Who's using what? Who can recommend what?

I'm looking for a tall ass monopod. I'm 6'4" so the closer to my height the better, but they won't make them tall enough anyway. I'd prefer CF because it looks so bad ass, but I'm not ruling out metals since the weight difference is minimal with just one leg. Max price I'm willing to spend is $150, but ideally I'd like it <$100. The biggest criteria I have is I want something that's "thick". I'll be hand holding the pointy end at times, so the wider the better. I also would prefer 3 sections or 4 tops since I'll be holding the wrong end at times.

• > 60" extended
• 3 or 4 sections, the fewer the better
• CF a plus
• thick tube diameter (hard to know online)
• <$150, ideally ~$100

suggestions/recommendations?

I have a super tall ass Gitzo that probably goes to the top of your head Ben . Mine is a Studex 5 section model that I'm sure goes past 70 inches tall. I'll check the model as well as the height when I get home.

I also have something sort of like this on top of it for making mounting things easier:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Head_for.html

But I need to get an arca swiss adapter which is a clamp with a Bogen QR plate on the bottom like from here:
http://www.kirkphoto.com/platformsc.html

or just replace that whole thingy with an A/S clamp from somewhere (assuming they have the right size threads on the bottom and some of them do).

for now I'm going to use my normal ball head on it (I know it's not ideal) but that kirk adapter is pretty rad....

But I don't want a 5 section set, 4 tops, so the height on yours won't help me much....

Honestly though, my biggest concern is the thickness of the legs. I wish I had time to go to B&H and just try them all in my hands. I'd know in 5 minutes which was right for me. I've seen and held the gitzo 5540, it's perfect, but $300 is way more than I'm spending on a monopod.... So I want to find the knockoff benro/induro/velbon/feisol version of it.....

$300 is a lot, but IMO I wouldn't bother with CF for one of these. I don't carry it as much as my tripod, and with one leg the weight isn't as significant anyway. Mine was probably in the $130-150 range.

CF is simply because I'll be holding it bare handed in the cold. The weight doesn't matter much as bogens biggest/baddest metal mono weighs less than the CF gitzo I like... (1.7 -vs- 1.9lbs)

Mine has a big rubbery holding area at the top, so cold hands have never been an issue.

wrong end, but yeah....

that's also why I want it super thick, because I'll be holding the "bottom" at times and it'll be cold. So thick CF FTW...

Ben, I know what you're planning.... snow skiing with an expensive dSLR 6' out from your waste isn't that safe

Going Les Stroud style... Anyone watch Suvirvorman?

Originally Posted by PhatheadWRX

Going Les Stroud style...

more like Ben Jacobsen style:

but from even further away...

More sections isn't necessarily bad, you can just use the ones you need.

Also, if this is your goal, I think I'd suggest going about this in a different way perhaps than using a monopod.

OK, here's the list of the options as far as I can tell:

• GitzoGM-5540, 21.7"~63.8", 1.9/55lbs, CF, 4 sections, $340
• BenroMC-96n6, 21.9"~66.9", 1.5/22lbs, CF, 4 sections, $114.95
• FEISOL CM-1471, 21.6"~66.9", 1.5/24lbs, CF, 4 sections, $99
• VelbonNeo Pod 7, 20.9"~66.9", 1.7/13.2lbs, CF, 4 sections, $129.95
• InduroMXC44, 22.1"~66.7", 1.6/22lbs, CF, 4 sections, $166
• Bogen/Manfrotto681B, 26.4"~63.4", 1.7/26.4lbs, aluminum?, 3 sections, $54.95

Originally Posted by emorphien

More sections isn't necessarily bad, you can just use the ones you need.

more sections = more joints = less stable from what I've seen...

I think I'd suggest going about this in a different way perhaps than using a monopod.

OK, suggest away please, I'm definately open to any ideas.

Another idea I had was using a hoe and just drilling into the metal and using the appropriate bolt. It'd work super easy and be dirt cheap, but I couldn't take it a lot of the places I want to use this....

You're using a monopod out at arms length pointing the wrong direction, I'm not sure you should be that concerned about stability Also, you can just not use the last (smallest) leg sections.

Yeah I was thinking of going to DIY route, that's all.

yeah, I'm going to be holding a ton of $ over my head, and others heads holding the skinny end of a stick, and you don't think I should be worried about stability? And I'll also be doing this while skiing or while on a moving sailboat? Yeah, I'm thinking I want something I know will be stable enough it won't be an issue....

ben, just go down to the boatyard and get an old section of aluminum mast.

i mean, seriously... do you REALLY need to spend 150 bucks just so it will collapse?

I could *cough* borrow a CF section anyway, but yeah, for where I'm going with it, it pretty much needs to collapse unfortunately.

