Jessops Experience

Thank you Tony

Just look at a sport event and I'm sure you will see quite a lot of people with a monopods and such long lenses.

Whilst I liked Tony explanation better, I too was curious about this.

Apparently professional Nikkor telephoto lenses come with a detachable monopod collar, which I assume is what they are using. Why it is where it is I have no idea - maybe it makes for a better balance with a monopod as opposed to the normal tripod collar position. I would have thought it made panning much harder though. Since I don't have a Nikon, and couldn't afford one of those lenses even if I did, (have a look at SRS for the prices :shock I can't help any further.

There are some (many) public places/buildings where tripods are banned, but monopods are not.

I have one in the car at all times and always take it on walks in the mountains. Its primary use in that case is as a walking aid, to push away bushes etc., and as a potential defensive weapon against wild boar and/or dogs.

Is it possible that we are seeing one leg of a closed tripod? That's what it looks like to me.

Gwyn, the DA*60-250 has a collar that can be rotated, but I might be wrongly assuming here that other collars are not like that. I don't remember anymore how my DA*300mm collar was.

The Bigma collar can be rotated too I think. It's upstairs so I can't check.

But the Nikon site specifically refers to a detachable Monopod collar for its too big pro lenses, not a tripod collar/foot and shows it at the "wrong" end of the lens.

I wonder whats the difference between those two. I was under the impression that they are the same.
Detachable simply because it can be removed isn't it?
But I must admit that in order to fit on the other end, near the lens hood this has got to be a specialised one. So totally different from the ones that are commonly located

here you go.



It's probably place there for get a better balance.
The lens weight 5kg with 3 large elements in the front.

so I think it's a bit front heavy

Still talking of monopods, I will be going to the RIAT airshow in a couple of months time. Is there any point in my trying to find a suitable tall monopod, given that I'll be using my old Pentax-F 100-300mm zoom and trying to keep shutter speeds down around the 1/125 or 1/250 area in order to avoid the "frozen rotors/props" effect on aircraft and helicopters?

Obviously for fast jets I'll be using the fastest shutter speed that I can and I will want to have the camera completely hand-held in order to track them, but I'm just wondering whether a monopod would be worth having for the slower subjects?

I would quite like one of those trekking pole/monopod things but none of them seem to extend long enough for me. I need a 'pod roughly 160cm tall to put the camera at eye level, as bending to a shorter one is less stable than holding the camera as well as giving me horrible backache!

54cm closed and 170cm extended - extra knob to screw on the top for walking stick - including zip case £10.98 from 7dayshop (Monopod with FREE Case (WT1003) - SPECIAL ).

I`m pleased with mine !

Tony

Think I just found it via their Amazon Marketplace site - no mention of the walking stick top though I bet I can find one elsewhere or make one from a suitable doorknob and the right size nut.

The Bottle pod/Window clamp thingy is also tempting at £4. Then again I already have a table-top tripod that I don't use nearly as often as I should!

I must say Matt - their site is almost as tempting as the ones I get LBA on - lol

I usually buy rechargeables,paper,dvd blanks,cd blanks,and odd filters and gadgets when they have a clearout.

Regards

Tony

I tend to use Amazon or Ebay depending on which is cheaper. There are often some good deals from Amazon Marketplace sellers, and Amazon will sort it out if they fail to deliver or attempt to fob you off with a lesser product (which has yet to happen to me).

Go in and ask for a constant f/2.8 zoom..... Some of the answers have been staggering, one branch told me only Nikon d300s & above had f/2.8 settings & would certainly not work on any other brand of camera, particularly Canon & Sony!!!!