ATC with a monopod - Does it work? (2 Viewers)

[Hermann]

Looking at the cross-section there is friction between the foot and the part that attaches to the bottom of the monopod which will inhibit twisting.

That's the idea, and that's the way the Monostat foot works as well

One issue may be finding a monopod with a matching female thread other than a Leofoto monopod.

I think that is a 3/8'' thread, and many reasonably modern monopods actually have such a thread to allow attaching different feet to the monopod.

Hermann

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

TheBlackGrouse,

The bent metal foot was robbed from a commercially available monopod. The technique is to slightly lift my foot off the monopod foot to allow it to slide over the ground, at the same time as I twist the monopod quickly to follow or get on a bird. It's something I got used to very quickly. I often find that I don't need to put my foot on the monopod foot because the friction of the foot on the ground/grass on its own is enough to stop the monopod twisting. Atmospheric conditions permitting it works perfectly up to the 40X maximum magnification of the zoom I use on my ED50. I also find the scope on the monopod much easier to use in windy conditions than a tripod because every gust of wind knocks my head and the scope slightly to one side by the same amount at the same time, and the bird stays in the FOV. Using a scope on a monopod you also don't get any of the blurring vibration you can get in windy conditions using a tripod.

Very clever solution, lifting the foot is a good technique. Maybe I can find something similar. I use a lift and twist technique with the whole monopod, when I put it in a small hole in the ground. And yes, you get used to it very quickly too. It's less stable though, it definitely reduces movement but your foot is more effective.