Will Monopod Improve My Shots (Page 2): You are not in too bad of shape. A quick look at a DOF calculator tells me that if you shoot at 15 feet zoomed to 100 at f 5.6 you will still...

bleirer

Amadeus wrote:

The 2 lenses I have can only go to 4 for the Tamron and 3.5 for the Canon. I can't go wider than that. That's what I meant when I said I was locked in to aperture.

You are not in too bad of shape. A quick look at a DOF calculator tells me that if you shoot at 15 feet zoomed to 100 at f 5.6 you will still get about 1.5 feet of depth of field. So with autofocus you can have head and shoulders in focus but maybe not extended arms and legs.

cascoly Loc: seattle

monopod will definitely help and you can get good ones for about $20-30 -- (eg, amazon basics monopod + Altura ball head w quick release) I use mine for 90% of the pix I take and can take reliably sharp pix down to about 1/10". I can also handhold for 5 bracketed images for HDR

I place the monopod in my camera bag and extend the camera so the straps are tight, so i'm getting maximum support. by keeping the monopod in my bag I've been ok'd to take pix where monopods and tripods aren't allowed. also, using it this way, w minimal extension, the problems with a lightweight monopod are eliminated.

Amadeus Loc: New York

I appreciate all your responses. I'm going to attempt getting higher shutter speeds and if possible stop down the aperture also, from what bleirer had to say about increasing DOF. I really hadn't considered the DOF problems also.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

The monopod will be easier on your arms/shoulders, but won’t fix a blur problem caused by inadequate shutter speed. You need to be at 1/250 minimum and possibly 1/500, then subject or camera movement won’t be an issue. If the lighting in your gym causes that to result in an ISO that is too high (6400 should be usable with the 80D if you shoot raw and use some noise reduction in post), then your only option (other than going to FF) is a faster lens such as a 70-200 f2.8, 85 F1.8 or 135 f2. Indoor sports in poorly lit gyms are the most difficult shooting environments, requiring fast lenses, high ISO and fast shutter speed. You need to learn to shoot wide open with minimum DOF by utilizing careful focusing on your subject - it will isolate the subject from the background and allow you to use a higher shutter speed, which you need.

Amadeus Loc: New York

Thank you. That is what I am gathering from what everyone is saying. I realize a faster lens will certainly improve the pictures but high cost comes with high speed. I do think I will start shooting RAW though. I have been playing with it and I can see the advantages especially when shooting in the difficult environments. Again all the info is much appreciated.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Monopods are nice and look younger than using a cane, but for these flying girls you freeze them in flight will also take care of normal shaking hand. 1/125 - 1/250. My Panasonic TZ/ZS-100 takes video bursts 4K and you can select from the many frames from 30 f/s at 8 mp [expandable using PhotoZoom resolution enhancement.]

Adding inertia to the camera and improving grip is also helpful. A tennis ball filled with Plaster of Paris with a 1/4-20 screw and camera rubber washer snug nut is a simple assembly. The bolt should extend long enough that you can do "eagle claws" with index and middle finger straddling the bolt below the camera.

An old basic article is found at the following reference. I use a plastic 1/4" 20 screw [Ace Hardware] which is soft compared to the camera, thus protecting the camera.

SNUGGING NUT: https://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-SCX2-Adapter-Premier-Cleaning/dp/B00HPAPFNU/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=camera+1%2F4+20+snug+nut&qid=1558432573&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

DIY STABILIZER: https://www.instructables.com/id/iSteadii-20-Image-Stabilizing-Unit/

A.J.R. Loc: Devon, UK

Amadeus wrote:

I photograph a lot of girls gymnastics competitions. The lighting isn't great so I push the ISO to get faster shutter speeds but still have problems getting sharp pictures. Part of that I'm guessing is camera movement. I usually shoot with a Canon 18-135 or Tamron 70-300 on an 80D. Will the monopod improve my situation? And can I get a decent one in the $100 range. I see you talk about Manfrotto tripods. Do they make a good monopod also?

I personally don't think you need a monopod as to 'freeze' the gymnast the shutter speed would have to be high enough to avoid camera shake. Also a monopod would (to a certain extent) restrict your ability to move quickly and compose the shot as required.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Amadeus wrote:

I photograph a lot of girls gymnastics competitions. The lighting isn't great so I push the ISO to get faster shutter speeds but still have problems getting sharp pictures. Part of that I'm guessing is camera movement. I usually shoot with a Canon 18-135 or Tamron 70-300 on an 80D. Will the monopod improve my situation? And can I get a decent one in the $100 range. I see you talk about Manfrotto tripods. Do they make a good monopod also?

