Which Monopod?

ASAAR wrote:

[..] I sometimes keep the collapsed monopod attached to the camera even
when not using it in the normal manner, since it's extra weight increases
stability even if it's not touching the ground. It might not be a good
idea with a really heavy camera, but at slightly under a pound. it's quite
easy to hold with an even less heavy camera such as the S5600 attached. I
use it with Fuji's previous model, the S5100/S5500. While it can't come
close to matching the stability of a decent tripod, it reduces a lot of
the camera shake that a monopod-less handheld camera would have.

This reminds me of the 'poor-man's steadycam' project that's been
floating around for a while: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

"Chris Gilbert" wrote in message
...
just bob wrote

And I'm going to guess if you were trying to shoot something which was
moving you would not use your monopod at all

Correct. Even setting the pod up takes a few seconds and
whatever you're shooting has gone by then. I have IS
specifically for those situations. It works well.


IS (mode 1) or monopod: my point is you use neither if your subject is
moving.

On Tue, 9 Jan 2007 14:05:26 -0800, Paul Mitchum wrote:

This reminds me of the 'poor-man's steadycam' project that's been
floating around for a while: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

Neat idea, especially for video, and one of them only costs about
as much as I paid for the monopod. But for a still camera, if I had
to carry that amount of weight I'd rather bring my tripod along.

Ian B wrote:
Hi,

Your expert opions are sought to help me decide on which type of monopod
would suit my situation best. I have just bought a Finepix S5600 Zoom (10x)
and take photos of my son's Rugby Team. I have thought about getting a
monopod, but there seems to be 2 main types, either with a 'proper' tripod
head, or just a screw fit direct on handle. I am swayed towards the Screw
handle type as I think this is suitable for me moving around a sports pitch
quite easily. I also think the Pan & Tilt Head would be a bit of overkill.
However, I would like your opinions before I buy, I might be missing a trick
somewhere.

Thanks,

Ian



I've used a Gitzo Monotrek for a couple years to good result. Its a
light duty 'walking stick' type monopod with a small ball head. The
ball head is a real help because often the angle the pod has to be
braced at wouldn't leave the camera pointed in the right direction. If
you want, the ball head can be removed and the camera screwed right to
the pod. -Guy

"Guy" wrote in message
. ..


Ian B wrote:
Hi,

Your expert opions are sought to help me decide on which type of monopod
would suit my situation best. I have just bought a Finepix S5600 Zoom
(10x) and take photos of my son's Rugby Team. I have thought about
getting a monopod, but there seems to be 2 main types, either with a
'proper' tripod head, or just a screw fit direct on handle. I am swayed
towards the Screw handle type as I think this is suitable for me moving
around a sports pitch quite easily. I also think the Pan & Tilt Head
would be a bit of overkill. However, I would like your opinions before I
buy, I might be missing a trick somewhere.

Thanks,

Ian

I've used a Gitzo Monotrek for a couple years to good result. Its a light
duty 'walking stick' type monopod with a small ball head. The ball head
is a real help because often the angle the pod has to be braced at
wouldn't leave the camera pointed in the right direction. If you want, the
ball head can be removed and the camera screwed right to the pod. -Guy

Thanks to everyone for all the replies, has certainly given me some ideas,
and something to think about. Will hopefully try out the camera this
weekend, a test session should let me know if I need a monopod or not. I
think if I do go for one it would have a tilt head (ball & socket).

Thanks again,

Ian

just bob wrote

IS (mode 1) or monopod: my point is you use neither if your subject is
moving.

IS mode 2. Specifically for moving subjects.

Chris

Ian B wrote:
Your expert opions are sought to help me decide on which type of monopod
would suit my situation best. I have just bought a Finepix S5600 Zoom (10x)
and take photos of my son's Rugby Team. I have thought about getting a
monopod, but there seems to be 2 main types, either with a 'proper' tripod
head, or just a screw fit direct on handle. I am swayed towards the Screw
handle type as I think this is suitable for me moving around a sports pitch
quite easily. I also think the Pan & Tilt Head would be a bit of overkill.
However, I would like your opinions before I buy, I might be missing a trick
somewhere.

Usually the stock head is screw-mounted, so there's not really much
difference. The kind with the head is simply a package deal, not a
different type of monopod.

I got a super-light tripod that came with a small ball-head. Then I
bought a Gitzo monopod with just a screw. Move the small head to
the monopod, put a better head on the tripod, and all is right
with the world.


--
--Bryan

"just bob" kilbyfan@aoldotcom wrote in message
...


And I'm going to guess if you were trying to shoot something which was
moving you would not use your monopod at all (or your tripod unless you
had a big Wimberley head or similar)

Why wouldn't you use a monopod to shoot something moving? That will come as
news to pretty much every sports shooter on the planet.
I'd say these subjects were moving...
http://www.pbase.com/skipm/image/44142570
I'll concede that you'd probably not use a tripod, but not use a monopod?
What do you think is under all those monster lenses at sporting events?

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm

"Ian B" wrote in message
...

"Guy" wrote in message
. ..


Ian B wrote:
Hi,

Your expert opions are sought to help me decide on which type of monopod
would suit my situation best. I have just bought a Finepix S5600 Zoom
(10x) and take photos of my son's Rugby Team. I have thought about
getting a monopod, but there seems to be 2 main types, either with a
'proper' tripod head, or just a screw fit direct on handle. I am swayed
towards the Screw handle type as I think this is suitable for me moving
around a sports pitch quite easily. I also think the Pan & Tilt Head
would be a bit of overkill. However, I would like your opinions before I
buy, I might be missing a trick somewhere.

Thanks,

Ian

I've used a Gitzo Monotrek for a couple years to good result. Its a light
duty 'walking stick' type monopod with a small ball head. The ball head
is a real help because often the angle the pod has to be braced at
wouldn't leave the camera pointed in the right direction. If you want,
the ball head can be removed and the camera screwed right to the
pod. -Guy

Thanks to everyone for all the replies, has certainly given me some ideas,
and something to think about. Will hopefully try out the camera this
weekend, a test session should let me know if I need a monopod or not. I
think if I do go for one it would have a tilt head (ball & socket).

Thanks again,

Ian

I have a Manfrotto tilt head on mine, not a ball head. It lets me tilt the
camera without losing other aspects of its orientation.
I use this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation
But this one might work just as well:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm

Skip wrote

... monster ...

Key word

Chris