TrekPod?

urbanaries

Swarovski
TrekPod Monopod/Tripod/Walking Stick Combination with MagMount

from B&H ($89 with secret dgrin discount, normally $114)

I kind of like the idea of a monopod with the option of legs for when I need to leave my camera for a minute, and not lay the whole thing down. And the Magmount feature seems cool, but...iffy. Anyone owned one?

I wouldn't use it very often, maybe once/twice a month for weddings (during ceremony with fast telephoto) and sporting events. I don't hike much.

any info on this brand or model would be most helpful

lynne

ian408

The legs, while attractive, aren't really worth the extra cost. They don't
really make a monopod more stable nor are they a substitute for a tripod.

Pick the 'pod without the legs and I think you'll have a perfect tool that
you'll get a fair amount of use from!

urbanaries

ian408 wrote:

The legs, while attractive, aren't really worth the extra cost. They don't
really make a monopod more stable nor are they a substitute for a tripod.

Pick the 'pod without the legs and I think you'll have a perfect tool that
you'll get a fair amount of use from!

thanks for the reply! That's helpful, I wouldn't expect to use it as a tripod, but your point is well taken.

Your monopod addendum to the sticky is great! Thanks for the info. I do have a question...can you change the camera from landscape to portrait orientation without a head? Or is that the one thing you need a head for. I have looked at specs and I can't seem to figure it out. THANKS IAN!

ian408

urbanaries wrote:

thanks for the reply! That's helpful, I wouldn't expect to use it as a tripod, but your point is well taken.

Your monopod addendum to the sticky is great! Thanks for the info. I do have a question...can you change the camera from landscape to portrait orientation without a head? Or is that the one thing you need a head for. I have looked at specs and I can't seem to figure it out. THANKS IAN!

Most of the time you use a monopod, it's going to be with a long lens & most
of those have a lens collar that you can rotate the camera from portrait to
landscape. If you have a short lens with no collar, then an "L" bracket would
allow you to rotate between L & P. Otherwise, no. You can't switch from L & P
without a head or L bracket.

urbanaries

ian408 wrote:

Most of the time you use a monopod, it's going to be with a long lens & most
of those have a lens collar that you can rotate the camera from portrait to
landscape. If you have a short lens with no collar, then an "L" bracket would
allow you to rotate between L & P. Otherwise, no. You can't switch from L & P
without a head or L bracket.

Now i get it! Duh, the lens tripod mount. thanks for humoring me.

XtaSea

Lynne,

I noticed you have great talent with the maternity and children compositions. You may want to look into the VersaMount attachment since it will give you vertical freedom from 15” up to 57” in tripod mode.

I have used my TrekPod for over 16,000 shots so far. The legs are an indispensable part of the design. If I need a quick shot of something, I use it in monopod mode. This gives me very good results, especially with the aid of the VR lenses. But when the goal is to create a poster quality sellable image, the legs come out. This becomes especially important for crisp views, distant wildlife, sports shots, indoor portraits, sharp close-ups, and low light shootings.

The vBulletin allowed me to post only one picture. Feel free to e-mail me if you want to see more.

livefreenski

this is a very interesting product to me... who loves to hike.

are these legs sold seperately or with a head attachment?

Ty

XtaSea

The legs are a part of the design. You keep them closed while hiking, and flip them open quickly when you want a tripod.

The head attachment (called MagMount) also comes with the standard TrekPod. It is possible to order it without the MagMount if you have your own ball head.

If you like hiking and if you like photography, sooner or later you will be holding a TrekPod.