Monopod v Tripod

U

undercoverbrother

Senior Member
Hi Everyone,

I know both of these are different and suit different needs. I am sure many could relate that we could want/need both however sometimes budget does not permit.

I have decided to go with a monopod only because of its ease of being able to move around. I guess I could kind of use it as a tripod for landscapes also (better then free hand), but not quiet as good as a tripod.

I am thinking of the Manfrotto 562B - the largest lens I will have for sometime now will be my 70-200 or 15-30 tamron with my D750 body.

does anyone have experience with the above monopod or recommend something better at a similar price point.


Use will include the following:-

Weddings
Wildlife/Landscapes
Food Photography
and Vivid Sydney - which is a lighting show across the city (worth googling).
Shop fit out photography - showcasing restaurants ect
 
M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I have both,i prefer the tripod as i can let go of everything to relax between shooting but i find the monopod a lot easier to carry,i have the Manfrotto 680B and find its more than enough for the 150-600.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Need 'em both, but personal use dictates which is more important. For me it's a tripod - you can't do long exposures and night photography effectively without one. I barely ever use a monopod, though I have one and a half (Manfrotto 680B and my MeFOTO Roadtrip tripod converts to a monopod in a pinch). If I shot more sports I'd probably use one more. For birding I'll use it, but only for stationary birds.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Adorama has the Manfrotto 680B for a really good price...$59.88 at the moment. It can be ordered directly through Adorama or by going through Amazon using Adorama as the seller. I just bought one for myself as I've been wanting a monopod.

Question: How many use a head on a monopod? Is one necessary?

Here's the link if you choose to buy through Amazon with Adorama as the seller:

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Manfrotto 680B Monopod 4-SCTN Replaces 680 (Black)


monopod.jpg
 
M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
hark said:
Adorama has the Manfrotto 680B for a really good price...$59.88 at the moment. It can be ordered directly through Adorama or by going through Amazon using Adorama as the seller. I just bought one for myself as I've been wanting a monopod.

Question: How many use a head on a monopod? Is one necessary?

Here's the link if you choose to buy through Amazon with Adorama as the seller:

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Manfrotto 680B Monopod 4-SCTN Replaces 680 (Black)


View attachment 193872
Click to expand...


I use a ball head all the time leaving it slack,i find it difficult pointing the camera down with out a head,i think most use them tightened though.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
hark said:
Adorama has the Manfrotto 680B for a really good price...

Question: How many use a head on a monopod? Is one necessary?
Click to expand...
The Manfrotto 680B is my monopod of choice and I like it a lot. It's not the lightest tripod out there but it's super solid when deployed and the last monopod you'll ever need.

I've shot both with and without a ballhead on monopods and while you *can* do it without one you're not going to want to. It quickly becomes awkward, or simply impossible, to do much of anything to frame your shots, like shoot in profile orientation for instance without a ballhead attached. I've been very happy with this El Cheapo ballhead and have had no reason to replace it. My good ballhead stays on my tripod.
 
nikonpup

nikonpup

Senior Member
DSC_1891 (620x974).jpgi love my manfrotto 322rc2 ballhead on my monopod. For me the trigger control is great, no messing with knobs/levers.
 
N

nickt

Senior Member
hark said:
Question: How many use a head on a monopod? Is one necessary?
Click to expand...
I had a real cheap monopod from years ago. I found it a nuisance to screw and unscrew it to the camera. The whole setup was a nuisance if you were shooting up or down rather than just level or slightly up/down. So when I got a decent monopod, I also got a cheaper ball head in the same family as the one on my tripod. Instant attachment now since my plate is pretty much always on the camera. Its a lot more pleasant to use with a head. I leave mine a little loose too.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Horoscope Fish said:
The Manfrotto 680B is my monopod of choice and I like it a lot. It's not the lightest tripod out there but it's super solid when deployed and the last monopod you'll ever need.

I've shot both with and without a ballhead on monopods and while you *can* do it without one you're not going to want to. It quickly becomes awkward, or simply impossible, to do much of anything to frame your shots, like shoot in profile orientation for instance without a ballhead attached. I've been very happy with this El Cheapo ballhead and have had no reason to replace it. My good ballhead stays on my tripod.
Click to expand...

nikonpup said:
i love my manfrotto 322rc2 ballhead on my monopod. For me the trigger control is great, no messing with knobs/levers.
Click to expand...

nickt said:
I had a real cheap monopod from years ago. I found it a nuisance to screw and unscrew it to the camera. The whole setup was a nuisance if you were shooting up or down rather than just level or slightly up/down. So when I got a decent monopod, I also got a cheaper ball head in the same family as the one on my tripod. Instant attachment now since my plate is pretty much always on the camera. Its a lot more pleasant to use with a head. I leave mine a little loose too.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. :) I am definitely going to get some type of head to put on this. I always wondered what the type of head that nikonpup mentioned was called...grip action. Those used to be featured quite a bit many, many years ago.
 
R

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
hark said:
Adorama has the Manfrotto 680B for a really good price...$59.88 at the moment. It can be ordered directly through Adorama or by going through Amazon using Adorama as the seller. I just bought one for myself as I've been wanting a monopod.

Question: How many use a head on a monopod? Is one necessary?

Here's the link if you choose to buy through Amazon with Adorama as the seller:

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Manfrotto 680B Monopod 4-SCTN Replaces 680 (Black)


View attachment 193872
Click to expand...

Thanks Hark! Just picked one up using a gift card I had for Adorama. I'd been looking at this model for awhile, but wasn't tracking the price. Now to get a 2nd Benro head for this one.
 
U

undercoverbrother

Senior Member
I am thinking of getting the Manfrotto 562B-1 Monopod

with one of the following ball heads

Vanguard SBH-250 Ball Head


Manfrotto 496RC2 Micro Ball Head with QR


which option do you think I should go with, or is there something better (close to the price of either)


*** this will go on my D750 largest lens being either 70-200 vc or 15-30 Tamron
 
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hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
hark said:
Why the Vanguard over the Manfrotto?
Click to expand...
Well because Vanguard makes pretty good stuff generally speakng, IMO, but more importantly because I've seen the Manfrotto QD system fail, catastrophically, more than once. Simply put, I don't trust the Manfrotto QD design and don't feel comfortable recommending it.
 
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