New Video - Tripod, Monopod, or Handheld? Which Is best?

[Steve]

Have you ever found yourself wondering if you should use a tripod, monopod, or just go handheld?

In this video, we’ll look at a quick, easy way to determine the best support solution for any given wildlife scenario. We’ll talk about the four major considerations and how to weigh them against each other in the field. In just a few minutes, you’ll know how to always pick the right support gear for your wildlife shoot.

 

[kokane]

Very Helpful Video. For me I am not as staedy as I use to be and now in most cases especially with the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 its a tripod with a loose gimbal or a bean bag. I am looking at a Jobu Monopod in the coming months

 

[jer]

Nice breakdown of support considerations. I keep thinking I need to try a Monopod and I did not get one of the Tripods with a Monopod built-in.

 

[Johnnypanic]

Another very useful video. I know, in the recent past you reviewed the Wimberley monogimbal head, just wondering how you are finding it?

 

[Steve]

Another very useful video. I know, in the recent past you reviewed the Wimberley monogimbal head, just wondering how you are finding it?

Honestly, I can't imagine using monopod without it anymore. I find myself using monopods much more frequently now and I really like the monogimbal head. The only drawback is the screw-in style quick release. I think I'm going to swap it out for a RRS QR clamp.

 

[Peter in Boulder]

Hey Steve - just watched the video. It's great to have a structured way to think about this. One question - You didn't mention stabilization/vibration reduction in the video, but I think it needs to be considered here. With the shutter speeds you showed in your high/medium/low keeper chart, can we assume you have stabilization on when hand holding, and not when you're on the tripod? And what are your thoughts with stabilization when using a monopod? Thanks for the great video!

 

[Steve]

Hey Steve - just watched the video. It's great to have a structured way to think about this. One question - You didn't mention stabilization/vibration reduction in the video, but I think it needs to be considered here. With the shutter speeds you showed in your high/medium/low keeper chart, can we assume you have stabilization on when hand holding, and not when you're on the tripod? And what are your thoughts with stabilization when using a monopod? Thanks for the great video!

The thing is, it really depends on the shutter speed and lens. Some lenses are fine at higher speeds, some lenses lose some acuity after 1/500th (the 200-500 in fact seems to). So, there's not really a good, general guideline. In my mind, I guess you pull out all the stops once shutter speeds begin to drop.

It also depends on the support system. If I'm hand-holding my 600mm, I'll likely have VR enabled at 1/1000th, where that may not be true on my tripod or even monopod. However, there are times I leave VR on when on the tripod at faster speeds with the 600mm since it doesn't really seem affected that much at higher shutter speeds with VR.

I guess if I had to try to give a very general guideline, it would be to use VR at 1/500th or longer speeds, and faster than 1/500th it kind of depends on the lens, situation, and support. It goes back to what I mention in the video of learning what speeds you can use with what support systems, VR or otherwise.

 

[Herman]

Have you ever found yourself wondering if you should use a tripod, monopod, or just go handheld?

In this video, we’ll look at a quick, easy way to determine the best support solution for any given wildlife scenario. We’ll talk about the four major considerations and how to weigh them against each other in the field. In just a few minutes, you’ll know how to always pick the right support gear for your wildlife shoot.

Handheld is the most flexible. However having messed up my shoulder again, most animals find that my handholding with whimpers and screams of pain to be very annoying.

 

[DrBob]

RRS came out with a fluid nimble head. Have you had a chance to try it?

 

[Steve]

RRS came out with a fluid nimble head. Have you had a chance to try it?

I didn't even know that had a fluid head yet, I'm a bit behind

Honestly though, these Wimberly heads have really proved themselves to me over the years. I have one that's over 15 years old and when I purchased a new one last year, I couldn't believe how well the movement of the old one compared to the new one. It's tough to spend $1000+ on a gimbal head from RSS when the WH-200 has treated me so well.

That doesn't mean I won't just that I'd have to see one in the wild and give it a try first!

