Beware of Cheap Monopods - Review of Dolica WT-1003

by Bruce Lovelace
(USA)

I wanted to add some comments to the topic of monopod reviews that should be good food for thought for anyone looking for the best monopod to buy.

In addition to reviewing photography equipment, I also read a lot of reviews written by other customers on various retail websites. This is a great way to find out what issues or problems one should watch out for before buying a monopod or any other merchandise or service.

One of the issues with cheaper monopods is the tendency for the plastic camera-mounting knob to sometimes break internally, making it extremely difficult to remove your camera from the monopod. The Dolica WT-1003 sells new for around $15 so you can imaginative that it will not be as durable as a carbon fiber monopod.

The Dolica WT-1003 67" monopod is rated to support 6.7lbs, has 4 leg sections and weighs less than one lb. It is made of lightweight aluminum alloy; has a retractable spike foot, built-in wrist strap, and comes with a monopod bag.

Best Camera Monopod For The Money

Monopod Review of Gitzo GM3551 Carbon Fiber 5-section Monopod

Gitzo Monopod

If you are looking for a top quality monopod and you don't mind investing top dollar for one of the best monopods money can buy, you may want to consider the Gitzo GM3551 Carbon fiber 5-section Monopod.

Gitzo and Real Right Stuff are known as the top two sources for outstanding quality when it comes to monopods. They usually get the highest ratings in monopod reviews.

According to Gitzo, they introduced a new Anti Leg Rotation system. This allows you to open the legs very quickly. Simply loosen the leg locks all at once then pull the leg down and tighten all of the locks individually

The G-Lock system is the new improved system to lock the legs. This uses a gravity lock effect which essentially means the heavier the load the sturdier the lock.

The Gitzo G-lock column locking system; and the superb Gitzo construction.

Here are the Gitzo Monopod specs

Highlights:

most common uses reported by buyers

Overlooked Point On Using A Monopod With Feet For Holding a Speedlight.

by Unknown Contributor

"You should have discussed feet and uses for other than mounting a camera.
monopods with feet are VERY handy to mount a speedlight. Set up quick and easier to transport than flimsy light stands." - Thanks for your comment on alternative uses for monopods. I personally have not done that. I don't use secondary speedlights at events because I like to keep things simple, but a secondary or third speedlight adds a nice touch to lighting.

I've never seen wedding photographers use monopods in this way, but plenty of times I've seen them use light stands. The monopod legs do take up less space. I'd be worried to use a set-up like this at an event like a wedding where the dancing and alcohol levels can get to a higher level and the shortened legs on a monopod aren't as stable as a light stand.

Certainly, if there is no risk of people bumping into your monopod, it's a great idea to use them in this way. I have lightweight aluminum stands that are steady, but definitely not as compact and light as a monopod with small feet would be. It depends on your personal preferences and the situation you're shooting in.

Thanks again,
Bruce

Review of Free Monopod

by Bruce Lovelace
(Pitman NJ)

Free Monopod

I purchased a portrait background from Denny manufacturing and they were having a promotion that included a free monopod with the purchase.

I don't know who actually made the monopod. It only has a Denny's sticker on it. It's very lightweight and it holds my camera quite securely.

It does have a limited use because it is not practical to use it when I want to aim upward or downward when I am taking nature pictures. It definitely needs a ball head or a tilt head to make it more versatile.

It does make it possible to use a slower shutter speed and still get a sharp picture especially when in telephoto mode.

Best Monopod Reviews-
Manfrotto 679B - video

by Photo TipMan
(USA)

Manfrotto 679B

Hey monopods users. I just wanted to add this video clip I found on YouTube so you get a better view of the Manfrotto 679B monopod

The video is by DigiGeek Reviews and it shows the Manfrotto 679B by itself and then with the addition of a Manfrotto 496rc2 ball head. It is a great combination. The video is not about the technical specifications which you can find on the Manfrotto Monopods - Reviews page






Comments made by the reviewer are centered around the look and feel of this monopod After all, this is very important to consider since this is a product you will be handling. I often tend to get obsessed with technical spcifications when comparing products.


Some of the phrases he uses give you a sense of how it feels when using it:

Very popular monopod that man pros use ,and enthusiasts and even beginners use " solid, simple, very cheap and affordable

Use when I am on the go, well-built, aluminum monopod , great length, about 15 inches long not too long, not tool short when folded up, last a long time

Great leg locks, pull tabs and the slide right open, very simple,3-section

Rubber tip can be changes out for spikes. Very smooth when you slide it open. very very solid, there's no problems with it

Very tall Has 3/8 screw type, spring tension allows you to directly plug camera into it. Favorite Manfrotto 496rc2 ball-joint head. Very universal, use it on tripods as well

Fits perfectly, flush, meant for this monopod, Weight is very balanced. Like the feel of it

Ball-head is only about 1 lb. when it's extended feels like it was meant to be together. Ball head can rotate to 90 degrees for portrait. Then back to landscape position.

