Using a monopod

It seems like it should be easy to learn how to use a monopod, right? Just plonk your camera on it, stand it up and Bob’s your uncle. Except if you’re me.

I was disappointed with my first monopod shots (at the Balloon Fiesta this year), and I thought it was time to try again.

We were out last night to visit Santa at the Palace of the Governors on the Plaza in Santa Fe (he didn’t seem very impressed when I told him I’d like a 5D Mark II, but anyway).

Reading the How to Use a Monopod instructions at Outdoor Eyes was a help. The basic thrust being that you really need to wedge that thing in good, either by leaning it into you while your legs act as the other two in the tripod, or wrapping yourself around it like Julian Cope and a microphone stand.

So rather than just standing my Manfrotto 676B Aluminum Monopod up vertically and letting it wobble around, I was careful to brace it solidly.

Using a moveable head makes this easier, as you can the level the camera however much the monopod is leaning. Mine is the Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head Quick Release which works pretty well, but it’s a pivot not a ball head, so getting the adjustments right isn’t as straightforward.

But the proof’s in the pudding, and I was happy with the results – even down to 1/13th of a second (the pic above), or 1/8th (below).

Of course, at that speed, anything moving will blur (although the combination of sharp background and some movement blur can be nice).

My ageing Rebel XT is really noisy at 1600 ISO, so I try and limit it to 800 ISO and even that’s pushing it, so used correctly the monopod is a handy way to get me an extra few stops of stability.

It’s obviously much less cumbersome than a tripod when folded up, but I still found it a bit unwieldy in tight spaces when extended (it’s a 5′ stick after all). You’re not going to be carrying it around for long distances like that, so getting practised at extending it in a hurry will help you get your shots if speed is of the essence.

I’ll definitely be bringing it with us when we’re out on Christmas Eve for the farolito walk.