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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Photography Equipment => Cameras / Lenses => Topic started by: CJPhoto on July 10, 2007, 07:12

Title: What head for a monopod
Post by: CJPhoto on July 10, 2007, 07:12

I am planning on getting a Monopod at the same time that I get the 100-400L. I can work out what monopod to get but having never used one, am not sure what sort of head to get.

Options:
1. No head. Screw straight onto monopod
2. Ball head
3. Monopod head


Looking at sports events, the pros seem to use (1). However, that isn't practical for me as it means I cant shot portrait or use a quick release plate.

I am also not sure about (2).


Manfrotto makes a special monopod head which just also you to flip + or - 90 degrees so you can shot portrait or landscape. It also has the benefit that it uses the same quick release plate as my tripod. Is this the best option?

Title: Re: What head for a monopod
Post by: lbarn on July 10, 2007, 08:06

I am interested in this question as well.  I just bought my first monopod, mainly just to try it out.  I bought a inexpensive one with a simple tilt head with their own brand QR plate, and have found that I like the quick release feature.  But I would like it better if it used the same metal manfrotto QR plate like my benbo tripod.

Title: Re: What head for a monopod
Post by: CJPhoto on July 10, 2007, 09:39

http://www.amazon.com/Bogen-3229-Swivel-Quick-Release/dp/B00006J053

This is the head I was talking about.  It is called manfrotto in Europe.

People on DPreview rated it well (if you want to read the post: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1019&thread=23949334)

Title: Re: What head for a monopod
Post by: sharply_done on July 10, 2007, 17:15

I have that head on my monopod - it works well. I usually work with a tripod, so I can't say that I've used it a lot, though.

Title: Re: What head for a monopod
Post by: le_cyclope on July 10, 2007, 18:55

I would go for the ball head because I think that it gives you more flexibility.

But if you plan to use it with a 100-400 lens, it may not be an option because of the weight of that lens.  I used a Canon 28-300L few weeks ago and beleive me, it was heavy.  Don't think that your choice from Amazon would do the job; it has a max load capacity of 5.6 lbs.

Claude

Title: Re: What head for a monopod
Post by: CJPhoto on July 11, 2007, 01:38

I dont do pounds but the site I am looking at says max of 2.5kg.  it looks the same but maybe different (different name for the non US market).

Title: Re: What head for a monopod
Post by: maunger on July 11, 2007, 04:37

i use a monopod often - i have the quickrelease head shown up above too - i would pick it over just screwing the camera to the monopod simply for the ability of the quickrelease... i use that often - when i want the camera off the monopod, i want it now! I don't want to fool with unscrewing and re-screwing etc.

Title: Re: What head for a monopod
Post by: IRCrockett on August 05, 2007, 01:05

Quote from: maunger on July 11, 2007, 04:37

when i want the camera off the monopod, i want it now! I don't want to fool with unscrewing and re-screwing etc.

I have a super cheap ball head that I picked up when I first bought my monopod. Screws directly into the lens. Having used it for many years now I can wholeheartedly throw my vote behind buying a cheap ball head with a quick release. Numerous times I've lost shots when I was set up to take photos of say sea lions and the perfect shot of a near flying pelican comes up and I'm hitting myself with the monopod trying to get the camera aimed at them. One bit of advise, get a cheap ball head that uses the same quick release plate as your tripod. Then you can leave the plate on all the time no matter which platform you're using.