I've got a couple of cheap monopods (that I got for 'free' as part of subscription deals)
They are velbon ones, probably cost about $20 or so. Completely useless.
I'm glad I didn't actually pay money for them (well, other than to get the
magazines)
If you are going to get a monopod, make sure it has an adjustable
head on it (ball seems pretty good) A pan adjustment would also be worthwhile, so that you can rotate the head horizontally to pan, while
keeping the vertical movement steady.
It seems to be a totally false economy to buy one of the cheaper monopods without a head - basically because to use a monopod correctly,
you want to form an effective tripod with your body - two legs + monopod, or a wall or whatever - to do this well, you need to be able to use the monopod at an angle - not straight up and down - which is the least stable way to use one. If you have a monopod without a head on it, straight up and down is the only way you can hold the camera and still point in front of you.
I also found that the 3 adjustment type 'pods are a pain if you need to raise/ lower them quickly. I borrowed a manfrotto high end aluminium monopod, with a big ball head and it was actually useful.
Anyone want some velbon monopods ? I use them for holding up backdrops now... |
