Monopod/Tripod Extension: Does anyone know if they make extension tubes for a monopod to attach to the top? It would be useful when photographing birds in tree tops. I'm to shaky to...

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

Does anyone know if they make extension tubes for a monopod to attach to the top? It would be useful when photographing birds in tree tops. I'm to shaky to hand hold the camera. No I don't want to buy a longer monopod.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Never seen such a contraption. Thats usually what VR lenses are meant for. Best solution might be a Steadi-Cam unit, but they will cost as much or more than your camera did.

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

Manfrotto makes a shoulder brace for about $25.00 but I haven't seen an extension.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

Frank T wrote:

Manfrotto makes a shoulder brace for about $25.00 but I haven't seen an extension.

Thanks, I have that brace on a monopod, it helps.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

MT Shooter wrote:

Never seen such a contraption. Thats usually what VR lenses are meant for. Best solution might be a Steadi-Cam unit, but they will cost as much or more than your camera did.

I'm in the process of making a 9" extension from a old cutoff tripod leg and attaching a ball head on top. Thanks, but am I the only one that needs this? What about the ones that bought a monopod or tripod that wish they had bought a higher one.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

wkscheer wrote:

MT Shooter wrote:

Never seen such a contraption. Thats usually what VR lenses are meant for. Best solution might be a Steadi-Cam unit, but they will cost as much or more than your camera did.

I'm in the process of making a 9" extension from a old cutoff tripod leg and attaching a ball head on top. Thanks, but am I the only one that needs this? What about the ones that bought a monopod or tripod that wish they had bought a higher one.

I am 6'5" tall, have one tripod that goes to 7' and one that goes to 9'. Only one 6' monopod and I don't even carry that for wildlife shooting. My first tripod was only a 5 footer, I learned real fast that you had to buy accessories that you could grow with and that lasted forever, both my tripods are over 30 years old now, and I bought the 7' one used.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

MT Shooter wrote:

quote=wkscheer quote=MT Shooter Never seen such ... (show quote)

I'm still growing but in the wrong direction. Soon I will have to put a bend in my monopod. I have a solid mount monopod mounted in the center on my vehicle so I can take pictures out the passenger window. That works real well for waterfowl. If I can't find things I build them. My fellow wildlife photographer also calls my inventions contraptions.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

I've never seen one, and nor has my wife Frances Schultz, who has covered tripods for Shutterbug magazine for many years. The only answer we can think of is to make one, but it's not hard. A piece of light alloy rod with 1/4 inch female threads at either end will accept the monopod at one end and a piece of studding (to accept the head) at the other. A diameter of 20-25mm (0.8-1.0 inch) should be ideal. Any jobbing machine shop should be able to make such a thing cheaply.

A few tripods such as some Cullmanns have 'split' centre columns, so you might want to check e-bay too.

Cheers,

R.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

wkscheer wrote:

Does anyone know if they make extension tubes for a monopod to attach to the top? It would be useful when photographing birds in tree tops. I'm to shaky to hand hold the camera. No I don't want to buy a longer monopod.

I don't know if this is what you are looking for but Nodal Ninja makes tripod extension poles for shooting elevated panoramas:

http://store.nodalninja.com/categories/Pano-Poles/

They are not inexpensive but all Nodal Ninja hardware is high quality (on the order of Really Right Stuff). As always, good stuff is premium priced.

Your other option is DIY using an telescoping extension pole made for golf ball retrieval or window washing. You need to be concerned about the weight of the camera.
Try searching Google or YouTube or:

http://www.diyphotography.net/

Good luck :thumbup:

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

Why not make your own out of PVC pipe? But make it fit the bottom, not the top. Use the smallest diameter pipe your monopod will fit in. Another trick that I have made for when I want my camera to go real high is a pool cleaner pole. (The pretty blue ones.) Simply cut the seperate sections to suit you, using the handle part on the ground, then place your center tripod pole in the open end. Drill a hole through both and put a nut and bolt or large pin in the side to hold it in place. I had to shoot a high school basketball game a few times. I put my camera on the pole then raised the camera over the back board pointing towards the player. Got some great shots that way. I used my long shutter cable to snap the shots. I think it was less than $20 for the whole thing. The poles come in different sizes also.

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

I'm 6' tall, and the cheapo monopod I got at Wally World goes up high enough to get treetop birds - with that shoulder brace, you can cheat a tilt a little for more elevation, too.

docflhtc

I've seen extensions for both made out of PVC. Both were on the bottom of the legs and a little creativity should get you there with a little thought.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

picturedude wrote:

Why not make your own out of PVC pipe? But make it... (show quote)

I enjoy reading how other people make things, thanks. I did make an extension from part of a old tripod leg. I used a 3/8 inch rod with a female coupler on one end. Finding the right size washers for inside the tube was the hard part. The metal leg adjustment end holds everything in place. Its about 6" long or 10" with the ball head. It attaches to the shoulder brace on the monopod, thus the 3/8 threads. Cost me nothing except time. I had all the parts.

all the parts

6 inch extension

snowy owl

bigphotog

I use a product from filmtools.com it's a mini hi hat it comes in @6in. and a 10in. You can stack them to get any hight you desire.
They are well made and can suport a heavy camera 20lb+
they have 3/8 stud and hole and consist of three small rods atached to a round plate on each end that is drilld for 3/8.
They are made to mount cameras on diffrent mounts you can get the ph# from the web site.
I don't know if it's on the site sos you woll have to talk to a sales rep. It is a Fillmtools brand.
Also Gitzo makes a tall mono-pod but the taller the the pod the smaller the diamiter for the last leg .

Dave.

Old Tom Loc: South Fort Myers

Instead of increasing the mono-pod length perhaps sit down and the Mono-pod is now above your head.