Good monopod with max. load capacity of 4 kg. Comes with fluid head.
Price: $218
Slightly smaller similar monopod without head
Price: $135
Oben monopod
Benro monopods - A48FBS4 and A38FBS2
S4 head is better, of course. S2 has not so good feedback.
Giottos MM5580 Monopod
Price: about $100
Universal leg
@ LarsMarkelson
How are you getting on with your Debo monpod?
Hello all. Did anybody here used that monopod yet ? If yes, what's your opinion about it ?
Thanks to answer
Just bought the Debo JF-6, plan to update later with small review.
DEBO JF-6 Carbon Fiber Monopod, $67
http://www.dx.com/p/debo-jf-6-carbon-fiber-monopod-with-support-base-for-cameras-slr-cameras-329388
Guys I've been looking at monopods for some time now and decided that really going to get one.
Any experience with getting one in UK? I like Manfrotto 561 it's available on Amazon but to expensive IMO. So I have concentrate on Benro. I was looking for one with flip locking legs and S4 head (as S2 has smaller quick release system not compatible with anything) so in terms of finctionality and prise I've settled for this one A48FBS4 http://www.benrousa.com/products_catalog_s-series-video-head-al-flip-lock-3-leg-base.html .Oh and another reason I'm going for this one is that I'm planning to throw this head on my slider.
They're not distributed in UK and don't like paying custom and VAT on the top of purchases ;P. Do you guys have any idea what is the best video monopod available in UK minding all above conditions?
The Oben 2400-L Monopod's legs tend to unscrew itself loose when you pick it up, and they can't seem to stay tightened at all. Had 2 with the same issue.
Also, the Oben legs replacement can work with the Manfrotto 682B model, just feels a bit stiff when screwing it in (also won't tighten as well). It is a cheaper solution though.
Sorry to bring this up again, but does anyone know if there's any difference between the A48FBS4 kit and buying the items separately (A48F + S4 head + ST1 legs)? I've seen some pictures and it seems that the kit has that little blue thing at the bottom, which I assume is some form of pan head? I don't see that in the ST1 legs.
I'm asking this, because I can't seem to find the kit anywhere here where I live, thought I can find the separate items. Also, I could maybe save some money on the fluid head, which according to some reviews is nothing special. But I would really like to have the bottom fluid cartridge.
we have two 561s and they used to stick when you were moving past the vertical position. We keep them regularly lubricated with WD-40 on the ball at the bottom and have never encountered it since. We don't use them for horizontal panning as it is very difficult to get the right momentum without a fluid head.
For the ball joint at the bottom (that I use much more than the fluid head) seems that WD40 lubricant is very good:
http://stillmotionblog.com/2011/07/25/deconstructing-the-story-a-monopod-tutorial/
I've had two Manfrotto 560B monopods and with both of them, the fluid cartridge above the tripod foot was useless for panning. The internal friction inside the cartridge is stiff enough to torque the thin extension shaft, causing it to twist slightly as you pan. At a certain point, the shaft's resistance to twisting overcomes the cartridge friction, and the whole monopod twitches as the built-up torque in the shaft is suddenly released. This happens repeatedly as you pan and glitches your attempt at making a smooth pan.
To fix the problem, I inserted a small washer in each of the three screws that attach the tripod foot to the bottom ball joint. That frees up the ball joint to rotate smoothly and effectively disables the fluid cartridge. As a result, the monopod will no longer stand erect on its tripod legs, but with a camera mounted, it was far too top-heavy to trust anyway.
I had a bad experience with base fluid cartridges...I had a Manfrotto 560B and once I started panning slow, it would start clicking, like it didn't have enough fluid all around for the smooth pans. Sold that one fast!
Benro A38TBS2 later will be on lighting Amazon deal today
@RatLabProductions If you get one, let me know how its build quality is. I already have two other heads like these I use on my slider and another light weight tripod. It would be great if I could just get the monopod without the head
After checking out some Youtube reviews (I don't know how to embed) It appears to have a similar fluid cartridge in the base as the manfrotto but also has a head that pans. Looks like this will be my next monopod. Now to try and find a good price with shipping to Canada.
The manfrotto monopods have a fluid cartridge in the base to pan as the head on the 561HDV doesn't pan only tilt (its a modified version of their video head). I know the S4 head pans but I was wondering if it also had a fluid cartridge in the base like the manfrotto. I have read conflicting reports.
I would love to have the cartridge and the pan in the head as well which is why I was asking. Sometimes its easier to just rotate the monopod rather than use the pan bar on the head but I like the option.
The one thing that has kept me from buying the Manfrotto 561HDV is that I would love to use the head on a slider or small sticks and not having a pan motion is a deal breaker. On the Benro not being able to pan by twisting the monopod might be a deal breaker also.
Right now it looks like the Benro has both but I wanted to see if anyone knew for sure.
@RatLabProductions I was wondering the same thing myself. There's that red thing down at the bottom that could be the same kind of fluid pan head as the monfrotto but the main camera head looks like it could pan too.
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