Does anyone have positive experience using a monopod, perhaps with a RRS head, shooting wildlife with a 500mm (or longer) lens? If so, what are you using? I'm considering this for a setup using the Canon EF 500 f4 IS.
I know sports shooters rely on monopods, but how about mobile wildlife shooters? There are plenty of monopod posts here, but I couldn't find one getting at this directly.
I also know my tripod and gimbal will be superior, but what about for travel / longer hikes where the tripod might not make it. (For instance, I may be going to Costa Rican rain forest, and will have a 30 pound weight limit to deal with).
sjms wrote:
i use the feisol 1471 with the RRS MH-01
Me too.
I also use the Manfrotto Neo-Tech with the same RRS MH-01 (mine, not Steve's). It's great when working in crowded or awkward conditions, as its one-handed operation lets you quickly shoot, compress, and move on. I especially like using it for shooting stage performance, when I'm trucking around in the audience.
OTOH, if I had bought the Feisol first, I wouldn't have looked for another one. Except for light weight travel, when I use a Manfrotto 676B Digi mononpod, with a 3232 tilt head.
I have the Gitzo GM5541 + RRS MH-01 head with my 800/5,6 lens.
But I also own the cheap Manfrotto 681 & 681B monopods. They are very nice for their low price
That first deer shot is a standout, well done! If shooting wildlife, I like twist locks...the clicky locks are not nice for beasts of the wild to hear.
Or for that matter, events...like recitals, weddings, etc.
Sep 23, 2010 at 12:41 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
I hope to get an 800/5.6L IS within two years. One of the main reasons is the photos taken with it that Lars and others have posted. It'll take a while to get the funds together, but I have a plan...
For the life of me I can't get use to a monopod. At least the BushHawk gives me support in all directions and I can move with a moving target.
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Try the combination of monopod/MH-01 and the Bushhawk. This combo is especially good for BIFs.
I use either my Gitzo 5541 Monopod with a RRS MH-01 or a heavy duty, first edition Induro carbon fiber monopod (I think a 645) with a RRS MH-01 with my EF 600 F4L IS USM and 1D series cameras. Both monopods work well, but I like the sturdiness of the Gitzo 5541 better.
Best regards,
Roman
Sep 23, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Jim Woidat wrote:
Help me out here - are you describing two separate rigs (monopod and BH) or one rig with the BH on the monopod (which I have trouble visualizing)?
Thanks all, this is great. Outstanding images Lars and Roger!
