Just wondering if there are any tips to better utilize a Monopod. I picked up a REALLY cheapy monopod basically to try out and see if I will like the feel of shooting on a monopod. It's defnitely not a great one, but good enough to mess around with and see what I think and get use to the feel, and definitely cheap enough that it will be fine to put money into a decent one if I like how it feels. My first impression is it is still somewhat hard in a darker environment to get a steady shot. I used my 35mm f1.8 to try it out. It definitely improved the quality of the shot, but still could detect some camera shake. Any tips?

 

I found I had the best results with my monopod by holding the camera as usual and just using the monopod for support, rather than holding the monopod by its grip. Also, fuss with the height to get the right setting. I find if it is just a little bit too high, or too low I get so shaky that it doesn't help at all.

 

Depending on what's around I will lean it against a railing or cabinet or something to give it more stability.

 

With cheap monopods and tripods just be real careful with the mount cuz they break very easily. So whatever you do, when the camera's mounted, don't walk around holding just the monopod/tripod. One hand on the camera the other on the monopod/tripod to be safe.
I learned the lesson the hard way

 

I actually ordered one couple days ago and found this article pretty interesting

http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo5.php3

I'll definitely be trying this out once I get mine in the mail

 

I know i had a cheaper finikly one and we snapped it into 3 putting too much pressure on it after 2 years... It was a manfrotto, the new one I have is a heavy duty one I actually and break a window with it... it really has some support and I've gotten into trouble one too many times that people thought it was a night stick.

if your in grass i dig a hole in the ground =)

 

yeah, I have an older Manfrotto too, NOT carbon fiber, but sturdy as hell...I'm fine with lugging around the extra weight.