Monopod or Tripod?

[graciousness]

This is my first thread here. Weeee!!

Ok, you're going to hate me for this, but I'm a lucky, spoilt brat who manages to inherit camera equipment every time my father upgrades his. When I first got handed his 20D 3 years ago, that was the first time I held and shot with an SLR. 3 Years later, I now have a Canon 30D and about to get a 40D (used for 4 months), 24-105 L lens, 70-300 IS USM lens, filters, diffusers, reflectors, 430X flash, wireless remote shutter thing, etc, etc. Did I tell you I was lucky???

So recently, my latest inheritance is the Canon 100 - 400 IS L lens which I haven't even dared use cause I'm freaking scared of that monster. I'm a newbie and I only just managed to get out of P mode in the last 2 weeks (now on to AV and rarely on TV - *shivers*). I had been advised I need a tripod or a monopod to mount this on. I do have a Velbon Sherpa tripod (which apparently may not be good enough for this lens in the long run to use) so I'm looking to see if I should get either a Manfrotto monopod or a Manfrotto 055 tripod (which will take me a while to save up for).

Now I've never used a monopod before - I've only even just realised recently that I had been mounting my camera incorrectly on my tripod - so I don't know what to do. Would a monopod be more versatile for this big lens or should I wait and invest in the expensive tripod?

I do find the tripod a little restricting, but I guess this will improve with practice. But will the monopod be a better choice for me and give me more freedom in movement while being a good support for my gears?

Cheers and thanks for your help!

[baycruisers]

It depends largely on what kind of shooting you want to do. I have a Velbon Neopod carbon fiber monopod (my model discontinued but Velbon makes similar ones) with a Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head Quick Release head that I find very handy in situations where a tripod is overkill. A monopod without a flexible QR head is of limited value, in my opinion. There are situations where a monopod is a better idea than even a lightweight tripod, such as at sporting events.

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by baycruisers

It depends largely on what kind of shooting you want to do. I have a Velbon Neopod carbon fiber monopod (my model discontinued but Velbon makes similar ones) with a Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head Quick Release head that I find very handy in situations where a tripod is overkill. A monopod without a flexible QR head is of limited value, in my opinion. There are situations where a monopod is a better idea than even a lightweight tripod, such as at sporting events.

Oh many thanks for taking your time responding!!

I think the lens would be used mostly for races. My husband cycles and once in while does a local cycling race with his club so I thought that would be a great opportunity for practice and photo opportunity. We go to major cycling events, too.

I'm not really into wildlife photography, unfortunately, but maybe the closest I'll get to doing that is taking photos of the gazillion fruit bats that fly around Sydney all year round. I think they're awesome.

I rarely do landscape unless we go somewhere, but this is not very often. However, Sydney is a fabulous city harbour and there are tons of landscape shots around beaches and cliffs, etc, that can be done, especially this city loves fireworks. Is fireworks considered landscape??

So in saying this, I guess the monopod would be a better choice....?

Also, can I do handheld shots with this lens or am I just asking for trouble?

[sk66]

For your specific use a monopod should be fine (preferred even). You should be able to handhold that lens fine with adequate light with the monopod really only needed for lower light (not *low* light)

[inkista]

OK, this is just me, but you probably won't need a monopod most of the time for the 100-400L, because it's got IS. Monopods and IS pretty much do the same job of stabilizing a lens. A monopod might be a bit more effective, but it does make it a bit harder to track a moving subject, and if you're shooting motorcycle races....

The REASON you "need" some form of stabilization is because of the 1/focal_length rule of thumb. This "rule" (guideline, more like) states that to eliminate camera shake blur while handholding, you want to shoot with a shutter speed of 1/focal_length or faster. With a 50mm lens, it's easy to get up and over 1/50s. With a 400mm lens, getting up and over 1/400s generally means a lot of sunshine or a higher iso setting. The 100-400's IS can ease this restriction by two stops (doubling/halving of the light). So, 1/100s is your lower limit (assuming you've got good handholding technique), which is much easier to achieve. With a monopod, you could probably get to three stops, but you're much less mobile.

The thing is, when you shoot something that moves fast, and you want to "freeze the action", you're going to be using high shutter speeds anyway. That's why I can handhold the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM non-IS lens for shooting birds. I'm at 1/1000s a lot of the time, anyway.

Seriously, I wouldn't bother buying either a tripod or monopod until you've actually figured out whether you really need one (i.e., tried it out and seen that handholding doesn't work for you). And make sure you inherited the tripod collar for the 100-400 if you discover that you do.

A tripod, obviously is a different matter than a monopod, and is still going to be useful for when you need to extend the shutter speed to something slower than the IS can handle, e.g., night shooting, or for macro photography (obviously, not with the 100-400L).

I think most of your issues are stemming from the fact that you're scared of picking up the lens and using it. Time to channel the goddess of victory: just do it. It'll be awkward at first (I remember first putting my 400/5.6L on my XT, and realizing it was so big that you didn't put the lens on the camera, you put the camera on the lens). Once you see what that lens can get you, you'll stop finding it so intimidating. I usually support the weight of the camera/lens combination on my left hand under or near the hood. And shooting with both eyes open can help you track your subject more easily (at 400mm, you've only got a 2° field of view).

