I want a monopod and ball head

PHOTOMAYBE · September 24, 2012

I have found that I need these to do my shots,maybe later I will not ,but for now I can not hand hold the 70-200 2.8 with the 2x extender and be confident of the framing.Newbie I am it seems.
So what is a good combination that you guys who are much better than I like....
I am looking for suggestions as there are so many to choose from out there and it confuses me...

perroneford · September 24, 2012

Why do you nee a ball head? Monopod I understand.

PHOTOMAYBE · September 24, 2012

I want to be able to move the camera in any direction on a solid basis and a MonoPod gives me some restrictions .I just want stabilitlity and also mobility,BUT again I am a newbie at this and if a Monopod can give me the flexability then that is all I need.

perroneford wrote: »

Why do you nee a ball head? Monopod I understand.

Art Scott · September 24, 2012

PHOTOMAYBE wrote: »

I want to be able to move the camera in any direction on a solid basis and a MonoPod gives me some restrictions .I just want stabilitlity and also mobility,BUT again I am a newbie at this and if a Monopod can give me the flexability then that is all I need.

a ball head on a monopod is not going to do any good....because the monopod can be easily rotated, leaned forward and backward to get your shot.... a ballhead on a tripod makes sense.....on a monopod just a quick release base is all that is needed....or all I have used for a great many years.....and yup I thru my ball head on the mono and found it was absolutely of no use and that saved me a few hundred.....

If it is stability you need with the 70-200+TC then a good tripod and ballhead is the way to go...a monopod is great when in a tight place and you cannot set up a tripod but the tripod is really the best stabilizer.

perroneford · September 24, 2012

Well, I don't know the mobility you need. That's why I am asking. The collar on a 70-200 (at least the Nikon) will allow the camera to spin 360 degrees. Since the monopod has a single ground contact point, it is able to turn in a 360 degree axis without lifting. The only tricky part is if you have to do up or down tilts. A ballhead might make that easier.

In any event, I have 3 monopods. A manfrotto 681B, a Slik, and an Induro carbon Fiber. I bought the slik MANY years ago, and it's a bit spindly for this level of camera. The 681B is an industry staple because it is low cost and very robust. The Induro came highly recommended when I was looking for something bulletproof in carbon fiber, but not stupidly expensive. I give it 5 stars. I've had my D3s on it with a 600mm/F4 and the thing was ROCK solid. Most will offer recommendations for Gitzo on the higher end. They are fabulous, and carry a price commensurate with their reputation.

There are a great many ballheads out there. Arca-Swiss being the absolute stanard. Many like Manfrotto, but I don't. I use Redged for my cheap solutions, and Matthews for my more heavy needs. Neither of these is a common name among photographers. Ask around Hollywood for Matthews, and you will see their gear on EVERY set. I own a ton of their gear. Gitzo, Kirk, Feisol, and others all make excellent units also.

ziggy53 · September 24, 2012

PHOTOMAYBE wrote: »

I have found that I need these to do my shots,maybe later I will not ,but for now I can not hand hold the 70-200 2.8 with the 2x extender and be confident of the framing.Newbie I am it seems.
So what is a good combination that you guys who are much better than I like....
I am looking for suggestions as there are so many to choose from out there and it confuses me...

If you attach the head to the tripod ring of the Canon 70-200mm "L", you can rotate the camera/lens to match the horizon (if needed). For tilt you just move the camera fore and aft for smaller angles, or you temporarily lift the camera/lens/monopod for greater angles, or use the tilt of a pan head.

FWIW, I used a video fluid head on a tripod for sports work, with the controls very loose, and it worked nicely. When close to other people, I'd fold the legs close together, similar to a monopod. When pretty much alone, I'd fold the legs out for stability. I still used the tripod ring of the lens for horizontal leveling on uneven ground.

Some folks use a gimbal head for sports.

PHOTOMAYBE · September 24, 2012

Thank you for the help, a tripod with I will get.I am neading stability at the event with longer reach. I always appreciate your wisdom.[QUOTET=Art Scott;1820184]a ball head on a monopod is not going to do any good....because the monopod can be easily rotated, leaned forward and backward to get your shot.... a ballhead on a tripod makes sense.....on a monopod just a quick release base is all that is needed....or all I have used for a great many years.....and yup I thru my ball head on the mono and found it was absolutely of no use and that saved me a few hundred.....

