Trip to DC, need a monopod?

[suzyjazz]

I am planning a trip to Washington D.C. this Memorial Day weekend. If I go, I will spend an entire day at the National Zoo. I looked at their website last night and was drooling. My 70-200 f4 lens should arrive today. I guess next on my list is a monopod. I just have no idea what to buy. How tall do I need? Is it best if you can stand straight up, so get a 'pod as tall as you are? I'm 5'8". I need one that comes with a head. No clue on that either. Something decent but inexpensive is what I am shooting for. I will also be packing a tripod which barely fits in my suitcase :-) The tripod might not be solid as a rock but worked well in Vegas. I am not spending a few hundred on a better one right now.

Any tips on the DC area? I'm sure there are hundreds of things to see. I'll probably be with friends, and it's a short trip so with the zoo day we won't have time for much. My friends are not photo-freaks like I am so I hope I don't drive them too crazy!

Thanks,
Suzy

[brad]

Take your tripod to the Korean War exhibit to shoot it at night. Its impressive during the day, but in the dark/twilight, you'd swear the statues were alive!

Oh.. and I have the Manfrotto Monopod that extends out to almost 6 foot.. I find it to be perfect. It does not come with a "head" though, so you'll have to get that seperately.... and I got it for Christmas 2003, so I can't tell you how much it is... sorry.. not much help. :)

[jerrykr]

if your tripod uses a quick release plate, you may want to buy a head that uses the same plate system so that you don't have to swap the plate on and off the camera, when going from monopod to tripod and back.

[suzyjazz]

I wonder if I should have put this thread in Open Talk instead, oops.

Thanks for the feedback so far. I'll put the Korean War exhibit on my list Brad!

Jerry, my tripod does not have quick release. I have to screw it in. I don't know anything about the head systems, so I guess I should google it. And I should give it some thought so I can use later on a different tripod.

[Steelsun]

Be prepared at the zoo there. I went last year and found out it defies the laws of physics and common sense: 3/4 of the pathways are uphill!

[Sheldon]

Originally Posted by suzyjazz

My 70-200 f4 lens should arrive today.

Hey, congrats on your new lens..... :D :D You are going to LOVE it!

[suzyjazz]

Originally Posted by Steelsun

Be prepared at the zoo there. I went last year and found out it defies the laws of physics and common sense: 3/4 of the pathways are uphill!

Yikes! I was tired just lugging the new 70-200 around Mercer Arboretum today on straight paths ;-) I'll have to get used to it, I guess. Thanks for the warning!

And thanks Sheldon :-) I was a little diappointed with my pics today, but I am sure it's me, not the lens. Having a little trouble with the focus.

[KeithAlanK]

I can second the Korean Memorial. Spooky/Cool even during the day. Was in DC in November and didn't have 1/10th the time I wanted and the zoo wasn't even a consideration.
The airlines won't let you take a monopod onboard so make sure it'll fit your suitcase, too.
As far as tripod/monopod mounts, the QuantaRay Quik-Mounts are cheap screw-ons and will hold you over until you decide to get a better pair. I still use mine and it saves more time than I can express to you. Flick a lever and the camera goes on or off in a half-second, and it's sturdy enough to beat handheld by a mile.
Have fun, be careful and remember that you can't leave your seat for 30 minutes before landing or after departing all DC area airports.

[Bill Huber]

I have had only two different monopods, the first was the normal, like one leg of a tripod. It had the levers to flip to open it up, it worked ok but I was always flipping the levers to adjust it up and down.

Now I have the Manfrotto 3245, I have a 3229 head. Now this is an awesome monopod, very fast, light and easy to use.

One section is a twist and pull it out, twist and lock it. Now the other section is controlled by the handle, squeeze the handle and it just slides up and down, let go and it stops right there.

Now at the zoo it is just what you need, want that high shot, squeeze the handle and raise it up, now you need the low shot, squeeze the handle and let it down, it is just that easy.

[jerrykr]

suzyjazz,

I have the same head as Bill, tho my monopod is not as fancy (wish it was).

this head allows you to shoot both horizontal or flip 90 degrees and shoot vertical. the first head I bought did only horizontal. I kept it one day and went back and traded for the one in his picture.

I saw a really neat ball head last week-end with a squeeze grip to instantly rotate the camera to almost any position on top of the monopod. very neat!

[suzyjazz]

Thanks Keith. I'll probably go ahead and buy what I want in the long run so I don't have to upgrade. That's why I went ahead and "splurged" on the 70-200 now, months at least before I thought I would ever buy it.

Thanks Jerry and Bill. With two recommendations for that head, I'll probably just get it. And down the road I hope I can get a good tripod with a quick release plate that will be compatible. That monopod sounds cool, even at $80 it'll still be close to the cheapest thing I've bought for this camera! Need to make sure it fits in my suitcase, though.

Suzy

[jerrykr]

suzy,

the manfrotto products all use a std quick release plate. you will be getting one with the 3229 head if you purchase it, and this is part of my original point. you might just shop around and settle on a brand for now and the future so that your equipment is all compatible at the camera to mono/tir/pod connection point. (just trying to help)

I hope you have a really nice trip to DC.

-=- Jerry -=-

[Steelsun]

Also if you have the time, visit the National Cathedral - it's not too far from the zoo. Very photogenic, inside and out. The reason I was in Dc last yuear was the wife was attending a change ringing meeting at the Cathedral - so I spent alot of time there, especially behind the scenes (in all 3 towers). I think I must have taken 1000+ photos of the place, I love it.

[shutterflypro]

DC is one of my favorite places to shoot. I have a lot of great pics that I shot there. In the area that they are telling you to shoot the Korean War Memorial there are 2 other Memorials that you have to go to. The Vietnam War Memorial. If you look closely you can get a brilliant reflection photograph with the US flag and Lincoln Memorial in it. Also there is the new WWII Memorial right in between the Korean and Vitnam Memorials. Everything is within walking distance down there you will love it.

Here is a couple of pics though.

[suzyjazz]

Thanks Steelsun. I hope I can get to a few of the items on my list. As I suspected, there will be way too much to do for too little time!

Shutteryflypro, those are great shots! My favorite is actually the one of the capitol with the trees.

Maybe I can visit the cathedral right after the zoo before it starts to get dark. And I'm sure I'll be able to see the memorials if even for a few minutes. It will help that they are together.