Monopods

Trever1t · Aug 23, 2011

Maybe I misread, with the 243 head can you shift from lanscape to portrait while mounted? I read something about having to remove the camera first?

I wondered how a ballhead might be, I haven't purchased anything yet. The 685b telescopes with one hand, on the fly so adjusting height is a quick and easy.

Destin · Aug 23, 2011

Trever1t said:
Maybe I misread, with the 243 head can you shift from lanscape to portrait while mounted? I read something about having to remove the camera first?

I wondered how a ballhead might be, I haven't purchased anything yet. The 685b telescopes with one hand, on the fly so adjusting height is a quick and easy.

Yeah, I can tilt mine from portrait to landscape with the camera mounted. It works great.

A Ball head is good in concept, just hard to actually use in real life.

table1349 · Aug 23, 2011

This pod should have all the features you need: Manfrotto 681B 3 Section Monopod (Black) - Supports 26.5 681B

Forget a ball head or tilt head. If you want to use a monopod as a stable platform and not something to just take the weight off of your arms then add a simple quick release clamp on the top. My suggestion is an arca-swiss style clamp. It is the most secure QR system on the market. RRS, Kirk, etc all have good clamps in various sizes. For lenses with feet get the proper QR foot attachment for the lens. For the body get an L plate. It is going to be a more expensive set up but you will have the stability, security and usability you want in a good monopod setup.

Also learn to use the pod right. It's not just a stick. How To Use A Monopod & Multi-Purpose Tripod

Trever1t · Aug 23, 2011

more to consider, thank you!

Texas Parrothead · Sep 9, 2011

So what did you go with Trever1t? I just pulled the trigger on a 679B with the 234RC quick release. The price and reviews on the 679B are great and i liked the idea of the one way axis/tilt of the 234RC. My 3 year old daughter starts soccer next Tuesday and I like the idea of being able to change from landscape to portrait quickly while she is on the field.

table1349 · Sep 9, 2011

The 234 does not let you change from portrait to landscape. The 234 let's you tilt the camera up and down. Something you can do without the 234. The most stable option form changing from portrait to landscape is eithena QR clamp and an Lbracket for the body or a head like this. http://www.custombrackets.com/products/camera-flash-brackets/digital-pro-sv.html
Once you have the camera on either side of the monopod with a ball head you have lost stability.

Trever1t · Sep 9, 2011

I thought I asked above if the 234 could swap from landscape to portrait???

Too late now, I ended up with the 685b and the 234rc head.

imagemaker46 · Sep 9, 2011

Please don't screw monopods into the bottom of the camera body, i've seen people with 70-200 2.8 with the monopod screwed into the camera and not the lens.

Trever1t · Sep 9, 2011

noo, no worries mate!

table1349 · Sep 10, 2011

imagemaker46 said:
Please don't screw monopods into the bottom of the camera body, i've seen people with 70-200 2.8 with the monopod screwed into the camera and not the lens.

I often place my camera body on a monopod. It's the only way to do so with short glass if you want the added stability. The best use of a monopod entails centering the weight of the gear over the pod. Long glass that means using the mount ring, short glass it's the body itself.

Trever1t · Sep 12, 2011

got my 685B today. Good looking unit, feels tight and stable extended. Has a rubber foot (people complain this gets lost so I need to watch out for that) and a spike that extens if I screw the foot in. This would have greatly helped had I had it for Saturday's shoots.

Texas Parrothead · Sep 12, 2011

Mine comes in on Wednesday....so how about the tilting head? Does it look like you can use it to do both Landscape and Portrait?

Trever1t · Sep 12, 2011

it's coming US Mail, not here yet
I'll post up after I check it out. With the 70-200 I can rotate the collar, no biggy but the other lenses...

Trever1t · Sep 12, 2011

OK, so the Manfrotto 234RC head is a tilt only. There's no way to mount the camera to it and rotate from landscape to portrait. All in all it's a decent little head and will come in handy when mounted to the foot of my 70-200.

Destin · Sep 12, 2011

Trever1t said:
OK, so the Manfrotto 234RC head is a tilt only. There's no way to mount the camera to it and rotate from landscape to portrait. All in all it's a decent little head and will come in handy when mounted to the foot of my 70-200.

Mine tilts a full 90 degrees when mounted to my camera body and allows me to shoot in portrait...