If it is stability you need with the 70-200+TC then a good tripod and ballhead is the way to go...a monopod is great when in a tight place and you cannot set up a tripod but the tripod is really the best stabilizer.[/QUOTE]

puzzledpaul · September 25, 2012

Imo (and experience) some sort of head that allows tilting - fore and aft - can be quite useful.
eg a situation where you can't (for practial reasons) place the foot of the monopod directly underneath the cam.

pp

PHOTOMAYBE · September 25, 2012

perroneford wrote: »

Well, I don't know the mobility you need. That's why I am asking. The collar on a 70-200 (at least the Nikon) will allow the camera to spin 360 degrees. Since the monopod has a single ground contact point, it is able to turn in a 360 degree axis without lifting. The only tricky part is if you have to do up or down tilts. A ballhead might make that easier.

In any event, I have 3 monopods. A manfrotto 681B, a Slik, and an Induro carbon Fiber. I bought the slik MANY years ago, and it's a bit spindly for this level of camera. The 681B is an industry staple because it is low cost and very robust. The Induro came highly recommended when I was looking for something bulletproof in carbon fiber, but not stupidly expensive. I give it 5 stars. I've had my D3s on it with a 600mm/F4 and the thing was ROCK solid. Most will offer recommendations for Gitzo on the higher end. They are fabulous, and carry a price commensurate with their reputation.

There are a great many ballheads out there. Arca-Swiss being the absolute stanard. Many like Manfrotto, but I don't. I use Redged for my cheap solutions, and Matthews for my more heavy needs. Neither of these is a common name among photographers. Ask around Hollywood for Matthews, and you will see their gear on EVERY set. I own a ton of their gear. Gitzo, Kirk, Feisol, and others all make excellent units also.

Thank you as well for your time.
I am familiar with mathews as I was a PA them a PM in the industry many years ago.
I am just trying to start over a bit as life has thrown many curve balls at me work wise and I figured what the heck I can learn and do something I have always had a passion for since I was a kid and ran away to NYC.
Thanks again all help is appreciated.I am a newbie I admit it readily.

paddler4 · September 26, 2012

I agree that a ball head on a monopod makes little sense. However, depending on what you shoot, a monopod can be very helpful--quick to set up, and it requires far less space than a tripod. For what I shoot (macro), a tilt head his helpful. This allows you to angle the camera in one dimension only. I find this helpful in macro work, because I often need to tilt the camera down and still want the monopod reasonably vertical for support. However, if you are doing work at a distance, with a telephoto, a tilt head may not be much use.

Icebear · September 26, 2012

Get a monopod and one of these.
I've seen a ballhead on a monopod cause a near heart attack when, in a moment of inattention, the camera was allowed to go "off center" and the whole thing (D3 and 300mm f/2.8) flopped to the side when the collar rotated and the ballhead wnet over to the limit. Scary. Do not put a ballhead on a monopod.

puzzledpaul · September 27, 2012

Icebear wrote: »

Get a monopod and one of these.
I've seen a ballhead on a monopod cause a near heart attack when, in a moment of inattention, the camera was allowed to go "off center" and the whole thing (D3 and 300mm f/2.8) flopped to the side when the collar rotated and the ballhead wnet over to the limit. Scary. Do not put a ballhead on a monopod.

Sorry, but I don't see the advantage of using a tilt head - as B+H suggest - in a situation such as that above.

L/p orientation on a 300/2.8 is usually achieved via the collar so having additional 'sideways' movement offered by tilt head makes little sense (to me) ... as opposed to being able to correct for non-perpendicular arrangement of the monopod itself.

A ballhead allows for both - L/p options and monopod (angle) alignment choices - being aware of pitfalls is something else, of course

I'd not use such a setup with heavier rigs - but I have for macro.

pp

Icebear · September 27, 2012

If you've never used a monopod single-axis head, you really can't comment knowledgeably.

