Opteka TS-1 TacShot Pistol Grip Tripod/Monopod Ball Head for Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I was very pleased with this item. It is very well built and it doesn't feel cheap at all. It has a really nice finish on it and all the mechanisms are made out of metal making it feel very sturdy. The quick release plate is locked securely and firmly onto the head. It has a release lever to allow the camera to pan without having to hold the trigger. The slot position is adjustable so you can have the camera flip vertical to your right or left for portrait shots. The level is a nice thing to have as well. I tried this on my tripod as well as my monopod and I absolutely love it. It saves so much time by not having to twist and turn all these levers to get it to portrait position, all it takes is one squeeze of the trigger and you can adjust it to any position you want. It makes life a whole lot easier when using this on a monopod, it is quick and easy to adjust so you spend more time shooting and less time fiddling with the knobs and levers of a normal ordinary tripod head.

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The Opteka TacShot is a compact and convenient trigger-style tactical ballhead, designed for lightweight video or still photography. The very act of taking your hand away from the grip locks the head into position, which eliminates the extra step of having to tighten a knob or lever before being ready to shoot. You have immediate access to half of a sphere in which to position your camera. The TacShot's body is crafted from high impact polycarbonate with the ball head and internal assemblies made from high quality aluminum. A bull's eye style single bubble level helps quickly achieve a perfectly level shot with just a glance at your hand. The included quick release plates allow you to remove your camera at a moment's notice.The Opteka TacShot can be used with all makes and models of tripods that have either a 1/4"-20 or a 3/8"-16 threaded center column post.The Opteka TacShot can support up to 6.6 lbs. For example, that means 35mm up to an 80-200mm f/2.8 lens. This head is ideal for both tripods and monopods.

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Manfrotto 679B Monopod 3-Section Replaces 679 (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)A little heavy for what it is desinged for, but that's because it is built like a tank. Compared to other similar items, it may be 2x the price but it is 10x the quality.
I bought this for several small cameras that I take out for family outings. It is probably overkill for my small digital camera, but it keeps the camera still which helps prevent blurry pictures.
It retracts to a relatively compact size and has a padded grip area with a wrist strap. This is definitely a quality piece of equiment and Bogen seems to have one of the best reputations of camera support manufacturers.


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Three section Monopod featuring sure rubber grip, wrist carrying strap, quick action lever leg lock system with 45° run, large 60 mm camera/head platform with plastic cover and dual 1/4" - 3/8" camera fixing screw.This replaces the Bogen Manfrotto 679.

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Manfrotto 234 Monopod Tilt Head (Replaces 3232) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's rated to 5.5 lbs, and handles my 70-200 + 40D without slipping. It's well made - the photo on Amazon does it little credit, so I'm uploading some of my own. It's also larger than it looks.
It's exactly what it purports to be - a tilt head.

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A must for you monopod, this is a simple tilt head to allow a camera on a Monopod to be turned 90° to provide either vertical or horizontal format. This replaces the Bogen Manfrotto 3232.

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Giottos MV8250 3-Section Monopod Tilt Head with Quick Release Review

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(More customer reviews)Giottos has designed a sturdy, nice to hold monopod that supports my Nikon D40X with an attached 70-300mm lens. I plan to use this monopod for vacation and at home uses, nothing too demanding. And this is just the ticket. I have a camcorder and the monopod's handle makes it easy to take panning videos. The legs are adjusted by turn-knobs, not flip locks. Still, when all knobs are tightened, the monopod is sturdy and a joy to hold. The padded holding area is rib-like, and made of non-slippery material that helps your hand and arm remain steady. I purchased an extra release plate for this monopod, also through Amazon.com. The plate is called a "Giottos Spare Quick Release Plate for Tripods". It's model no. is 6E01. So far, I'am real satisfied with my purchase. I like this light-weight monopod.

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3-Section monopod with tilt head and quick release. Includes wrist strap and case.

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DMKFoto Heavy Duty Ball Head with Quick Release Plate Review

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(More customer reviews)I am very impressed that this ballhead cost as little as it did and performs as good as it does.
I have a 5D and tend to hang a lot of attachments on it; Strobe unit, remote trigger for studio lighting and a battery pack. All of this adds up to a fairly heavy package, about 4-5 lbs. The head held the the whole package in place without any problem.
The quick-release is the easiest I've ever used. I can put the camera on it almost as fast as I can remove it. It's a thing of beauty. The safety lock is an excellent addition to prevent the camera from being accidentally released.
I am planning on getting more units to add to all of my tripods and monopods.

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The quick release plate has a 1/4" screw for all cameras. Additional QR plate available.Base has a 3/8" screw thread for universal mounting to tripods and monopods. If your pod has a 1/4" screw, we can provide step-up adapter to make it fit.

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Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head Quick Release - Replaces 3229 Review

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(More customer reviews)Before buying the Manfrotto 234RC monopod head, I had a chance to try the older 3229. The older model had a four-winged nob to adjust the tilt axis of the head that made it difficult to tighten the screw enough to lock the head in place. Once locked in place, the 3229 was prone to sticking so that loosening it again was also difficult. The new 234RC has overcome these difficulties by replacing the nob with a two-winged nob which is much easier to grasp. It also seems that they have used a different material to secure the tilt mechanism which doesn't stick in place. The net result is a basic tilt head that performs flawlessly and is capable of handing a large lens (I have a Sigma 150-500mm) safely and securely.

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An excellent addition to your monopod, this simple tilt head to allow a camera on a Monopod to be turned 90° to provide either vertical or horizontal format. With quick release camera plate system and secondary safety lock you can quickly and easily mount your camera on the monopod. This replaces the Bogen Manfrotto 3229.

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Manfrotto 680B Monopod (4-SCTN) - Replaces 680 (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)What a back saver!!!
Pros:
Small and light enough to carry anywhere
Makes for a really steady shot in questionable lighting situations
Takes the weight off your back and arms while still maintaining that ready to shoot stance
Cons:
Could be a couple of inches taller
I wanted to take photos at the Arizona Renaissance festival using my Canon 135mm F/2 and Canon 70-200 F2.8 L lens. They are both so heavy especially the 70-200 lens and I had hurt my back several years ago and it has never recovered. So I needed someway to get several thousand photos without killing myself.
What a God send this monopod was. I haver never owned one before and didn't realize how usefull it can be. A tripod is just way too clumbersome for something as dynamic and crowded as a Renaissance festival. You have to be able to move out of the way quickly and to move to get the shot. A monopod fits the fill perfectly. After shooting for over 9 hours my back and arms were almost as fresh as when I arrived. I simply could not have stayed more then an hour or two without it killing my back.
Don't forget you will probably want a ball head or some other head with a rapid connect release system. This is essential when you suddenly find you need to take your camera and / or lens off the monopod. I am using a Bogen-Manfrotto 488RC2 Midi Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System (3157N) and found it works perfectly.
9-9-2008 Update:
My back has gotten much better recently so I'm not using this monopod as much for back support anymore. Where I am using it still is to get low light shots where I am on the edge of getting the shot if I were hand held with my image stabilized lens. I have found that I can get away with a several second long exposure using this monopod and my Canon 17-55 F/2.8 IS lens. It's much easier to carry and easier to move then a full on tripod so I find the combo really useful in places where people would frown on using a tripod like inside a museum.

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Four section Monopod featuring sure rubber grip, wrist carrying strap, quick action lever leg lock system with 45° run, large 60 mm camera/head platform with plastic cover and dual 1/4" - 3/8" camera fixing screw. This replaces the Bogen Manfrotto 680.

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