On Thu, 6 Mar 2003, Sylwester Pietrzyk wrote: > I think of buying a monopod to carry around, when I can't take heavy & large > tripod. What kind of monopod do you use? Do you use it with any head or only > with plain screw mount for camera (isn't it too limiting in terms of
I don't know the number, but I have the four section Bogen unit, cost me about $40US if I remember correctly. Originally, I had no head on it..and in this manner, it was pretty much completely useless. When I bought a Bogen ballhead (don't know the number here, either, but its the "single action heavy duty," 3055 or something, I think) for my tripod, I started to use it on the monopod as well. Suddenly, the monopod was extremely useful! The head is mighty heavy, and at some point I'll probably get something a little smaller, which will make it even more convient to carry it over the tripod. > composition freedom?). How much can shutter speeds go down with such a lens > mounted on monopod? Is 1/60 or 1/125 possible? They claim "two or three stops" of speed is available. Who's They, you ask? The Hearsay Experts for You! Anyhoo, I've used a 300mm lens at 1/60 on my tripod repeatedly with no ill effects. I'm a shakey kind of guy, so for me that's pretty damned good. :) Of course, I've also shoved it into the ground and used my camera on B a time or two, as well. > I was thinking about buying Mafrotto 479, but I don't know if adding ball > head to this makes any sense. All in all you usually use monopods with tele You WILL want to add a ballhead. Trust me. Part of the magic of a monopod is pointing it forward and leaning into it, creating a "tripod" of the monopod and your two legs. Without that head, you can't do this, and the benefits of the monopod are pretty much nonexistant. So, I won't comment on your individual choices, I don't know them. I do know that lots of people said to only buy the three section pod, not the four section pod, because it was "sturdier." Its also bigger and more ungainly. I found the four section pod was a great choice, it easily clips to the backpack I go out with, its small enough that it doesn't get in everyone's way, and its light enough that I don't mind carrying it all day. Now, if only I could use it with a view camera.. -sigh- -- http://www.infotainment.org <-> more fun than a poke in your eye. http://www.eighteenpercent.com <-> photography and portfolio.
