Home tools Buyer's Guides from tech enthusiast who loves technology and clever solutions for better living.
Best monopod for video 2018 – Buyer’s Guide And Reviews
Last Updated September 1, 2023
Hi there, my name is Arnold Simmons and the first thing I would like to say is thanks for stopping by my website. Let’s discuss this topic to help you select best monopod for video for 2018 and take your experience to a whole new level with aerators.
I’ll brush up on how to choose the best monopod for video and examine things like materials, quality, and weight. We take a close look at some of the best monopod for video to help you get ripped.
Best monopod for video of 2018
I must say I am quite a fan of monopod for video, so when the question “What are the best monopod for video available on the market?” came to my mind, I excitedly started gathering information together with personal experience to write this article in the hope that it may help you find the suitable monopod for video. If you get well acquainted with these basics, you shouldn’t have a problem choosing a monopod for video that suits your need. I browse the various monopod for video available on the market and list three of the very best. You must have heard that the best monopod for video should allow you to save money, right? Sure, but that’s not the only reason you should consider getting one.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
 |
 |
| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Ease of use |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Size |
4 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Performance |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Price |
5 points
|
4 points
|
5 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the monopod for video by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – 65-inch Aluminum Monopod Alpenstock – Best Monopod For Travel
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this monopod for video win the first place?
I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! The material is stylish, but it smells for the first couple of days. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing!
5
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
№2 – Polaroid 72″ Photo / Video Pro Ultra Heavy Duty Monopod For Digital Cameras & Camcorders – Best Budget Video Monopod
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this monopod for video come in second place?
I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. Managers explained me all the details about the product range, price, and delivery. This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office.
5
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
№3 – Sirui SUP204SR Photo/Video Monopod – Best Video Monopod of 2018
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this monopod for video take third place?
A very convenient model. It is affordable and made of high-quality materials. It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time. It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new.
4
|
4
|
4
|
5
|
Monopod for video Buyer’s Guide
Expensive
Here we have Gitzo’s lightest and most compact monopod, but it doesn’t compromise on quality despite those attributes. The Carbon eXact tubing is incredibly rigid, even down to the spindly 11.2mm-diameter bottom section. However, Gitzo’s Traveler G-lock twist-lock clamps, while ergonomic and precise, have more lateral play when they’re fully tightened than we found in rival designs, compromising overall rigidity. They hold fast under compression, though, and the Traveler is a joy to use on the go when you need to travel as light as possible. It’s pricey, yes, but a fine travel companion.
Five things to look for when choosing a monopod
Want support for your camera without lugging a tripod around? We put six sensibly priced monopods to the test to find out which is the best monopod for DSLR photography enthusiasts.
Any decent tripod will give a stable shooting platform, but tripods are heavy, bulky and time-consuming to set up. With only one leg, monopods are more manageable.
A greater number of leg sections enables a monopod to fold down smaller for carrying. The trade-off is that setup time is slightly longer if you need to extend all the sections, as there are more clamps to operate.
Each clamp is also a potential weak point that can introduce unwanted flexing. Another factor to bear in mind is that the more leg sections you have, the thinner and more spindly the bottom sections will be.
If your chosen monopod is lacking this tilt facility, you may need to factor in the expense of adding a tilt head or ball head separately – unless your lens has a rotating tripod collar.
The flip side is that it only extends to a relatively lowly 131cm, and its maximum load rating is just 1.5kg. Even so, it’s well able to support most SLRs with a standard zoom lens.
With a five-section leg, the bottom section is very thin – just 9mm in diameter – and the Velbon feels a lot flimsier than other monopods in the group we tested. It extends through progressive twisting of the foot, so there are no fiddly clamps to operate.
The lesser competition
It’s surprisingly hard to choose from the lineup of good midrange tripod legs. Frankly, any of a dozen very similar, excellent tripods would do the job well. In the end, the decision comes down to which models are missing certain features that our pick, the Vanguard Alta Pro, has. Sometimes it’s just a matter of one or two pieces of plastic.
