Natgrani Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

An opportunity to get photos came up suddenly. I need to purchase a monopod with feet and a ball head (? That was a suggestion) through Amazon 2 day delivery Monday. I have a Nikon D90 and smaller type lens, nothing heavy and will photo some floral gardens, club members, active small children and close landscapes. I don't have time to research all available options so hope I can rely on the smart UHH for suggestions. I can spend $2-300. Thanks in advance for a prompt reply.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Consider this carbon fiber monopod
https://www.amazon.com/Sirui-P-424-4-Section-Carbon-Monopod/dp/B006JZ7QKW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1480101683&sr=8-2&keywords=sirui+carbon+fiber+monopod

and pick up a ball head

https://www.amazon.com/XCSOURCE%C2%AE-Camera-Ballhead-Release-LF023/dp/B008H3XZ22/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1480101823&sr=8-7&keywords=ball+head+camera+mount

Stan

LindaMarieStella

I really like my tripod that converts to a monopod. I left my very nice monopod somewhere. But when packing up and I notice only two legs on my tripod, I know to look for it before I leave the site!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Sirui with feet!:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1024707-REG/sirui_bsrp204s_aluminum_monopod.html

Or, at Amazon:
http://smile.amazon.com/Sirui-P-204S-Aluminum-Photo-Monopod/dp/B00I5NKCNE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480104545&sr=8-1&keywords=Sirui+P-204S+Aluminum+Photo%2FVideo+Monopod

Sirui ballhead:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/966664-REG/sirui_g10x_ball_head.html/pageID/accessory

Or at Amazon:
http://smile.amazon.com/Sirui-G-10X-Ball-Head/dp/B00AZTCENC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1480104698&sr=1-1&keywords=sirui+g-10x+ball+head

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

You don't have to settle for a traditional ballhead with your monopod; after years of trial and error I have settled on a Pistol grip ballhead which is incredibly quick in reacting to your target, and there are NO knobs to fumble with... Mine is a Slik pistol grip with Quick release. I think these grips are very under appreciated by a lot of folks.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I use the Monistat monopod with a RRS monopod head for my Nikon 500 mm lens without a problem and If I had the Tamron 150-600 I would use a monopod since it was heavy for me to handhold when I tried it out

RonBoyd

I am partial to the Manfrotto 685B because of its one-handed operation. Many sources - https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGNI_enUS483US484&q=manfrotto+685b&qscrl=1

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, Manfro 685b - for SPEED and simple ergonomics - top it with a Manfro #222 or #322 grip action (joystick, pistol grip) also for speed and ergonomics. Don't like the grip action ball heads ? - then use a #234 tilt head.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

RonBoyd

I use the Manfrotto 685B monopod (see above post) and a ProMediaGear Tomahawk Gimbal with my Tamron 150-600. Incredible range-of-motion with that combination... and all of the weight is absorbed by the monopod.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1056496-REG/promediagear_gt1_tomahawk_gimbal_attachment.html

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

Why? You point out in your post that you shot active small children. Are you trying to injure yourself or the children? Putting a camera on a mono pod and then trying to keep up with active children is a receipt for trouble. You are just asking for it. Get on the ground, at their level and shot the c**p out of them with your motor drive on the highest frames per second you can use and hope for the best and plan for the worst. You don't need no stinking mono pod. As for Floral gardens, if you shot close ups with shallow depth of field you might consider a tripod, a mono pod tends to move no matter how hard you try to hold the sucker. Same with close landscapes, not sure what you mean by this, close ups of flowers again? Use a tripod. I have not used a tripod or mono pod outside of shooting 30 second exposures of moving water, in which case I use a very sturdy tripod with a very expensive ball head and yes, I get great results. If I am shooting the Antelope Canyon in Arizona, I take my tripod because I have to shot at a very slow shutter speed. Other wise that monster stays at home where it belongs. I love to travel as light as I can because you never know what's coming up around the corner and a mono pod or tripod just does not allow you time to set the thing up and get the shot. I know many friends I go shooting wildlife with and they take their mono pods and tripods and sand bags and extra stuff and I come home with the shots because it takes them too long to get ready. Example, was walking the board want and a Pied-billed Grebe just caught a large frog, now the Grebe is a small bird, so this was quite a feat, I just raised my Nikon D4s with 200-400 f4 lens and shot away at ten frames a second. Got some great shots. How many shots did my buddies get with their mono pods and tripods you ask? Zero.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Before everyone get carried away, the OP only has a small lens ....

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

The best advice I can give you when buying a monopod is buy a good one or you will be buying twice. That said, there are monopod-specific heads and you should get one of those. The RRS is the best, and the most expensive by far, and won't be to you by Monday. Find a local store and get what you can.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Go to InduroGear.com. Look for their Grand Series Monopods. The second one includes a ball head with Area Swiss Base, is carbon Fiber and extends to 65". It'll hold 22# of gear. 5 year warranty is doubled for purchases in the US when you register the product.

pwrxprt Loc: Beaumont, California

I use/used a Trek Pod (around $200) for years with my D90 with the kit lens 18-105mm or 70-300mm with no issues unless it was really windy....I didn't trust the tripod part from blowing over with my camera attached...but used it many times as a monopod in the wind....easy to travel...collapsed it travels in a case about the size of a pool cue case....light weight...I own the Trek Pod Go and won't let go of it unless I sell my D90....they are hard to find and for some reason not very popular but I love mine...I don't use it much anymore since my upgrade to D750...I won't trust it for the weight of the D750 with 24-120 lens, but had no issues with the combo(s) mentioned above...here is a link with a video...check it out....

http://www.trek-tech.com/products/trekpods.html

Good luck with your purchase no matter which way you go...

Lane