dhanwat Loc: Bowie, Md

Has anyone seen a monopole that was converted to accept a cane handle to be used when walking? I think this would be great for people to use when walking and then taking the handle off and then put your camera on and take the shot. Any Engineers out there that can design this?

Quixdraw Loc: x

There are a variety of walking sticks / hiking staffs with a hidden tripod screw - quick internet search should meet your needs.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I made one for a friend of mine some years ago.
--Bob

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Ron Dial Loc: Cuenca, Ecuador

REI Sports makes one that has a wooden knob that can be removed to reveal a threaded stud. The base can be removed and is a metal spike.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I have an OBEN tripod. While it is made of Aluminum, it is quite study. One of the legs unscrews and can be fashioned into a monopod. You can also go online to find a hiking stick with a hidden camera mount. But a caution, if you have a large camera body and/or a large lens don’t keep it mounted to the monopod. A sudden shift in weight will snap off the camera. It is not a pretty ending!

hcmcdole

Do as most suggest and get a hiking pole with a removable knob/handle to use the standard mounting screw for cameras. Awkward but it beats a doughnut. A monopod typically is heavier and overkill for a walking cane (depending on the monopod itself).

My old Leki hiking poles are lightweight and have the wooden knobs that screw off to use as a makeshift monopod. Not as good as a dedicated monopod and tilt-head but it beats carrying extra gear on long hikes.

Thorburn Loc: Virginia

I have an old Tracks Walking Stick that doubles as as a Photo monopole that has a special rounded handle; unfortunately the company has gone out of business. Occasionally you can find one on eBay. Happy Hunting.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

They are available on line already........good luck.

MrPhotog

Walking canes with a handle might be a bit short for comfortable use with a camera. However, many of the commercial canes which have a metal handle can be adapted. If the metal grip can be unscrewed then it is just a matter of using an adapter to fit a ball and socket head to the threaded end of the stick. Usually this can be done with hardware store items or an online search for the part.

Hiking sticks or ski poles, many styles of which may be adjusted for length, tend to be taller and can bring a camera up to eye level when the photographer is standing naturally.

Lee Valley tools has one model on sale this month for $25.30. Here is a link to the description, and photos of the hiking stick.

A friend who has a balance problem has used two similar ones for years to assist in walking, and they function well. Museums are generally 'friendly' to allowing them as balance aids, where they might ban tripods or obvious monopods. Perhaps using two makes them appear more necessary?

With a short piece of rope or thick string you can loosely connect two of the sticks near the handles, spread the bottom ends apart, which tightens the rope, and create a bipod. The camera or long lens is cradled in the cushioned handles. For some this is a little more stable than a monopod. Since you do not need to unscrew the ends, or screw on the camera or a ball head, it can be faster to set up and use, and much faster to take down. Again, very handy when photographing in dim museums. The short length of rope passes through metal detectors.

These sticks also collapse nicely to fit in the car.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/home/outdoor-recreation/52925-telescoping-hiking-stick?utm_source=Newsletter---Gardening&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200817-Garden-Corn-Mazes&item=45K4217

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I have used my monopod in many museums and galleries. It has the screw-on handle (knob) that makes it appear to be a stability aid. Never been asked about it even after I mounted the camera for a shot. But....I do not mount the camera except to take a shot and then remove it even if I don't put the knob back in place. Discretion is the better part of valor.

TreborLow

Got a nice handle from Ebay for about 6 or7 dollars. Used it to 'hide' my monopod where monopods were not allowed. I do have arthritis and I found the cane actually helpful.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

One difference between a monopod designed for camera use and a hiking stick designed for assisted walking is that the monopod length is adjustable. If you're using it as a walking aid, you don't want it to be adjustable. It might just decide to adjust itself when you're counting on it.

Better to get a walking stick and adapt it to camera use than get a monopod and adapt it to walking assistance.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Just take your favorite cane cut the curved section off attach a arca plate to the cane portion and attach it to your monopod. I use my monopod for hiking. A cane head would be nice. Remember to tighten your ballhead or whatever type of head you use and hike on.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

Some time back I did exactly what you are looking for. I put an arca swiss head on the monopod and a matching plate on my camera. Then I took an 8 ball gear shift handle, drilled it out and tapped it to accommodate the screw from a duplicate arca swiss plate and attached it to the 8 ball (could easily have been a cane handle). The 8 ball would clamp to the head on the monopod for use as a cane, and if I wanted to use it for my camera, I would just release the 8 ball, put it in my pocket, and attach the camera. Easy peasy.