MONOPOD: AN ACCESSORY THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU (AND YOU WANT TO HAVE)

Today I bring you an accessory that may be somewhat underestimated in the world of photography. We talk a lot about tripods and their importance in certain types of photography, however, little talk about the monopod and all its advantages. Recently I was given one and I am discovering (with great surprise) its utilities, that's why I wanted to share them with you, because this article may help you.

WHAT IS A MONOPOD?

It is a metal tube that serves to support and stabilize your photography or video equipment. Unlike the tripod it has only one leg instead of three.

WHAT IS IT FOR?

Mainly it serves to stabilize and support the weight of the equipment, similar to the tripod but with clear differences. Where it is most used is in events, sports and nature photography (birds, wildlife, etc., especially). The monopod is very useful when working with long and heavy focal points , which are the ones that are frequently used in these disciplines. Well you can rest the weight on it instead of supporting it with your biceps, in addition, with these focal points it tends to trepidation (movement) and this accessory helps to stabilize enough (now we will see that not as much as a tripod). It is also used when you have to wait a lot between photo and photo and the equipment weighs. Although you do not carry a super focal weight that weighs a quintal, if you add the weight of a heavy SLR and a target of those that exceed 0.8 Kg, having to have it for a long time in the firing position also tires. In these cases it is also very useful. The other majority use is in crowded places where a tripod cannot be deployed because there is no space or it is so small that deploying the three legs is impossible, for example: concerts, demonstrations, concentrations, etc. In these cases, the monopod becomes your best ally.

OTHER USES OF THE MONOPOD

In addition to the uses that I just mentioned, the monopod has other utilities that must be taken into account:

Video. To record videos are very useful.
Walking stick. If in addition to loving photography you are a hiker, you can have a two-by-one, cane and stabilizer in a single element, the monopod.
Gain height Sometimes we would like to have Inspector Gadget's arm to shoot from higher, well, because the monopod can be your gadgetobrazo . You just have to use the camera timer or a remote shutter.
Flash support If you get him to stand up with a little ingenuity or if he has a retractable foot.
GoPro extension. For goPro users, the monopod is a good complement too.
With low light. Sometimes the light is low and we would like to be able to use a slower shutter speed so as not to have to pull ISO (and have to listen to its noise ). While it does not have the stability of a tripod, it does help you get off a few steps . Look at the difference between these two images that are taken with the same parameters (1 / 20s), the first one without a monopod, the second one with it.

Without monopod

With monopod

ADVANTAGES ON THE TRIPOD

The monopod has different advantages over the tripod, I have just advanced some of them but let's see them together:

It is lighter. It weighs much less than the tripod, to carry it on, on a getaway, a trip or similar is much more comfortable.
Greater mobility When taking pictures, it allows you to move more easily than a tripod.
Takes up less space. Not only does it weigh less, but it also takes up much less space, so if your luggage or backpack has the counted centimeters it is a good alternative.
You can use it when tripod is not allowed. Good because there is no space or because it is prohibited. Yes, the tripod in some places is not allowed. You may have seen this in a museum, for example. And as we said before, sometimes the space is so small that even if they let you plant it it would be impossible.
Faster to mount The monopod, as you can imagine, is mounted much faster than a tripod, you have to deploy only one third of the legs .
More economical. As a last advantage, you have to know that they are usually cheaper than tripods.

DISADVANTAGES

But not everything is as wonderful as it seems. If it were all that easy nobody would use a tripod, right? There is indeed a but, and quite large. It does not give the same stability as a tripod for long exposures. If you are looking for stability for long exposures, night photography or similar, all these advantages disappear because it will not give you enough stability. Another but not so important to keep in mind, is that for vertical compositions you need a monopod with a kneecap. The monopod limits the compositions against the tripod.

TRIPOD OR MONOPOD?

