Tripod as fast as a monopod?

P

Paper_bag

Active member
Hi,

I currently do a lot of shooting with a Manfrotto 561BHDV and a DSLR, but often have problems with camera shake, especially when using longer lenses. At the same time, speed is very important to me. I try to capture fleeting moments -- I come away from events with hundreds of 10-second clips -- and often the time it takes to adjust focus and exposure is too long, let alone fiddling with height adjustment.

Here's a sample of the sort of video I'm currently producing (shake at the start, on the hummer shot, kills me -- due to the base of the monopod suddenly shifting as I was panning):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIZEaO8yFo&hd=1

So I'm looking for something that might not exist -- are there any tripods whose height is adjustable as quickly and as easily as a monopod, which are as easy to carry, and (preferably) which take up the same amount of space? I haven't been able to locate such an animal, but this is likely due to my woeful search skills. It seems to me a very easy design -- you just need a tripod with a long extendable centre pole, and short legs (steadier than the feet some monopods have).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!


Edit 1: Plenty of reasons you might want a perfectly steady monopod just occasionally. For instance: if you want one or two slider shots amidst all the run and gun, or just want to leave it standing for ten minutes of timelapse (and it isn't practical for you to carry a tripod as well as a monopod).

Edit 2: "The fastest tripod in the world is the Hot Pod CF 14 Tripod" says B&H. The Sachtler Soom has a similar design, but adds the ability to convert between a number of configurations (eg centre pole can be detached to create a monopod; legs can turn into a hi hat, etc). I've just purchased the Hot Pod, and, yes, it's faster than a normal tripod, but nowhere near as fast as a monopod. The pneumatic centre pole design takes effort to control; there's a strong upward push you have to fight against. Also, if you decide to go for this option, have a hard think about getting the carbon fibre rather than aluminium model -- weight of the aluminium is impractical for run and gun.

Edit 3: There are cheap "free standing monopods" available on eBay for about $30. For instance: Horusbennu MP-4500ST. Just go there and do a search. These have a basic monopod design, but then have three legs that can fold out, creating a more stable base than the feet on a Manfrotto monopod. The big catch (which I've just discovered): they're 30cm tall :), and there's not a whole lot of variability in height. Still, pretty cute for what they are (but nothing a gorillapod won't give you).

Edit 4: Two monopod designs with large feet: Manfrotto 682B and Oben ACM-2400L. These feet don't angle out from the centre column, as with the 30cm monopod, but lie nearly flat on the ground. Not sure how quick they are to set up and what's involved in so doing.

Edit 5: Found a photographer using a different design to make a monopod self-standing: http://www.panoguide.com/forums/tipsntricks/6467/ . Basically, a sort of mini tripod is attached to the base of the monopod, adding a lot of weight to make the thing steady. Looks quite innovative, and possibly would be a pain to lug around (but surely no more a pain than a Soom or Hot Pod tripod). The build-it-yourself option might well be the best bet (perhaps modifying an exisiting monopod).

Edit 6: Also worthy of mention: modogrip. Wheels and clamps attach to monopod to give it more functionality: http://modogrip.com/
 
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This is something I would love.

'Just a tripod with a long extendable centre pole' ... not so easy you need to be able to level the tripod head if you are going to pan .. typically with a bowl

Solutions exist.. sort of

Manfrotto make a cheap monopod with feet

Satschler make a 'Soom' or 'Zoom' tripod - doubtless it cost thousands

Before I got a tripod I used to operate with my camera on a C stand - you may laugh but I have been thinking of doing this again - not for interviews but for a semi handheld look with a 70-200 which is a challenge on the shoulder

Of course 90% of the worlds actuality is shot shoulder mount - and that works if you work on your rig

Another 'trick' for stability that would probably work on the clip you showed is to shoot 60p for a 24/5 timeline !

Good luck in the quest

SamMM
 
If you are as desperate as it seams to be able to move the camera about, yet to have a stable camera platform, I believe I would investigate a gyro system for the camera or a gyro stabilized lens and simply hand hold. Camera mounted gyros can be attached via the tripod socket, gyro lens have moving elements controlled by small internal gyros. Both work well.
Arriflex made a lens stabilizing system a number of years ago that mounted by rails in front of the camera lens. It was large enough to be used with large 35mm motion picture cameras and required a large battery pack. The whole system was about as large as the camera itself and was intended for camera-car type tracking shots where the camera was already supported by a pretty husky tripod. It used the gyro controlled moving elements type system of more modern internal gyro lens.
 
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I shoot with the Manfro 562B (same as yours but without the Manfro head) and have no stability issues at all. Maybe you just have shakey hands? ;) But to answer your question, no, there is nothing as fast as shooting with a monopod or anything that goes as high on a tripod, unless you take the camera and put it on your shoulder, jib or steadicam. Oh, and lenses with IS.
 
Not trying to be silly, but if there were a tripod as fast, compact and portable as a monopod, then there would be no market for monopods, right?

The Sachtler Soom probably comes as close as anything to what you're looking for, but it isn't cheap.

- Greg
 
Greg Smith said:
Not trying to be silly, but if there were a tripod as fast, compact and portable as a monopod, then there would be no market for monopods, right?

The Sachtler Soom probably comes as close as anything to what you're looking for, but it isn't cheap.

- Greg
Click to expand...

I think monopods are for stills say with a 400 2.8 and have been adopted by the 'DV' community

With still you don't need a level pan

S
 
I use an arsenal of tripod, shoulder rig and monopod. Each has its use in the field. It's a lot easier to run around getting some nice level steady shots on the monopod (that has feet like the Manfro in this thread) than a pro tripod. Monopods have mainly been adopted by wedding photogs who are shooting video and then need the versatility to run and gun and capture those special moments while ensuring steady shots.
 
Just pulled the trigger on some Sachtler hot pod legs. $900 on eBay, incuding overseas shipping, though I'm fairly sure one can get them for cheaper. Aluminium rather than carbon fibre; I haven't been able to find much in the way of review online, or anything at all in fact, but the pneumatic centre column idea really intrigues me. Hoping it'll do the trick for fast setup, though I'm worried about the weight and about how much space it will take up (when standing in crowds, etc).

Ideally, I'd like to be able to run around with a slider attached to the top, despite the high risk of whacking people.
 
This is my set up and I've had no issue with shakiness. I admit when I first used it and the higher you have it's a bit more sensitive to shake but after awhile it becomes easy to operate and is extremely faster than using the tripod. The monitor is for when shooting over 6 feet.

photo93.jpg
 
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