p.1 #1 · What's the best monopod and head at reasonable price
I have a Manfrotto 3249B monopod and Manfrotto 3262QR ball head now but looking for something lighter and smaller. I will be using an R5 with RF 70-200 f2.8 non Z and a RF 100-400.
p.1 #2 · What's the best monopod and head at reasonable price
My most recent monopod purchase was an Oben CF but it's maybe larger than you want. It's not heavy compared to my old aluminum monopods I've had in the past. Straight forward, no fancy "video" splayed "tripod" feet or twisting sections, top or bottom, etc. Got it from B&H but you'd need to check the offerings to see which might work for you. 4 sections. It's a heavier type as I'll use it with a 200-600 on a monogimbal head.
Would a tilt head do it for you? As opposed to a ballhead?What subject matter? Watch on some the tilt heads - they are designed to tilt sideways to turn landscape to portrait, not front/back up/down some have a pn base or one might need a pan clamp or fit the arca swiss clamp sideways, looking to the 70-200 and 100-400, with "feet," those are usually set to slide forward and back and a camaera body base slides sideways.
The thing about monopods is that there is not such difference in weight with size compared to a tripod so length is the main issue. Your Manfrotto is already rather small though not the lightest. The really short monopods tend to have 5 or 6 sections, the lower of which are skinny and are not good for stability. You have to decide on length, but more sections takes longer to set up also, while the subject has gone somewhere else. I use Gitzo and Leonfoto 4-sectioned monopods 20+ inches long. I like this one for a good value and being sturdy for 200-600 or larger lenses. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1592794-REG/leofoto_mp_364c_4_section_carbon_fiber.html
p.1 #4 · What's the best monopod and head at reasonable price
Most any carbon fiber monopod will be lighter than your Manfrotto. I wouldn't use a ball head or a tilt head with a monopod. You have to tighten them if you want to let go of the camera, or they'll flop. Get a Wimberley Monogimbal, MH-100. It allows you to balance the camera/lens and will not flop. It's lightweight and not too expensive. Or a small, lightweight gimbal, like the Jobu Jr., if you don't like the side mount style of the MH-100.
p.1 #5 · What's the best monopod and head at reasonable price
Alan Olander wrote:
Most any carbon fiber monopod will be lighter than your Manfrotto. I wouldn't use a ball head or a tilt head with a monopod. You have to tighten them if you want to let go of the camera, or they'll flop. Get a Wimberley Monogimbal, MH-100. It allows you to balance the camera/lens and will not flop. It's lightweight and not too expensive. Or a small, lightweight gimbal, like the Jobu Jr., if you don't like the side mount style of the MH-100.
Given the mentioned lenses RF 70-200 non Z and the RF 100-400 I do not think a monogimbal or a lightweight gimbal are the best in this case. I use a monopod with a monogimbal, but I use it with heavier and bigger lenses. For the 70-200 it might be fine, but not with the RF 100-400.
So I would say a tilt head might be the better option in this case. I would prefer the tilt head over de ballhead, but the ballhead would allow for the RF100-400 combi to be tilted to a portrait orientation, with the camera mounted on the ballhead.