I have an old bogen one that you could use as a bridge across small chasms in a pinch. Weapons grade monopod.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

yeah, I'm going to be holding a ton of $ over my head, and others heads holding the skinny end of a stick, and you don't think I should be worries about stability? And I'll also be doing this while skiing or while on a moving sailboat? Yeah, I'm thinking I want something I know will be stable enough it won't be an issue....

You're concerned about strength more than you are stability against vibrations.

I've got the Bogen 680B, which is a 4 section version of the one you've got listed. It's pretty stout. 1-3/8" upper section. My lowest section is 3/4", but a 3-section will be thicker. 1" and 1-1/4" for the middle two sections.

Originally Posted by emorphien

You're concerned about strength more than you are stability against vibrations.

whatever you call no wiggling between sections, that's what I want. And it to be STABLE in my hands.

Originally Posted by LateApex

I've got the Bogen 680B, which is a 4 section version of the one you've got listed. It's pretty stout. 1-3/8" upper section. My lowest section is 3/4", but a 3-section will be thicker. 1" and 1-1/4" for the middle two sections.

thanks, that actually helps a lot.

ben, i had two more DIY ideas:

1) broomstick/paintroller handle. extensible, relatively thick to hold on to, easily available.
2) extensible boathook. i've seen 2 and 3 piece units, usually aluminum, again fairly large diameter.

yeah, Ken, the DIY options only work for half of the reasons I want one though. Around the house and on the boat they'd be fine, but at ALMS and airshows and skiing, it's either not allowed (ALMS) or it'll draw way too much attention or be dangerous, so I truely need a monopod for some of my ideas. At this point I'm wondering if I should go the cheap DIY route now and still get a carbon real deal eventually, or just get it now so I don't have both... It's all in the length it collapses to in order to hide/conceal it getting into places.

****, you're 6'4"!?

.....

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

• BenroMC-96n6, 21.9"~66.9", 1.5/22lbs, CF, 4 sections, $114.95

finally bit the bullet and went with the benro. The legs are as thick as I'd hoped:

1"
1 1/16"
1 3/16"
1 3/8"

the locks are very similar to the gitzo w/o being exact. Nice 1/4 turn motion to lock and unlock and no spinning on a round section. Looks like it's about perfect, and fully extended it's to my eye level. I'll have to play around with this a bit to see how it breaks in, but so far I feel like I made the right decision for what I wanted. The only thing that keeps it from being perfect is the little tripod legs in the base rattle against each other when inside the leg. It's an easy fix with some electrical tape on the ends, but it's worth mentioning as they should come with something so I don't have to worry about it. Also, they should be removeable, but that would be a double edged sword as the bogens like that like to fall off when you're setting them up.

+1 for this forum.
I'm now going through this exact problem being 6'2" and not wanting to bend over to shoot an 80 minute rugby match...
If I end up with the 150-500 I also won't want that around my neck

I can measure the benro at home tonight if you want, but for me it's been perfect.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

I can measure the benro at home tonight if you want, but for me it's been perfect.

Not necessary. 6'4" and 6'2" are close enough...

Originally Posted by Idjiit

When we switched over the the D700's and 70-200's, and with my wife being in her "condition" I went ahead and popped for the Bogen 685 NeoTec Deluxe. I was a bit paranoid that she'd find a monopod too clumsy, so the quick release system on this monopod makes it as easy as possible to adjust the height as possible - so she can go from shooting on her knees to shooting standing up very easily. She really likes shooting with it, so I guess it was worth it - not exactly cheap.

Good to know. I just get the feeling I'm going to want/need a monopod with a 4.5lb lens.

Originally Posted by Idjiit

Even just the D700+Grip+70-00/2.8 really takes it out of me.

yeah, I think we're similar this way in that we're honest about this **** really being heavy regardless of being in decent shape.... People though I was insane for going to the smaller body and f4 lenses saying my 1 series and 2.8 zooms were too heavy. Yeah, you CAN hold them all day, but do you really WANT to?

And my answer is "only if I HAVE to!".

exactly.

I have a Gitzo 5540 that was awesome when I used it (500mm and 400mm), but now I should just sell it.

I've been meaning to post a small write-up with a pic of my (the?) shoulder-pod idea that I've been using when I need extra-steady shots, and there's no bracing in sight / or time for. Basically, I rest the camera on my left shoulder, support the lens with my body-braced left hand, and shoot away. This works even better if there's a pole/wall/post/etc. to lean into.

I ended up with the Manfrotto 679B.
http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-679B...2658485&sr=8-1

Originally Posted by martel

I ended up with the Manfrotto 679B.
http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-679B...2658485&sr=8-1

Nice

I bought the 680B because I liked the smaller size when collapsed. Even if it means I have one more lever to deal with