julian.gang

Is there any particular focal length where it is a good idea to start carrying extra stabilization (tripod or monopod)?...Julian

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

It depends.
What light levels are you shooting in?
How long of an exposure are you using.
Are tripods/monopods allowed where you are shooting.

For stability I use a tripod.
I use a monopod to help with the weight of heavy lenses on long shoots, although you will get some (not a lot) stability when using one.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

IMO, it is more related to lens WEIGHT and how long you will be waiting for action......but 300mm and longer makes some good sense irregardless.
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Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

IT DEPENDS ON HOW SEADY YOU ARE. THE OLD RULE WAS IF YOU HAVE A 50MM LENS YOU SHOOT AT 1/50 SEC AND 100MM WAS 1/100 SEC. BUT NOW WE SHOOT AT HIGHER ISO'S AND HAVE VIBRATION REDUCING LENSES.
IF YOUR HAND HELD ( ANY SIZE LENS) IS NOT SHART YOU NEED TO USE A SUPPORT ( TRIPOD, MONOPOD, TREE OR SOMETHING TO BRACE YOU CAMERA)
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHOOTING,IDEA OF SHARPNESS ETC.

HAVE FUN

julian.gang

Thank you for your reply, I have a Sony Camera (DSC-HX400v) with a zoom lens and then a 1.7 teleconversion lens on top of that. I wondered should I be shooting using a monopod?...Julian

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, I would be very cautious with stability on that combo even tho the weight is relatively light.
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E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Even if you are really adept at hand holding your camera and longer lenses, a monopod is alway a handy and useful accessory to have available in many different situations.

Yes! The rule of thumb is 1/ over the focal length is the minimum hand holding shutter speed therefore, a 300mm focal length requires a shutter minimum setting of at least 1/300 sec. Easy enough- but suppose you want to use a smaller f/stop to increase the depth of field and you don't want to alter the ISO setting. If you have a monopod you may be able to reduce the shutter speed somewhat, to accommodate the aperture of your choice. Monopod can be of great assistance if you are planning with action- subject in motion. It can help stabilize the camera where very critical focus and holding the camera steady and in place in place is important. It's not a steady and efficient as a tripod but it will oftentimes suffice where tripod usage is impractical or prohibited. I sometimes use my monopod to hoist the camera way overhead and shoot over a crowd or some other obstruction- with a wide-angle lens.

I carry my monopod all the time and hardly a week goes by where I don't need it.

Like many other photographic support accessories, monopods are very simple-basically, a one-legged - telescopic metallic length of tubular metal or carbon fiber. The successful and effective is a matter of technique using your body positions to reinforce the support of what is basically a stick. I have attached a website address- for some reason, I could not establish a link. This is a great little tutorial with very instructive drawings that illustrate the proper use of a monopod. Look it up- it a great 5 minute read!
Also attached- A few excerpts.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

For me, it is using the Tamron 70-200 on the D850 and depends on what you are shooting. Birds in flight or action shots, the extra stabilization helps.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

julian.gang a monopod is wonderful for handling the weight of heavy long optics...
That said, my experience shooting league soccer is it primarily allows for smooth tracing of the flow of the game... And maybe a stop or so at attenuating camera movement (at best). For action sports, shutter speed rules, period!

Yes, the real issue is subject movement for my endeavors on a soccer pitch...
Here VR (or OS) is virtually useless... however a monopod is a must for any lens that weights over 3 or 4 pounds... My workhorse soccer lens is the AF 200-400mm f/4 IF ED VR Nikkor which weights in a 7.4lbs...
My monopod is the SIRUI P-424 which handles that optic with compelling finesse...
I've shot 3 matches in one day and wasn't straining...

Caveat: My AF 200-400mm is entirely an internal zoom and focusing lens... You'll be having some serious balance issues if you are using a long "pumper" in as their CG will change constantly with zoom focal length... this can be (and is) a major challenge if you are shooting all day long since you'll be fighting the lens except when at it's CG point... Experience is a brutal teacher and a compelling reason why those who shoot sports commercially pony up the extra cash for a internally zooming lens (i.e. that doesn't change length nor it's CG).

btw, the monopod is only as good as the head you attach to it... be certain to get one that allows smooth vertical pitch control... my experience is that a ball-head is pretty useless unless you can micro adjust tension... A simple vertical pitch control is all I've found necessary...

Hope this helps julian.gang
All the best on your journey...

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

You really need to find out how steady you are with various lenses / focal lengths.

To do this, pin a broadsheet newspaper to a wall and hand holding a particular camera / lens combo take a frame filling shot at a relatively high speed. Repeat several times adjusting to get slower speeds and then download and view the results at 100%. Check the centre, and perhaps 3/4 of the way out (most lens performance drops of a little after this) until you find an unacceptable level of movement. Use the monopod for anything slower (or your tripod).

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

Sometimes it depends on the photographer. Case in point, I shoot in a lot of Florida wetlands. I know a gal that weighs maybe 100 lbs. and she shoots a Canon D5 MIV with a Canon 600mm f4 HAND HELD with excellent results. And I know a guy with a Canon D7 MII with a Canon 100-400 II and he only shoots off a tripod, he says he just cannot hold the camera steady.
So, it really comes down to the photographer. I shoot wildlife in action, I have found a monopod to be very restrictive, for me. If your shooting a baseball game or a football game the action is basically on a level playing field, a monopod would do fine here, BUT, for me, my wildlife can be overhead and an instant later it is below me, a monopod or tripod is out of the question.
So, it is up to the photographer and the environment and what your shooting that will determine what is best for a monopod.

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

Look at your photos ... they will give you the correct answer.

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

I have have also been told that if you shoot a long focal length lens with a very high mp camera body that it can be a good idea to double the shutter speed that you might otherwise shoot at. If you would shoot at 1/1000 you might want to go to 1/2000. Your mileage may vary...

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

Excellent site tip, thanks E.L.!!

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

It depends on how heavy your gear is relative to your ability to hand hold your equipment and what stabilization is available through your lens and camera. Then there’s iso, shutter and aperture... At night you almost always need a tripod, regardless of everything else. In short, it depends