Tripods and Monopods

[John Patterson]

I know I need a good tripod and I also want a good monopod

With all the choices, I am confused.

I also know there are many brands and a big difference in price

The monopod would be use for sports and the tripod for landscapes, portraits etc.

I travel frequently and want to keep that in mind when purchasing these items, size, weight etc.

Would appreciate any suggestions.

[LarryLetzer]

I recently bought a tripod from Amvona. It is not carbon fibre so it weighs a bit more, but it only cost me $88.00 and it comes with a pistol grip head. I liked it so much, that I bought one for my son. These are our standard tripod now. For the $88.00 it even comes with its own canvas carring bag with straps to sling it over your shoulder. They have monopods as well.

[JohnSievert]

Originally Posted by John Patterson

I know I need a good tripod and I also want a good monopod

With all the choices, I am confused.

I also know there are many brands and a big difference in price

The monopod would be use for sports and the tripod for landscapes, portraits etc.

I travel frequently and want to keep that in mind when purchasing these items, size, weight etc.

Would appreciate any suggestions.

Please define 'good' as you know it. What equipment will you use on it - specifically what lenses?

Basically consider that you can have one that is stable, light or cheap. You get to pick any two of those but not all three.

I also travel a lot - and as such, I highly value low weight. I also want stability but that keeps me out of the 'cheap' range.

For up to 500mm, I'd advocate the Gitzo 3540LS with the Markins M20 ballhead. (5lbs)

for up to 300mm, I'd advocate the Gitzo 2540 with the RRS BH40. (4lbs)

For travel and up to 200mm the choice for me is the Gitzo 1540 and either the Markins Q3 or teh BH40. (3-3.5lbs)

For monopods - I have 4 I'm ashamed to say. My favorite of all time and the my go to monopod for sports is the Gitzo 2540 CF monopod. I have a RRS Arca Swiss Compatible QR Lever clamp (B2-LRII) mounted directly on top.


J.

[Martin_Doudoroff]

I recommend reading the following before proceeding:

"Serious Support" by Thom Hogan

"The Sharpest Image" by Lloyd Chambers (costs a few bucks)

These two articles go a long ways to clarifying the predicament, particularly the aspects less obvious than size, weight, etc.

[JohnSievert]

Good sources.

Here are a couple more:

About what tripods are really trying to do - really excellent. The point here is that what a tripod is doing is dealing with a physical phenomena that you can neither see or feel - vibrations on the order of 50-100um

(c) charlie kim tripod stability

The importance of a good tripod
Tripods & Heads

On monopod technique
How To Use A Monopod & Multi-Purpose Tripod

J.

[Paul Kuroda]

I had a Gitzo tripod break at the upper leg joint. It was a carbon fiber model and I had the legs really spread, so the stress broke it and A Hasselblad H1 with a Phaseone back went to the concrete floor of my studio. Fortunately all, tripod, Hasselblad that sustain damage were covered by their warranty.

Lesson...don't overload a tripod, especially with abnormal leg angles. And nice to get a tripod with lifetime warranty as a Gitzo. BTW...Gitzo now come with "G" locks joints which are stronger. It's worth the extra cost.

Also...I don't buy Amnova stuff anymore....because they sound good on face value but when using them....I alway find faults....such as sand bags....century stands, booms...they just don't work right as the "real" stuff.

[NillToulme]

John FWIW I've collected a fair bit of monopod info (and opinion) here.

Nill

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