How to use monopod with a long lens

[donkittle]

I have been using a gitzo tripod with a gimbal head to support a 500mm lens for about a year now and it's been getting me great results.  I just switched it up and purchased a 600mm f/4.  I'd like to try using a monopod instead of a tripod as the lens is already quite bulky - the combination of lens and tripod might get frustrating after a while. 

I have a Manfrotto monopod and am wondering how people usually mount a long lens on a monopod.  Do you mount the lens right onto the monopod?  Or do you have a levelling plate or ball head in between?

Thanks for any advise you might have.

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

I have been using a gitzo tripod with a gimbal head to support a 500mm lens for about a year now and it's been getting me great results.  I just switched it up and purchased a 600mm f/4.  I'd like to try using a monopod instead of a tripod as the lens is already quite bulky - the combination of lens and tripod might get frustrating after a while. 

I have a Manfrotto monopod and am wondering how people usually mount a long lens on a monopod.  Do you mount the lens right onto the monopod?  Or do you have a levelling plate or ball head in between?

Thanks for any advise you might have.

Hi Don,

From my experience with a monopod, one of the most annoying things is that the camera + lens can come loose when carrying it over the shoulder. In addition one would like to have some means of varying the angle between monopod and optical axis, a kind of  front to back swivel. A very sturdy solution for both those issues is the Really Right Stuff  "MH-01 High Capacity Monopod Head" which has a 75 lb / 34 kg load capacity, yet is compact and lightweight. Of course that also means that the lens collar/foot must be fitted with an appropriate lens plate or foot.

Cheers,
Bart

[Rob C]

A thing I've done for many years now is this: use a light tripod and only extend two legs. That gives you a far more stable platform than a mono; once you and yourself have agreed on the horizontal, it's simple enough just to tilt the entire thing forward to go lower, or backwards to go up.

Rob C

[Gary Brown]

A very sturdy solution for both those issues is the Really Right Stuff  "MH-01 High Capacity Monopod Head" which has a 75 lb / 34 kg load capacity, yet is compact and lightweight.

There's a review on this site: Really Right Stuff MH-01 High-Capacity Monopod Head review

[donkittle]

Thanks everyone!  I think I'm going to go the MH-01 route as I'll be in Africa in 2014 and am hoping I can brace the monopod against the side of the vehicle and using the tilt head to adjust the angle of the lens/camera.  Tipping the monopod/tripod is a good idea, though, thanks!

Don

[Ellis Vener]

For working fro ma vehicle there is also this RRS kit: http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=SafariRig-Base1&type=4&eq=&desc=Andy-Biggs-Safari-Rig-Basic-1&key=it

There is a video about hereL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ks_Pw5_AJY

[fotometria gr]

I have been using a gitzo tripod with a gimbal head to support a 500mm lens for about a year now and it's been getting me great results.  I just switched it up and purchased a 600mm f/4.  I'd like to try using a monopod instead of a tripod as the lens is already quite bulky - the combination of lens and tripod might get frustrating after a while. 

I have a Manfrotto monopod and am wondering how people usually mount a long lens on a monopod.  Do you mount the lens right onto the monopod?  Or do you have a levelling plate or ball head in between?

Thanks for any advise you might have.

I use my nikon af-s 400 f2.8 + 1.4/2.0tc with monopod all the time its also a manfrotto but the one with the 3-rods in the base, I've tried my heavy Hama ball head with it but its useless, I use this with the tripod, with the monopod I mount the lens directly on it, keep the base rods extended and use the lens's collar for horizontal/vertical. I find the base rods elasticity to help balancing the lens when I tilt it with my left hand on the monopod. Cheers, Theodoros. www.fotometria.gr

[theguywitha645d]

When I had a 600mm f/4, I put it right on the monopod without a head. I just tilted the monopod to point--I never pointed the lens really high or really low. That seemed to work well. The head just was awkward with the weight of the lens. With smaller lenses, I do use a head.

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

When I had a 600mm f/4, I put it right on the monopod without a head. I just tilted the monopod to point--I never pointed the lens really high or really low. That seemed to work well. The head just was awkward with the weight of the lens. With smaller lenses, I do use a head.

Hi,

That will result in sub-optimal stability, since the (presumed) center of mass is directly above the single leg support (thus giving a full 360 degree tilt/vibration capability, only vertical vibration is reduced). A more stable situation can be created by pointing the monopod forward, which results in a three point (monopod, and 2 legs) more stable setup (which can only rock side to side). In case of restricted space I angle the monopod back between/behind the legs.

Cheers,
Bart

[theguywitha645d]

Hi,

That will result in sub-optimal stability, since the (presumed) center of mass is directly above the single leg support (thus giving a full 360 degree tilt/vibration capability, only vertical vibration is reduced). A more stable situation can be created by pointing the monopod forward, which results in a three point (monopod, and 2 legs) more stable setup (which can only rock side to side). In case of restricted space I angle the monopod back between/behind the legs.

Cheers,
Bart

Well, it worked for me. The OP was asking for opinions and that is mine from my experience.

[Rob C]

Hi,

That will result in sub-optimal stability, since the (presumed) center of mass is directly above the single leg support (thus giving a full 360 degree tilt/vibration capability, only vertical vibration is reduced). A more stable situation can be created by pointing the monopod forward, which results in a three point (monopod, and 2 legs) more stable setup (which can only rock side to side). In case of restricted space I angle the monopod back between/behind the legs.

Cheers,
Bart

Hence my use of a tripod with only two legs extended, as described above.


Rob C

[Ellis Vener]

How does the bipod setup  ( two tripod legs extended) work when you are in the back of a 4WD vehicle on Safari?
To be clear I have used it too, also I've used an extension arm coming off of a tripod to support a camera body when a 600mm f/4 is mounted on a tripod - when I am solid ground. But I can imagine that in the back of a Land Rover that makes for a very crowded space and more things to get in the way of your human legs even if you have the back of the vehicle all to yourself.

You can likely rig something similar to the RRS rig i posted a link to using Manfrotto Superclamps or Avenger or Matthews Studio Equipment Mafer clamps and studs. It might not be as pretty or as fast to work with however.

[fotometria gr]

How about shooting from the window of a space craft, when in take off?  Merry Christmas, Theodoros. www.fotometria.gr

[telyt]

A more stable situation can be created by pointing the monopod forward, which results in a three point (monopod, and 2 legs) more stable setup (which can only rock side to side). In case of restricted space I angle the monopod back between/behind the legs.

This is what I've been doing for the last ten years and it's been exceptionally productive for me.  I also combine the monopod with a shoulder stock (an old Leitz model 14188) so that my shoulder can lean against the angled monopod instead of my face.  I'm using the inexpensive Manfrotto tilt head but if I were using a heavy lens more often I'd switch to the RRS.

[Rob C]

How does the bipod setup  ( two tripod legs extended) work when you are in the back of a 4WD vehicle on Safari?To be clear I have used it too, also I've used an extension arm coming off of a tripod to support a camera body when a 600mm f/4 is mounted on a tripod - when I am solid ground. But I can imagine that in the back of a Land Rover that makes for a very crowded space and more things to get in the way of your human legs even if you have the back of the vehicle all to yourself.

You can likely rig something similar to the RRS rig i posted a link to using Manfrotto Superclamps or Avenger or Matthews Studio Equipment Mafer clamps and studs. It might not be as pretty or as fast to work with however.

In that case, try a beanbag; bound to be better than any form of legs if there is no room. Probably not even that'll be much good if the truck's bouncing over tracks - in that case, Theodoros's idea makes sense. ;-)

Rob C