Anyone use a Monopod?

[!Aznboi128]

Been itching to buy a monopod rather than always using my tripod. It's just heavy and not as easy to lug around.

Been looking at a few options and found theres ones that has "feet"

Have any of you guys used something like this and can say pros/cons?

[FN-2199]

Originally Posted by !Aznboi128

Been itching to buy a monopod rather than always using my tripod. It's just heavy and not as easy to lug around.

Been looking at a few options and found theres ones that has "feet"

Have any of you guys used something like this and can say pros/cons?

Pros:

1. 33.3% easier to extend
2. lightweight
3. adjustable head (for most of them)
4. great for hiking

Cons:

• monopods with feet are not great for stability (especially with bigger cameras)
• not great for long exposure shots

What type of shooting are you doing these days?

[european]

Yes, I use a monopod when shooting some video. That's pretty much the only purpose I use it for. Everything else I'd use a tripod.
I have a Benro 48FB Series 4 monopod with Benro S6 video head
I'll most likely have to sell it very soon along with almost all my other camera gear.

I prefer my tripod over my monopod as it's full carbon fibre, so it's much lighter. However, the monopod is obviously less bulky so it's a bit easier to carry around. If I were to get another one, I would purchase a CF version if one exists. (I haven't done any research)

[CCA-Dave]

If I were to purchase another monopod, I'd buy a CF one as well. My aluminum Manfrotto is seriously heavy. They do make CF ones, as the video guys I work with all have them.

For still photography, the "feet" monopods aren't stable enough for my Nikon D3. With a point and shoot or a lightweight DSLR, maybe. I find with the D3 I _rarely_ use my monopod, occasionally for some rally/action stuff. But the truth is, I use it so infrequently that when I want it, I'm never carrying it...

[!Aznboi128]

Been looking at the manfrotto one and it'll be mainly for video. I know I would want a flow head on it and the little feets but Im curios how they stand if they do well in slanted environments etc

[european]

^
It should be adequate. The ball joint near the feet enables the monopod to accommodate most situations. Although if you were to leave the monopod unattended on a medium-steep slope, I have a feeling it would fall over, depending on the weight of the camera though. Something fairly light (less then 4lbs maybe?) should be fine. Anything heavier needs supervision of some kind.

I normally use my D810, with batter grip, Nikon mic, and 24-70 f/2.8 VR on my monopod and unless everything is dead center it won't stay put. So I'm always behind the camera, guiding the monopod and/or video head to capture the shots I desire. However, if I attach my D7100 with the same microphone and Tokina 11-16 or something lighter, the monopod can handle almost any kind of terrain and stay straight, allowing me to leave it in place and move freely around the camera if I so choose.

This is just my experience though. I highly recommend going to a store and trying out some monopods. Most camera stores will definitely let you play around with them. Some will even let you take their display models outdoors for a few minutes.

[!Aznboi128]

Thanks Mike!

Henry's is opening soon I'm going to pay them a visit haha