Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Can some one recommend a really good mono pod? I've searched the web and i'm kinda lost. Looking to keep it @ $150 or under, light would be nice.

Do i need a head like a tripod or can i just use it fixed?

The problem is you haven't indicated what you will be using the mono pod for or what you plan to put on top of it, if you will be using collared lenses or using the body directly on the monopod, etc.

I can recommend the Gitzo GM3551 mono pod as it is reasonably light and robust enough to handle big lenses with pro bodies, but that is massively out of your price range.

And yes, get a mono pod head unless you are OK with tilting the mono pod. I really like the RRS MH-01 LR mono pod head which can handle loads to 75 lbs. If you are mounting light loads on your mono pod and want to stay reasonably priced try the Manfrotto 234RC mono pod head. They run about $50-$60, but capacity is rated to about 5 lbs only.

DG

Thanks

I'm shooting my sons little league sports and martial arts demo's(he's 4 it's really cute). Shooting with 5d and a collared old canon ef 80-200mm 2.8 L zoomed out to 200mm most of the time.

Also looking for something unobtrusive, so i don't weird out the other parents, hence the big black lens instead of the bright white one.

In that case I think you can stay in your budget if you are OK with aluminum. There are a number of monopods available for under $100 from
Manfrotto, Induro and Benro from Vistek and other stores. You just need to check them out and decide which feels right for your needs.

I don't have much experience with the new crop of monopods other then the Gitzo I mentioned before. But I had an old Manfrotto aluminum monopod for many years which was certainly tough.

For a head I would look at the Manfrotto 234. The 234 has no quick release plate while the 234RC has a plate. The 234 runs about $30 and the 234RC runs about $55.

You should be able to pick up a monopod and head for the $150 you budgeted more or less.

DG

Thanks for the info.

I use a monopod almost every time I pick up a camera shooting primarily sports.

For you, I'd recommend the Induro CM24 Carbon 8X Monopod. At $160 its a little closer to your target price. It's a carbon fiber 4 section which I think is much better than the 5 section.

http://vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoInduro/2 ... nopod.aspx

With all due respect to dgibson, I'd also recommend not using a head. Simply screw the monopod into the tripod collar of your lens. For field sports sports where you are basically panning from left to right you don't need a head.

For your sons martial arts demos you'd be better off not even using a monopod and just going handheld. You should be able to handhold for the length of time it takes to do a martial arts demo with no problems.

Hope this helps!

Seems like a good time to plug my aluminum Manfrotto monopod and 234RC that are in the for sale forum....

Hello, woot my first post! Had no idea this about this forum until one of the Toronto threads on POTN mentioned this place today.

I really like the Benro products. I currently use the Benro MC66 m8 because it is very compact and light - 400grams and can handle 5kg of weight and is about 16.5" at it's shortest height.

Depends what you are using it for really, for me, I don't carry anything around unless it's light and compact or it ends up staying in the car or at home. I sold off all my Manfrotto products which were great but a bit heavier and not as compact.

I think Induro is very similiar to Benro...

I use a Manfrotto 681B for 2 reasons. I shoot with heavier long lenses and often need to shoot shoot up into the trees. There weren't many monopods that were tall enough for me (5ft10in) and the 681B could also handle 26lb.

I use a swiveting head w/ a quick release from Manfrotto.