Monopods: with or without a head: I'm curious about using a monopod without a head. I've always used a tilt head for side-to-side adjustments, but I know some prefer to attach the...

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

I'm curious about using a monopod without a head. I've always used a tilt head for side-to-side adjustments, but I know some prefer to attach the monopod directly to the camera. What do you see as the advantages of your method of choice, and if you attach directly, how do you handle situations when tilting it forward or backward will not give you the angle you want?

Thanks!

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I have done it both ways. They both work. No tilt head may be a bit awkward sometimes but I would not say you can not. You just have to lean the pod where you need it while pushing it down for traction. I use the wrist strap for that to help secure it to the ground. Others may disagree, of course, but I've found it manageable.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

For me a tilt head (up down only) is needed to fully utilize a monopod.
By the way, a true tilt head only goes up and down, side-to-side would be a pan head.
Have a look at the Manfrotto 234 Monopod Tilt Head to see what I mean.
Side to side movement is achieved by simply rotating the monopod.
Without the tilt head the amount of up-down movement is very limited.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

rwilson1942 wrote:

For me a tilt head (up down only) is needed to fully utilize a monopod.
By the way, a true tilt head only goes up and down, side-to-side would be a pan head.
Have a look at the Manfrotto 234 Monopod Tilt Head to see what I mean.
Side to side movement is achieved by simply rotating the monopod.
Without the tilt head the amount of up-down movement is very limited.

That's exactly what I do. If fact, that may well be the head I have on my monopod. Thanks.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

pesfls wrote:

I have done it both ways. They both work. No tilt head may be a bit awkward sometimes but I would not say you can not. You just have to lean the pod where you need it while pushing it down for traction. I use the wrist strap for that to help secure it to the ground. Others may disagree, of course, but I've found it manageable.

Thank you.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Rab-Eye wrote:

Thank you.

The other gentleman makes valid points. I should have said manageable but with real limitations. Why not put your body on it without the tilt head and fiddle around and see what you think. Worth a stab.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

pesfls wrote:

The other gentleman makes valid points. I should have said manageable but with real limitations. Why not put your body on it without the tilt head and fiddle around and see what you think. Worth a stab.

Can’t hurt. Thanks.

Bill_de Loc: US

From someone who never used a monopod, how big/heavy a lens is practical?

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rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Bill_de wrote:

From someone who never used a monopod, how big/heavy a lens is practical?

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I recently shot all morning with a Nikon D850 and Tamron 70-200, which got heavier as the day wore on. A Monopod supports the weight nicely..

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Bill_de wrote:

From someone who never used a monopod, how big/heavy a lens is practical?

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The limit is probably whatever you can handle, but the heavier the lens/camera, the more important balance becomes.

toxdoc42

I use my trek/monopod if I don't need to tilt. I have a fully operational head if I need the equivalent of a tripod.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

toxdoc42 wrote:

I use my trek/monopod if I don't need to tilt. I have a fully operational head if I need the equivalent of a tripod.

Serious question: how do you know in advance if you'll need to tilt? In some situations I’m sure you’ll know, but not always, I would think.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

rwilson1942 wrote:

For me a tilt head (up down only) is needed to fully utilize a monopod.
By the way, a true tilt head only goes up and down, side-to-side would be a pan head.
Have a look at the Manfrotto 234 Monopod Tilt Head to see what I mean.
Side to side movement is achieved by simply rotating the monopod.
Without the tilt head the amount of up-down movement is very limited.

I agree and use mine with the 70-200, 200-500 and 150-600. The 234 was borderline for use with the heavier lenses, so I switched to an RRS MH-01 LR and have been very satisfied.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Rab-Eye wrote:

That's exactly what I do. If fact, that may well be the head I have on my monopod. Thanks.

Good.
I was confused because you said you used the tilt head for side-to-side adjustments in your original post.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

rwilson1942 wrote:

Good.
I was confused because you said you used the tilt head for side-to-side adjustments in your original post.

I supposed I used the wrong terminology. Just a question of how I orient the camera to the head that moves only on two axes.