Monopods

Here are the factors I considered when I needed a monopod:

 

Weight (heavy vs. light)

 

Material (aluminum vs. carbon fiber)

 

Rigidity (does not bend)

 

Durability

 

Intended use

·for light-weight compact cameras

·for heavy-weight cameras

 

Tubular leg design vs. Channel leg design

 

Leg locks

·twist locks

·clamping lever locks

·wing nuts

 

Number of leg sections (no more than three)

 

Height (at least 5 1/2 feet for my height)

 

Compactness (collapses to smaller size)

 

Head

·fixed

·removable

·none

 

Feet

·fixed non-slip rubber

·fixed spike feet

·retractable spike feet

·suction cups

·snow feet

 

Screw

·3/8 inch (European Standard)

·¼ inch (American Standard)

 

Quick Release Feature

 

Price

 

Reputation of Manufacturer (I avoided manufacturers with no history of producing high quality tripods)

 

Maximum load (I wanted 2x weight of my heaviest camera)

 

 

I ended up buying two monopods – one for my heavy cameras and one for my lightweight compact cameras.

 

My heaviest lens/camera combination weighs about 10 pounds (500mm f/4 telephoto lens mounted on a Nikon F2 with action finder, motor drive, and battery pack). The Manfrotto 681 monopod, with a maximum load rating of 26 pounds, and an attached Wimberley Arca-Swiss quick release clamp is what I bought to meet my needs.

 

For my compact cameras, I selected a lightweight inexpensive 7-pound maximum load monopod with an attached Monfrotto quick release tilt head.

 

I could have used my more expensive Manfrotto monopod with my compact cameras but I needed an inexpensive lightweight disposable monopod to use with my lightweight disposable compacts.

 

Also, when I need a longer monopod for pole aerial photography, I stuck a screw in an 8-foot pole and a 12-foot pole.

Done