Monopods

rick decker · Jul 2, 2002

I am wondering about the benefits of a monopod. Is it a reasonable
substitute for a tripod in landscape and if so, what are the realistic
lens and shutter speed limitations.

ChuckyB · Jul 2, 2002

I just bought one and I would like to know someone with experience opinion on this!

Chuck

Delobius · Jul 2, 2002

I'm no pro or anything, but I got a nice, cheap monopod (the Slik Lighty Pod II), and it's very useful for those times that you can't carry a tripod. I've found that it gives me about 2 stops of extra latitude before camera shake sets in--I've even gone as slow as 1/4 of a second (while squatting and leaning against a pillar) with acceptable results.

However...I don't think it's a substitute for a tripod if you're doing a large amount of shooting with slow shutter speeds. But it is very handy; I carried one all over Japan last March and it was a big help, especially since I never would have brought a tripod.

KevinDufff · Jul 2, 2002

If you can get hold of a copy of Practicle Photography (Ithink current month, maybe last month though) and sign up for 6 months they will send you one for free.
It is not a bad one, good enough to decide if they are of use to you.

Mark Kubo · Jul 2, 2002

I just recently obtained the Bogen self-standing monopod. It's got little legs that are stored inside the monopod that can be used to make the monopod freestanding. I haven't used that feature yet, but I imagine it'll come in handy one of these days.

Mark

Karl Guttag · Jul 2, 2002

Monpods are great but no substitute for a tripod.

Generally they are good for 1 to 2 stops (1/2 to 1/4th the shutter speed) over hand holding. They are particularly good for certain sports as they give support and steady a long focal length lens, but let you switch directions and/or move in a hurry where a Tripod can be in the way.

If you are trying for a very large DoF landscape, then you are probably still going to want a tripod unless you are in fairly bright sun.

The hand hold "rule of thumb" is 1/(effective focal length), but most pros consider this a bare minimum and for a quality shot you would like about 2x faster. A lot depends on the size of your output.

Then we have the "Sunny 16 rule." This says that on a Sunny day at F16 the shutter speed will be 1/ISO. Thus at say ISO 100 on a Sunny day in full sun you would shoot at 1/100th. On a cloudy day or in "bright shade" you can be down 2 stops or more so you might be a 1/25th at ISO100.

Just for example, lets say you use a 20mm lens at F16 in bright shade. The monopod might just get you over the hump in terms of steadyness, but a Tripod would probably still be the better way to go. You could trade off DoF and/or ISO with the monpod, but with the tripod you could get the shot you want (and get it lined up).

For shooting sports I would pick a monopod over a tripod. For shooting landscapes, I would prefer a tripod.

Karl

--
Karl

M Talaat · Jul 2, 2002

Monopods are usually used for sports photography to bear the weight of heavy telephoto lenses. They CONTRIBUTE to the stability but are not replacement for tripods for picture sharpness. Also the head of a monopod usually allows only for horizontal or vertical picture taking (no ball devices, otherwise your equipment would fall down. There are some with retractable legs but again they are for eight carrying--
mtalaat

W3IWI · Jul 2, 2002

I'm getting old enuff that a walking stick helps on outdoor nature "shoots". For me the monopod is a "twofer" that both helps me get around AND holds the camera more steady than I can by hand (solving another problem of getting older!). So, in the real world, I'm sold on them.

--
Tom Clark

Cau Nguyen · Jul 3, 2002

Be careful with those tiny legs. It is not stable and can't carry much weight. I almost broke my D30 and 70-200L lense. DO NOT trust those 3 tiny legs. I don't think it can replace a tripod for landscape. It is hepful sometime when you are not allow to carry a tripod, kind of better than nothing.

Cau

Nathan55428 · Jul 3, 2002

I find mine extremely useful for shooting sports (motorsports mainly). Especially with my new 300 f4L (non IS), since it has a tripod mount, and is nicely balanced. I never found it too useful for helping decrease shutter speed, but for supporting lenses over a long period its indispensable.

Now I just need to get a small pivoting head, so I can more easily pivot the whole ordeal up and down.

Arthur Li · Jul 3, 2002

Manfrotto does a good small pivoting head which helps a great deal with following subjects or objects I am shooting.
--
Arthur Li
http://www.pbase.com/akl
D60 + EOS 5

Eugene Finley · Jul 3, 2002

Do you think those tiny legs would be good enough to support a 1D and a 300mm while changing the CF card?

PaulS95190 · Jul 3, 2002

I took pictures of the moon the other night with my monopod. I didn't have a tripod but I was able to hold the camera on the monopod against a pillar in front of my home and the pictures turned out great. There were the occaional times I slipped a little while holding it 8+ seconds but it's no big deal to delete a shot. I would think with landscape you could usually find a tree, rock, your car, etc.. you can hold the camera with monopod against if you need additional stability....

I went to the zoo last weekend with my monopod/walking stick (wearing sunglasses) and several kids asked their parents if I was blind. Of course having a D60 with 70-200 F4/L with 1.4x teleconverter around my neck pretty much answered their questions but it gave me a chuckle.

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Monopods

rick decker

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ChuckyB

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Delobius

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KevinDufff

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M Talaat

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W3IWI

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Cau Nguyen

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