[QUOTE=inkista;56954]
The funniest part of the story is that because of all my pano shooting, I use tiny little Velbon quick-release plates as well (this has made panoshooting actually pleasurable instead of an absolute swear-word-inducing PITA). So, there I am at the WAP, trying to get a shot of a Secretary Bird, and I pull out my tripod ring, which has its QR plate on it, and I realize that the ballhead (with the quick release) is at home. I then have to dig into my pocket for a penny to unscrew the QR plate from the tripod ring, then screw the tripod ring onto the monopod, and THEN I can put the 400 into the ring. Which I haven't used for yonks, so then I'm fiddling with the whole how-does-this-thing-open/close/tighten-up-again? And just as I get it right, the Secretary Bird has decided to hide behind some trees. [sigh]. And when s/he comes back out again, I need to switch from landscape to portrait.
This is not to mention how long it took to realize the feet would not be a help. The Bogen-Manfrotto monopod's feet are cool, but there is no easy way to get them on and off the stick. I don't mind looking like an idiot, but it was getting really ridiculous for a while. So, if you want to know
why all the birds were smiling?--it's probably because of the clown show the silly human put on for them with her photo gear.
Check out
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=272780&is=REG
Then I bought
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ku=5563&is=REG for my mono pod, and a couple spare QD plates. Now I have a plate on both of my long lens, and one on my body. I never have to unscrew anything going from tripod to monopod, or short lens to long.