Monopods
When shooting in low light conditions or with long zoom lenses some sort of support is a must to avoid camera shake and ensure a sharp image. A tripod is the obvious choice and will give the best result but it is not always the most practical.
However there are a few situations where a tripod is not the most practical accessory:
- When you are going tramping it is extra weight that you have to carry.
- Shooting images in a crowd with limited space.
- When shooting with long lenses and you want to move around. Think sports photography.
I recently purchased a Manfrotto 680B monopod and 486RC2 ball head. While I could have got smaller and cheaper I wanted something that would last me for years to come. It is rated as being capable of holding a load of 10kg and weighs in at around 0.83kg.
Rather than try to sell the benefits of a monopod, here are a couple of images taken under the same conditions. One handheld without monopod and one taken with monopod.
Olympus E510 | No Flash | 400 ISO | 1/30sec | 70-300 @ 300mm | Handheld
Olympus E510 | No Flash | 400 ISO | 1/30sec | 70-300 @ 300mm | Monopod
I think that it is pretty obvious from the above images that a monopod can be a great addition to your kit.
There is however a bit to learn to get good results. If you do an internet search you will find all sorts of theories about how you should stand and position your monopod. Essentially what I have found is:
- Make a triangle out of your legs and the monopod (after all triangles are the strongest and most stable structure.
- Most monopods allow you to attach your camera directly - DON'T. Use a tripod head as this will give you the best flexibility. Personally I use a good quality Manfrotto ball head.
- Don't try to use the monopod up straight. Move the bottom of the leg away from your body and adjust the angle of your camera with your tripod head.