Anyone use a monopod?

[ColinB]

Comments and advice please.

[lightpainter]

I have to use one all the time Colin with my canon 75-300 USM, but you shouldn’t need one with your IS lens!

[JohnDotCom]

They can be very useful.
I use one or even a Tripod when using Mirror Lens.
and of course much lighter to carry.

[ColinB]

Originally Posted by lightpainter

I have to use one all the time Colin with my canon 75-300 USM, but you shouldn’t need one with your IS lens!

Pete, the IS lens is good but in very low light a bit more stability would be useful.
Took this one by holding my breath, but it would have been sharper maybe with a monopod. (Tripods are too heavy for traveling)

[briantilley]

A monopod is not a complete substitute for a tripod, but it can be very useful in some circumstances.

I tend to use a monopod with longer focal length lenses when I need to be mobile or when the subject is moving around, like aircraft or birds in flight. The monopod provides an extra point of support, which can increase stability, even with an IS or VR lens. It also helps with the actual weight, which with a monster like my 200-400mm f/4 Nikkor is quite important...

[Simon]

Personally for my type of shooting I don't require tripod/monopod. I often improvise and use whatever I can see around me to balance or help stabilize either myself or the camera on/against.

For example, in the dark you don't need your lens hood. Take it off and balance the camera on it on the floor. Makes for unusual perspectives.

This image (which I've posted elsewhere on these forums so appologise for the repetition) uses my improvised "camera on a lens hood" balancing method...

[ColinB]

Good tip Simon

[DavidJ]

Originally Posted by Simon D

Personally for my type of shooting I don't require tripod/monopod. I often improvise and use whatever I can see around me to balance or help stabilize either myself or the camera on/against.

For example, in the dark you don't need your lens hood. Take it off and balance the camera on it on the floor. Makes for unusual perspectives.

This image (which I've posted elsewhere on these forums so appologise for the repetition) uses my improvised "camera on a lens hood" balancing method...

Put my expensive lens hood on the floor , I take your point though, and I would rather put my money in glass than extending sticks.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by DavidJ

Put my expensive lens hood on the floor , I take your point though, and I would rather put my money in glass than extending sticks.

Well, an L-series lens hood would have to be "saved" from the pavement with perhaps my jacket or summat on the floor underneath it

[lightpainter]

I use my monopod to take very low level shots; attach monopod, set the camera up, set it on self timer, turn it upside down and rest it on the toe of your shoe!
That’s how I took this shot;