planepics wrote:
If I hand-hold, is it best to hang on to the tripod collar with the left hand and shoot with the right (assuming I don't have to zoom)?
It is best not to touch the manual focus ring for fear of accidental focus shift from what the AF is calling for .....this assumes that you have full time manual focus with the lens.
BHC
Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
Don't use a ball head; use a Manfrotto 234RC tilt head.
joer wrote:
Some use a ball head on a monopod and are happy with it. For me its unstable. A tilt head is made for this purpose. Forward and back tilt is all you need since rotation can be done with the entire pod and camera.
The advantages are less cost, weight and better stability.
This is the option that I use on my Monistat Monopod (has a rotatable foot but it is no longer manufactured)
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
I have a ball head lieing around, didn't work for me o my tripod or monopod.
it works. try for yourself and see....to many opinions by to many people..just do it and see if it works for you
47greyfox
Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
No. Using a monopod allows you some flexibility in movement, but its best application is not 2 dimensional airshows. Now, if you were shooting sports, yes.
Totally agree! For the reasons, you never see people using monopods for BIF! They are, simply put, too restrictive. Not too mention that you're likely to smack yourself or someone around you. Not recommended!
BHC wrote:
Don't use a ball head; use a Manfrotto 234RC tilt head.
That's what I use on my monopod and would also recommend it.
I use a ball head on my monopod all the time, I keep it adjusted so I can move the camera with a little pressure on the camera (you will need to find out what adjustment works for you) I then extend it out all the way stand with my legs shoulder width apart and I place the mono pod at like a 45 degree angle infant of me (adjust angle so you can look through the view finder. This allows you to be stable and move up down, left and right.
I see a lot of people with the monopod perpendicular to the ground that is not just a stable position, give it a try. The good thing about airshows is you are outside and usually in good light so your shutter speeds should be fast enough to freeze motion.
Joecosentino wrote:
I use a ball head on my monopod all the time, I keep it adjusted so I can move the camera with a little pressure on the camera (you will need to find out what adjustment works for you) I then extend it out all the way stand with my legs shoulder width apart and I place the mono pod at like a 45 degree angle infant of me (adjust angle so you can look through the view finder. This allows you to be stable and move up down, left and right.
I see a lot of people with the monopod perpendicular to the ground that is not just a stable position, give it a try. The good thing about airshows is you are outside and usually in good light so your shutter speeds should be fast enough to freeze motion.
I use a ball head on my monopod all the time, I ke... (
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As with any camera/lens support system, they ALL work better/optimum when the camera/lens balance point is centered over the pivot point ! ESPECIALLY true for a ballhead.
Ball head on a monopod. How are you going to hold onto the monopod and adjust a ball head at the same time and take a picture. Tripping over tripod leg is the newest excuse I have for not using a tripod.
planepics wrote:
I don't recall if I ever asked this or not, but does it work well for airshows? I'm going to a week-long aviation convention in July and I'm wondering if it's worth using. I've tried using my monopod in other years, but I had never owned a ballhead and it was too awkward to try to use trying to sway and rotate to catch the action with the camera firmly attached. And I'm afraid I might end up tripping over my tripod legs. What I usually have been doing is just hand-shooting the acts and sitting down in-between. My rental lens (if the specs I read were correct) is going to be just shy of 2x heavier than my current long lens - Tamron SP 70-300 (765g) vs Sony 70-400 G2 (1500g). I'm tempted to rent an a77ii to go with it, but that'd end up costing me probably another $75 or more.
I don't recall if I ever asked this or not, but do... (
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Seems to me you'll be able to rotate and angle your camera/lens better when rigidly attached directly to the monopod. Consider the wasted time it will take to adjust and secure the ball head at the desired angle. Then consider that the selected angle will still constantly vary as the monopod shifts a few degrees in every direction. Finally, unless you have three arms, how do you hold the monopod upright and hold onto the camera while you are securing the ballhead? Maybe you should consider using a tripod.
How about making a string or chain stabilizer with added length for overhead panning shots. 1/4-20 threaded I bolt and nut threaded into your camera base and add the sash rope or small chain to it. Leave it long and just stand on the length you need. Upward pressure on the lense like you always do will help give the stability and it is quite flexible. Look it up on Y tube and you will see several examples. jerryj98501
Yes!
I do use a "ball-head" on the monopod. One reason is that the "quick-release" mount that I use (Manfrotto) Mount is on my "usual" tripod and I feel that I do not have the time and miss a shot in the unscrewing of the mount to use the screw on the monopod. So, I have a ball-head on the tripod AND the monopod - for easy and quick attachment.
Tilt head is much easier to use on a monopod in my experience. I like the Really Right Stuff one with a lever release and rotatable head for attaching the camera plate or a lens plate easily...
Best,
Todd Ferguson
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