You Might Think I'm Crazy. Tried a Different Monopod Head

Friggs

Senior Member
Hello all,
I use a power chair and have struggles using a tripod. So I use a monopod a lot. I had tried a ball head on it and did not like it at all. Then I went without a head and it was OK but not ideal. Tried a one way swivel head made just for monopods and did not like that at all. Then I had a thought. Why not try the cheap gimbal head I have on my tripod that I rarely use. Before I went that route i did Google the idea to see if I would be the first and be told I am totally nuts. Well there where a few out there that did it and loved it. So I figured what the hay. Try it. Went to shoot hummingbirds which those that do it know how challenging that is. Well I loved it. It worked well. Then I went to a local park that is loaded with birds, frogs, turtles and snakes. Some below you. Some above you. Again I loved it. Was not perfect but did better than anything else I have tried. Then I went to a dam where there are eagles that fish in the river below you and fly over you to the trees. Again I loved it and it worked very well. I would have gotten a few more if i was hand holding as I am better at that, but I did not have to deal with my arms getting tired and got sharper images I am sure. I will get better with it. So has anyone tried this combo? If not you should. I will say this that I do not have a expensive gimbal head. As gimbal heads go. Some might think I am not spending $500 for a monopod head. Well the one I have I got for $100. It is not a Wimberley by any stretch. But it works. Is smooth action and balances well and stays where I leave it. So that is not bad price for a head for a monopod. Try it. You might like it.
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
Good for you. Sometime our tools need to be adapted to our needs and you seem to have solved your problem


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Hello all,
I use a power chair and have struggles using a tripod. So I use a monopod a lot. I had tried a ball head on it and did not like it at all. Then I went without a head and it was OK but not ideal. Tried a one way swivel head made just for monopods and did not like that at all. Then I had a thought. Why not try the cheap gimbal head I have on my tripod that I rarely use. Before I went that route i did Google the idea to see if I would be the first and be told I am totally nuts. Well there where a few out there that did it and loved it. So I figured what the hay. Try it. Went to shoot hummingbirds which those that do it know how challenging that is. Well I loved it. It worked well. Then I went to a local park that is loaded with birds, frogs, turtles and snakes. Some below you. Some above you. Again I loved it. Was not perfect but did better than anything else I have tried. Then I went to a dam where there are eagles that fish in the river below you and fly over you to the trees. Again I loved it and it worked very well. I would have gotten a few more if i was hand holding as I am better at that, but I did not have to deal with my arms getting tired and got sharper images I am sure. I will get better with it. So has anyone tried this combo? If not you should. I will say this that I do not have a expensive gimbal head. As gimbal heads go. Some might think I am not spending $500 for a monopod head. Well the one I have I got for $100. It is not a Wimberley by any stretch. But it works. Is smooth action and balances well and stays where I leave it. So that is not bad price for a head for a monopod. Try it. You might like it.

What gimble head did you get?
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I have a ball and socket on mine at the moment which i leave slack,quick to locate stationery birds but i have not tried BIF with it.
 

Friggs

Senior Member
I have been thinking of some sort of head for my monopod to see if it might help with the Tamron 150-600 on those long days. Not sure how it would work with BIF though.

For birds in flight it works well. The only way I am better at it is handheld. But for mounting, this method works best for me. And with practice I am sure I will just get better. The one nice thing is if you need to you can just lift the whole thing up. A little heavy but those birds in flight don't last that long normally.
 
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