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What should you look for in a Monopod?

More than likely getting one today...

I've got a monopod but the bloody thing won't stand up.

Mine was arrested and charged - didn't have a leg to stand on.

MHD - one word - Manfrotto. You won't be disappointed.

oh you are all a pure gold mine!
So what makes it good?

How much should I spend?

A tripod can be pushed into service as a monopod, however the reserve is not true.

And now on a more serious note. . .

I use a Manfrotto 479B which cost me around the $100 mark and I have used it quite often.

There is one aspect to a monopod that I found if you are into using a camcorder.

I had to do a wedding and when every one was dancing late in the evening I held the camcorder on the monopod high over the dancers to give a totally different aspect.

You could use this method with the D70 and the ML-3

Chris

MHD wrote:So what makes it good?

Build quality.

Design quality.

Value for money.

How much should I spend?

Whatever you feel comfortable spending. Up to $100 or $150 will get you something very usable.

I have and use the Manfrotto 334B, It's around $120 or $130 that I paid 4 years ago.

I concur with Manfrotto, i too have a Manfrotto monopod.

In the hands of a trained person it can also be used to whack would-be camera theives.

Killakoala wrote:I concur with Manfrotto, i too have a Manfrotto monopod.

In the hands of a trained person it can also be used to whack would-be camera theives.

Or as Corporal Jones says in Dads Army - stick it up em. . . .

Well after that shining endorsement I went for the Manfroto... Only got a fairly cheap one...
The Manfroto 679...

This thing feels TOUGH! It will be dragged to all the places I go here and in NZ (for my 3rd trip there) in December.,..

I bought it at Fletchers Canberra city for 70 bucks...

I have the Manfrotto 680B with a quick release head.
It cost me all up $149, $100 for the monopod & $49 for the head.
I use it as much as possible, more so with a large zoom lens on the cam for that added stability.
You will find once you have one you will use it all the time for a sharper image in low light situations.

Cheers
Ray

Yep.. I can put a head on it later... Which I will prob do with a quick release...

Once I started using my (cheapie) tripod as a monopod (ie picking it up and moving it everywhere during events) I realised I needed one...

You won’t regret it mate!!! “Just do it”

Cheers
Ray

What kind of head?

Boy after searching a few stores I have realised how much you can spend!!!

Mine’s the Manfrotto 234RC

Cheers
Ray

Manfotto make some excellent monopods, but avoid the 1 with the pistol grip that locks the monopod legs. I have had experiance with 2 of these and they both poved to be unsatisfactory. Th leg sections slip and it is very difficult to adjust the setup.

I don't know what you mean by pistol grip..

Can you describe how it -should- lock?

Platinum it is called Neotec and you can see it on the Manfrotto website.

Thanks Matt, you saved me some effort, I was going to look at one at Vanbar as there is not much weight difference between CF and alloy in a monopod. Back to the broomstick

Also remember to assess its suitability as a defense tool.