[EKIMIKE]

Hello to all,

As some may know (or not) from a previous thread not so long ago, i'm going to Poland this summer to scale the Tatra mountains, and how could i leave my camera behind!

I've looked into bags (subject of my last post) and now i've had the idea of combining a walking pole as a monopod. I've looked around and found a few products but one is well over priced and the other is pretty vague in its features as i can't even decipher whether it has a thread. The first is Trek-tech - US company, and the other is Brasher Mono Y8.

Are there (i bet there is) better products on the market and if so could you show me please? I'm on possibly a £30-40 budget.........................if all else fails there's always the possibility of a screw on a stick.

Oooooooh and i'd preferably like a quick release system so i can apply the camera to the top of the pole as and when i please.

Thanks in advance,

MiKE

[Dabhand16]

Digital Photo magazine, on their 'Shop' page always have one featured for £25. 'Exped Viewfinder'. You can get a Manfrotto 234RC2 head that attaches to any pod and will flip to 90 degrees for portrait shots. About £25 from Jessop's or less on-line but plus postage. You can get it without the RC2 QR plate too for about £15.

You might find you can't attach it to a walking pole/pod without detaching the hand grip though, depending on the design of the pod. The Digital Photo blurb says the top cap (not the hand grip) unscrews to reveal the camera mounting thread.

HTH.

[VinnyP]

There are several poles like this from most of the manufacturers but I feel your pain. The good poles are not available with any kind of photo mount. I have been tempted by the ultrapod or the versamount either of which look like they could be attached to any pole as needed. The ultrapod is also a mini tripod so has other uses.

[silkstone]

I have one that is very similar to the Exped Viewfinder mentioned by Graham. It has a wooden knob that screws onto a standard 1/4" UNC thread.

You can get one of the Exped poles free if you take out a subscription to Digital Photo magazine....

DIGITAL PHOTO Subscription

[EKIMIKE]

So do all tripod head attatch by 1/4" thread?

[silkstone]

No - you'll have to check on that. The smaller and/or cheaper heads attach to the tripod with a 1/4" thread (the same as most cameras), but the larger/dearer heads use a 3/8" thread. I'd expect that you'd be OK with something intended for a monopod or compact tripod.

[EKIMIKE]

Originally Posted by silkstone

No - you'll have to check on that. The smaller and/or cheaper heads attach to the tripod with a 1/4" thread (the same as most cameras), but the larger/dearer heads use a 3/8" thread. I'd expect that you'd be OK with something intended for a monopod or compact tripod.

Ok just so long as it's nothing more than a thread, i was worried it may be different for each brand, having their own system but all's good. Thanks

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by EKIMIKE

Ok just so long as it's nothing more than a thread, i was worried it may be different for each brand, having their own system but all's good. Thanks

The Manfrotto 234RC2 comes with a 3/8 > 1/4" adapter fitted. You just remove it if your tri/mono pod has a 3/8" thread.

[silkstone]

Just for info... Both the 1/4" and 3/8" are standard UNC threads. (BSW - Whitworth - is very similar and basically interchangeable.) If ever you want to make your own device for mounting the camera, you should be able to get a suitable bolt from any decent hardware store.

[VinnyP]

Originally Posted by silkstone

Just for info... Both the 1/4" and 3/8" are standard UNC threads. (BSW - Whitworth - is very similar and basically interchangeable.) If ever you want to make your own device for mounting the camera, you should be able to get a suitable bolt from any decent hardware store.

Great tip which reminds me of something that really freaked me out.

A long time ago when I was hunting with the pack I used to have an aluminium step ladder with a bolt through the handle that I used for just that, it was occasionally very useful. I once dreamt I slipped on the way up the ladder and the bolt took my eye out. The next day I took the bolt out, well you would wouldn't you!