Especially with a heavier lens, it's convenient to be able to move the foot of the 'pod fore & aft for balance on uneven ground whilst maintaining your vertical aim. You don't mount it for sidewise tilt. I've shot lots of sports and birds with up to a 400mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4.5. I own and use everything from a direct connection to the monopod, a ball-head, a single-axis head, an Acratech GP in gimbal mode to an Enduro GHB2 gimbal head. With the exception of the ball-head, which (IMO) is a really bad idea, they all work. The gimbal is far and away the best system for really big lenses. The Acratech is really sweet for up to 70-200 f/2.8. The direct mount is lightest but less adaptable to immediate conditions. the single-axis head is (IMO - YMMV) the most bang for your buck in terms of utility and light weight.

raptorcaptor · September 27, 2012

Icebear wrote: »

If you've never used a monopod single-axis head, you really can't comment knowledgeably. Especially with a heavier lens, it's convenient to be able to move the foot of the 'pod fore & aft for balance on uneven ground whilst maintaining your vertical aim. You don't mount it for sidewise tilt. I've shot lots of sports and birds with up to a 400mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4.5. I own and use everything from a direct connection to the monopod, a ball-head, a single-axis head, an Acratech GP in gimbal mode to an Enduro GHB2 gimbal head. With the exception of the ball-head, which (IMO) is a really bad idea, they all work. The gimbal is far and away the best system for really big lenses. The Acratech is really sweet for up to 70-200 f/2.8. The direct mount is lightest but less adaptable to immediate conditions. the single-axis head is (IMO - YMMV) the most bang for your buck in terms of utility and light weight.

I agree a ballhead on a monopod just makes everything more compllicated than it needs to be. I use a RRS :
MH-01 Pro: Monopod Head with B2-Pro II

with a 500mm lens and it works great. I have used a small ballhead with lighter lenses and found it just not usable.

lfortier · September 27, 2012

I use an Induro Carbon Fiber monopod (wonderful) with the Manfrotto 234RC tilt head regularly. It works perfectly. I'm able to keep the monopod in a solid upright position, tilt fore and aft (or up / down) and turn to vertical by using the lens collar. Fully functional and light in weight. Check it out at your local camera store. You won't be sorry.

jww · September 27, 2012

raptorcaptor wrote: »

I agree a ballhead on a monopod just makes everything more compllicated than it needs to be. I use a RRS :
MH-01 Pro: Monopod Head with B2-Pro II

with a 500mm lens and it works great. I have used a small ballhead with lighter lenses and found it just not usable.

I use the RRS MH-01 on my monopod as well. Handy if you need to lock in a bit of forward or backward tilt in relation to your subject. The OP will also need to update the foot on any lens he uses, but the set up is rock solid. However, after many years of use I did find I needed to re-tighten the clamp to the MH-01 this weekend. It locks in place (in that it cannot rotate), but there was a bit of a wobble. So it is handy to keep the right size allen wrench in your shooting vest. Especially true if you use RRS L plates for your shorter lenses to install and remove. ...or just remember to give it a bit of a tighten every so often.

As others have said, a ballhead on a monopod is pretty much worthless. A monopod already has one point on the ground that can spin or tilt in any direction. To attempt to adjust a heavy lens and camera with a ball head on top of that would be like a circus act, causing any others around to applaud wildly if you manage to keep it all from crashing to the ground.

puzzledpaul · September 27, 2012

John - I think we've taken away slightly different things from the B+H page you linked to:

<< The Manfrotto 234RC Tilt Head was specifically designed for monopods. The tilt head features a one-axis movement which allows the positioning of the camera for a vertical format with the monopod in the upright stance >>

I read this as suggesting that its use allowed for the cam + lens to be tilted sideways ...for a 'portrait' shot.
Have I misunderstood this?

On this basis I wrote my previous post - which I think is valid - it doesn't make any sense (to me) to use such a head (with a tripod ringed large lens) as opposed to correcting for for / aft misalignment ... with which I totally agree (also see my post 8)

Icebear wrote: »

If you've never used a monopod single-axis head, you really can't comment knowledgeably. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/ne_nau.gif" border="0" alt="" >

Couldn't agree more - nearest I've used (with 500) is a Sinar pan/tilt with the pan locked off (on both a mono and tri - pod)

Icebear wrote: »

Especially with a heavier lens, it's convenient to be able to move the foot of the 'pod fore & aft for balance on uneven ground whilst maintaining your vertical aim. You don't mount it for sidewise tilt.