Given the advantages and disadvantages you will have sensed that they are complementary, that each one has a different use. Therefore, depending on your needs or the moment you must choose one or the other.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A MONOPOD

Material. There are aluminum or carbon. Carbon ones weigh less but are more expensive.
Size. See what it occupies folded so that it fits in your backpack or where you want to transport it and that deployed adapts to your height. If you have to bend down to shoot it doesn't cool.
Professional use If it is for a more professional use and you need the monopod to offer you more possibilities of use, look for it to have a kneecap and retractable foot. Also keep in mind that you can adapt the base support that suits you according to the surface on which you are going to use it (rubber, suction cup, skewer, etc.).
Closing. There are those that have locking thread and there are tabs. Everyone has their preferences.
The weight it can bear. Keep in mind the weight of your equipment because not everyone can bear the same weight. It is not the same as using it with a compact or with a 3 kg device

MANFROTTO MMCOMPACT-BK MONOPOD

Mine is a Manfrotto MMCompact-BK, which is used for compact, bridge, evil or SLR up to 1.5kg in weight. For my team it is more than enough, because my camera weighs a little and I usually use it with the prince (not blue) and the pancake . As you see I like to go light weight

Manfrotto MMCompact-BK - Monopod, Black * - Electronics

From

Price: € 24.90

(As of: 2020/02/07 11:45 pm - Details)

8 new from € 24.29 0 Second hand

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(* = Affiliate Link / Image Source: Amazon Affiliate Program)

The tube is oval, has eyelash closure, as you can see in the photo, and its maximum length is 145.5 cm. Closed measures 39 cm. It is not one of the ones that offer more height but it is one of the ones that occupy the least in the backpack or in the suitcase. And it weighs 0.33 kg.

Folded monopod

The grip is rubber for a better and more ergonomic grip. The finishes are quite good, in the brand line and offers up to four extendable sections. It has integrated a protective cap for the thread and a strap to transport it more easily. The thread is universal (0.25 inches), valid for almost all types of cameras.

Handle with strap and thread safety cap

The only thing is that if you deploy all sections you lose some stability. The last section, above all, vibrates a bit. If you don't need full height, better start deploying the sections from above.

Fully Extended Monopod

It seems perfect to me for trips, or for those photos at sunset when you run out of light before you know it. For a couple of examples. Here I leave you with a photo I took at nightfall, it is shot at 1 / 25s and I assure you that my pulse is the worst and as my camera weighs a little above it moves more. But with the monopod it was pretty decent, don't you think?

OTHER RECOMMENDED MONOPODS

The most basic and economical:

AmazonBasics - Monopod (170 cm) * - Camera

From

Price: € 18.59

(As of: 2020/02/07 11:45 pm - Details)

1 new from € 18.59 2 Second hand from € 16.12

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(* = Affiliate Link / Image Source: Amazon Affiliate Program)

Small but bully:

Manfrotto MMELEA5BK - Element Monopod, Aluminum, Color Black * - Accessory

From

Price: € 40.29

(As of: 2020/02/07 11:45 pm - Details)

You save: € 8.71 (18%) (18%)

5 new from € 40.29 0 Second hand

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(* = Affiliate Link / Image Source: Amazon Affiliate Program)

For heavy weights (supports up to 10kg) and with base support:

Andoer monopod for DSLR camera with base stand * - Electronics

From

Price: € 35.99

(As of: 2020/02/07 11:45 pm - Details)

1 new from € 35.99 0 Second hand

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(* = Affiliate Link / Image Source: Amazon Affiliate Program)

With interchangeable foot (to put nail or rubber):

Manfrotto MMELEA5RD - Element Monopod, Aluminum, Red Color * - Accessory

From

Price: € 47.25

(As of: 2020/02/07 11:45 pm - Details)

5 new from € 47.25 3 Second hand from € 31.16

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(* = Affiliate Link / Image Source: Amazon Affiliate Program)

For video professionals:

Portable monopod with rotating head for camcorder / DSLR, professional video stand tripod stand 182 cm maximum, with 10 kg maximum load capacity * - Electronics

From

Price: € 145.00

(As of: 2020/02/07 11:45 pm - Details)

1 new from € 145.00 0 Second hand

Watch now *

(* = Affiliate Link / Image Source: Amazon Affiliate Program)

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