I've just bought

stevegreen · 01-02-2005, 2:18 PM

.... a mount for the top of my mono-pod.

Just got to go and vandalise a telephone box now so I can take a picture of it for the February competition

aliflack · 02-02-2005, 1:16 PM

what sort of mount did you go for?

stevegreen · 02-02-2005, 1:22 PM

oOe of those multi-angle things. It screws to the top of the mono-pod and then i can swivel the camera through 180 degree's in one direction and 360 degree's in another (i think). It just means that when using the support I can take pictures in portrait mode as opposed to landscape, something i could no doubt fix in PS anyway, but for a tenner does it really matter. It was a Jessops own make.

aliflack · 02-02-2005, 4:28 PM

wow! one where you can turn it through 360 degrees?

considering you're using a monopod thats not exactly hard!

the 180 degrees tilt will prove in handy, does the head have spirit levels in it?

stevegreen · 02-02-2005, 4:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliflack

wow! one where you can turn it through 360 degrees?

I thought that was a key feature

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliflack

the 180 degrees tilt will prove in handy, does the head have spirit levels in it?

No, it's only a chep one!

mr jones · 02-02-2005, 5:03 PM

whats the difference between this and a normal tripod?

ive got a really old slik one, its built like a brick ****house and does all of thoese things!

stevegreen · 02-02-2005, 5:13 PM

Its a single support ala one of these

The cam sits on top but it didnt' have any lateral movement so the adaptor allows this

aliflack · 02-02-2005, 5:21 PM

monopods are a damn sight lighter and a more space friendly than tripods- also gives you more flexibility to pick up the whole lot to snatch different angles... takes some of the weight off (great for telezooms as it also reduces shake)

Adrenochrome · 02-02-2005, 5:42 PM

How does it reduce shake

mr jones · 02-02-2005, 6:08 PM

so its like an extention stick then!

tomson · 02-02-2005, 6:40 PM

i've got one of these in black:
http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/Product...categoryid=158

with one of these on the top:
http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/Product...categoryid=158

much easier to cart around than a stonking great tripod.

**Zone** · 02-02-2005, 7:05 PM

Couldn't be without my tripod, I must admit I've never got along with mono's, guess I'm just a shaky sod

I can understand why the likes of sports photographers use them as they are trying to capture fast action using fast film speeds and fast shutter speeds so the mono cuts down the shake whilst giving them the freedom of movement.

But for those of us who have a little more time on our hands to set up a shot then a tripod is the only way to go.

I read about people spending fortunes on camera's and the best lenses then complaining about less than perfect pictures stating they aren't as sharp as they expect, only to then find out they hand held the shot

aliflack · 02-02-2005, 7:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenochrome

How does it reduce shake

because you screw the camera (or lens) to the 'pod, which you rest on the ground - stops the end jiggling about all over the shop.

Off course you've still got to worry about rotating left/right and moving forwards/backwards/left/right

Adrenochrome · 02-02-2005, 7:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliflack

because you screw the camera (or lens) to the 'pod, which you rest on the ground - stops the end jiggling about all over the shop.

Off course you've still got to worry about rotating left/right and moving forwards/backwards/left/right

But if it only has one leg it isn't going to stay upright on most outside surfaces though

imichael · 02-02-2005, 9:05 PM

Think of it as an extra hand/leg, it gives some stability but you still need to hold the camera.

They aren't ideal for long exposures, but do really help with fast pans or using long lenses.

Ian

tomson · 02-02-2005, 9:11 PM

The handy thing about a monopod is that it allows you to use slightly slower shutter speeds without the risk of blurring and without the need to ramp up the ISO or use a very large aperture - but still be able to move about with ease. There are plenty of uses for one - if you've ever tried photographing a wedding in a dimly lit church then you'll know what i mean - a tripod is fine if you want to stay and shoot in one place but for manouverability (i think thats how you spell it) a monopod wins hands down. And of course you'll get a greater number of sharp images than if you were handholding.

