I have spent quite a lot (could be peanut to most of us) to acquire sturdiness and flexibility of a Manfrotto. The more I use it, the happier I get. So unless I can afford a carbon-fiber version or a Gitzo, it will stay by my side. But it is 70cm long folded - plus the head and the bag it gets to about 85cm. Quite an annoyance to travel, especially as I ride a moped most of the time. Another thing is that it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable is being seen as a (too) professional photographer taking out a hefty strokes when shooting. I also sometimes lost chance to get nice frame as setting up the tripod takes quite a while. Some other times I just get too lazy to set it up and just leave the opportunity out.

Whilst I am definitely interested with modern glasses with VR (Nikon’s version of shake reduction system), my pocket is unfortunately as “modern” as the lens technology. I have to save even to get a used manual-focus lens, so VR lenses especially those with rather wide opening are just something I would have in my dreams. Monopods came into my mind slightly, but I kept on wondering how these one-legged support really perform.

When last week a friend of mind told me a simple theory, started to think it over again. I still remember it in my head just like a replayed video how he used his hands to explain the theory. Quite funny, to be honest. Ha ha. In a simple way, it is about how our hands shake. Our hands tend to shake in vertical direction instead of horizontal or diagonal. Try it intentionally … it is easier to shake our hands vertically. And here is exactly where a monopod helps with its only leg. It minimizes vertical shake, which is the most critical one.

After quite a while researching the net, I finally decided to get one. I am convinced that whilst it is not mandatory, having a ballhead on top is quite helpful. So it is about a monopod and a ballhead. Three-ways pan head will just throw away the mean of simplicity, which is the main keyword of a monopod. I am appealed to grab a Manfrotto. But the shortest one plus a ballhead is still quite long to be easily carried around. And the price is also quite something. Carrying expensive things creates a psychological effect of giving an extra care, which is basically an extra pain than gain. I also just want to give it a try. Whist I did some researches, naturally a trial can fail, so it is safe to minimize spending at this stage. I can buy a better, sturdier, more expensive one later, when I convinced that a monopod is helpful enough.

Among price, functions, simplicity, I decided to get a Velbon RUP-43 which comes with a built-in ballhead. So quite a good deal compared to separated leg and head of the same brand. Don’t mention about the “M” or even “G”. Ken Rockwell advises that Velbon is among brands to avoid in camera support. But with all do respect, Ken, my pocket is not thick enough, especially for a trial. Search the net, compare price among different online stores, and place an order.

Here it comes now. Better than I expected for an $35 deal. Three sections of black alloy leg is quite sturdy, flips are quite strong, plastic-looking head is so so, and a rubber hand grip is nice to have. Whist it is not as appealing as “M”, I feel that - if a monopod really helps as expected - it is something I will keep for quite a while. I do not have any set-up heavier than 4 pounds now, and will take years for me to save to get one.

Now I just hope to have a chance to play with it this weekend.

Just can’t wait to start. First strike seemed reasonably well. Definitely, I do not have the real grip to this new gear yet. My first shot on a monopod. This sharpness was obtained on by a 100mm old MF lens at 1/30. Normal rule of thumb for hand-held is 1/focal-length, which in this case is 1/100. I have a little problem that makes my hand-held stability sub-normal by at least 1-2 stops.

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