[RichardTaylor]

+ 1 on inkista's comment re a tripod for long exposures, and trying hand holding it (for a while) to see how you go.

The Canon 100-400 is my most used lens, mainly because of motor racing (cars & motorcycles), and bird photography.
I use a mono pod for 90% of my pics with this lens.

In some cases you want to freeze the action (mainly with the birds), however in other cases that is the last thing you want to do.
In motor sport, you may as well be shooting shooting parked cars. You want to have blurred wheels, at the very least, to show a sense of motion. I very rarely shoot above 1/320 and it will usually be a lot slower if I am panning.

(1) Example.


Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 400 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV

(2) With a 70-300 but will give you an idea of what I am talking about

Canon 350D with Canon 70-300 IS lens @ 200mm
ISO 400 1/200@F13

I suspect that with cycle racing you will be shooting at a lot slower shutter speed to capture the movement of the riders feet/pedals and the spokes of the wheel. A mono pod will help you achieve slower shutter speeds.

The other thing is that the camera + lens (+ sometimes an external flash) can get very heavy after a while especially when shooting events that run for 8 hours, at the minimum, or so. A mono pod will make life a lot easier.

Even when shooting some wildlife subjects it will help.
(3) I tracked, with my eye glued to the viewfinder, this egret for 3/4 of an hour before both he and I were rewarded. I don't think I could have done that without a mono pod.

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture f/8
Focal Length 400 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV

Keep in mind this is a very versatile lens and can focus a lot closer than the Canon 400mm F5.6 L

(4) With a 580ex flash and at minimum focussing distance. I was not using a mono pod.

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/14.0
Focal Length 350 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Fired

Re quick release heads, just make sure that you don't get one that quick releases when you don't want it to. Now days I never ever use a quick release when using a mono pod.

Main thing is to try it and see, you will soon know if you need some form of support.

[graciousness]

Thank god I took 2 three-hour beginners' lesson and online reading, otherwise all your advice would have just befuddled me. I had to read and re-read your posts to let thinks sink in, but yes, I get it!!!

The shutter speed use I really have to put in practice for me to really understand the mathematics of it, so maybe I should tent outside my house and practice panning shots with everything that passes by. But I'll get there!

I am quite interested with racing in respect to photography cause I love motion shots with cars, bikes, etc. I can imagine using the monopod under some circumstances where allowed, but because I'm not a photojournalist and won't have the same access to hot photo spots, it would be difficult to use a monopod when I'm crowded in with gazillion spectators. So handheld would be more ideal, albeit would require much confidence and practice.

Maybe if I mount the lens on the monopod they would give me more room to make me appear like a pro -- hehe. But who am I kidding.

I love the close up, tire shots with the smoke on the motorcycle. It's what makes me excited about getting this monster zoom lens cause it will allow me to take such photos.

In regards to mounting any lens with IS on a monopod or tripod, I was advised to take the lens off IS as it will the confuse the camera if it's on. Is this correct?

The wildlife shots are amazing! They're bokehliciuos, I think. Makes me want to get into this mode of photography....but I wonder if I have the patience.

I, uh, finally mounted the lens on the camera. It took me a while to figure out how to use the zoom - I kept trying to find where I can twist to zoom until finally, I figured out it's a pulling action and not a twist. I guess this will require some practice too, although, I don't know how smooth the pull is on this lens.

I didn't take any shots, though.....don't know why I didn't. I promise I will do it this afternoon if I get an opportunity! I live in the city and can spy on some neighbours in tall buildings.....ahem.

I'll try to post some photos if I can.

I really thank you guys for your help so far

[RichardTaylor]

For panning tips you may want to see this tute of mine.
(The last three pics are taken from the spectator side of the fence) as are the two racing pics above.

Panning: Motor sport

There are no problems in using a mono pod on any of the permanent road racing tracks at Eastern Creek, Bathurst or Wakefield (athough Wakefield is not a great place to shoot from either side of the fence (especially the spectator side)). Bathurst is good from the spectator side and Eastern Creek is ok)

Yes a media pass does help up to a point however it is not a necessity to get good shot (I shoot from both sides of the fence depending on the event). Only the V8's have lots of spectators. With most other events there are very few (except for the drag racing which can be very popular - but I have never has any problems shooting there.).

I normally shoot with the IS off, unless shooting at relatively slow shutter speeds and when I am panning - then it is in mode 2 as it helps a bit to keep the image centred in the viewfinder whilst panning.
Turn it off when on a tripod.


(1) Example at 1/100.


The lens should have come with a carry bag and a small user guide which can be found here.
http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchf...280ef1h400.pdf

[graciousness]

Unfortunately, I didn't get the manual when I got the lens. The bag I did get, but the manual added more weight and dimension when it was fed-ex-ed to me and I told my dad not to bother. I will look online for the manual and maybe, just maybe, once in my life I will read a manual.

God, that pit stop shot is so clear.....I don't even know if I think THAT clearly

Now I'm salivating at the thought of going to the Melbourne Grand Prix just to take photos! (And to throw some rocks at Alonzo). Perhaps we can realistically aim for the Moto GP at Phillip Island so I can take photos of the race AND penguins!

I think this lens is going to create some fun.......

[ProPhoto]

Just wanted to compliment Richard for some fantastic explanations and photo examples. Well done!