Whipsnade zoo. Monopod + tele - how to carry

413x · 4 Jul 2014 at 12:35

Going to zoo next week and I'm thinking of what to take

Probably going to be my 120-300mm f2.8 sigma
Attached to gimbal head and monopod

I haven't got a tripod but don't think it's appropriate anyway due to time and space

So far I haven't found a way that u can carry this lens and monopod all day without it aching

A new strap is on order but with the monopod taking up the lens collar point will I just have to carry this over my shoulder?
How do you make this comfy?

413x · 4 Jul 2014 at 18:54

And said:
A small bean bag on your carrying shoulder should make things more comfortable otherwise put up with the aches like I do

Not sure about using a gimbal with a monopod (I just have a Wimberley clamp on mine) but horses for courses.

Only head I got at the moment. It's a half gimbal

413x · 4 Jul 2014 at 20:32

one interesting thing i saw with a canon tele was a customised collar foot.
this foot was long enough to have two eye holes either side of the monopod
this allowed attachment to a strap over the shoulder with monopod pointing upwards

i dont think you can get anything like that for the sigma

413x · 4 Jul 2014 at 21:47

i was planning on the monopod just incase i have to wait for the animal to turn to me or whatever.
Thats fine with the sigma for a fair few shots but too much and its not going to be fun!

with those little fasteners - im guessing it screws into the QR plate which i would then have to unscrew to use any sort of monopod/tripod?
i completely see the reason on a non mounted lens but obviously awkward/impractical with a monopod?

shame a QR plate doesnt have a hole for the strap!

I have the strap on order for monday

413x · 4 Jul 2014 at 22:15

Janesy B said:
What Phal said, it's so you can keep the QR plate there all the time.

this is what i thought was the goal. i am going to look at my plate. i highly doubt there is any room there

413x · 5 Jul 2014 at 13:50

my plate looks similar to this

413x · 5 Jul 2014 at 13:55

this is where i saw the ingenious contraption
http://www.justbirdphotos.com/blog/2012/11/carrying-a-large-telephoto-lens-in-the-field

413x · 7 Jul 2014 at 17:53

Had my day out.
Had the kit on me for 5 hours of a 5 1/2 hour day.
Must say it wasn't as bad as I thought

In the end I put the lens barrel over my left shoulder and right arm on monopod
I had my padded strap under it most of the time. I did swap shoulders often

Also the manfrotto neo tec monopod is amazing. The way it just pulls out and locks without having to fiddle with several locking mechanisms. Definitely a good buy.
The half gimbal head was useful too. Especially for the bird display

It was heavy, probably about 4kg on one shoulder but far from unbearable

413x · 8 Jul 2014 at 09:54

Phal said:
My 120-300 arrived today and it's not particularly hard work carting it about even with my tripod on. It's resting on the ground quite often anyway and if not I just hold it close to my body.

I watched a review of of that Neotec monopod and it was an amusing review since the guy loved it even though he thought it was a piece of crap because he had owned about 5 over the years.

I had mine on my shoulder almost all the time except for when it was actually being used

I can imagine that being the case. I doubt I will use mine much. Only when in busy places where tripod isn't appropriate. Our when I funny have time. Gf was already getting impatient Ah zoo