old hippy Loc: Kentucky hills

Have a good quality mono and head. I've tried using it but, feel it's about as unsteady as hand held. I have a D600 and use fast primes. Trying to deceide to sell it or not. I've use it once in a year. Any feedback welcome. Thanks Ed

mikedidi46 Loc: WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA

I have found that is I can keep it firm to the ground and leaning up against my body, it works fine. I use it when I travel as it is easier than a tripod

Menkaure Loc: Michigan

I use mine all the time. Cramped areas where a tripod will not fit. My Grandkids do a lot of stuff at school where we have to sit in theater-like seats. Monopod is perfect for that.

amehta Loc: Boston

I use mine a lot, but no head. It definitely makes my shots sharper when I need slower shutter speeds than the "1/(focal length) rule". It lets me keep my ISO low, which I prefer.

I'm not sure you'd get much money for it.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I've wedged mine in rocks, tied it to railings on a ship with a bungee cord, used it to elevate the camera 8' above a rock and in a whole host of places.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

You may feel a bit unsteady with the pod due to posture. Try this (if you haven't already)

Stand with feet about 18" apart, and the base of the monopod about 18" in front of you. I assume your camera is mounted on a head of some sort so the camera can be levelled.

If the monopod is held bolt upright it is more likely to wobble and feel uncomfortable.

busted_shutter

Need to learn how to use it. Not as a "walking stick" with camera perched on top, but as the front leg of a tripod with your legs as the other two. Then I lean into it. So much more versatile(for me anyway), than a tripod.

chrisewers Loc: born UK. live in USA.

saw a really cool one a ski pole with a threaded hole for camera shoe on top of handle.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Hip, welcome to the Hog!
Hey, I have two of them and never use them. I prefer my travel pod with the legs folded. That way I have a tripod too.
For me, the fact that I can never let go of it makes it not worth it. I find they make a poor excuse for a tripod! Some swear by them. You want two more?! Good luck. ;-)
SS

old hippy Loc: Kentucky hills

Same boat, thanks for the reply. Ed

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Ed, here is my way of using a monopod, originally posted in another thread:

The following is not the only way to use a monopod, maybe even not the best, but it works for me and many professionals I know. If you have a camera with only an LCD screen and no viewfinder, this set of instructions will not work for you; you must have a viewfinder. The instructions below are written as though this was THE way to use a monopod. I hope some of you find them useful:

To begin, you must have a head on your monopod that will allow you to tilt your camera forward. The monopod should be long enough so that, when fully extended, the optical or electronic viewfinder of your camera, on the tilt head on your monopod is slightly higher than your eye, that's right higher. Now stand with your feet approximately shoulder with apart with both feet flat. Position the monopod approximately one foot in front of the toes of your shoes and centered on your body. Now, here's where the tilt head comes in. Tilt the monopod backward toward your face and, at the same time, tilt the camera forward so it remains level. Without bending your knees, lean forward so a small portion of your weight is on the monopod. Adjust the distance of the monopod in front of you (and, at the same time, adjust the tilt of the camera) so that when you lock your eye into the viewfinder, you are leaning forward slightly. The monopod and your two legs should form a TRIPOD. The last word in the previous sentence, the one in all caps is the secret to using the monopod. Quite simply, the monopod is not a vertical support of your camera, it is the third leg of a highly effective tripod. Good luck!
------------Originally Posted 05/28/2013

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

One way is to use a shoulder brace, I use a Manfrotto monopod (681B) and I have the Manfrotto shoulder brace attached to it, and it is just about as stable, as putting your rig on a tripod.

Add Loc: S.W.Florida

Try leaning it on something. If all else fails,use it not extended and put the base inside your belt or just inside the top of your pants. My monopod goes everywhere,tripod stays home except when I shoot video.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This is very good advice - I would just add that if you can make the monopod come into your chest/stomach it will add stability - also , I recommend an extended eyepiece for your camera if it will accept one - and make this eyepiece rest against your eyebrow when tripping the shutter.........
There are two ways/reasons for using a monopod. One is if you have a large heavy lens that you mostly want to hold up while using a fast shutter speed. The other is, when you have a smaller/shorter focal length lens where you will be using a slower shutter speed. This second scenerio is where you really have to concentrate on making a tripod with your legs and putting your body/face against the monopod/camera. These are what is commonly refered to as "sharpness techniques".

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This is what I use - especially for smaller/lighter setups.......