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Monopod and quick release suggestions

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MasterPhil

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I am getting ready to place a order with B&H Photo, A Lowepro slingshot 200 and the Monopod below... Does anyone have any recommendations for a quick release head for the Monopod... Right now I am leaning towards the 3265 grip action below, Does anyone use it or had any experiences with it?

Bogen / Manfrotto 3265 Grip Action Ballhead

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5558&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Bogen / Manfrotto 685B NeoTec Monopod

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=387806&is=REG

Thank you
Phil
--

My biggest fear? Is when I am dead and gone my wife will sell all my toys for what I said I paid for them!
http://www.pbase.com/evolt500/galleries
 
I have the 685B monopod and I think it's a perfect 'pod. I bought a Kirk ballhead because I read some "less-than-inspiring" posts about Manfroto BH's. My prime concerns were stability under load (static and dynamic) and long term resistance to wear.

(I have the Manfrotto 3021BPro tripod which I like a lot.)

Best . . . .

Paul
Vancouver, WA

http://www.pbase.com/spdavis
 
I use a low cost but solid enough Slik Compact Ballhead with a QR Arca Swiss clamp alone screwed on the top of it via the Slik stud. Seems like you want QR at the lowest weight and cost, and without getting into the bulk of a full ballhead seems the better way. if you are a new monopod user. I can't put it effectively into words . I tried even the RRS recommended Manfrotto swivel (see RRS site) but liked the way the Slik locked down fast with a lever insted of a knob. It is a ballhead pared down to the esentials. No fancy adjustments.

I think anythinng above will work of course...it is just how simple can one get away with...and what camera QR system will you choose. Methinks an honest upscalel ball head with pan and tilt and panning base and stuff is not what I think of on a monopod. A very personal observation in a highly subjective topic.
 
Everyone likes different thing, and that is really a good thing.

I would say that the grip head is way to much for the monopod, I have that head and do use it on the tripod all the time..... But on the monopod it is just to much and somewhat awkward to use.

I would go with the Manfrotto 3229 head for the mono.

Again this is a personal thing but I don't like a ballhead on a monopod, it is just the way I use them.

On the grip head, I have had it for over a year and really love it on the tripod, it will hold the E1 with the Fl-50 and the 50-200 on it.

--
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber
 
 
MasterPhil said:
Thank you all for your input... This is what I have decided upon..

For use on my Tripod
Bogen / Manfrotto 3265 Grip Action Ballhead

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5558&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

This Monopod
Bogen / Manfrotto 685B NeoTec Monopod

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=product.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=Bogen+%2F+Manfrotto+685B+NeoTec+Monopod+&image.x=8&image.y=7

And this head for the Monopod
Bogen / Manfrotto 3229 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5491&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
Click to expand...
I have the 3229 monopod head, and I just picked the following up for mounting on the E-1. The lip fits on the E1 to provide anti-twist support:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=216481&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

I've also thought about this, but I haven't bought it yet:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=283710&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
The Anti twist plate works great I already had it for use on my tripod... My camera budget is basically gone for this month.. have enough left for a FL-50 if I can find one in stock.. Then my next purchase will be a Pano head for the tripod...

Phil
--

My biggest fear? Is when I am dead and gone my wife will sell all my toys for what I said I paid for them!
http://www.pbase.com/evolt500/galleries
 
I too am shopping for a monopod and have looked at some of the same equipment. I have noticed that even if you get a heavy-duty pod that supports 33 lbs, the heads only support 5 or 6 lbs.
-JJB
 
My tilt swivel is separate but I recommend the tilt swivel with the integral QR as show on the page you linked ...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=DyL7Qgv1v9!349007656?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=5491&is=REG&addedTroughValue=387806_REG&addedTroughType=accessory_detail

The RC2 is economical and works well for me. The tilt swivel, or a ball head, is needed to allow the camera to be leveled as the monopod is wrapped about one's leg or forward with the legs acting as a sort of tripod.

-jts



 
I haven't tried one so I'm asking out of ignorance, but since you have to hold the monopod up yourself (vs. a tripod) isn't it still subject to the body's tremors or whatever?
 
pisaacs said:
I haven't tried one so I'm asking out of ignorance, but since you
have to hold the monopod up yourself (vs. a tripod) isn't it still
subject to the body's tremors or whatever?
Click to expand...
Yes, but much less. If you used a tripod and hold the camera your body movement will affect it too.
 
I find that I'm steady down to 1/10 a second or so. When I'm that slow I much prefer the tripod of course. Plus I must wrap my leg around it like a snake and put some bow-like stress to it.

However it works well I find to aid on composition. It helps me to slow down and think about what I'm doing. I like it esp with the longer and heavier 50-200mm and I use it with all my lenses. It's my choice for hiking unless it's dusk, then of course I take the tripod.

-jts
 
I would recomment the manfrotto 322rc2 ball head instead, it has the same capabilities but can also be reconfigured to have the handle at the back or side. The 222rc2 (the one you are considering) is unable to securely hold a camera when tlted to the side. I've had both, the 322 is better.

--
Pete
 
I have way too many tripods and monopods, but the one thing I stoppeed doing was using ball heads on a monopod. They are not only expensive but impossible to "utilize" effectively on a stick that is wavering all around! To me the two are counterintuitive.

My favorite mopod, FWIW is a Berlebach ash with an integral tiliting head. The whole thing is very light, very flexible (without being floppy), and you can pretend it's a crutch if you are in a threatening situation ;->

On a Bogen CF, I have the above reference tilting head. Save your money for an application that really works.
--
Ray Hull
OCULUS NY
'We nevah, evah do nuthin 'nice and easy'.' Tina Turner
 
And contend that a ball head is the only way to use a monopod.

I have a cheap monopod which has a swivel on top and have experimented with adding a cheap ball head on top of that. I think the ball does help although being cheap has limitations.

I considering upgrading both the pod and head. How do people feel about the QR plate on the bottom of the camera? Some seem to find them irritating when using the camera off a tripod/monpod.
 
Phil--

I don't think you'll go wrong with that head on the monopod of your choice; I use the same one on a 681B and am very happy with the combo (for less than $85 or so, to boot). Since the 3229 comes with a Q/R plate, I've attached that to the tripod collar of my 50-200mm with good results. I've not yet used my main lens/camera combo, the 14-54mm with an E-500, on the monopod, but I'll probably get a second Q/R plate for those situations when I may.

--Bob C
 
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