Tips on Using Monopod: Just got a new monopod. This one is pretty sturdy and has a simple swivel head to attach the camera/lens (Manfroto 679B). Went for three section to make setup...

MtnMan Loc: ID

Just got a new monopod. This one is pretty sturdy and has a simple swivel head to attach the camera/lens (Manfroto 679B). Went for three section to make setup quicker. Will be using on African Safari with Nikon 200-500 lens.

Advice on how to best stabilize it?

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Lean your body or hand with the lens in it against something,kneel down,sit on a guard rail or anywhere else. I use a Manfrotto 234RC and a 357 for the larger lenses on my mono.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

MtnMan wrote:

Just got a new monopod. This one is pretty sturdy and has a simple swivel head to attach the camera/lens (Manfroto 679B). Went for three section to make setup quicker. Will be using on African Safari with Nikon 200-500 lens.

Advice on how to best stabilize it?

Placing your hand on top of the lens hood will help also.

#1 As per the pro on this side of the fence.

Monopod stability

(Download)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

MtnMan wrote:

Just got a new monopod. This one is pretty sturdy and has a simple swivel head to attach the camera/lens (Manfroto 679B). Went for three section to make setup quicker. Will be using on African Safari with Nikon 200-500 lens.

Advice on how to best stabilize it?

I'm sure youtube has some videos that would be quite helpful with this.
--Bob

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

rmalarz wrote:

I'm sure youtube has some videos that would be quite helpful with this.
--Bob

Good thought, I'll check later. :thumbup:

Jim Bob

MtnMan wrote:

Just got a new monopod. This one is pretty sturdy and has a simple swivel head to attach the camera/lens (Manfroto 679B). Went for three section to make setup quicker. Will be using on African Safari with Nikon 200-500 lens.

Advice on how to best stabilize it?

It's not rocket science. Experiment to find what's the most stable position for you. Geesus.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Thanks for the suggestions so far. There are indded plenty of videos. Alas, they do not agree.

I'm inclined to favor this guy's advice because he is an archery shooting expert. I used to flail a bit with a bow so understand the analogy. Don't watch this if you are offended by crude language, though.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W_z8YpESfJg

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Get yourself a few 6" bungie cords from the H Depot. You can wrap your monopod to rails. I have had friends take bean bag pads as an alternative for stabilization in the safari vehicles.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Jim Bob wrote:

It's not rocket science. Experiment to find what's the most stable position for you. Geesus.

What's your problem Jim Bob? Is the UHH Forum not a good place to ask questions about most anything photography related. Geesus.
Marion

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

There are basically two types of vehicles used on African safaris, the pop-top vans or land rovers, and the open-top tiered-seating jeeps used in the south. If you will be in the former you won't have much use for a monopod. A bean bag will be more useful. If you will be in a tiered jeep vehicle you should take some bungi cords with you to secure the monopod to the frame of the super structure. My monopod is a Gitzo model GM3551 which opens up to 6 ft 4 in in length with the extra 3.5 inches of the Kirk MPA2 monopod head it is over 6.5 ft in length. This allows me to rest it on the ground if sitting in the right seat. This can help compensate for other photographers wiggling around in the vehicle.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Jim Bob wrote:

It's not rocket science. Experiment to find what's the most stable position for you. Geesus.

Its not that simple. He is going on a safari and, unless he is going to one of those expensive private game reserves, he will be shooting from a vehicle. Stabilizing a monopod in a vehicle is much different than when standing on the ground.

MtnMan Loc: ID

mcveed wrote:

Its not that simple. He is going on a safari and, unless he is going to one of those expensive private game reserves, he will be shooting from a vehicle. Stabilizing a monopod in a vehicle is much different than when standing on the ground.

We'll be doing walking, boating, and vehicles. The monopod is mostly intended for walking but could be useful in some vehicles...if they shut it off for shooting. But even then prople will move around.

I'll throw in some bugies.

MtnMan Loc: ID

mcveed wrote:

There are basically two types of vehicles used on ... (show quote)

I think it will mostly be the tiered seating things. We are going to several camps so may be a variety. There is likely to be some shooting right from the camp.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

MtnMan wrote:

We'll be doing walking, boating, and vehicles. The monopod is mostly intended for walking but could be useful in some vehicles...if they shut it off for shooting. But even then prople will move around.

I'll throw in some bugies.

Enjoy your trip MtnMan. And thanx for the video link.
I have a monopod in the garage, that I never use because I never had much luck with it. Now that I watched the video you provided, I'm going to get it out and learn how to use it. Nothing much beats my tripod, but sometimes tripods are not allowed in places, and should not be allowed in some places where we're allowed to use them. The local museum comes to mind.

Marion

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

MtnMan wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions so far. There are indded plenty of videos. Alas, they do not agree.

I'm inclined to favor this guy's advice because he is an archery shooting expert. I used to flail a bit with a bow so understand the analogy. Don't watch this if you are offended by crude language, though.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W_z8YpESfJg

MM, I guess who this was going to be, from your description, before I even clicked on the link. That guy is something.
--Bob