As many of you know, I used to take pics of Fantasmic! when IS was only available on a FEW Canon lenses, and the first wasn't that good of a lens. ; So I used a monopod with the 200/2.8L (I) and later a Tokina 80-200/2.8. ; Manfrotto makes a decent tilt head, since really all you need is the ability to tilt your camera based on the ground below you and your target. ; Some people swear that you don't need a head with a monopod, but when you're shooting Fantasmic! at Disneyland, you're standing (hopefully at the front of the standing area and not sitting down), and you don't have the luxury of tilting your entire monopod in any direction....fast forward to 2009. I've switched from the Manfrotto QR system to Arca-Swiss. ; Acratech makes a "long-lens" head that is similar. ; Cost: $330.00 Enter: ; Really Right Stuff for the inspiration. http://reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/03.html Their "low capacity monopod solution". You take the NON-QR Manfrotto Head: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554096-REG/Manfrotto_234_234_Swivel_Tilt_Monopod.html/BI/1824/KBID/2466 Go out and buy a 3/8" hex head bolt (I got a 1 inch one, but for the assembly I got needs more like a 3/4" long one), a locking/split washer, and some Loctite. Also, you'll need a Arca-Swiss assembly. ; Brand new from B&H they run about $55 minimum; I got one from eBay for about 1/2 (there was a camera store in Texas selling what appears to be chinese knockoffs. ; If I was going to use this on a ballhead I would think twice, but since I'm going to have my hand on my camera practically at all times with this setup, I figured it was worth the possible risk for quality. ; Anyway, it seems okay with testing I've done....) that price. I got a 50mm (2 inches) with a 3/8" mount (be careful, some are threaded to a different mount.....) All you have to do is unscrew the bottom knob, pull the screw out so you can take off the thumbwheel screw to the bottom of the top part of the head. ; Then put in your own hex bolt with washer between the Manfrotto head and the bolt, and then attach the Arca-Swiss Assembly to the top of the Manfrotto head, when you know it'll be on the side of the head that you want, you can then use Loctite to make the bond stronger between the two. Voila, you now have a Arca-Swiss tilt-head for monopod use for much cheaper than one brand new. ; (me, with eBay was around $50....). ; I'll take a pic later and post it. ; Granted, it's going to show why I need to get a shorter bolt, but.... ;
Got the shorter bolt and the Blue Loctite. [attachments posted prior to 4/27/2010 have been deleted by admin. be sure to link images to make sure they don't get removed]
