Goygal67 Loc: Crete, Illinois

I want to purchase a monopod and would appreciate advice.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Make sure it is tall enough so you don't get a sore neck when using it.
I use ones with flip locks instead of twist locks as it is easier to adjust when the monopod or your hands are wet.

Welcome to the forums.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You should also consider the head (ball vs tilt) and the method to attach to your camera. Have you considered an L-plate for your camera body, lens plates for you lens collars and quick release clamp for your monopod?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I really recommend two sizes of monopod - one small and one larger. I like to use the smaller one for using as a body pod and car pod. Normal monopods do not collapse small enough for these applications. Here is the commercial small one I recommend - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Manfrotto-Compact-Aluminum-Monopod-Advanced-6-61lbs-Capacity-Black/391693621612?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372 - I make my own version of a short pod adjustable from the top used as a body pod and car pod.

In full size monopods, I like the one hand adjustable Manfro 685 neotek.

The head I recommend pans at the top so the pod can be off straight vertical and still make a horizontal pan. - https://www.ebay.com/itm/VH-10-2-Way-Fluid-Video-Tilt-Head-360-Panoramic-Ball-Head-For-Tripod-Monopod/322655168431?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

Recently, I began putting a PVC "T" on the bottom of my monopods for extra stability and control. The pod below is a larger version of my bodypod and of my own manufacture and also adjustable from the top like the Manfro 685.

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(Download)

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Welcome to the forum. My vote would be for a Carbon Fiber one. Tell me your budget and be glad to suggest some Monopods.

Goygal67 Loc: Crete, Illinois

I should of given more information. I have a 5D Mark 1V. I have an L bracket on it. My biggest lens is 100-400 and I have an Acratech GP-U Ballhead. I do not know if I need a different bullhead for a monopod or not.

Goygal67 Loc: Crete, Illinois

Budget? Not more than $300.

CO

I hope you have better luck than I when it comes to using a monopod. I'm steady but there's always some motion blur in the horizontal direction in my photos. This is even with a shutter speed of 1/250 second. I zoom in on details and I can see that it's free of motion blur vertically but there's still blur in the horizontal direction. Maybe other people have better success with it.

I can see how imagemeister's design with adding the "T" at the bottom would add stability. I work in a machine shop. I might construct one like that.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I got the cheap one that B&H had on sale for $20. It isn't the best on the market but it is about 5'6" fully extended and collapses to about 2'. It can also be used as a walking stick and has 4 or 5 sections and a camera screw for fastening the camera to. It isn't the best but it does provide support and can be used alone for walking/hiking. And it is all aluminum. I got one for ma and a second for the wife. I figured that it works and if we like it and want better, then we can buy the better one later. It's a Walkabout Air and made in China.

Radioactive Loc: Bellingham

I have had little luck with a monopod and a long lens as well. I have to use a tripod, no big deal.
Bill

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

I recently purchased this one and really like it. Very sturdy and plenty tall enough. Flip out feet give more support when needed and can be removed .

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IEY4HZC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Less than $70 and bought a Neewer tilt head on ebay for less than $40. Nice combination for not much cash.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

This topic is just on my mind too right now. Planning a trip to Hawaii and wonder if having a monopod will be worthwhile. D810 with 70-200 f4 VR longest lens. Thanks for the feedback.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

I also do not recommend a ballhead for a monopod as things go all wonky when trying to adjust. I use a tilt head and also my gimbal head. Most of these come with a wrist strap which I found to be a pain. So I bought another neck strap just like the one I have on my camera. It has very safe clips to connect and the strap is padded. I connected the two clip ends to the monopod and now I can put the strap around my neck and can easily use whichever hand I need to for camera adjustment.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPJV872/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I've found a ballhead to be too loose for a monopod, but it may be fine your needs, if you can control the tightness. The comments from others about not having success is not consistent with my experience where a monopod has been superior. You should keep your IS active when using a monopod. As shown in one of the attached images, you can build one out of PVC pipe ... For the reference to the Acratech GP-U Ballhead, are proposing to move this back n forth between a tripod? I'd rather have heads / clamps that remain on their own specific equipment, a ball head on my tripod and a tilt head on my monopod.

For models, it needs to be relatively rigid and easy and quick to extend and retract. If it bows / wobbles under the weight of the camera & lens, that might be a reason for the disappointments expressed by others. I let the weight rest onto the monopod and tilt the camera and monopod as needed, maybe a reason for the proposed T-foot in the example for control. So the rubber quality of the foot is important on hard services and it's pointyness is important on grass.

If you google 'best monopod', the Sirui SUP204SR appears at or near the top of three the lists I checked. This one has three feet that can be removed to also use just the spike, when desired. I would give it a consideration if I needed to replace my almost 20-year old ProMaster model that appears similar to the Slik Professional Heavy-Duty Alloy Monopod. I use the RRS MH-01 gives a large "handle" both as a hand-hold and for easily tightening / loosening the tilt head. Typically, I need the head tilted up, level or down, and then I move the entire camera / monopod for fine adjustments where a ball head wouldn't seem necessary.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I personally prefer a Carbon Fiber monopod and have models from both RRS and Gitzo. Both are excellent and can be found just under, or slightly over your $300 figure. Again, personally, I prefer the heavier duty versions as I normally mount a D5 with a Nikon 400/2.8. I do have a couple of Monfrotto (Bogen) aluminum versions which are very functional and much less expensive. As for heads, I use only RRS gear for this purpose, but I do also have a Wimberley gimbal. Best of luck