The Manfrotto 055XPROB is extremely popular, but it lacks some of the features of the Vanguard. Its center column doesn’t lock to as many angles, and it omits a gear hook. The 055XPROB comes from the most popular tripod brand around, but it simply doesn’t offer the benefits that it should at its price. In its favor is a maximum height of 70.inches, but it’s also a bit heavy at 5.pounds.
Another strong competitor is the Benro A2970F. It supports an impressive maximum gear weight of 2pounds, though the hook on the center column doesn’t retract. It also has everything else you might like, including a carrying case, spiky bits to screw into the feet, and an adjustable center column that goes to just about any angle.
Legged Thing is a relatively young British company worth keeping an eye on. It primarily focuses on making carbon-fiber bodies, but it has also produced a range of magnesium-alloy options such as the X1.Adrian. The Adrian’s legs are a curious set, considering that the company is trying some interesting things with style and color, but it has too many leg segments, and reviews of Legged Thing products are mixed.
Lacking features but coming in at a lower price is the Slik 700DX. It won’t do anything fancy: The column doesn’t swivel or tilt, you get no fancy extras, and it’s a bit heavy at almost pounds. However, for the price you get an incredibly good, simple, stable tripod. Slik has a reputation as being the way to go if you’re seriously on a budget but in need of something that will serve you well through thick and thin. The 700DX has a great maximum height of 70 inches, and it will probably survive the apocalypse.
Another option seriously worth considering is the Oben AC-2320LA. However, despite sending multiple requests for a review unit, we weren’t able to get our hands on one during our previous round of tests. We’ll look into Oben’s offerings again when we next update this guide, but for now it isn’t a pick.
The Giottos YTL line is neat because it offers a redesigned central column that allows the legs to bind in closer. It’s a bit more expensive than our pick, though, and we’ve seen some complaints about quality. While it’s a bit bigger and heavier than our current pick, it’s also capable of growing a fair amount taller and holding heavier gear. However, if you want to use spiked legs for uneven terrain, you have to pay extra for pieces to swap them out, which tacks a substantial amount onto the price.
In the end, the only other tripod we could truly test our pick against was the Giottos MTL9360B/MT9360. The MT variant has a twist lock and a carrying case, whereas the MTL version has flip locks and no case; otherwise the two are nearly identical. The Vanguard Alta Pro and these Giottos models are extremely similar, so I pit the MT9360 against the Alta Pro.
On a feature-to-feature basis, the tripods are nearly identical. Both have the all-important spring-loaded hook and adjustable center column. The Giottos model has a better carrying case, but it also has twist locks on the legs, which I don’t like as much since they’re slower to deploy than flips. If you want flip-lock legs on a Giottos tripod, you have to get the MTL version, which doesn’t come with a carrying bag—a bizarre exclusion. Both brands’ products come with tools for making adjustments to your tripod. The Giottos model features spiked feet, but to get at them you have to remove the rubber tips using a special tool. However, it also comes with a specially designed miniature alternate central column, which you can swap out with the main one to lower the whole rig closer to the ground.
In my mind, the major differences between our pick and the Giottos are twofold: The Vanguard Alta Pro has fewer leg sections, which means it’s sturdier and faster to set up—and it’s only inches longer when collapsed. All in all, I found the Vanguard easier to handle, the legs simpler to adjust, and the configuration of the tripod generally more straightforward. I liked having separate controls for extending and panning the center column, as well as seeing the way they handle adjustments of the central column’s angle. To me, anyway, the Vanguard is easier and more comfortable to use all around.
Vanguard announced Alta CA tripods in 201Although they are similar in name to the Alta Pro, they are markedly inferior. They lack the retractable gear hook and the tilting central column that we like so much about the Alta Pro, so we don’t see these models as being real competition to the version we prefer.
Both the Manfrotto 190 series and 05series lack gear hooks and convertible feet, so they don’t bring quite as much to the table as our main pick.
