Purchasing a Monopod & Tripod & Head...

[wwall]

I have been researching and shopping around for 2 days trying to decide on a Monopod and Head to buy. I don't want to spend a ton of money on a monopod, because I will only be using it for sporting events. At the end of my search, this is what I have in my shopping cart...
Manfrotto 679B Three Section Monopod, Black Anodized ($49.25)
&
Manfrotto Mini Ball Head 494 with RC2 Rapid Connect Plate, Maximum Load: 8.8 lbs/ 4 kg ($68.49)

Just to see this in black and white - will any head that I buy also work on a Manfrotto tripod? I don't have a Manfrotto tripod yet but I plan to buy one in a few months, and I want to make sure the head will be compatible with both. (I do have a tripod - it's just a crappy one)

I will be using my D7000 with 80-200 lens. I'm not sure of the total weight but it's pretty dang heavy to me. I am 5'9 and all of 135 lbs.

Any input and recommendations will be greatly appreciated! I feel like I come to you guys before I buy anything now!

 

[tirediron]

The general rule of thumb for buying camera support gear is that the weakest part of the system should be able to support twice the weight of your heaviest lens & body. "I don't want to spend a ton of money on a monopod because..." Think about this for a second: You're using this to support $2500 worth of camera gear; does it really make sense to go cheap????? Manfortto is great gear, but this is a consumer unit; I would look for something a little heavier. The RC2 system, is really meant for handy-cams and not heavy bodies and lenses. Look for something with the RC4 system instead.

Any standard head will fit on any standard tripod; monopods sometimes have specialty connections.

 

[wwall]

I do get what you're saying, and I agree. The tripod I have is some Quantaray cheapo and I haven't touched it since I got my 80-200 lens, and definitely will never put my D7k on there. I am not stuck on Manfrotto but I have heard good things and I repeatedly saw the name in my searches for "the best.."

I didn't want to go "cheap" but I didn't want to go overboard either.

I am wanting to stay below $250 or so. Is it going to be possible to get a good monopod and head in that price range?
If you don't mind, what would be your recommendation?

 

[table1349]

Buy the monopod forget the head. If you want to make it easier then get a quick release clamp for the monopod and a quick release foot for the camera and your lens if it has a lens mount ring. The head really doesn't accomplish much on a monopod. If you want to shoot in portrait mode either turn the camera in the lens mount ring or if you are using short glass get a quick release camera L bracket.