Any suggestions or stick with the camera on the monopod?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Monopod Head For Sports Shooting?
- Thread starter Panther
- Start date
If I need a head, I just use my ballhead. IMO, there's no need to buy a separate head.
I bought a tilt head that is a cheap Chinese knock off of the Manfrotto version. It has double the capacity of Manfrotto's advertised capacity. Unfortunatley, it is not available anymore. I prefer the tilt heads over the ball head because I am essentially limited on a front to back movement.
That's precisely why I like the ball heads: I can add left/right tilt to any panning shot.
Different strokes for different folks...
Ball head with a big lens like a 400 2.8 is not good. Let that go and ouch
Plus you just turn the monopod for horizontal movement
I find it interesting that on the bottom of the page appear ads for tilt heads and monopods. Subscribing members probably do not see them. 
While I don't shoot sports I do use a Kirk monopod head for other stuff. LOve it.
I have the RRS MH-01 Randy mentioned. Not used it other than some testing in my yard, it does appear to work pretty well.
I just adjust the tension setting on the ballhead so that when loose, the lens/camera doesn't flop around. Granted, my "heavy" lens is a 300/2.8, but I haven't had any issues.
The RRS MH-01 is excellent, the -02 allows rotation of the QR clamp, if you want to attach the camera rather than the lens. Useful if you shoot the 105 VR for macro (as an example). Both work flawlessly.
I do have a tilt head but an unusual choice (which actually works surprisingly well if you are shooting for an extended period with a heavy lens/camera rig from a small outboard-motored boat) is a Wimberley Gimbal on a short monopod.
The use of a lens collar with a gimbal (so that you mount the lens to get perfect balance) works well on dry land as well and makes handling really heavy equipment much less strenuous.
The use of a lens collar with a gimbal (so that you mount the lens to get perfect balance) works well on dry land as well and makes handling really heavy equipment much less strenuous.
i have a monostat monopad with a flexible foot, so thats the one thing.
the other thing i am using sometimes is a small and light gimbal head on the monopod,
like a wimberley but the Weight is only 770 gramm (12lb) and
it works fine for me (birds in flight and sometimes horse jumping)
it is this one:
Jobu DesignBWG-J3K Jobu Jr.3 Gimbal Kit with Swing-Arm HM-J2
here are some pics from it, i use the combo often with the D500+500PF VR, but it also works with my 400/2.8E (only tested with the big prime but it works)
the other thing i am using sometimes is a small and light gimbal head on the monopod,
like a wimberley but the Weight is only 770 gramm (12lb) and
it works fine for me (birds in flight and sometimes horse jumping)
it is this one:
Jobu DesignBWG-J3K Jobu Jr.3 Gimbal Kit with Swing-Arm HM-J2
here are some pics from it, i use the combo often with the D500+500PF VR, but it also works with my 400/2.8E (only tested with the big prime but it works)
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Ah!
For heavier lenses, this is a very precarious solution....IMHO....
What is precarious, using any type of head, or using a ballhead vs. a monopod head? If the later, what makes the monopod head any "safer" than a ballhead that has an adjustable tension setting?
When even slightly loosened with a heavy lens, a ball head allows movement in any direction. A monopod head designed for heavier lenses only allows for forward and back motion.....horizontal adjustment is by turning the monopod. Randy, I and others have experienced this. A gimbal head is also a great solution.
Hmmm....
Lot's of good suggestions in this thread...THANKS FOLKS!!!
+1
A gimbal on a monopod can be difficult to manage
Yes you are right, but for every solution is one thing necessary: praktice praktice, practice
i don`t like ball heads in anyway, so i would prefer on a monopod:
a. nothing (direct on the monopod) or a one way solution, like the kirk MPA-2 or the Sirui L-10 or when you are plannning to do often moving subjects, a little gimbal.
but that is only my solution. perhaps you may have a look on this youtube video from steve perry:
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