-2014, 05:53 AM

I have a 5 section Manfrotto 695cx which I think was being runout. (The 4 section equivalent was twice the price). It folds up the shortest of any of the ones I could afford. Also went with a tilt head rather than ball. With a monopod you've only got one free hand. It was Blunty who convinced me to go mono but I wasn't convinced by the kickout supports of the 560B. I'm the sort of person who'd be lulled into a false sense of security, walk away and then watch it topple over.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-13-2014, 07:03 AM

Ive been using for a good number of years the Manfrotto 680B with the Manfrotto 234 Tilt Head without any drama, his a link to my review.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/accessoryreviews/manfrotto-680b-mono-pod.html

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-13-2014, 10:06 AM

I use a home made monopod, which started live as a vivitar professional tripod,

I had one, and found a second missing a lot of stuff but which I used as a parts donor Ultimately I took one leg off it and using a wooden plug cut on a diagonal so that the through bolt tightened inside the tube, I attached the head to it.

The ball head works fine providing the lens is roughly balanced and not too heavy.

My sigma 70-200/2.8 plus 2x TC is the limit. My tamron 200-500/5.6 is so heavy and imbalanced it is just not worth the effort.

**Genobreaker** · 05-13-2014, 04:06 PM

I see the point with the tilt head as opposed to the ball head. Have a tripod with a ball head, so have never considered it, but going to look into it.
So far looking, the Sirui or the Oben looks good though the Manfrotto 560B sounds enticing.

For the Sirui, do you have to get a Sirui brand tilt head or can I get a different brand like an Oben VH-R2?

JayBee451 · 05-13-2014, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by Genobreaker

For the Sirui, do you have to get a Sirui brand tilt head or can I get a different brand like an Oben VH-R2?

No you can use any tilt or ball head you like, or you can go bare back.

ThePhotoGadget.com has a good deal on the Sirui.

**Genobreaker** · 05-14-2014, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by JayBee451

No you can use any tilt or ball head you like, or you can go bare back.

ThePhotoGadget.com has a good deal on the Sirui.

Cool. Thank you.

**Des** · 05-15-2014, 12:47 AM

Originally posted by JayBee451

No you can use any tilt or ball head you like, or you can go bare back.

Bareback works for me (even though I have a good pistol grip head on my tripod). I take the monopod rather than tripod for light weight and compactness. Using a ball or tilt head sort of defeats the purpose.

I have an Induro CM14. Great value carbon fibre at about $US80.

Pauld · 05-16-2014, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by JayBee451

I like the Sirui P-326 Carbon Monopod with Tilt Head L-10, it has 6 sections so folds up very small and is light to carry, but still able to hold 10kg if needed.

I couldn't agree more. This monopod folds up very small and is incredibly light making it easy to carry and transport. I've had a few different monopods in the past and this one is by far the best and very reasonably priced. The added bonus is the retractable spike on the foot.

bdery · 05-16-2014, 08:04 AM

One thing to remember is that the monopod will bear YOUR weigth in addition to the gear. It actually has to be sturdier than a tripod.

05-12-2014, 07:57 PM	#1
Genobreaker Site Supporter Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 135	Monopod Hello everyone. Looking to get a monopod and was looking for suggestions. Would like it to be pretty compact when collapsed, not too expensive and possibly have ball head. Though I've had some people tell me buy the ball head separately. Load capacity isn't much of an issue since the heaviest be a little over a kg (Kr with Tamron 70-300 f4-5.6), but may add more weight in the future if I get more accessories like flash or a bigger lens. Primary use would be for shooting animals at zoos and parks. If you guys have any suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

05-12-2014, 09:41 PM	#5
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	Manfrotto 580B here, with Vanguard or Joby (gorilla pod) ball head. I don't mind the ball head, but I see everyone's point and never considered a tilt head myself. Last edited by calculator01; 05-16-2014 at 09:13 AM.

