Recommendations for monopod ball head

Kim HKim H Registered Users Posts: 5 Beginner grinner
edited May 20, 2007 in Accessories
I just purchased the Bogen 682B monopod with the foot. (I have an awful time with sway..) I want to put a ball head on the monopod so I can shoot vertical and horizontal and other angles in between. I have the Canon 30D and the 100-400L IS lens also the 300L IS ..medium heavy lenses...any suggestions from you all about what ball heads work well with the monopods? I am not looking to spend a fortune, but don't want to be penny wise and dollar foolish either. B&H sells the monopod with a tiny head that only tilts back and forth..useless I think...I already have that head and I don't trust it for my telephoto lenses...any thoughts or suggestions from your experiences? thanks...

Comments

  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited May 20, 2007
    Kim H wrote:
    B&H sells the monopod with a tiny head that only tilts back and forth..useless I think...I already have that head and I don't trust it for my telephoto lenses...any thoughts or suggestions from your experiences? thanks...
    If you're referring to the 234RC head, it's far from useless. I use it all the time with my Bigma - wouldn't be without it (check my birds). An acquaintance uses it with the Canon 500 F4. I've tried a ball head with a monopod, and found the 234RC works better. I'm not quite sure what you mean by horizontal and vertical - landscape and portrait? The tripod collar on most big lenses allows you to do this very easily.

    I think a question you should rather ask yourself is which quick release mechanism you'd rather use and play it from there.
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  • gryphonslair99gryphonslair99 Registered Users Posts: 182 Major grins
    edited May 20, 2007
    Kim H wrote:
    I just purchased the Bogen 682B monopod with the foot. (I have an awful time with sway..) I want to put a ball head on the monopod so I can shoot vertical and horizontal and other angles in between. I have the Canon 30D and the 100-400L IS lens also the 300L IS ..medium heavy lenses...any suggestions from you all about what ball heads work well with the monopods? I am not looking to spend a fortune, but don't want to be penny wise and dollar foolish either. B&H sells the monopod with a tiny head that only tilts back and forth..useless I think...I already have that head and I don't trust it for my telephoto lenses...any thoughts or suggestions from your experiences? thanks...

    Unless you are using the 300 f2.8, both of the lenses you mentioned would work on the 3229 swivel/tilt head. Good for 6 lbs. With collars on the lenses you can go to portrait mode in a steadier fashion with the lens over the monopod rather than off to the side.
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  • Kim HKim H Registered Users Posts: 5 Beginner grinner
    edited May 20, 2007
    Re: Monopod Heads
    Kim H wrote:
    I just purchased the Bogen 682B monopod with the foot. (I have an awful time with sway..) I want to put a ball head on the monopod so I can shoot vertical and horizontal and other angles in between. I have the Canon 30D and the 100-400L IS lens also the 300L IS ..medium heavy lenses...any suggestions from you all about what ball heads work well with the monopods? I am not looking to spend a fortune, but don't want to be penny wise and dollar foolish either. B&H sells the monopod with a tiny head that only tilts back and forth..useless I think...I already have that head and I don't trust it for my telephoto lenses...any thoughts or suggestions from your experiences? thanks...


    Thank you both for your replies.. I apologize for being unclear about the head that I have. It is the 3229. I was particularly interested to hear that Big Al feels it is ok to use with the bigger lenses. My concerns were two part and I didn't make that clear...guess you can't read my mind (yet). I have had experiences with the camera trying to digiscope ( don't do that anymore) and the head slowly falling forward because of the imbalance, so I jumped to the conclusion that this tiny head would do the same with all that weight on it and no good way to balance it (although the foot on the bigger lenses should help I guess.) So, if you have had experience with the little 3229 and find it stable...I guess I should give it a try.

    As for the 234RC..I am writing before looking at it...but I want to take a look at that one too...in case I don't feel comfortable with the 3229.
    Again, I appreciate both of your replies. Hearing from people who go out in the field and are unbiased is a whole lot better than trying to figure it out or talking to camera store people who may want to make the sale more than the practical useage of the item..
  • gryphonslair99gryphonslair99 Registered Users Posts: 182 Major grins
    edited May 20, 2007
    Kim H wrote:
    Thank you both for your replies.. I apologize for being unclear about the head that I have. It is the 3229. I was particularly interested to hear that Big Al feels it is ok to use with the bigger lenses. My concerns were two part and I didn't make that clear...guess you can't read my mind (yet). I have had experiences with the camera trying to digiscope ( don't do that anymore) and the head slowly falling forward because of the imbalance, so I jumped to the conclusion that this tiny head would do the same with all that weight on it and no good way to balance it (although the foot on the bigger lenses should help I guess.) So, if you have had experience with the little 3229 and find it stable...I guess I should give it a try.

    As for the 234RC..I am writing before looking at it...but I want to take a look at that one too...in case I don't feel comfortable with the 3229.
    Again, I appreciate both of your replies. Hearing from people who go out in the field and are unbiased is a whole lot better than trying to figure it out or talking to camera store people who may want to make the sale more than the practical useage of the item..

    I believe that the 234RC is Manfrottos Eurpoean designation for the 3229. I have seen several people shooting heavy lenses on the 3229. I personally don't believe a 6# lens with body attached would be a problem either.
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