Tripod or Monopod for trip to Vegas, LA

Hello all,

As I am planning for a trip to vegas, canyon and LA sometime next month, I would like to know if it makes more sens to take a monopod or tripod?

I heard Vegas comes alive in night and will monpod be enough? Also if possible, I would like to walk around light!

Either its monpod or tripod I am going to buy one soon. I keep reading good reviews about the Bogen / Manfrotto. Any advice on a decent one around $100-$125??

Thanks
Andy

iamdman said:

As I am planning for a trip to vegas, canyon and LA sometime next
month, I would like to know if it makes more sens to take a monopod
or tripod?

Click to expand...

Tripod for all "serious" landscape work. For walkaround shots at night in LV, just use ISO400-800, exposure compensation at minus -1 or less, Tv at maybe 1/40-1/60s, handheld.

A few handheld night shots from Vegas -
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/utaznv2004_vegas

The rest of my whirlwind canyon tour from last month -
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/utaznv2004

--
Zapped (Austin, TX)
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear

Awesome timing! I'm going to Vegas on Saturday and was able to convince my wife I needed a monopod. I like your shots though, it gives me hope I can get some good night time photos.

Zapped said:

iamdman said:

As I am planning for a trip to vegas, canyon and LA sometime next
month, I would like to know if it makes more sens to take a monopod
or tripod?

Click to expand...

Tripod for all "serious" landscape work. For walkaround shots at
night in LV, just use ISO400-800, exposure compensation at minus -1
or less, Tv at maybe 1/40-1/60s, handheld.

A few handheld night shots from Vegas -
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/utaznv2004_vegas

The rest of my whirlwind canyon tour from last month -
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/utaznv2004

--
Zapped (Austin, TX)
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear

Click to expand...

iamdman said:

Hello all,

As I am planning for a trip to vegas, canyon and LA sometime next
month, I would like to know if it makes more sens to take a monopod
or tripod?

I heard Vegas comes alive in night and will monpod be enough? Also
if possible, I would like to walk around light!

Either its monpod or tripod I am going to buy one soon. I keep
reading good reviews about the Bogen / Manfrotto. Any advice on a
decent one around $100-$125??

Thanks
Andy

Click to expand...

Let me just add another suggestion as well and that is a Monopod that is self-standing such as the Bogen Manfrotto 682B. It can act like a tripod as well due to its optional 3 leg spread which you can also hide along inside the tube to make it a regular monopod. It helps me a lot when my tripod is not an option for me. Check it out: http://www.canogacamera.com/e/env/0001CPhEkjirFMQgjM3N546/price_list/grp061_list.html?link=-DD-/info_pages/cam_info.html&item=invnew:32494

--
Jonji
Please visit my gallery at: http://www.fotop.net/Josh4fun/Josh4fun

Thanks for your input. If I understand correctly, you neither used a tripod or monopod? If so, then since I am planning to take my 28-135 IS, I guess I should be able to go till 1/15 for handheld.

BTW, those photos in your gallery are really nice.

Andy

Zapped said:

iamdman said:

As I am planning for a trip to vegas, canyon and LA sometime next
month, I would like to know if it makes more sens to take a monopod
or tripod?

Click to expand...

Tripod for all "serious" landscape work. For walkaround shots at
night in LV, just use ISO400-800, exposure compensation at minus -1
or less, Tv at maybe 1/40-1/60s, handheld.

A few handheld night shots from Vegas -
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/utaznv2004_vegas

The rest of my whirlwind canyon tour from last month -
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear/utaznv2004

--
Zapped (Austin, TX)
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear

Click to expand...

There are two comprimises when it comes to picking between a monopod or tripod that will give you aspects of each.

1) Bogen makes a self standing monopod
2) Bogen makes a monopod support bracket with built in ball head for $45

I found the self standing monopod to be impractical... its was just too wobbly to be of much practical value (some like it, some dont)... the monopod is like a very tall center column.

