Today I bring you a photographic accessory that is perhaps somewhat underestimated in the world of photography. We talk a lot about tripods and their importance in certain types of photography, however, we rarely talk about the monopod and all its advantages.
I recently got one as a gift and I'm discovering (with great surprise) its benefits, that's why I wanted to share it 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?
It mainly 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 photography and nature photography (birds, wildlife, etc., especially). The monopod is very useful when working with long and heavy focal lengths, which are frequently used in these disciplines. Well, you can rest the weight on it instead of supporting it with your biceps, also, with these focal lengths you tend to shake (movement) and this accessory helps to stabilize a lot (now we will see that not as much as a tripod).
It is also used when you have to wait a long time between photos and the equipment is heavy. Even if you don't carry a super focal lens that weighs a hundredweight, if you add the weight of a heavy SLR and a lens that exceeds 0.8 kg, having to keep it in the shooting position for a long time is also tiring. In these cases it is also very useful.
The other major 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, gatherings, etc. In these cases, the monopod becomes your best ally.
OTHER USES OF THE MONOPOD
In addition to the uses that I have just mentioned, the monopod has other utilities that must be taken into account:
- Video. They are very useful for recording videos.
- Walking stick. If in addition to loving photography you are a hiker, you can have a two for one, cane and stabilizer in a single element, the monopod.
- Gain height. Sometimes we wish we had the arm of Inspector GadgetTo shoot from higher up, well, the monopod can be your gadget arm . Just use the camera's timer or a remote shutter release.
- Flash support. If you manage to make it stand upright with a little ingenuity ? or if it has a retractable foot.
- GoPro extension. For goPro users, the monopod is a nice addition too.
- With low light. Sometimes the light is scarce and we wish we could use a slower shutter speed so we don't have to pull ISO (and have to listen to its noise ? ). While it doesn't have the stability of a tripod, it does help you get down a few steps . Look at the difference between these two images that are taken with the same parameters (1/20s), the first without a monopod, the second with it.
ADVANTAGES OVER THE TRIPOD
The monopod has different advantages compared to the tripod, I have just told you some of them but we are going to see them together:
- It is lighter. It weighs much less than the tripod, to take it with you, on a getaway, a trip or similar is much more comfortable.
- Greater mobility. When taking photos, 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 few centimeters, it's a good alternative.
- You can use it when tripod is not allowed. Either 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 for you.
- Faster to assemble. The monopod, as you can imagine, sets up much faster than a tripod, you only have to unfold a 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 everything was that easy, no one would use a tripod, right? Indeed there is a but, and quite a big one. 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 thing to keep in mind is that for vertical compositions you need a monopod with a ball joint. The monopod limits the compositions in front of the tripod.
TRIPOD OR MONOPOD?
Having seen 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 should choose one or the other.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A MONOPOD
- Material. They are made of aluminum or carbon. The 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 unfolded it adapts to your height. If you have to duck to shoot it's not cool.
- professional use. If it is to give it a more professional use and you need the monopod to offer you more possibilities of use, look for one that has a ball joint and retractable foot. Also keep in mind that you can adapt the support of the base that best suits you according to the surface on which you are going to use it (rubber, suction cup, spike, etc.).
- Closing. There are those that have a locking thread and there are those with tabs. Everyone has their preferences.
- The weight it can bear. Take into account the weight of your equipment because not all support the same weight. It is not the same if you use it with a compact or with a 3 kg team ?
MANFROTTO MMCOMPACT-BK MONOPOD
Mine is a Manfrotto MMCompact-BK, which is used for compact, bridge, evil or reflex cameras weighing up to 1.5kg. For my team it is more than enough, because my camera weighs little and I usually use it with the prince (not blue) and the pancake . As you can see, I like to be light weight ?
The tube is oval, it has a tab closure, as you can see in the photo, and its maximum extension is 145.5 cm. Closed it measures 39 cm. It is not one of those that offer the most height, but it is one of those that takes up the least in a backpack or suitcase. And it weighs 0.33 kg.
The handle is made of rubber for a better and more ergonomic grip. The finishes are quite good, in line with the brand, and it offers up to four extensible sections.
It has an integrated protective cap for the thread and a strap to transport it more easily. The thread is universal (0.25 inches), it is valid for almost all types of cameras.
The only thing is that if you unfold all the sections it loses a bit of stability. The last section, especially, vibrates a bit. If you don't need the full height, it's better to start unfolding the sections from the top.
It seems perfect to me for trips, or for those sunset photos in which you run out of light before you know it ? To give a couple of examples.
Here I leave you with a photo that I took at nightfall, it is shot at 1/25s and I assure you that my pulse is the worst and since my camera weighs little on top it moves more. But with the monopod it was pretty decent, don't you think?
