Tripod or Monopod ?

[Trecky]

I have a Velbon Sherpa 250R tripod but I find it quite heavy to carry around with all my camera gear as well. We have planned a cruise and time in Singapore in January, so I am looking for something that is lighter in weight and more versatile.
Has anyone used a monopod or does anyone have a suggestion as what to buy.

I have a Canon 500D with a 70-200mm ef 1.4 L zoom lens and have found I just can't keep it steady enough to stop that camera shake. I am looking at buying a new macro lens this year so something that would help with both lenses would be great.

Any help much appreciated.

Lee

[Mary Anne]

I use my manfrotto monopod every time I pick my camera up it has a Slik Trigger Style Ball Head on it.
Its coming in my suitcase when we go overseas in two weeks.

[Trecky]

Thanks heaps Mary Anne, I am beginning to think the Monopod is the way to go for travelling.

[peterb666]

I have a Manfrotto monopod with a Slik ball head on it and rarely ever use it now. The main problem I have is that I tend to do a lot of 2 second and longer exposures so a monopod isn't really that useful.

[val2002]

Hey Lee, If you really do have a 70-200mm ef 1.4 L zoom lens then you probably wouldn't need a tripod or monopod at all But I'm guessing you have the f4 version. I've got an old Manfrotto tripod and monopod as well. I use the the heads which have the same quick release plates on both. But I find I only use them once in a blue moon. So I probably wouldn't go to the trouble of taking them on a holiday especially when you factor in the added hassle of packing and carrying it everywhere you go.

Another suggestion would be to save the money up for the IS version of the lens or bump up the iso so you can get a faster shutter speed. Perhaps practise better shooting/breathing techniques to minimise shake when you press the shutter button might be of use too.

[peterb666]

If you really do have a 70-200mm ef 1.4 L zoom lens then you probably wouldn't need a tripod or monopod at all

A trolley with wheels would be a better option.

[ving]

MANFROTTO 682b
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/2372

[Trecky]

Thanks everyone, I think I will do a bit more experimenting to try and stop the camera shake before I spend any more money. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Cheers

[Brian500au]

Hi, I have a small manfrotto monopod with one of the smallest tilt heads I use soley for travel photography. It easily folds down to about 500mm and will fit in either my suitcase or my back pack. There are just times when you are traveling you really do need something to lean your lens or camera on. I have found if I really need a slow shutter then I can brace the monopod against a ledge to give me a little more stabilty. When traveling I would not leave home without one.

[kiwi]

Actually I wouldn't mind a very compact and light tripod for travelling too, I often just have hand luggage, any suggestions


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[bigdazzler]

Actually I wouldn't mind a very compact and light tripod for travelling too, I often just have hand luggage, any suggestions

This .. might have to sell a kidney though.

[Kerry]

Actually I wouldn't mind a very compact and light tripod for travelling too, I often just have hand luggage, any suggestions


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Had a look at this and quite liked it for travel and plan on buying it before my next trip..

http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod5645.htm

[kiwi]

Hmm, will check that out some more, ta


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[peterb666]

This .. might have to sell a kidney though.

Great little tripod and you have 2 kidneys anyway.

They have my perfect tripod too... Ocean Traveller

Unfortunately, I checked the Australian price and I doubt I would get the $1600 necessary for one of my kidneys. I draw the line at buying a tripod that is worth more than my camera.

[coolie21]

A trolley with wheels would be a better option.

Like this one?

[Trecky]

Wow that's nifty.

[Trecky]

Thanks everyone for the help, much appreciated.

Lee

[wattsgallery]

Hmm, will check that out some more, ta


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Interested to see what you decide on Kiwi. I am finding the Manfrotto a bit heavy for all day/night carrying but do appreciate the tripod for longer exposures and want it to be able to hold a decent weight.

[Xenedis]

I have both a tripod and a monopod, and for what I shoot, it's either tripod-based (ie, 'scapes, often with long exposures) or hand-held (portraits, bands, etc.).

I don't find a monopod to be particularly useful for anything I do, even though I have a super-telephoto lens (300/2.8L IS). I hand-hold that.

IMO and IME, a monopod is most suitable for providing extra stability for what would otherwise be a hand-held shot, when light is lower or the focal length is sufficiently long to easily result in unintentional camera-induced motion blur.

Sports photographers often use monopods with long teles to stabilise a lens (which may not be easily hand-held, and the staple 400/2.8 certainly meets that criterion), and also as a resting platform.

For anything which requires quite long shutter speeds (insufficient for hand-holding even with optical stabilisation), a tripod is the solution.

[mkooper]

I actually use a bean bag and find something to rest the camera on. You can also get a clamp from Manfrotto that is versatile enough to clamp on to various structures.

Don't fill the bean bag with rice, use the beans from an actual bean-bag instead - much lighter to carry. The additional benefit is that you can use th "pillow" as a neck rest on long flights.

http://www.photobeanbags.com/page2.html