lightyear

I use tripod when possible, monopod when not. On Monopod, never less than 1/125. I use an Arca-Swiss style clamp on the monopod, make sure it is solidly on the ground, and see no motion artifact on images. I have a firm, collapsible Manfrotto aluminum pod, and also a similar Induro carbon fiber pod which is lighter. There are flimsy monopods which are useless since they wobble.

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

I also use all arca-swiss. I find the weight of the lens on the large Gitzo monopod is plenty stable. You get what you pay for with a tripod & that holds true with a monopod.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Just holding the camera on the tripod in front of you allows too much movement. I look for ways to limit movement. One way that works is to sit down with the monopod extended out in front of you and to place one foot over the bottom of the monopod. And to then let the camera rest against your face to limit more movement as you look through to viewfinder. The adapter Imagemeister proposed would work good for this. But even without it, use your head to limit motion.

If you have to stand, look for ways to anchor that tripod. The foot needs to be firmly planted and if you can lean the monopod against something solid, you can get things really steady.

But I never just free stand with the camera out in front of me. You have to be clever in ways to anchor that monopod.

And if you can get good at finding ways to anchor the monopod, it really doesn't matter whether the tripod is a cheapie or top of the line. If the monopod has nowhere to move, you will get good images.

By the way, I did buy one of those monopods with the fancy feet on the bottom. Those feet are now removed. They offered no advantage. Went back to my usual methods.

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

Ahemmmm . . . Isn't it amazing what you can do by using your head? . . .

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

I have a monopod that has feet. They never seem to add anything except things to get in the way of my feet

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Providing you have a high-quality monopod that is made of sturdy material and well crafted, and not an under-engineered model that looks and feels like a "selfie stick" its performance rests wit to you. It's all in the name "MONO-POD", one-legged (actually one foot) "support" and YOU provide the other two legs. The proper technique depends on your sense of balance, dexterity, strength, and agility. If you lack someof the aforementioned attributes, you will learn to work around and deficits and manage to support your camera at reasonably slower shutter speeds, possibly with longs and heavier lenses. It ain't a tripod but it can come close with studied and practiced usage. It is impractical for extremely long exposures- even 1/2 a second is stretching it.

Since not all of us humans are constructed the same way, there's no magical stance that will work for everyone under every condition, but if you follow the guidelines in that Wiki how-to link, you can learn the basic drill, get it down pat, and then modify to you your own abilities and working conditions.

I do recommend one of those single-handidly operating ball heads so that you can shoot at all the required and still maintain a good grip and access the viewfinder easily and comfortably.

Also- unless you are shooting on a vast, flat, treeless, plane or a desert, or the moon, you can always lash or bolster your monopod to something like a tree, pose, stump, part of your car, a building, or a rock for extra support, I keep a bungee cord in my pocket for that purpose.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I bought a really nice Manfrotto monopod several years ago and haven't used it once.
Apart from the odd shot, I rarely even use my tripod..I find my DSLRs and my mirrorless do just fine hand held.
Even the night photography I do I just lean on the car or a nearby wall, etc, whatever is handy. A lot I find I can hand hold.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

As Paul mentioned, keep Stabilization ON ! Another good tip is to wrap a couple velcro straps with buckles around pod when in general use... they come in handy when you want to strap pod onto a fence rail, pole, or anything you can attach it to...

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

In situations that require a tripod for stability I think that a monopod is rarely a good option. My 200-500 is exactly the kind of thing I use the monopod, (with the Wimberly monogimbal), for. I’m usually shooting speeds that I could shoot handheld. I actually shoot that lens handheld, but if there’s a nest I’m watching or anything else where I might be training the lens on for an extended period the monopod is very useful. As for a lightweight tripod substitute I find the platypod can be great if there’s a decent place to set up.

delder Loc: Maryland

Great Idea!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Some venues do not allow for the use of tripods such as boats, boardwalks, etc, and often wildlife will not wait for deployment of a tripod.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Apparently you missed my point. I do use a monopod. Just not where stability for longer exposures is required. If I’m shooting wildlife I’m generally gonna be shooting at a high enough speed that no tripod is required. A monopod is great for support but not so great for stability. With modern cameras you can usually push the ISO in those situations.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I was merely adding to your thoughts, so apparently you missed mine.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Regarding all this talk about monopods. I have about 6 of them. Several I even made from expandible paint roller handles from HomeDepot. And some were more expensive dedicated monopods that I bought.

The bottom line is that I can get good results from any of them IF I work on proper anchoring techniques. You need to be creative, but there are usually ways you can improve upon what you might be able to do just holding it by hand in front of you. If the foot is firmly anchored and you can find something you can lean the monopod against, it will surprise you how steady you can hold it.

Just remember. It's not a tripod. It will need help from something else that is steady. For instance, with the foot firmly planted, you can lean the monopod against a fence post where you firmly hold it against the post, or use a bungee cord if you prefer. Use the monopod to support the camera and something borrowed for stability. And even your forehead counts as something more steady than just your hands!

It works.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Remove them. I haven't ever missed the ones I removed. Also, for a monopod I intend to use outdoors, I like to have a sharp tip on the end that I can poke into the ground a bit so that I get a good anchor. Indoors, that tip would be a problem.