Yeah, I’ve used my monopod twice since I bought it, and I’m not entirely sure it made any difference at all. Keep promising I’ll get a bit more practise in with it but somehow never seem to get round to it.

Anyway, just posted a sort of review-type thing on the Slik that might interest you. (And I’ve almost sold myself on the idea of getting a gorillapod… have to save up a bit more dosh first though!)

To be honest my Manfrotto monopod hardly ever gets used as i am not using long lenses for long periods of time so don’t suffer camera shake (should be ideal for you, with your old age and all. lol)

Some of my friends have a SLR version that they use for close up work, it won’ hold mu big D2x but the model up might. As far as I can ascertain in my brief play is there fine until you put on big/long lenses as the weight is shifted from off centre, of the tripod which is where the problems occur.

However if you are using wide angle lenses for landscapes; rural or urban, on your stroll about, and don’t want to carry the big tripod it may well do!

It is obviously low to the ground on its own, so won’t help if you are up a mountain or in the middle of the field waiting for Dawn (she’s always late) though but then again you might end up with some nice low shots, providing the grass is not too long. It is very light weight though so it’s not a burden like carrying a full heavy tripod and finding you have not used it, so might be worth including.

To my mind its best use is in the inner city for urban city scape’s as there are plenty of things for it to wrap around, even if it can’t hold along lens it will still add to the stability. Carrying a big tripod in a city just says ‘mug me I am carrying camera gear.’ Needles to say its on my list

Just today I took delivery of the new tripod (whoopee!!!). Weight’s not as much of a problem as you’d scared me into thinking it might be… but SIZE. Well, you wouldn’t believe it. Expect to see a kit review article (with pics of course) here sometime within the next coupla days.

However, the synch business. Lugging around this bl***y great sack today I knew that my cheapie lightweight ones could never compete in terms of quality and stability, so they’ll prob’ly just end up on the shelf gathering dust, for why would I want to take one of those out when I can take the super-duper Slik? I’d have to be off my head… um… scrub that last!

However, there undoubtedly are occasions when a small tripod comes in handy, and knowing my penchant for carrying everything with me bar the kitchen sink, I remembered reading a mini-review in a photo mag the other day about gorillapods, so have actually spent some time today mulling over investing in one. (I’ve certainly seen them in the local Jessops and marvelled at the weirdness of them.)

Have you ever used one, and if so how’d you get on with it?

(On the other hand, a few weeks ago I bought a Manfrotto monopod so that’s a possibility for something to carry when weight/size is a factor.)

Have you checked out Gorillapods? http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?ac.ui.pn=gorillapodreview might be a better option!
Or if you can take the head of a chep tripod, replace it with a better Manfrotto one, you will see a quality improvment.

But, enough of this micky taking! I really enjoyed the Article, Thanks!

Just a note on Ti tripods, now obviously they are light, great for hauling up mountains and the like (you can get leg warmers for them too)but they can be too light and get blown over (honest) so hanging a bag or rocks (or camera bag)underneath in strong winds is recommended