hi all,

would you consider a monopod essential to general and travel photography? if so, whats a good small but sturdy one?

aside from it being a great self defense tool in street photography, that is.

i have a manfrotto monopod. pretty hand during my travels. forgot what model though. i do consider it an essential tool especially if you have long and heavy lenses.

i was trying to find one in singapore before our europe trip but could not find one. any ideas where I can get one in manila? thanks nino

i was trying to find one in singapore before our europe trip but could not find one. any ideas where I can get one in manila? thanks nino

island multi. along gamboa st., legaspi village. very near greenbelt. very near our office as well.

yup, i would go to Island along Gamboa St. Bought my manfrotto monopod 680B there. :)

would you consider a monopod essential to general and travel photography

I wouldn't call it essential. It's nice to have though.

Muscles and stamina would be the better upgrade. A monopod is useful for me if I'm limited from using a tripod. I do like using monopods on small camcorders since you have to hold up the camcorder constantly during capture (duhh!).

Hence... for still photography.. I prefer muscles and stamina. For camcorders, love that monopod!

Agree with dave, if your going to be serious about landscapes, a good sturdy tripod is a must...for travel and leisure, you may want to consider those table-top tripods from manfrotto or bean bags(kit lens to med-tele zoom lenses only)...small, handy and would'nt attract much attention :)

Ari

thanks guys. the gamboa street island would be a next trip for me.

thanks for your suggestions.

thanks guys. the gamboa street island would be a next trip for me.

thanks for your suggestions.
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Paul, if you're interested we can hook up and go to Island at Gamboa. I know the place, have been there a few times, and I know some guys there too. Besides, I'm in the market for a monopod too like you. PM me.
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uy, can i tag along? don't know where that place is.

thanks guys. the gamboa street island would be a next trip for me.

thanks for your suggestions.

let me know if you're in manila, i can take you there pare.

just to have an idea, prices for monopods are around what range? at least for the manfrotto's?

got mine for at least 6K man.

thanks a bunch guys. will surely take you up on that. I noticed something, ever since I became a member of the forum, my wish list has gotten longer and longer and longer.

laptop, expodisc, monopod, and it keeps on going and going and going.

gotta go see more people!

my wife calls my photography, her inanimate caribal. he he

regarding manfrotto tripods, I just have to share a dissapointment with the recent models of the tripod. I have had no problems with the older models of the tripod, but the once of recent years have given us all sorts of problems. Sorry, I can't quite recall the particular model numbers right now as all of them are in the studio. Anyway, some of these newer tripods from manfrotto are not very reliable. First major defect, the center column which you can slide up or down quickly by loosening the knob - well, from our experience - they can't be tightened enough so that it doesn't slide back down if pressure is put on it - and worse is that they get busted easily. We have 2 units at DPI, both 2 years old. Take note that these are only used indoors and not that often even. Yet both of them got busted in less than two years. I have a personal unit that also has the same problems.
I have an older manfrotto tripod with the old type of column that had to be cranked up or down, now that's really reliable.

So, if you are getting a manfrotto tripod, I suggest test everything - tighten it and apply a realistic amount of pressure and see if it will hold and not start to slide.

hi louie,

thanks for the heads up. would you recommend an alternative?

got mine for at least 6K man.

thanks! medyo mahal din pala, hehe!

thanks a bunch guys. will surely take you up on that. I noticed something, ever since I became a member of the forum, my wish list has gotten longer and longer and longer.

laptop, expodisc, monopod, and it keeps on going and going and going.

gotta go see more people!

my wife calls my photography, her inanimate caribal. he he

i agree! now am lusting for a macbook, a portable harddrive to load pix into, lenses (due to the other thread here of nikon dream lenses), flash etc etc, buti na lang my lack of budget keeps me from splurging, now is that a good thing or should i feel deprived? haha!:Dum: nauunahan ata ako ng gear lust rather than skills upgrade:Grin:

anyway as they say dreaming is free:)

what should we look for in a monopod? i really am thinking about getting one, too. the lens can get heavy talaga at times.

what should we look for in a monopod? i really am thinking about getting one, too. the lens can get heavy talaga at times.

When I was choosing a monopod, I basically felt had to decide if I wanted one I could use as a walking stick or one that was portable (so can just put inside or hang from my bag). I decided on the latter since I figured a long monopod will only really be useful if I go trekking which I haven't done in awhile. :)

When I was choosing a monopod, I basically felt had to decide if I wanted one I could use as a walking stick or one that was portable (so can just put inside or hang from my bag). I decided on the latter since I figured a long monopod will only really be useful if I go trekking which I haven't done in awhile. :)

thanks, rosalie!

@dindin
You're welcome! :)

I would not suggest that you not get yourself a mono pod...I got one...then i realized i dont even get to use it during weddings or events where i have to be mobile esp if i am the only shooter. It helps if you have the luxury of staking out a certain position and click away from a distance. I find it bulky and obtrusive when on the fly. I rarely get to use it now...only for golf and and indoor conferences and conventions for the speakers and such.