In March 2014, Giottos announced a productwide renaming scheme, as well as a new line of tripods called Air. But as of April 2016, neither the new names nor the new models seem to have surfaced.
The models in the Gitzo Mountaineer line and the Benro Combination Series are all carbon fiber, so we skipped them for the reasons I discussed earlier. They also lack a swiveling center column.
The 3Pod Orbit Section Aluminum Tripod (sold exclusively through Adorama) offers an almost identical feature set to that of the Vanguard Alta Pro, for a very similar price. But it lacks the Vanguard’s retractable gear hook, an incredibly useful tool for stabilizing your tripod further.
Monopods give you much smoother video.
When I go backpacking, my monopod doubles as a lightweight walking stick. It has a nice soft cushion grip and has the option of using the rubber pad or the steal tip on the bottom. Wildlife and sports photographers find it much easier to pick up from one spot and move to another.
Any action photography like photographing birds in flight, race cars or quickly moving athletes is accomplished better by the ease of rotating your monopod instantly to follow the action.
When using a telephoto setting or a long lens, camera movement is magnified, so the use of a monopod may help you avoid the common photo mistake of a blurry image that you would otherwise get with a hand held photo.
Deep Depth of Field
Another advantage of using a monopod is when you are in a small area, such as in a crowd of people or a confined space. It may not be feasible to spread out the three legs of a tripod.
On a lighter note, using a monopod also gives you the appearance that you really know what you are doing as a photographer. Showing up at your kid’s soccer or baseball game with your camera mounted on top of a monopod makes you look like you are a talented, knowledgeable photographer.
Before you know it, you may have people asking you for digital photography tips too.
With a monopod you cannot accomplish the same degree of stability as a tripod. One leg is not as good as three.
You are stuck with a horizontal photo composition unless you add a rotating head to turn your camera on its side.
I can avoid this problem when I am shooting portraits because my Canon 70-200 lens has a mount ring on the lens barrel that mounts to the monopod and permits me to rotate the camera to any exact angle I wish.
It’s not possible to let go of your camera when it’s mounted on a monopod. An exception to this is the video monopod that has three small legs and can be stand alone if you use caution.
With a tripod, you can walk away, adjust your subject, your background or your lighting and your camera has not moved at all. Once you’ve composed your photo of a stationary subject, with a tripod you can keep an eye on your subject without looking through the camera.
With a monopod you must look through your viewfinder or at your camera screen to maintain a good composition while holding your monopod and taking the photo.
I’ve never owned a monopod with feet. There are mixed reviews.Some of the monopod reviews of the feet complain that they are quite flimsy and rattle around too much.
The monopod models that only have one foot have very questionable value.
With higher priced models, the feet are heavier and definitely had some stability over a simple one-legged monopod. Essentially what you have is a scaled-down tripod with small legs and a large adjustable center leg.
Ball Head.
The Rocketfish ball-head pictured here is the one I use on my monopod as well as my Rocketfish lightweight carbon fiber tripod.
Opteka Monopod Reviews. Reviews of the features, pros and cons of Opteka Monopods.
Manfrotto-Bogen Monopods – Reviews. Higher quality and higher priced line of Manfrotto and Bogen Monopods.
Slik Monopods – Reviews. Slik has won many prestigious design awards and its designs have been copied many times.
Gitzo Monopods. Gitzo makes the best monopods on the planet in terms of the materials, precision workmanship and manufacturing.
Review of the Armpod Monopod. This is a review of a uniquely designed monopod, made for video photographers who don’t want to use a regular monopod or tripod.
Material that is common
Collapsed Size is the way long the tripod measures with everything folded up. That is essential especially if you traveling long and should package the pod that is ‘ in a bag. This amount will inform you if it’ll fit.
Size – Maximum Height Expansion is the way tall the tripod will stand when every leg is and the center post (a tube the camera sits on, generally flexible) is lifted as far as it is going to go.
