I just purchased a monopod and I am still learning about it. It gives you stability in one dimension, but you still need to brace it. Mine cost about 30 US$ from Walmart and it is a substantial piece. It will fit in my suitcase, but not in my backpack as it is about 20 inches long when folded. So I have to carry it around when taking pictures. It is attached to the camera (monopod doesn't have a swivel head) which I am carrying around anyway. I hope to get a few more pictures this weekend.
True. Mine is more on the order of a defensive weapon (Louisville Slugger?). I may wish I had a lighter walking cane type before this is over. BTW, mine will extend to 72 inches.
Swivel Head Flash, I purchased a swivel head for my monopod, but it was several, several years ago and I don't remember where it came from, but if I venture a guess, Beach camera. Look at their web site and search their stock. The swivel head gives you side to side and up and down movement. The up and down is especially nice.
Flash, I have had real good results with video using a monopod. It gives you more freedom than a tripod and still produces steady shots. Now I need to upgrade to a digital videocam. :tb-biggrin:
Monopods are great to steady telephoto shots. I haven't found them very good for long exposures. I think a swivel head on a monopod is redundant--I can usually tilt or move the monopod to get the angle I want. I haven't tried a swivel head, but it would seem rather awkward adjusting it.
I did much better taking pictures using my monopod this past weekend. It is large and sturdy but has a strap. I can stick it in my backpack and let the end stick out of the back pack. All in all, it was a good purchase.
I haven't used a monopod much. I generally can hold steady down to 1/15th of a second and sometimes to 1/8th or 1/4. I have a tripod that I take for anything longer. It's bulky but sturdy. One thing I do when taking an exposure longer than 1/30th of a second is use a cable release to activate the shutter, even if I have no tripod. I find that, for me anyway, the hardest part of keeping steady is not moving the camera when I press the shutter button. I also find it a lot easier to keep my battle axe Pentax Spotmatic film SLR steady than any of my lighter, newer, plastic cameras. I think the weight of the piece has something to do with it.
I use a tripod or any piece of wood to place the camera onto the layout. And - for me important - I use delayed action shutter release. At least two seconds. The camera on my tripod will move when I press the release. Wolfgang
Ball-head monopods are great for vertical compositions... While in Colorado last time, I packed my tripod al 3 days. I'm so glad I did, as many shots would not have been possible without it. I bought a sturdy used one in Ft Collins, CO 4 years ago. It works great!
