Greetings.
I'm seeking to use a monopod (with a Wimberly Sidekick) to cart around some longer/heavier glass on my shoulder. So I would have the monopod resting on my shoulder and would hold the monopod at about the 1/2 waypoint.

Is there any special consideration I need to have for the monopod (besides its weight capacity)?

Is there any consideration that the monopod would snap? I'm mostly imagining that these composites like the "Basalt" monopods might not flex, and would break?

a good composite monopod will not snap under any of the loads you would normally put on it with a big long lens. composite monopods don't snap at all. if you put a yield load on a good composite tube it will slowly crack the outer coating and then it would start to layer splinter at that point. it would take a fair amount of loading to do this sort of damage to the tubing. i would hope before that you the owner would become well aware of what was occuring.

i myself use a feisol CM 1471 monopod. it is quite the robust piece of equipment. i regularly use it with a D3 and 300/2.8VR with and without extender.

i do not use any type of ballhead or sidekick arrangement on it. only a direct connection. i feel it makes for a considerably more cumbersome setup and yields little advantage in shooting.

I use a 400 f/2.8 and have used a 600 f/4 on both of my monopods with only a tilt-swivel head and the arrangement works very nicely. However, I generally carry the lens itself over my shoulder (front element pointing backwards and camera body in front of me) with the monopod pointing down toward the ground. I'm not sure that I would be comfortable with the idea of my lens and body hanging off of the monopod head, behind my back (even with the stops in place on the lens plate). I would worry less about the monopod snapping then the shear forces on the threaded screw going from monopod to ballhead (or tilt-swivel head, in my case). Also, I'm not sure that I would see a lot of benefit from having a ballhead and Sidekick mounted between the monopod and lens.

I would not want to use a ball head and Sidekick on any monopod. There are just too many connections and adjustment points that can be loose or come loose, with the resulting flopping around a bad thing for both lens use and lens carry. Consider the RSS monopod tilt head as a lower cost and much more secure alternative. It has tilt only, with a single large knob to allow that function. It is easy to loosen the tilt for tracking in the vertical direction if you want that, and very easy to lock it down very firmly when you want it fixed, or when you want to carry. Keep the ball head and the Sidekick for tripod use, where they work great.

I'm starting to get the picture.

Roland, would that be the "MH-01 RRS Hi-Capacity Monopod Head" by any chance?

I would highly recommend the Gitzo GM5541. I have the older version 5540. I could not be happier. I've used Manfrottos for several years. They are good. But, the Gitzo 5 series monopod is superb. It will handle long lenses without any difficulties.

Jim

For a low price the Manfotto 681 or 681B. If you don't mind spending a lot, the Gitzo GM 5541.
And the RRS MH-01 Pro Monopod Head, instead of the Sidekick

Thanks for the tips to the RRS MH-01 Pro Monopod Head!
Just ordered one up with the B2 Pro II Clamp. I think that definitely makes the most sense. I've never tried a Sidekick on a monopod, but I can see how it might get wild and wacky pretty quickly.

The ability to move on only 1 axis is what I needed, since panning is a given with the monopod.

The RRS head comes out cheaper in the end then getting the Sidekick + a decent ball head.

I agree with most above. I don't see a monopod, ball head, and a sidekick as something desirable, and definately not for carrying the rig over one's shoulder. That could only result in tears. Use the Bogen 3232 if you want to "do it on the cheap" or the RRS monopod head - which will give much higher capacity, lower weight for about 4x the price of the Bogen. All will be cheaper, more useful, less expensive, lighter weight, and safer than the BH+Side Kick.

The "longer/heavier glass" I use with my Bogen 679B (3216) monopod all have rotating tripod collars and I don't use any head.

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video

I use a pistol-grip ballhead on a monopod. You maintain 2 hand control at all times using one.

runamuck wrote:
I use a pistol-grip ballhead on a monopod. You maintain 2 hand control at all times using one.

So you recommend your pistol-grip instead of the Wimberley Sidekick he was thinking about for long glass