Monopods

<p>Anyone out there tried the Monostat brand of monopods??? any recommendations?<br>

John<br>

Austin, Texas</p>

<p>35mm f1.8 - 70-200-f2.8 VR-400mm f2.8 VR-D300</p>

<p>I have a Manfrotto 681B monopod. $60 and worth every penny.</p>

<p>Haven't tried the Monostat brand...</p>

<p>RS</p>

 

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<p>I have a Manfrotto 681B monopod. $60 and worth every penny.</p>

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<p>Me too. Five years old and used in all weather and occasionally salt water. Functionally like new and pretty much looks like it, too.</p>

<p>I use a Manfrotto 680B, which is exellent, however an important issue is the head, which depends on what kind of photography you are doing.</p>

<p>I use a velbon that I have no idea of the model number. Its thick, chunky and heavy, but will allow me to put just about any lens imaginable on it. <br />I picked it up at a garage sale for 40$ CDN.</p>

<p>Also, for hiking, consider one of the really great walking sticks (Leki makes some of the best as I recall) that have a tripod mount under the handle. That way you are carrying one less thing, since you are using a Walking stick anyway.</p>

<p>I had one with an "adjustable" head (which I hated-ymmv-rather have a "fixed" one), but since my heaviest lens is pretty light I gave it away. You have heavy lenses, though.</p>

<p>I was surprised to find a very good monopod at, of all places, Radio Shack, for the pricely sum of $9.99. I bought one several years ago and seriously, it works as well as the really expensive ones.</p>

<p>Gael</p>

<p>I balance my AF-I 400 2.8 behemoth on a Benro Carbon (Get the highest weight for your gear) for Golf shoots. Highly recommend from B&H.</p>

<p>I've owned a Manfrotto 679B (3216) 3 Section Monopod for perhaps 20 years - it was Bogen's brand when I bought it. It weighs 1.3 lbs and supports 22 lb (10kg). If I lost it I'd buy another without a moment's hesitation.</p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

<p>I'm about to buy the Manfrotto 680B monopod. Weighs in at about 1.6lbs and holds 22lbs.</p>

<p>I haven't heard of Monostat brand of monopods. I only know the name from stuff my wife makes me buy at the store for her.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I've got the Manfrotto 680b too, very solid, 4 sections so goes down low, use it with the 400 2.8 no problem.<br>

I've no objection to spending huge amounts of money if they really will make a difference but I looked at Gitzo monopods and 1 or 2 others that cost 5x the price of the Manfrotto and actually preferred the Manfrotto - even if they were the same price I'd have bought the 680B!<br />Steve</p>