You can do multiple crazy angles with this combination rc2 plate gives real quick mounting for on and off. Can shoot video with it very smooth action. Never shakes or moves.

simple monopod, only 50 bucks on Amazon: Manfrotto 679B

Manfrotto Model 3216
(with234 Swivel Tilt Head)

by Monopod Man
(USA)

Manfrotto Monopod 3216 with 234 Head

This is the most economical of the Manfrotto Monopods that I have included in my monopod reviews section.

The Manfrotto 3216 with the 234 tilting head is recommended to use for videography with sports and action. The tilting head provides tilt for upward and downward movements and you provide the side to side panning by twisting the monopod to the left or the right.

The only downside is that if you wish to orient your camera in a vertical position, you must mount rotate the tilt head sideways and then adjust your camera on the mounting screw to face the camera forward toward your subject.

Here are the specs.


Maximum Height 61.8" (157 cm)
Folded Length 24.6" (62.5 cm)

Load Capacity 22 lb (10kg)
Sections 3

Leg Lock Type Flip levers
Camera Mount 1/4" & 3/8"
Weight 1.4 lb (0.7kg)

Vivitar VIV-VT-67 Monopod Review

by Photo TipMan
(USA)

Add this to the collection of monopod reviews of in-expensive monopods.

Over 93% of customers who reviewed this tripod on Amazon gave it a 4 or 5 star rating.

Treat the plastic parts gently and you can't beat the price.

Good features:

The soft foam grip is great in cold weather.

The legs have a slot that goes the full length so there is added stability that prevents twisting.

It only weighs about 1 pound.

It comes with a carrying case and shoulder strap which frees up your hand to carry something else.

Your not risking much money if it breaks after the warranty runs out.

Monopods for video

monopod for video

I just wanted to add a point that monopods are good for shooting video too. A lot of parents are shooting video of their kids in the school play or on the soccer field from quite a distance.

They are zooming in quite a bit and this really magnifies movement in both the swivel, the horizontal and the vertical axis.

There is nothing worse than watching a video that jumps around and doesn't remain in the same spot on the subject.

Monopods take away almost all of the swivel movement and eliminates a good percentage of the the vertical movement.

In the case of shooting video of sports, you often want to have the freedom to pan with horizontal movements and using a monopod makes this very easy.

Monopods are also extremely light and easy to carry. It is often easy to lean them against a stationary object like a chair, a fence or even your knee if you are sitting and you get a second stationary point for added stability.
The monopods with the three feet are very handy when you are on level ground too.

Monopod Review of Manfrotto 681B

by Photo TipMan
(USA)

Mafrotto 681B Monopod

This is a review of the Professional Aluminum Monopod Manfrotto model 681B (black)

It is heavier than the "walking stick" versions of monopods, but still lighter than the 4-section heavy duty monopods.

Technical Specifications:

* 3 sections
* 25.6 inches when closed.
* 69.4 inches maximum height.
* legs tube diameters are 35mm, 30mm, and 25mm.
* load capacity 26.5 lbs
* weight 1.8 lb.
* Made with aluminum.

Monopod reviews given by buyers of the 681B gave the following types of photography as the most popular uses: sports and action photography, travel, wildlife, and landscape photography.

The leg extension locks are plenty sturdy enough without being hard to tighten.

The wrist strap is flimsy and can slip out of the nylon buckle.

Don't be concerned that the price being is too low for a quality product.

The Manfrotto 681B does not come with a case or bag.

The 486RC2 compact Ball head is a great addition to get to use with this monopod.

Pro
It is fairly light.
The 681B is extremely stable
It is fast and simple to set up.

Con
It does not compact as small as a 4-section monopod. A ball head is not included. The wrist strap is not its strongest feature. (I remove wrist straps-I find them annoying.)

It makes no sense to mount a few thousand dollars worth of camera and lens equipment on a cheapo monopod and run the risk of damage.

Manfrotto also offers an extended 3 year warranty when you register your product online giving you a total of 5 years in warranty.


This Monopod review gives a 5 star rating. This Manfrotto is considerably less than the cost of a carbon fiber monopod and this aluminum monopod is a great buy.

Keyword used to find this site: monopod reviews

Simple Way to Make Monopod More Stable

This is not one of the specific monopod reviews, but I wanted to add this tip on how to improve the stability when you use your monopod. Add a second point of contact.

You can get blur from any combination of movement of your camera and monopod; forward-backward, left-right, up-down, and rotating-spinning. Monopods can help reduced movements significantly but not in all directions.

Additional Monopod Contact Point