Totally agree with 1st bit (see previous) - you going to tell B+H re other ... or me

All I'll say with respect to a ballhead on a monopod is that've used said combo - with light gear, mainly macro and in some situations - eg taking pics of insects in bushes etc where shifting the monopod (or changing its length) was (imo) a poorer option compared with (slightly) flipping the rig on the ball and either correcting angle via tripod ring(if used) and /or accepting a different pic / composition

I've also tried various bits of kit re support (especially since having a go at bigger stuff than macro) but not with anything as heavy as a 400 2.8 (500f4 max in my case)

Preferred tripod rig atm is with a video fluid head - but this (and all other stuff) is useless @ ground /water level as can't get low enough imo.

At the end of the day, one uses gear that you find comfortable -and get results from - I suspect few would query the wisdom of LordV using just a beanpole for macro - judging by his results?

pp

Icebear · September 27, 2012

jww wrote: »

To attempt to adjust a heavy lens and camera with a ball head on top of that would be like a circus act, causing any others around to applaud wildly if you manage to keep it all from crashing to the ground.

rofl

True dat!

Icebear · September 27, 2012

puzzledpaul wrote: »

John - I think we've taken away slightly different things from the B+H page you linked to:

<< The Manfrotto 234RC Tilt Head was specifically designed for monopods. The tilt head features a one-axis movement which allows the positioning of the camera for a vertical format with the monopod in the upright stance >>

I read this as suggesting that its use allowed for the cam + lens to be tilted sideways ...for a 'portrait' shot.
Have I misunderstood this?

No. I don't think you misunderstood that at all. To tell you the truth, I never even read that blurb.<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/eek7.gif" border="0" alt="" > That's about the dumbest thing I've ever read on B&H. It reads like "Engrish". I suppose you could use it that way with a lightweight lens, but gosh, what a Rube Goldberg arrangement. Like you said, Lord V's technique of just grabbing the stick tight against the camera would work better.

No. As you see from several other folks' posts, the proper use of that single-axis head is to facilitate fore-&-aft tilt. If you want to use a camera in portrait mode on a monopod with a lens that doesn't have a rotating collar, use an L-bracket.

cmason · September 27, 2012

Icebear wrote: »

No. I don't think you misunderstood that at all. To tell you the truth, I never even read that blurb. That's about the dumbest thing I've ever read on B&H. It reads like "Engrish". I suppose you could use it that way with a lightweight lens, but gosh, what a Rube Goldberg arrangement. Like you said, Lord V's technique of just grabbing the stick tight against the camera would work better.

No. As you see from several other folks' posts, the proper use of that single-axis head is to facilitate fore-&-aft tilt. If you want to use a camera in portrait mode on a monopod with a lens that doesn't have a rotating collar, use an L-bracket.

Hmmmm, I have a Manfrotto 234RC Tilt Head, and I use it PRECISELY for Landscape to Portrait switches. Fore to aft is handled by tilting the monopod fore and aft. You can't tilt a monopod to give you landscape and portrait of course. Could you use an L-bracket? Sure you can. I don't have one, I have this, which is much cheaper, and is far quicker than an L bracket. Can you use the lens collar: yep, I would prefer this, but I don't have those either.

I don't get how this would be useful for fore-to-aft alignment, when the monopod is not stationary: as soon as I get the camera aligned, I would move the monopod, forcing realignment...

puzzledpaul · September 27, 2012

Icebear wrote: »

...No, If you want to use a camera in portrait mode on a monopod with a lens that doesn't have a rotating collar, use an L-bracket.

Not necessarily ... for me, anyway

Part of my (homemade) macro rig incorporates a L/P 'flipper' - based on the Newton Flash arm linkage.

This flipper can be removed from the rest of the macro rig and used on its own - on any other support device (got std 3/8 socket)

The lens axis stays in the same position relative to base in both L and P positions.

Only intended for use with macro gear upto 180mm (I wanted to keep lighting setup same for both options) - but its been used (in the past) in all manner of 'normal' shooting situations.

pp

edit - remembered this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/pppix/IMG_0089mod.jpg

Manfr3d · September 28, 2012

This is the head to get for a monopod: link

cmason · September 28, 2012

If you ever think you will someday get a tripod w/ballhead, I would recommend that you get this version of the Manfrotto monopod tilthead by Kirk:

http://www.kirkphoto.com/Monopod-Heads.html

Essentially it is the same tilt head, but with an Arca Swiss adapter added. This allows you to keep your Arca Swiss style quick release foot on your camera, whether you use the tripod or monopod.

Edit: my bad, this is no longer the Monfrotto tilt head, it seems to be a new custom Kirk tilt head

I want a monopod and ball head

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