Monopod and Ball head combo

[darrenr7]

I am looking to get a monopod and if necessary a ball head. I am using a 30d with a 70-200 is or 100-400 but do not want to limit myself so that I can't upgrade the camera. Upgrading the glass will be down the track some way to maybe 300/400 2.8. Am I wrong thinking manfrotto gitzo monopod and cheaping out on the ball head? $200-300 would be my budget. Appreciate your input. Softball, soccer and indoor sports are my main uses.

[cyclohexane]

You don't need a ballhead on your monopod. If you do, use a two-way swivel head; they're a lot easier to work with than a ballhead when on a monopod.

I used to have my Gitzo 1588 monopod set up like this (I didn't add the Arca-Swiss type clamp until a year later) but I ended up chucking the head. It just didn't offer enough for the drawbacks, as it was hard to keep tight with a 300mm f/2.8 on top and increased the height of the monopod, making it hard for me to sit and shoot without messing with the head to get the monopod at an odd angle.

The swivel head's real cheap, so you are correct in thinking Manfrotto or Gitzo for your monopod, and a cheap head. The Manfrotto 681 series is already more than sufficient for most gear, but I really like my carbon fiber Gitzo 1588 (near the top of your budget). The new 6x series is cheaper and better, so you can't go wrong.

[JohnC]

All the lenses you mentioned should have tripod collars. So you shouldn't need a head on the monopod for those. But if you do want a head, get a tilt head. A ball head on a monopod can be a little unweildy with a heavy lens.

[richardpcrowe]

I have been using the Manfrotto 3421 Long Lens Monopod Bracket for about six months now, both on my Bogen-Manfrotto 681 monopod (which is a really heavy duty pod) and on my Giottos MT-8180 tripod (sturdy and tall carbon fiber model). IMO it is a far better set-up than using a ball head on a monopod and it works equally as well on a sturdy tripod. I use it with a 400mm f/5.6L lens and occasionally with a 300mm f/4L IS lens. I have tested it with my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens and it works just fine. However, it is really overkill for this light lens that has IS assisting you in holding steady. I never use a monopod with shorter lenses. I have a lighter weight but, still sturdy, tripod for that use.

3421 Bogen - Manfrotto Long Lens Monopod Bracket

The Manfrotto illustration shows the 3421 being used with the open side of the "U" shaped support down and the camera mounted beneath the U bracket. However, I use my 3421 with the open side of the inside "U" shaped support up and the camera mounted right-side up. I don't know why Bogen-Manfrotto insists that using the camera under the U bracket is the way to go. For me, it is far easier to have the camera swinging on top of the "U" bracket as in the illustration in this web site under the section "Key Features".

Manfrotto 393 Gimbal head* (1) - Nikonians Product Review


This mount is excellent. I can adjust the balance so that the camera/lens will remain in place unless I move it and then, it moves smoothly with only finger pressure. Using the 3421 and my 400mm f/5.6L lens; I have been able to follow 150+ MPH hydroplane racing boats that were crossing in front of me rather close to my camera position. The 3421 works beautifully, is very well made and once was a great buy!

I don't know what has happened to the price of this gimbal head. When I purchased it, new, in the Summer of 2007; the price (including one camera plate) was right around $100 USD making it far-far less expensive than any of the other competing gimbal type heads such as the Jobu. An 82% price increase in a matter of six months is obscene and I wonder if the falling U.S. dollar accounted for this great raise in price.

When I am shooting with the 3421 and my 400mm lens using a tripod, I attach my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (on another body) to the underside of the tripod in a holster case (using a carbiner). I attach it to the ring on the underside of the tripod apex. This ring is designed to either attach a weight or to tie down the tripod. However it is a great place to keep my extra camera with the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens safe (from sticky hands of strangers) and secure (from being tripped over as I am shooting with the tripod mounted camera).

I have not as yet figured out a way to jury-rig a flash when I am using the 3421. Obviously, if I mounted the flash on the hotshoe, the 3421 would obstruct the flash when the camera was in the vertical position. I think that I can fabricate a flash bracket which will attach to the lens mounting plate like the Kirk flash brackets attach. Anyway, that is my next project. I like to use flash when shooting wildlife.

I have noticed a Canadian eBay seller who is marketing copies of the Jobu Black Widow and Sidekick gimbal heads. In fact the company's name is "Jobu Design Photographic Equipment". I don't know anything about the quality of these (I suspect) Chinese copies. I am just passing this on for general information.
eBay Store - Jobu Design Photographic Equipment: Gimbals, Bubble Levels, Flash Brackets

[cyclohexane]

I don't know why Bogen-Manfrotto insists that using the camera upside down is the way to go. For me, it is far easier to have the camera swinging on the "U" bracket right-side-up!

It is probably to reduce the camera height, as I've run into problems in many shooting positions at the venues I shoot at where having a head on top of the monopod meant the camera was just too high for me to shoot with while remaining seated in my fixed position. Granted, the difference with this head is minimal, but even the Manfrotto 3232 swivel head, which is about the size of my hand, made it so that I couldn't use my monopod effectively while sitting in my little 4-by-4 spot.

The camera is slightly lower when mounted upside down like in the product image, which could be the difference every now and then.

That said, it looks pretty fussy to have the lens mounted upside down like that.

[darrenr7]

Thank you all for your input, exactly what I was looking for. I will check out prices, available funds and let you know of my now "informed decision".

Cheers,
Darren

[richardpcrowe]

Actually, the camera is quite a bit higher when mounted upside down.

[cyclohexane]

Actually, the camera is quite a bit higher when mounted upside down.

Really? It looks like it'd be lower. Oh well. =)

[cannockwolf]

I thought i would post here instead of raising a new thread, I have a long lens with the tripod collar and also have the gitso carbon monopod and was considering a head for it, i am leaning away from a ballheads from reading threads on here, but when you hold a monopod, most sturdy positions me the pod has to be tilted in against the foot / body to gain stability, doesn't this mean you would need a head on it to adjust for this and take the picture at the angle you need, as leaning the pole wont give much other than straight ahead wont it?

[w7apd]

Originally Posted by richardpcrowe

3421 Bogen - Manfrotto Long Lens Monopod Bracket

The Manfrotto illustration shows the 3421 being used with the open side of the "U" shaped support down and the camera mounted up-side-down.

Actually, the camera is not upside-down. Most long telephoto lenses -- those which have their own tripod mount -- can be rotated in the mount. In the Bogen example, the mounting foot on the lens has been swiveled to the top, and the camera is oriented normally. You can also get portrait orientation by rotating the lens 90 degrees in the mount. In fact (IMHO) if you aren't using a lens with a rotating tripod foot, the long lens bracket is not a particularly good choice.

Originally Posted by cannockwolf

... i am leaning away from a ballheads from reading threads on here, but when you hold a monopod, most sturdy positions me the pod has to be tilted in against the foot / body to gain stability, doesn't this mean you would need a head on it to adjust for this and take the picture at the angle you need, as leaning the pole wont give much other than straight ahead wont it?

That's been my solution. All the 2-way swivel heads allow you to do, is to tilt the camera onto its side for portrait orientation. A ballhead on the monopod allows you to use the 'pod in any orientation, not just straight up, and still be able to level the camera. That lets you use your legs to steady things (try hooking the monopod behind one knee) or you can lean the monopod over a low tree branch and get almost as much support as a tripod. A plus for us tall guys, is that a little ballhead will add a few inches of height to the monopod.

[cyclohexane]

I've become intrigued by this head recently, but it's not out yet: Really Right Stuff - MH-01 RRS® Hi-Capacity Monopod Head