Tabletop Monopod

With digital photography being the norm today, photography is thriving better than ever as a hobby. And what with digital cameras now being more accessible and increasingly affordable, more people are discovering photography, and greater numbers of them are taking to it as a serious hobby.

Serious photography, professional or hobby, calls for serious equipment- lighting, stands, lenses and more. Most of us have either seen or are familiar with tripods as a camera accompaniment; the enthusiast however, would also be familiar with the monopod. It is something very new to many of them as it has been considered to be the latest trend these days.

Built to eliminate vertical motion, the monopod, is essentially a one-legged stand that can either be held by the photographer or placed on a surface thereby also reducing horizontal motion. It also would help the photographer to have a better and closer access to the camera. It stands out to be unique in its use and utility as it is not the same with a tripod.

Monopod stands out to be the most popular accessory in photography. In hand-held applications, the LCD screen on most digital cameras do not reveal minor vertical movements and could result in image blurs. The monopod as an accessory therefore makes for a sharper image while taking up as little workspace; while it can be used on table with clamps for surface grip that are still less space-consuming than a tripod. The monopod, more often than not, is used by photographers to rest against their chests or belts for better camera stability. They can even clamp it on tree branches or railings for better results. Its easily adjustable knob makes it ideal for tilting it horizontally.  It is equipped with a foldable column, the height can be increased for closer shots of wild life, very tiny insects or creatures, or nature photographs like that of lightening, thunderstorms, sunset, dawn, or other landscapes. The clamp also supports cameras as heavy as 3 lbs. They also allow slower shutter speeds and/or with longer focal length lenses. A monopod can be used as a copy stand to produce pictures of pages of a book, other small, flat objects with excellent results, which gives a much more authentic effect than a job done by a scanner or a photo copier.

A good quality monopod is sturdy, durable and telescopic; usually allowing the user to pan and tilt the camera. A tilt-knob adjustment, if available, will also allow enough tilt for an overhead shot. Being more compact than a tripod makes the monopod easier to transport.

Essentially, in the trade off between stability and mobility, the monopod whether it is used as a tablepod, resting on a surface, as a chest pod or belt pod allows a photographer a greater degree of stability than the hand-held and better mobility than the tripod does. Because of these satisfying results, a monopod is indispensable in any professional photographer’s kit. You can also try one as it is something anyone can use for the best quality photos.

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