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05-12-2014, 08:05 PM	#2
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Personally I prefer a tilt head on my monopods, a ball head swivels too many directions. Oben ACM-1400 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with Swivel/Tilt Head

05-12-2014, 08:40 PM	#3
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	I have a 3-section (2 clamps) Manfroto 579B with a tilt head. I don't like the floppiness of a ball head, and more sections seems like too much clamping...

05-12-2014, 09:06 PM	#4
JayBee451 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 379	I like the Sirui P-326 Carbon Monopod with Tilt Head L-10, it has 6 sections so folds up very small and is light to carry, but still able to hold 10kg if needed.

05-13-2014, 05:53 AM	#7
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 912	I have a 5 section Manfrotto 695cx which I think was being runout. (The 4 section equivalent was twice the price). It folds up the shortest of any of the ones I could afford. Also went with a tilt head rather than ball. With a monopod you've only got one free hand. It was Blunty who convinced me to go mono but I wasn't convinced by the kickout supports of the 560B. I'm the sort of person who'd be lulled into a false sense of security, walk away and then watch it topple over.

05-13-2014, 07:03 AM	#8
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Ive been using for a good number of years the Manfrotto 680B with the Manfrotto 234 Tilt Head without any drama, his a link to my review. https://www.pentaxforums.com/accessoryreviews/manfrotto-680b-mono-pod.html

05-13-2014, 10:06 AM	#9
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	I use a home made monopod, which started live as a vivitar professional tripod, I had one, and found a second missing a lot of stuff but which I used as a parts donor Ultimately I took one leg off it and using a wooden plug cut on a diagonal so that the through bolt tightened inside the tube, I attached the head to it. The ball head works fine providing the lens is roughly balanced and not too heavy. My sigma 70-200/2.8 plus 2x TC is the limit. My tamron 200-500/5.6 is so heavy and imbalanced it is just not worth the effort.

05-13-2014, 04:06 PM	#10
Genobreaker Site Supporter Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 135 Original Poster	I see the point with the tilt head as opposed to the ball head. Have a tripod with a ball head, so have never considered it, but going to look into it. So far looking, the Sirui or the Oben looks good though the Manfrotto 560B sounds enticing. For the Sirui, do you have to get a Sirui brand tilt head or can I get a different brand like an Oben VH-R2?

05-13-2014, 04:45 PM	#11
JayBee451 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 379	Originally posted by Genobreaker For the Sirui, do you have to get a Sirui brand tilt head or can I get a different brand like an Oben VH-R2? No you can use any tilt or ball head you like, or you can go bare back. ThePhotoGadget.com has a good deal on the Sirui.

05-14-2014, 07:18 PM	#12
Genobreaker Site Supporter Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 135 Original Poster	Originally posted by JayBee451 No you can use any tilt or ball head you like, or you can go bare back. ThePhotoGadget.com has a good deal on the Sirui. Cool. Thank you.

05-15-2014, 12:47 AM	#13
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by JayBee451 No you can use any tilt or ball head you like, or you can go bare back. Bareback works for me (even though I have a good pistol grip head on my tripod). I take the monopod rather than tripod for light weight and compactness. Using a ball or tilt head sort of defeats the purpose. I have an Induro CM14. Great value carbon fibre at about $US80.

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05-16-2014, 07:50 AM	#14
Pauld Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 507	Originally posted by JayBee451 I like the Sirui P-326 Carbon Monopod with Tilt Head L-10, it has 6 sections so folds up very small and is light to carry, but still able to hold 10kg if needed. I couldn't agree more. This monopod folds up very small and is incredibly light making it easy to carry and transport. I've had a few different monopods in the past and this one is by far the best and very reasonably priced. The added bonus is the retractable spike on the foot.

05-16-2014, 08:04 AM	#15
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	One thing to remember is that the monopod will bear YOUR weigth in addition to the gear. It actually has to be sturdier than a tripod.