A question about Monopods ?

I was doing a bit of business in Edinburgh today, and popped into Jessops just for a quick browse.
I happened to pick up a monopod and thought it might be quite a usefull tool, as I use the tripod
with the 'legs-shut' quite often.
The Jessops 'man' told me to make sure and get one with a tilt and swivel head, although the one
I was looking at was plain with just a thread for the camera, I thought this was all that was needed
as I could do the tilt and swivel myself.

I left the shop confused, any advice people ?

By-the-way, he did show and recommend a K10D, at £599 with a 18-55mm lens, unfortunately the body-only
option was £650, he went on to say I could go for the £599 version and throw away the lens if
I didn't want it , and still save £50 !!! He is a 'K'anon user, but a nice chap .

He also showed me a refurbished Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro for £130, but I have one, so it's still
there if anyone wants it.

I know I've gone on a bit, but it's your experiences with the monopod I'm interested in, tilt and swivel or not ?

Been there, got the same advice. I got a basic monopod and a cheap head (£18 complete with quick release plate). I find the tilt facility useful for doing close ups of flowers etc from a top down perspective, but as you say you can swivel the thing yourself.

PS it's great when walking too

Edit - I should have said a cheap head with tilt mechanism - from Cullmann or Kaiser

Thanks for the input 'old timer', I was thinking more about general photography, rather than macro.
Some of my hand-held shots have been a bit disapponiting recently, even with the 50mm f1:1.4,
which I know is sharp. It may be down to beer intake over the last 40 years, or just the excitement of
taking photographs, who knows ?
I thought I would give the monopod a go, as it would be light to carry and quick to use, and I like the
walking idea too.

Probably get a very basic version, give it a try and upgrade at a later date if I need it.

If you get one with just a standard screw fit you can always add a head to it if you feel you need it. You can't take the head off one which comes with it fitted normally.
If you use an Arca Swiss style QR plate on your camera you could consider the Kirk/Manfrotto monopod tilt head. Pricy but good by all accounts and it saves having to take the QR plate off your camera to use the monopod. http://www.kirkphoto.com/g3232.html

With pricing like this, no wonder they're in trouble.

G

7dayshop do a very serviceable one with a quick release plate tilt-swivel head for £15.

I bought one and it's a lot sturdier than I was expecting for the price.

I was on holiday in the Lake District this last week and found an excellent walking stick that doubles as a monopod - unscrewing the head reveals a tripod screw.

Excellent for occasional use and of course for walking as well.

With some of those Lakeland hills you need all the help you can get...

I've used the 7dayshop one - pretty impressive for the price.

In the end I snapped up a Manfrotto carbon fibre monopod (mail order return at www.ephotozineshop.com ) and a lovely Manfrotto swivel head with quick release plate (EDIT: MN484RC). Wasn't cheap, but it's been used a LOT!

You could attach the thread of the monopod straight to the camera, but you'll find a "fixed" leg a real pain! (Imagine trying to sit down without a hip joint :shock But tripod heads are readily available. I prefer the quick release type so there's no hanging around. There are also plenty of "swivel only" heads - Manfrotto do one too.

A monopod and the SMC-FA 80-320 makes a great pair
Matt

I have a ball & socket head on my Benbo Monopod, you cant always get the right angle by just leaning the Pod over, and a B&S head is especially usefull if shooting upwards.

I got one of these today, I know it's cheap and cheerful. But it will give me an idea if it is the thing
I'm looking for.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5701139/Trail/C%24cip%3D50489.Photography%3EC%24cip%3D50490.Photographic%2Baccessories%3EC%24cip%3D50496.Tripods%2Bfor%2Bcameras%2Band%2Bcamcorders.htm

Looks better than nothing
Have fun
Matt

looks pretty similar to the 7dayshop one, as you say should be at least good enough to decide if you really want one or not. You might be surprised, it might be all you need.

Can anyone recommend a realistically priced ball head for a cheap and cheerful monopod :