 

[Yezdi]

Excellent Video Steve. Your unique structured way of thinking is what I like the best. With the 500mm PF now most of the time I use handheld except for BIF I tend to use the monopod. As you rightly said RRS gimbals are way to pricy. I still prefer my 9 year old trusted WH-200 which still works flawless. Need to get the new Wimberly Monopod Gimal haad and try it out. Thanks once again for the video

 

[DrBob]

I didn't even know that had a fluid head yet, I'm a bit behind

Honestly though, these Wimberly heads have really proved themselves to me over the years. I have one that's over 15 years old and when I purchased a new one last year, I couldn't believe how well the movement of the old one compared to the new one. It's tough to spend $1000+ on a gimbal head from RSS when the WH-200 has treated me so well.

That doesn't mean I won't just that I'd have to see one in the wild and give it a try first!

I just watched this youTube video by Jared Lloyd and was curious.

BTW, I really liked your video and the explanations or where and why your choice.

 

[gordon_g]

Great Video Steve... I've been thinking about getting a monopod... my Gitzo 5541 gets heavy at times... LOL

 

[DRwyoming]

Great video and nice framework for deciding which to use Steve.

 

[SNEDDERS6666]

Brilliant video Steve, as always but always new and fresh. Yeah I use a Gitzo GM4542 and the Wimberley monogimbal, brilliant combination, a real game changer for me.

 

[Steve]

Brilliant video Steve, as always but always new and fresh. Yeah I use a Gitzo GM4542 and the Wimberley monogimbal, brilliant combination, a real game changer for me.

I agree - it's a perfect setup

 

[realspeed]

best tabletop rig
setup for demonstration only

Here I am using a Nikon D810 with a nikon 24-70mm f2.4G lens but have used a lot heavier lens such as the Nikon 80-400mm lens without any problems like creeping tilt
This is mounted on a moman table tripod (will go flat with legs out in lower position) with a moman pan head and the subject is the moman ball head. ( takes about the heaviest weight of any)
Nikon Sb900 flashgun
I chose the wireless Pixel King X flashgun transmitter and receiver (about £55 on ebay if you look) works up to 100mtrs
I used a Phottix WXD wireless transmitter and receiver to trigger the camera. Again 100mtr range

Why the Pixel King ? it has a throughput on the transmitter so you can still mount another flashgun on top .or in this case the Phottix trigger.
well worth the money

 

[Calson]

I bought the Gitzo 2531LVL quick leveling tripod for video and panos and this tripod has been the favorite of professional wildlife videographers for years. With video where one pans on a scene it is important to have a level tripod. A quickl level feature is important to be able to move a tripod and not waste time getting it level by adjusting the length of the legs. The Feisol quick leveling base adapters work perfectly for this and are useful for landscape photography as well as video.

I added the Gitzo dampened gimbal for video but like it so much that I now use it for my wildlife photography as well. It uses grease for the fluid dampening but the end result is that I can have less tension on the pivot support and adjust rotational dampening better and faster.

 

[SNEDDERS6666]

Heh Calson I traded in my Gitzo Fluid Gimbal for a Wimberley WH-200 v2 and boy am I glad I did. The Gitzo was too slow in response for me for BIF on my Gitzo tripod, GT3543LS and again what a game changer for me. The Wimberley WH-200 v2 is a fantastic piece of kit, but each to their own I say. RRS make a great looking quick release for the Wimberley WH-200 v2 that if you look closely to Steve's video, he has it on his gimbal. I must get one. https://www.reallyrightstuff.com/pg-cc. Steve put me on to it.

 

[Boat Guy]

Steve hit it dead on, however for me a monopod has been my nemesis. I've tried it over and over and just can't get comfortable with it. I have not tried a full Wimberly on a monopod and need to. We are lucky where we live in Colorado in that we have a winter population of sandhills less than an hour away. We began shooting cranes hand held but in such a target rich environment we switched to full tripods (RRS) and a full Wimberly in my case and a RRS BH55 and a Wimberly Sidekick in my wife's. After many thousands of shots we got relatively proficient shooting BIF's using a tripod and smaller critters became duck soup. We hike with our tripods on the first extension and we both wear lightweight skateboarder kneepads (Black Diamond) so for most of our critter shots we can immediately drop to our knees and fire away. Years ago I had a 200-400 f4 and when my wife got a 200-500 her keeper rate far surpassed mine simply because her lens was lighter. These days we have a 500f4 fl and two 500pf's. In any hiking situation we both take the PF's simply because of weight and also use lighter tripods than our RRS's. This works well. Yes its an extravagance but when you approach antiquitude what the heck, eh?

