Using a monopod

[sartracker]

If I'm attaching a 70-200mm lens to a monopod for stability, do I attach the ball head to the monopod and then the lens to the ball head? Or do you just attach the monopod directly to the lens? I've tried googling it but no luck. Thanks!

[Doug Sundseth]

Depends how you want to use your monopod. For most circumstances, I'd attach the lens collar directly to the monopod and plan to move the monopod back and forth to adjust vertical field of view. If you're planning to shoot well above or below level, though, you might get value out of using the ball head.

[Jim Bryant]

I've done it either way. Using a ballhead is great for shooting wildlife, but not for sports.

[Bruce A]

I keep a spare ballhead on my monopod all the time. If I don't want to use it I just tighten it up. You need to realise, that in order to keep a level horizon when you mount a camera directly to the monopod you must be pointing the lens at 90 degrees to your body, leaning the stick forward or back won't affect a level horizon, but moving it side to side will. That's where the ballhead will come in handy. So without it, you will need to re-position the pod and yourself to shoot something off to your side if you want to maintain a level horizon.

Also, the ball head helps if you want to aim higher than what you can achieve by leaning the pod backwards.

[sartracker]

Thanks for your responses! I'm shooting 2 St. Patrick's day parades, one in Newark and the big one in NYC. I've got my 24-105 lens on a black rapid and was considering using my other camera body with the 70-200 on the monopod as well. Maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew. I'm thinking that I might want to shoot up from a lower level but having never been to NYC I'm having a hard time even imaging all the people, buildings, etc. I do have a press pass so I can get out in the street. It sounds like a ball head might be handy. I love the 2.8 of the big lens to shoot in tight on people's faces but I don't know if I can carry everything and still shoot - it's too heavy of me to handhold for very long. Decisions, decisions! The NJ parade is on the 16th and isn't as big so I might try it and see if it's feasible. If not, I'll put it all back in my bag and just shoot with my other lens. There are about 40 shots the group wants me to get.
Thanks again! It's really exciting to be hired to do this job and I want to do it right!
Kitty

[Jim Bryant]

For parades like that, only those with official press passes (newspapers, magazines) and parade photographers will be allowed past the ropes.

[sartracker]

Thanks Jim! They said they got me a parade photographer pass, I hope they got the right one! We have a week of sightseeing planned before the parades. I've got a mini-tripod for the Top of the Rock and other places. So exciting to leave the high desert, the snow storm we had last night and head for the Big Apple!

[WooD]

I've got a Manfrotto ball head, and a 3way pan, tilt, swivel head. They both use the same attachment plates, and I found out they also made one for mono pods. I bought attachment plates for all my bodies, and lens, so I never have to screw anything on.

Never saw a need for any type of head on a mono pod.

[sartracker]

Thanks, I just tried using the mono pod attached just to the lens and it worked fine. Big question now is how much can I carry? I appreciate everyone's help. Somethings you just can't google! Kitty