Monopods

Oriel

The mention of a monopod on another thread got me thinking.
Has anybody here used one? The reason why I ask has more to do with sports photography than anything else.
Ok, you stop the camera from moving up and down, but it's still going to be able to move from left to right, causing camera shake anyway - so it there much use to it?

Maybe I'm talking out of my arse here.
Enlighten me please!

Steve.

rymus

Id say youre talking out your arse alright

The main purpose of a monopod as I see it is to support a heavy lens and obviously then give added stability and less chance of shake over prolonged handholding. Of course the ability to pan the camera is required to follow the action but the ol monopod will take the strain off your arms

311

I'm hoping to get a monopod myself ,easy to rest on the monopod and get a steady shot

Oriel

rymus wrote:

The main purpose of a monopod as I see it is to support a heavy lens

Ah yes, I forgot about those bastards with their £5000 800mm 2.8 lenses :mad:
Makes a bit more sense now

rymus

and with a couple of bungee cords and a pole or other immovable object, it turns into a nice portable makeshift tripod

Oriel

People call me The Tripod...

digitalbeginner

I recommend monopods for Sports and Action Photography. Here's tip 6 from my "8 tips for better sports and action shots"

"A monopod is a tripod with one leg (Photo 6a). Sounds silly but it is true. While tripods are
very stable and suitable for long exposures a monopod is only good for speeds about 2 to 3
stops below what your zoom range requires. If a 600mm lens needs 1/600th of a second
then a monopod will allow down to about 1/100th of a second. If your 300mm lens needs
1/300th of a second to keep the shot sharp then the monopod will allow a slower shutter
speed of about 1/30th of a second.

Monopods alsp allow you to follow the action much more easily than a tripod (Photo 6b & 6c).

Shutter button in all cases needs to be gently squeezed and not hit hard. This will help keep
the camera from shaking too much and causing blur in your shot"

Hope this helps

311

I was hoping to use the monopod to raise the camera up real high to get overhead shots ,by either remote or use the timer.
Would think a shot looking back in from the liffey at people would look mad.

Enygma

Here's a good page on Monopod technique:
http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo5.php3

I've got a Canon monopod with a ball head. I use it for surfing shots with the 300mm lens to give me a little extra stability. (I should probably be using a tripod though)
I've even used it for long exposures by holding it tight against a wall or pole.

I got mine on ebay for something like €60 and I've had a lot of use out of it. I'd say they're worth it if you've got a long lens.

Fajitas!

_Brian_ wrote:

I was hoping to use the monopod to raise the camera up real high to get overhead shots ,by either remote or use the timer.
Would think a shot looking back in from the liffey at people would look mad.

Hahahah! SPLASH!!!!



Need a REALLY strong quick release...and grip...

Monopods are grand, but their uses are fairly limited, unless you are doing something like sports. They're handy for panning shots, you do get an extra few milliseconds outa them, and especially if your out for a day, handholding a camera can get quite tiring.

Other uses include:
Self Defense,
Walking Stick,
Poking Stick.

311

I'm definetly up for sticking my camera up overhead for some IN FLIGHT shots.
Surely you can wrap the neck strap around the end of it ,in case of any mishaps.

Roen

Yup sports and nature, and anything that really requires the snapper to be able to sling their camera through a wide range of motions and then stop it fast. My mate up in Sportsfile uses those 400mm and 600mm Nikkors on a digi body and the shots are grand, whereas I regularly make a balls of handholding a 300mm (effective) at 1/1000sec.