Jolly Roger wrote:
Hi Larry.
Could you please inform me about purpose of the tube assembly between the lens foot and the head of the monopod. It has me baffled (Not too difficult to achieve.)
For mobility I sometimes use a Manfrotto Mono with their 393 gimbal attached, rather than a tripod, when using the 600mm lens.
The only thing I have done is attach a sling to it, as a safeguard against dropping the lens/camera onto the ground.
That is a handle for hand holding to keep my hands OFF the barrel of the lens so I do not accidentally change the focus - since the manual focus is full time with this lens - it also makes a nice carrying handle and also allows my left hand to push the lens/camera against my fore head for stability when hand holding - it acts like the forearm of a rifle. The PVC tube is covered with a 3M non-slip self adhering material as normally used on boat decks.
It is always a good idea to use a tether strap especially with larger/heavier lenses.
..