I have to admit though, my tripod gets more use than my monopod. Different tools for different jobs.

stevegreen · 03-02-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomson

with one of these on the top:
http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/Product...categoryid=158

much easier to cart around than a stonking great tripod.

Thats similar to the one I have but with the quick release.

I preferred a monopod to a tripod as I wanted somthing light and easy to carry as there will be a lot of places that I want to take my camera where a tripod would just be too much. I may have to sort a tripod out in the future though for those 'competition indoor shots'

Johndm · 03-02-2005, 4:51 PM

You should have saved the money spent on the disabled tripod.........

And put it towards a Canon lens with IS (image stabilizer)..

Hand held at 400mm, you can capture a fast jet aircraft as low as 1/90th second while panning.....no blurr....wonderful..

stevegreen · 03-02-2005, 4:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johndm

You should have saved the money spent on the disabled tripod.........

And put it towards a Canon lens with IS (image stabilizer)..

Disabled Tripod and attachment £45.00 (ish)

Canon Lens with IS?

Johndm · 03-02-2005, 5:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevegreen

Disabled Tripod and attachment £45.00 (ish)

Canon Lens with IS?

But hey.......its our hobby...

stevegreen · 03-02-2005, 5:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johndm

But hey.......its our hobby...

True enough, but then again so are speakers, tv's, dvd players, dvd's, cd's, latex clothing, gags, amplifiers, speaker stands blah blah.

I need a lottery win at this rate!

tomson · 03-02-2005, 5:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johndm

And put it towards a Canon lens with IS (image stabilizer)..

As good as IS is I can get better results using a monopod than with the IS lens in low light situations - use both together though and you're onto a winner

Johndm · 03-02-2005, 5:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevegreen

True enough, but then again so are speakers, tv's, dvd players, dvd's, cd's, latex clothing, gags, amplifiers, speaker stands blah blah.

I need a lottery win at this rate!

I try to break my hobbies into 'phases' or 'terms' to ease the cost to the missus..

Currently still on 'Camera' phase.......

After holiday to California in June, will probably switch to 'Car' phase.... my 1984 Trans Am not been out on the road since last October..

Willing to skip 'AV/HI FI phase this year if you can give me hints and tips on your 'Latex/Gags hobby..............

itcosthowmuch · 04-02-2005, 8:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevegreen

True enough, but then again so are speakers, tv's, dvd players, dvd's, cd's,latex clothing, gags, amplifiers, speaker stands blah blah.

I need a lottery win at this rate!

more than we need to know there Steve

GrahamC · 04-02-2005, 8:33 AM

Huuuurrrrrr..... (Bart Simpson syleee). I hate it when Steve 'shares'...

stevegreen · 04-02-2005, 9:45 AM

I was wondering if anyone would notice

GrahamC · 04-02-2005, 10:05 AM

What round here they notice if you break wind at your keyboard.

itcosthowmuch · 04-02-2005, 1:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrahamC

What round here they notice if you break wind at your keyboard.

yeah sorry about that

04-02-2005, 3:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenochrome

But if it only has one leg it isn't going to stay upright on most outside surfaces though

Well, that's what has put me off buying one of these things. I could spend 10 minutes getting the damn thing to balance, set the camera to timed exposure, press the button, retire hurriedly to stand in heroic posture in front of magnificent foreign scenery, then a puff of wind comes along (or worse still, an incontinent dog) and everyting goes focal plane over aperture.... or is there something I'm missing here?

stevegreen · 04-02-2005, 5:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X_Eyed_Bear

Well, that's what has put me off buying one of these things. I could spend 10 minutes getting the damn thing to balance, set the camera to timed exposure, press the button, retire hurriedly to stand in heroic posture in front of magnificent foreign scenery, then a puff of wind comes along (or worse still, an incontinent dog) and everyting goes focal plane over aperture.... or is there something I'm missing here?

erm yeah. It will never stand up on it's own as it's a mono-pod, as in, single support as opposed to a tripod (3 supports). They are designed to give a small amount of support to the camera, unlike a tripod which gives a full unaided support.