> > With race season approaching, but at the risk of embarrassing myself, I have > to ask the following question about using a monopod: > > I have a lens with a tripod collar. Do I attach the lens directly to the > monopod, or do I get some sort of head to put on the monopod and then attach > the lens?
Short answer: Yes. If you attach the lens directly to the monopod you get the most stability, but very little choice in where you put the monopod leg. If you don't need to change the direction you are pointing the lens this is OK, but it can be a problem if you are trying to pan-track a car. For that you really want the foot of the monopod in between your feet (less stability, but a lot more flexibility). For that you can use just a one-axis tilt bracket. For the maximum in convenience (although at a cost in vibration resistance) I use the Bogen/Manfrotto quick-release ball head. I can adjust the angle by simply squeezing the grip to release the lock. Although the maximum weight loading specs for this head are fairly low, that assumes you are going to be using it in the worst-case scenario (at right angles to the monopod); if you restrict the angle to something closer to vertical you can put much higher loads on the unit. (Such as an MZ-S + battery grip and the 250-600, a combination which weighs somewhere around 15 lbs).