 

[Isharastar]

Honestly, I can't imagine using monopod without it anymore. I find myself using monopods much more frequently now and I really like the monogimbal head. The only drawback is the screw-in style quick release. I think I'm going to swap it out for a RRS QR clamp.

Yep I bought a Wimberley monogimbal head after watching your video...love it!! The monopod with Wimberley head points down easily too and is great for photographing flowers and close ups of bugs and reptiles!

 

[Boat Guy]

I said in my last post I didn't have any luck with with a monopod no matter how much I willed it to work. Today I attached a full Wimberly to my monopod and the difference is remarkable. Its so smooth and even using Active VR it was no problem getting consistent tack sharp shots at 1/1000th in the back yard. My wife used her super light monopod with a BH55 RRS head and a Wimberly Sidekick gimbal and she said it was much better for her than hand holding. Personally I believe my heavier Manfroto aluminum monopod works better than her lightweight carbon monopod. Overall I believe weight of the heavier heads is what made the difference. Bottom line is we'll use the monopod instead of hand holding on longer hikes and a tripod when we can.

 

[dklimek1]

Very useful video as always. I also found useful your review of the Wimberley MonoGimbal head, and ordered one right away. I have been on a quest to lighten my load as I’m scrambling over the rocky coast of Downeast Maine, and am using the MonoGimbal to connect my Nikon D7500 / Tamron 150-600 to a Feisol monopod. I am very pleased with the combination except for one problem - Stiction. I often find myself tracking birds in flight. This is often thru 90+ degrees horizontal motion. With a tripod I was frustrated in that I had to be moving my body around the tripod while trying to keep aim on the bird. With the monopod, I can twist at the waist, and move the camera around me. Unfortunately, with the foot of the monopod fixed, the rotational angle of my camera (around the optical axis of the lens) is constantly changing. I loosen the mounting ring on the Tamron to allow the correcting rotation, but that’s where Stiction is a problem. Stiction is that initial resistance to sliding. Once it is overcome, the sliding is very fast do to this excess force necessary to start the rotation, and I over compensate. The same problem happens when I try to back correct. I’ve tried various oils and greases with limited success. I was wondering if you know of the best sort of lubricant to solve this problem. The Wimberley rotation is very smooth. Most of the lenses I have used zoom with a very smooth motion with very little of this initial resistance to rotation, so I would think there is a solution. Thanks.

 

[Flyboy]

Very useful information! Thank you, Steve.
OOoK...Years ago, I bought a Bogen (Manfrotto) Monopod, used it some, added one of the little tilt heads Bogen offered back then...Gimbals were hardly a flyspeck on the horizon, or not thought of yet...but, not a real happy experience.
It has been gathering dust in my closet, except for one outing where a Raven must have thought the little black foot must have looked like some sort of food, and kept shaking the 'pod and camera. Now at 80, I am finding some sort of support is a definite plus, although I don't have one of the Big Guns to tote, and my 70-300 DX AFP doesn't have a tripod collar on it. Suggestions for a head for my old 'pod, or a new one that is sturdy, yet won't break the fixed-income bank?

 

[Steve]

Very useful information! Thank you, Steve.
OOoK...Years ago, I bought a Bogen (Manfrotto) Monopod, used it some, added one of the little tilt heads Bogen offered back then...Gimbals were hardly a flyspeck on the horizon, or not thought of yet...but, not a real happy experience.
It has been gathering dust in my closet, except for one outing where a Raven must have thought the little black foot must have looked like some sort of food, and kept shaking the 'pod and camera. Now at 80, I am finding some sort of support is a definite plus, although I don't have one of the Big Guns to tote, and my 70-300 DX AFP doesn't have a tripod collar on it. Suggestions for a head for my old 'pod, or a new one that is sturdy, yet won't break the fixed-income bank?

I honestly haven't used too many monopod heads - just the RRS head, the Monogimbal, and a regular gimbal head. You may want to ask on the main photo discussion forum, I'm sure there are a TON of people who would have some great suggestions.