Manfrotto 560B Fluid Monopod for HDV shots, I look for info.

Hi, I use Sony FX7 camera and on my shots sometime I see a shaky
video.
I never have used monopod and now I'd like to buy Manfrotto 560B Fluid
Monopod but I am afraid to make an error.
I often make documentaries in the rainforest or in remote places
around the world.
I'd like to bring with me a monopod instead of a light tripod. In your
opinion could I use it as a tripod too?
In your opinion could I leave at home the tripod and bring with me
Manfrotto 560B Fluid Monopod only?
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

A tripod can be used as a monopod - that's pretty obvious: just
extend a single leg.

A fluid head can't be very functional on a monopod, can it?!

If you get tired, you will be glad you brought the tripod!

 

A monopod stops movement in only one axis, leaving two more. You will never
get steady shots with a monopod, no will it allow smooth moves. If you are
good with it you will improve the steadiness of your shots somewhat from
handheld, but it will never approach what you can do with a tripod. This is
especially true with tele shots.

Toby

 

A monopod stops movement in only one axis, leaving two more. You will never

Yes you are right but tripod is more heavy than a monopod and for my
travels and my documentaries I think I often will not use it and
therefore I will get always shaky images. On the contrary I think I
can bring always with me the monopod because it is lighter and I could
make a less shaky video. Do I make a mistake?
Thanks

 

I had a short shoot a few weeks ago and my thinking was quite similar
vis-a-vis the monopod thing (less weight, easier to travel with, etc)
and I went out and bought a decent monopod. I have to echo the
thoughts of my colleagues here. The little assistance it provides just
isn't enough for me to consider it in all but a few circumstances.
They sort of look cool, but they don't reduce that much weight and
they really don't stabilize as much as I would've wished. I would
definitely doing test shots wherever you are based before jettisoning
the tripod. Good luck.

 

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. Can you seggest a very light but
reliable tripod for my Sony FX7, please?

I remember you:
my travels are peculiar and particular. In my travels often I am short
of breath, I have to make shots after a run, I often do everything in
a rush. I have always a little time .... etc
Often when I use the wide angle I get shaky images.
I am afraid Manfrotto monopod is insufficient for me even if I can use
it like a tripod, but I think in some circumstaces only.
Perhaps will a very light tripod be better fot me?
Can you seggest a interesting tripod for me?
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

I use a Manfrotto 3444D tripod with a Bogen 3160 head. The 3444D is a
4-section carbon fiber set of sticks that is very light, collapses down
quite small and supports my VX2000 just fine (slighly lighter and smaller
than your FX7). There is a lighter fluid video head made by Bogen called
the 700RC2. It would work well (I use the 3160 because the quick release
plate is compatible with a bracket I use for my still camera).

With that said, I'm not sure whether the other posters are familiar with the
560B, which is really more of a cross between a monopod and a tripod. When
I saw this thread, I took a look at one. I'm tempted to pick one up, as it
seems like it might be a nice solution for my travel videos. B&H has them
for $148.

 

I use a Manfrotto 3444D tripod with a Bogen 3160 head.

Can you tell me how much they cost around? What is its wheigth?
Thanks

 

the fluid cartridge is in the three toed base! Very clever.
http://tinyurl.com/2cjoba

 

The sticks were, I think, around $400 and weigh around 3 pounds. The 700RC2
head was around $100 and weighed about a pound. The 3160 that I use I
bought on eBay for $60 and it weighs 1.5 pounds.

 

It's that 3-toed base that, I think, makes the 560B particularly useful,
along with the fluid cartridge. From what I can glean from the literature,
it also allows tilting, transforming the entire monopod into the fluid head.
I have an Adorama monopod which is fine as far as it goes, but the 560B
looks like it may be more stable. Given that the whole thing collapses to
around 2 feet, it would probably be feasible to just leave it on the camera,
treating it as a handle, and extending when necessary. I use my Adorama
monopod as a handle when I shoot in bad weather with a raincape -- it's
easier than trying to get my hands inside the cape. I imagine the 560B
would do the same thing, and offer all the other advanges of a traditional
monopod, e.g. cheapie crane shots, etc. I'll probably pick one up before my
next trip.

 

Some people claim that you can use a monopod as a poor man's steadycam.

David

 

Well, it's not just a claim. If you hook a weight to the bottom of the
monopod and practice holding it loosely with your thumb and forefinger below
the camera, you can approximate a steady-cam effect. It's not a bad
solution for a one-off but, if I were doing this regularly (or made my
living off of the result), I'd invest in a more effective and reliable
solution.

 

That triangular base will provide a modicum more of stability than a single
monopod foot, but you need to understand that the relationship of the height
vs. base diameter will pretty much assure that over 1 meter or so it wont be
very effective, unless you stand on it or sandbag it. And of course you
can't stand on it and operate the camera at the same time, and carrying
heavy sandbags defeats the whole purpose.

It also appears that there is no way to level the foot, so that it would
only be effective on a flat surface. And how do you tilt and/or level the
head? Don't expect much from this device. A supercheap, flimsy tripod with a
fluid head will be a much more effective solution for steady video and
relatively decent pans than this monopod hybrid. The only reason as far as I
can see to consider this kind of thing is if you are really running and
gunning and don't have time to set up a tripod decently, or you need to move
a lot during filming. And if you can't level the base, you would in this
case be much better off with a standard monopod which can be tilted and
angled easily. But which won't do much to steady your shots.

You need to decide what is important. If it is steady shots, you need to get
a real tripod, even a cheap one. If you want decent pans it needs a fluid
head. but a fluid head on a monopod is more than a bit ridiculous, unless
you can firmly fix the monopod in a way that it cannot move as you exert the
pressure necessary to pan or tilt against the drag of the grease.

Toby

 

Frequently I'll see something that might make great B-roll for corporate
projects. So, I carry a small MiniDV camcorder in my car most of the time.
I also carry a monopod. I believe that with a little practice one can get
good shots with that set-up. Your body and your technique become the
stabilizing elements. Even good pans and tilts are possible within limited
ranges. No, it's not nearly as good as an easily adjustable tri-pod and
smooth fluid head, but it is way better than hand-held for many shots, not
to mention that the set-up time is much faster.

Steve King

 

I looked at the 560b. It is neat in the store, and a bunch of us were
goofing around with them (I think there is a slightly more expensive
one as well; there are definitely two different models that have the
same tripod-ish feet), but I don't think it really resolves the issue
of the single leg. The poster who said that a monopod only stabilizes
on one axis hit the nail on the head, in my opinion.