Monopod advice

[bikeit]

I use the Nikon D5300 and recently bought a Tamron 70-300mm lens i will be mainly using the lens for sports events and have been advised to get a monopod, so i have a budget of £50 what would you guys recommend?

 

[J-see]

Why do you need a monopod to shoot sport events? Your shutter speed should be fast enough to not suffer cam shake.

 

[bikeit]

Sorry im new to this photo stuff, i was told it will prevent camera shake and give me sharp photos.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

I sometimes shoot at the local high school football games. You are going to have to shoot at 1/300 a second or faster just to stop the action so at those speeds a monopod is not going to help you at all. In fact it will probably hurt you because it will slow you down in getting the shot.

 

[J-see]

I don't know what sports you're gonna shoot but the moment your shutter speed is fast enough, handheld will do it. If the lens got VR, even more so.

If you're standing all day, a pod might be nice. If you're sitting, your knee is much cheaper.

 

[bikeit]

The lens does have VR, i will be mainly shooting cycling, football and running, great photos BTW.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

The lens does have VR, i will be mainly shooting cycling, football and running, great photos BTW.

You will need a fast enough shutter speed that hand-held will be better. VR at those shutter speeds really won't matter and there are some schools of thought that you actually might be better off without it being on.

 

[J-see]

With VR at a fast enough shutter speed you'll be fine. There's little reason to buy a monopod.

It also doesn't guarantee sharp images.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Here is an article about VR

Nikon VR explained

The first and most important rule of VR is this: never turn VR on unless it's actually needed.

Rule #2: VR should normally be off if your shutter speed is over 1/500.

Rule #4: If your subject is moving, you still need a shutter speed that will stop that movement.

Rule #5: VR doesn't remove all motion, it only removes camera motion.

 

[bikeit]

Thanks guys. will take a few shots and post here.

 

[J-see]

VR at those shutter speeds really won't matter and there are some schools of thought that you actually might be better off without it being on.

I'm curious why since VR only activates whenever shake is detected? As far as I know, it doesn't do anything if nothing is shaking. If something is shaking, VR off won't help much either. Only a faster than 1/1000s shutter renders VR useless since that exceeds its check speed.