I I however have purchased the monopod support bracket to use on my gitzo monopod and I have found that it works great. You can either make your monopod into a low level tripod (which is fairly solid) or prop the support against an object such as a wall, tree, table, railing while extending the monopod leg to imobilize the monopod. I would be careful if you are using this with some of the really heavy canon lenses (doubt the head would support the camera body with a 3 lbs lens) but it works fine for most other ones. You can also use the braket as a chest support for the monopod (if you are using it free standing) to give a little extra support.

A tripod is still obviously preferable if you want rock solid support but these will work in a pinch and are great for traveling.

-Jordan

iamdman said:

Hello all,

As I am planning for a trip to vegas, canyon and LA sometime next
month, I would like to know if it makes more sens to take a monopod
or tripod?

I heard Vegas comes alive in night and will monpod be enough? Also
if possible, I would like to walk around light!

Either its monpod or tripod I am going to buy one soon. I keep
reading good reviews about the Bogen / Manfrotto. Any advice on a
decent one around $100-$125??

Thanks
Andy

Click to expand...

--
-Jordan

Hello Jordan,

Thanks for the information. Can you let me know the model #, link etc of the ball head that you are referring to?

Thanks

Andy

Jordan Robbins said:

1) Bogen makes a self standing monopod
2) Bogen makes a monopod support bracket with built in ball head
for $45

I found the self standing monopod to be impractical... its was just
too wobbly to be of much practical value (some like it, some
dont)... the monopod is like a very tall center column.

I I however have purchased the monopod support bracket to use on my
gitzo monopod and I have found that it works great. You can either
make your monopod into a low level tripod (which is fairly solid)
or prop the support against an object such as a wall, tree, table,
railing while extending the monopod leg to imobilize the monopod.
I would be careful if you are using this with some of the really
heavy canon lenses (doubt the head would support the camera body
with a 3 lbs lens) but it works fine for most other ones. You can
also use the braket as a chest support for the monopod (if you are
using it free standing) to give a little extra support.

A tripod is still obviously preferable if you want rock solid
support but these will work in a pinch and are great for traveling.

-Jordan

iamdman said:

Hello all,

As I am planning for a trip to vegas, canyon and LA sometime next
month, I would like to know if it makes more sens to take a monopod
or tripod?

I heard Vegas comes alive in night and will monpod be enough? Also
if possible, I would like to walk around light!

Either its monpod or tripod I am going to buy one soon. I keep
reading good reviews about the Bogen / Manfrotto. Any advice on a
decent one around $100-$125??

Thanks
Andy

Click to expand...

--
-Jordan

Click to expand...

As others have said, a tripod is probably the most reliable, but least comfortable, option. Here are two additional suggestions:

I have a Gitzo MonoTreker http://www.gitzo.com It's basically a hiking pole with a small ball head. It's in your price range, it's light and unobtrusive. I'm happy with mine, but it has limitations. The ball head is only rated for about 4.5 lb, so if you want to use long lenses, you'd need a heftier setup. The other thing that drives me nuts is there are no markings on the column. For example I have a pair of Leki hiking poles which are calibrated. You can fold them up and set them at exactly the right height in seconds. This you kind of have to hunt around to get it set to the right height. But it is a nice walking stick/monopod combo that comes in very handy if you're out/about and don't feel like carying around a tripod.

The other option I can't really recommend, but it was something I saw whilst looking for something else. Novoflex has a thing called a shoulder pod http://www.novoflex.com/english/html/products.htm

I wish they offered a better picture of this thing but it looks like it might have some potential. It allows you to use your chest as a brace for the camera. You might get some very strange looks wearing this thing, however.

iamdman said:

Thanks for your input. If I understand correctly, you neither used
a tripod or monopod?

Click to expand...

Correct.

iamdman said:

If so, then since I am planning to take my
28-135 IS, I guess I should be able to go till 1/15 for handheld.

Click to expand...

Yeah, you should do fine with that, and draw a lot less attention out on the street.

iamdman said:

BTW, those photos in your gallery are really nice.

Click to expand...

Thanks. My Vegas shots were just quickies, all grabbed between 4:30am & 5:30am when I had some time to kill before a sunrise shoot at Red Rock Canyon just west of LV. I'm proud to say I didn't spend a penny at any casino in LV

--
Zapped (Austin, TX)
http://www.pbase.com/pricklypear