I use a monopod....!

[Dave in Wales]

Due to weight of a Mk 3 + 100-400 combo, coupled with age and sparrows wrists, I use a monopod most of the time.

A Manfrotto 290 to be precise, with a tilt head.

If conditions don't allow I will then use a bean bag, bought from this very site.

I'm convinced that supporting this lens combo in some way greatly adds to it's IS capability.

It can be a bit of a pain, on-off-on-off, but with a QR plate one soon gets used to it.

Ones patience is also increased, not having to support the weight constantly.

[blu-by-u]

I do that when I do motorsports. Need that linear line for panning.

[blackfox]

to be perfectly honest I have one with a ball head fitted and a C/F tripod with a jobu junior gimbal . I have not used either since moving to olympus ,the day may come though so for the moment I' m holding fire on selling either . at this moment in time despite my nearly 76 tender years I can still hold my rig and keep on target even with b.i.f but none of us are getting any younger

[Bikie John]

For lenses up to about the size/weight of the 100-400 I use a shoulder pod - supposedly designed for video but it works well for me with these medium-sized lenses. It probably helps that the stuff I am shooting is more or less at eye level - it would not be so good for birds up in the sky, for example. For the monster 4/3 lenses like the 90-250 f/2.8 I need more support and resort to a monopod.

John

[blackfox]

there used to be a shoulder stock much akin to rifle butt/stock that would do the job but not seen one advertised for years ,think they were American

[blackfox]

the one I was thinking of was the stedi-stock mkii ,saw a couple of guys using them in Suffolk a few years ago on long lenses . looked really good seems no longer made though .. the other one was a bushmaster ? I think again a u.s thing

[Bikie John]

This is the one I use, from Kaiser via Fotospeed. Collapses to be quite small, and I find it a great help in use.

https://fotospeed.com/easy-shoulder-andchest-pod.html

[MikeOxon]

I've used a monopod regularly for years (currently Manfrotto 694CX with ball head) and find it's useful not just for its stabilising effects but because I find it easier to compose my picture when the camera's freedom of movement is slightly restricted. It also doubles as a walking pole when on treacherous ground. Even if I don't extend it, I find that it's pendulum weight helps to steady the camera when hand-holding.

Mike

[Graham_of_Rainham]

At 6’ 3” I have always had issues with monopods not being long enough, so several years ago I modified an old one by adding 8” of Al tube.

I always intended adding a QR plate, but it gets such little use, it hardly seems worth it. One of my more useful gadgets is a Hama clamp that can grip on many things and works very well.

[Dave in Wales]

I've used a monopod regularly for years (currently Manfrotto 694CX with ball head) and find it's useful not just for its stabilising effects but because I find it easier to compose my picture when the camera's freedom of movement is slightly restricted. It also doubles as a walking pole when on treacherous ground. Even if I don't extend it, I find that it's pendulum weight helps to steady the camera when hand-holding.

Mike

I see you use a CF pod.

The reason I use an aluminium one is, It is self opening under it's own weight, a useful feature I find.

Does the CF do this, or do you have to pull it out.

[MikeOxon]

My CF monopod does self-open. I agree that it's a useful feature. I usually drop the shortest leg first, so that the other catches remain easily accessible from the top. I changed to the more expensive type for its metal leg catches, after the plastic catches on my previous model broke.

[Ray99]

I agree with the stability thing. We all know Olympus IS is fantastic and I've taken many a good photo thanks to it. However I do feel a supported setup is even better. For this reason I will occasionally use a tripod (I do have a monopod somewhere but can't remember the last time I used it) for stills and whenever possible for video.

[Luv2shoot]

The last time I went on an extensive walking photo shoot, I used my mono pod to help me get up from a kneeling position after taking low shots from the ground! It works great.

[rustyarrow]

I use a monopod but have a rifle rest on top - a V shaped rest, when I want to take a photo just flip the camera up and rest the lens in the V , take shot and lift off - easy to use and I can then use the pod as a stick, helps with walking and poking things. The rifle rest part was from ebay and about £5.00, works really well for me as I walk a lot when out taking pics.