Load Capacity – Don’t obnubilate weight with Maximum Load Capacity. The weight is how much the tripod weighs. The Utmost Load Capacity is the heftiest camera and lens combination the tripod (or tripod head) can handle. In case you place a camera that’s heavier compared to Maximum Load Capacity on a tripod, you run the possibility of a piece breaking or collapsing, causing damage to both the tripod and the camera. It ’s significant to know your camera weighs with its most heavy lens and flash attached, and buy a tripod that can manage it.
Head Sort – Most tripods include a head, but nevertheless, it may not function as the ideal one for your own intentions.
Feet – Leg locks are available in Twist (twist the leg to pull it out, twist it in reverse to lock it in location), Lever (open a lever to pull a leg out, shut it to lock it) and custom alternatives.
Common Material – (Which is what most of the tripod is created of) is either plastic (the least inexpensive, it’s not quite long-lasting), aluminum (economical and most generally employed, but in heavy duty tripods can add a great deal of weight), carbon fiber (a comparatively new stuff for tripods, it’s durable, lightweight, and flexible–ideal for the majority of uses–but it’ll cost ya), and wood (normally used by nature photographers who don’t mind toting large-format cameras).
We can divide them into five basic groups: Pocket, Tabletop, Mobile, Medium Duty, and Hardy Obligation/Studio while you will find many different kinds of tripods. Their primary applications are suggested by the category names. Follow the blue links to browse each category to find the best Tripod prices at TransFilm.
Compact cameras
Hint: Should you prize lightweight yet desire a sturdy stage, check into the models which have carbon fiber legs. They join the very best of both worlds, and they have a tendency to be a little more pricey although they’re worth it.
The fundamental functionality of a monopod is its ability to create camera stability. It helps to reduce camera shake and ultimately lets you take a sharper shot. It is literally impossible to use slow shutter speed and take steady images without the use of a monopod.
While traveling, you usually have a limit on the amount of gear that you can bring. You can only choose the most necessary equipment to bring along. Traveling photographers often like to shoot moment-of-truth photos. As a result, a monopod is a must-have for any traveling photographer’s basic equipment kit.
Travel Monopod Vs Regular Monopod
Since you can’t include all the accessories and attachments you normally shoot with while traveling, you’ll need to choose the most essential and useful accessories that allow you to travel light while still getting the job done. It’s all about flexibility and convenience. Taken as a whole, compact and lighter travel monopods are always preferable for travel over heavy and bulky, studio monopods.
Even though some travel photographers prefer metallic monopods due to their stability, lighter carbon fiber monopods can be better options compare to those heavy metallic monopods while traveling. However, it always come down to personal preferences and convenience. Try to stick with the attachments that you find functional in reference to your photography needs.
1.6lbs max/min: 16.34″/61.22″ max load: 55.1lbs
Come, all hail the king of the monopods! Not kidding! This next monopod is the most premium and feature-enabled monopod on my list today. According to Gitzo, no one understands the need of outdoor photographers better than they do. Regarding the construction and aesthetic values, Gitzo used the most conventional and practical design for this particular monopod targeted for traveling photographers. It is formulated with 6X Carbon Fiber design for an extremely light and stable monopod.
The leg lock is designed with Gitzo’s G-Lock locking system. This system results in extremely quick set up and a rigid leg lock. It sports a 6-section extending separator for compact portability. This monopod is also equipped with a self-locking removable rubber foot in addition to a belt clip. The ALR (Anti Leg Rotation) System by Gitzo will keep the monopod legs from spinning. It has a pretty high maximum load capacity at 55.1pounds with the weight of only 1.6pounds. The minimum and maximum heights are 16.3inches and 61.2inches respectively.
0.lbs min/max: 21.3″/67″ max load: 6.7 lbs
This Lightweight Monopod from Dolica is one of the best travel monopods for it’s value. It has lightweight structure and all the basic functionalities. This monopod is made of an ultra-lightweight aluminum alloy for easy mobility. This lightweight monopod weighs only 0.pounds and can support up to 6.pounds. It is equipped with four leg sections that can be extended up to 6inches with the minimum operating or folded height at 21.inches.