Keeping the camera steady is always a good idea. A monopod will prevent any up/down motion, so that's good. There are monopods with three feet, but they don't seem to have come up with a name for them.

They're more portable than a tripod, but would offer more support than a true monopod.

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=monopods&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Sirui makes nice monopod in the $100 price range.

Sufficient shutter speed to freeze action is key. Your lenses are not especially fast for indoor shooting and will push you to higher ISO to get the shot. Perhaps borrowing or renting a faster lens would be worth trying too. Maybe a 85 f/1.8 which are not super expensive. I shot a lot of indoor volleyball with that on a 1.3 crop factor body in the past.

I’m not sure a monopod will be that useful with smaller lenses indoors. You can usually shoot up to 200-300mm handheld well indoors. Indoor sports is challenging though.

Amadeus wrote:

I photograph a lot of girls gymnastics competitions. The lighting isn't great so I push the ISO to get faster shutter speeds but still have problems getting sharp pictures. Part of that I'm guessing is camera movement. I usually shoot with a Canon 18-135 or Tamron 70-300 on an 80D. Will the monopod improve my situation? And can I get a decent one in the $100 range. I see you talk about Manfrotto tripods. Do they make a good monopod also?

khorinek

Amadeus wrote:

This was at 1/100th 5.6, 35mm

I would shoot that at 1/800, f/4, (f/2.8 if you have it) and ISO of 8000 (or adjust as needed) If you have a lens with Image Stabilization you shouldn't need a monopod. My lens have IS and I haven't used my monopod for several years.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Amadeus wrote:

I photograph a lot of girls gymnastics competitions. The lighting isn't great so I push the ISO to get faster shutter speeds but still have problems getting sharp pictures. Part of that I'm guessing is camera movement. I usually shoot with a Canon 18-135 or Tamron 70-300 on an 80D. Will the monopod improve my situation? And can I get a decent one in the $100 range. I see you talk about Manfrotto tripods. Do they make a good monopod also?

It depends. When I shoot gymnastics, I always hand hold because of the action.
Case in point, the vault, first the gymnast is running a strait line, that would be easy to follow on a monopod, BUT, now the gymnast is jumping in the air, so you must follow, but you can't because you tethered to a monopod, too bad, you missed that shot. Same with the uneven parallel bars during the dismount, sorry, you missed that on too. Another arrow in the heart of monopods, one of the most worthless pieces of equipment when it comes to watching multilevel sports. IMHO

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

If you shoot at 1/800 you should not need IS in my experience...

khorinek wrote:

I would shoot that at 1/800, f/4, (f/2.8 if you have it) and ISO of 8000 (or adjust as needed) If you have a lens with Image Stabilization you shouldn't need a monopod. My lens have IS and I haven't used my monopod for several years.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Amadeus wrote:

I photograph a lot of girls gymnastics competitions. The lighting isn't great so I push the ISO to get faster shutter speeds but still have problems getting sharp pictures. Part of that I'm guessing is camera movement. I usually shoot with a Canon 18-135 or Tamron 70-300 on an 80D. Will the monopod improve my situation? And can I get a decent one in the $100 range. I see you talk about Manfrotto tripods. Do they make a good monopod also?

I don't shoot these sports, but I think that if I did, I would try this approach - decide where the gymnast would be for the shot, set up accordingly, including focus, keep the camera still and wait for the subject to enter the frame. I would not zoom in too close - giving me enough time to keep the subject in the frame.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I do think a monopod will help and Manfrotto makes a wide variety of them.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Amadeus wrote:

I photograph a lot of girls gymnastics competitions. The lighting isn't great so I push the ISO to get faster shutter speeds but still have problems getting sharp pictures. Part of that I'm guessing is camera movement. I usually shoot with a Canon 18-135 or Tamron 70-300 on an 80D. Will the monopod improve my situation? And can I get a decent one in the $100 range. I see you talk about Manfrotto tripods. Do they make a good monopod also?

I’m not a pro so I don’t think about getting "sharp" photos in a gym, just acceptable to me. Given that, a monopod might be difficult to compose as opposed to hand held if you’re subjects are moving around. And examine your focusing settings and technique. Low light gives fits to auto focusing. If you can’t get to 1/500, keep your zoom range shorter and crop in post if needed. Shoot in RAW and do the best you can to edit for noise. Here’s a good video to get you started on that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTu7Cl5Zpg8