monopod or tripod?

cycleman

hi, I'm a pro member at smugmug. haven't got my site finished yet.

I use a canon eos 20D for most of my shooting. I do a variety of shooting, nature, people, street, etc.

I have nerve damage in my hands, and therefore my hands tremble at times. not wildly, but enough that I get camera shake if the light level is low, for example. before I got this, I never had much of a problem w camera shake.

anyway, I've been trying to figure out a solution. at the moment, I have a manfrotto 682 monopod, has a quick release plate (which I really like, hard to thread a camera on a pod without sg like that), the foot can be reversed to make a tripod, ball head w grip. but it's somewhat heavy and relatively long folded up 29". the foot by itself doesn't seem very stable.

I'm wondering if anyone else might have some suggestions? it wd be nice to find something quick to set up, stable, with a quick release plate, so that I could just use it right on the spot. I'd be open to a tripod if it weren't too heavy and fast to set up. thanks.