Head recommendation for Manfrotto monopod?

J

JamesY

Member
I recently inherited a Manfrotto 3216 monopod, but with no head. Is this monopod heavy duty enough to handle the HMC150 (w/ accessories), and what's the right head to purchase for it?

I'm definitely looking for something with a quick release plate, and found the 234RC:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554098-REG/Manfrotto_234RC_234RC_Swivel_Tilt_Head_for.html

Still seems it's meant to be for SLRs though, and the video monopods from manfrotto are all listed as a kit together, I didn't see the heads sold separately.

Any advice or user experiences on this issue would be great, thanks!
 
Thanks for the response! I just recently picked up a 351MVB with a 503HDV head, but it hasn't arrived yet; the whole head would be too big/bulky for the monopod, so can I just use the top plate section from 503HDV head?

Thanks for the link, I see with no head the 577 adapter would work, I guess I just would have an extra 501PL plate.

If I wanted to add basic pan or tilt functions, what's the type of head used in the 560 or 562B? I'm open to different brands as well, but should I be looking at something bigger like a 701, or what is the head used in 561BHDV?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618351-REG/Manfrotto_561BHDV_561BHDV_Video_Monopod.html

Since it's a monopod, maybe pan and tilt wouldn't work well and I should try the 577 first. Thanks for the advice, I'm just looking for a monopod solution that will let me do some run and gun shooting out in an urban setting. I probably would have gone with one of the models listed above, but since I was given the 3216 from my photographer friend, I wanted to see if I could adapt to make it work for the HMC.
 
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I have been using a 701 head on my monopod. It shares the same QR plate with many of the other Manfrotto heads and has a decent mojo as a package.

Grant
 
Thanks ggrantly, waiting for my 503 to arrive first, but I'll keep the 701 in mind; I'm interested in the size of it, which monopod do you have? Any pics of your setup?
 
Thanks, that's what I figured re: the size of the 503. Since they all use the same 501PL plate (at least that's my understanding), is there a top section I can remove from the 503HDV to mount on the monopod, or do I still need the 577 adapter to at least get the quick release feature sans head?
 
JamesY said:
Thanks, that's what I figured re: the size of the 503. Since they all use the same 501PL plate (at least that's my understanding), is there a top section I can remove from the 503HDV to mount on the monopod, or do I still need the 577 adapter to at least get the quick release feature sans head?
Click to expand...

I use my 503HDV head with adapter on my MF monopod. I've used it in wedding shoots that went 4 hours without problem.
 
Impressive, which monopod model do you use? I guess I will at least experiment with mounting the 503 when it arrives, and keep looking into the 701 or similar.

Probably will try just a 577 plate first, though with the price of the plate and a suction cup/spiked foot, that almost comes out to the same price as a brand new 558B kit
 
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Sorry, separate (maybe dumb) question: how do you guys pan with your 701 or 503 heads? Do you have monopods with fluid bases or somehow keep the foot fixed (non-rotating), or just hold a really tight grip on the monopod? Tilting seems like it would be easier, but are there any methods to working with these HDV heads on a monopod?
 
For monopods, I much prefer a simple ball head. I use the Manfrotto 484RC2 + 681B monopod with my HVX200 cams at work. You're not going to get a very smooth left to right pan from a fluid head off a monopod.
 
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