This monopod features retractable spiked rubber feet so that you can use this monopod on more slippery surfaces. It also includes a NBR foam grip on top for better handling. The built-in wrist strap is added for safety. It even comes with it’s very own carrying bag! This lightweight monopod is ideal for both indoor and outdoor photography.
1.4 lbs max/min: 16″/62″ max load: 20 lbs
A strong build, a compact frame, and lightweight structure, what more do you expect from a professional travel monopod? ePhotoinc To meet market demand, ePhotoinc developed this strong and lightweight travel monopod. This monopod is constructed with aluminum for a stronger and more rigid stability. It weights in at 1.pounds. Even with it’s lightweight structure, this monopod can support up to about 20 lbs of weight.
You have to twist left to loosen them up twist right to make them tight. With a dimension of 20 x 2.x 2.inches, it can reach a height of up to 6inches. This monopod can also be used as a video boom or sound boom. With its lightweight aluminum construction and 5-section extending separator with easy twist tightening, it’s an ideal monopod for outdoor, travel and timed shoots.
0.8 lbs max/min: 21.4″/67″ max load: 6.6 lbs
A ¼ inch universal thread mount is attached to this monopod, in addition to a built-in cushion grip and adjustable wrist strap. The cushion handle and sturdy design can keep the camera super stable. Thanks to the non-skid rubber feet and retractable spikes, you can place this monopod anywhere and everywhere while traveling and leave with crisp, sharp images.
For a highly functional travel monopod at an affordable price point, very few monopods can compete with the ‘MP100 67″ Professional Heavy Duty Monopod’ from Opteka. Opteka is one of the top brands in the field of converter lenses and filters for digital point-and-shoot cameras as well as telescopic lenses for SLR cameras.
No more fussing with blurry pictures or tired arms – with Opteka’s anodized aluminum monopod. The 4-section all-black looks pretty slick. This monopod also features a solid rubber grip, wrist carrying strap, quick action lever leg lock system with 45° flip, large 1.2-Inch camera or head platform with plastic cover and camera screw. Measuring in at x x 6inches, this monopod weighs only pound.
Opteka used their legendary artisanship and technological advances to create this professional monopod for the modern photographer. Whether shooting digital, film or compact video, you can follow the action with this monopod. Also, when you move your camera for a different view, you can reset its level in seconds. With 4-section all-black anodized aluminum alloy construction and 2inches minimum and 6inches maximum length in it is the best travel monopod in this price range.
0.88 lbs max/min: 16″/62″ max load: 22 lbs
Welcome to the premium and lightweight world of carbon fiber! If you’re sick of the cheap monopods that can’t hold your pro camera steady, then nothing can give you more satisfaction than carbon fiber monopods, which are lightweight yet feature a relatively high load capacity. Be it monopod, tripod, ball head or release plate, Sirui has been making some premium products with both aluminum and carbon fibers.
The wrist strap and cushion handgrip will help you to hold the camera and move comfortably. The folded height of this monopod measures up to 1inches. With 8X carbon fiber, a 6-section separator, and 0.8pounds of weight, this is a must buy if you are serious about travel photography.
This post has been flagged and will be reviewed by our staff. Thank you for helping us maintain CNET’s great community.
Sorry, there was a problem flagging this post. Please try again now or at a later time.
If you believe this post is offensive or violates the CNET Forums’ Usage policies, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the post). Once reported, our moderators will be notified and the post will be reviewed.
High loading performance
With the ability to support up to 17.pounds of camera weight, the VEO 265AB might be an ideal option if you are looking for the best travel tripod for DSLRs. This loading capacity also means that your telephoto lenses are safe on it.
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the monopod for video by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your monopod for video wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of monopod for video
- №1 — 65-inch Aluminum Monopod Alpenstock
- №2 — Polaroid 72″ Photo / Video Pro Ultra Heavy Duty Monopod For Digital Cameras & Camcorders
- №3 — Sirui SUP204SR Photo/Video Monopod
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about monopod for video is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!
