Giottos MM5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

I fell in love with this monopod when I pulled it out of the box. I felt well built, loved the tabletop ability to use two legs and the swivel head was surprisingly fluid.
But I was put off by the three support legs needing to be screwed in. Photography is dominated by bayonet mounting and yet here was a system where I needed to twist, twist, twist, twist, twist a leg into place and then twist, twist, twist, twist, twist a leg out again (for each of three legs).
But I still liked it. So I took it out for a shoot and 1 hour into shooting I looked down to see the tripod of legs and the rubber foot had literally fallen off (!). I had assumed I just didn't turn it enough times or that I had "panned off" the foot somehow (not really likely). But the foot wouldn't go back on. It had somehow (and I honestly don't know how) fallen off it's steel threads and refused to thread back on in any way.
Too bad.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

THIS IS A GOOD MONOPND IT HELPS KEEP MY CAM FROM MOVENG WHIN ZOOMING IN
THE TILT HEAD ALSO WORKS VERY GOOD
YOU HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT WITH A GOOD PRICE
IF I NEED AN EXTER MONOPOD I WILL GET ANOTHER
MH5580P-POD MONOPOD

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

Bad design
Unstable
The 3 screw-in legs bend
A ZERO performer

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

Ussing for travel photography where a larger tripod would just not work. Great for caring onto airlines, light weight, strong and doubles as for protection.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

I have had three chances to use this since purchasing last fall. Worked great until threaded connection at top of shaft stripped out.I'm trying to repair with epoxy to at least salvage this for a while.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

I use this for sports production and it has been great to use. It is durable, reliable. And easy to use. Highly recommended

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

It is a great tool, except for the fact that every time that you want to use the SCREW-ON iron rods to make it a tripod, you have to dismantle the monopod. That is very inconvenient! In addition, the rods are not the easiest to screw on, since they have to be in perfect angle.
Also, I'm not sure if the release plate is an advantage or a disadvantage, since it can get lost easier, specially if I have to remove it to switch to a tripod with different release platte.
Doing the job, it is a wonderful, sturdy, and professional tool.
Over all, I'm happy with it, but not overly astonished.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

[...] Reviews help too, but for the ones that complain bitterly when something isn't what they expected. What were they expecting? Something other than what's accurately described?Someone complained it's not an adequate walking stick. Where is the claim made that it's supposed to be a walking stick? If a walking stick is what is desired then buy that and get a ball head that might attach to the top. A walking stick probably shouldn't be collapsable, especially when terrain is remotely rugged. Monopods are designed to hold photo equipment not human beings.There's only one thing wrong with this monopod. It lacks registration marks to aid in setting to absolute vertical. So I put some tape on it, vertically—spanning from the head to the top of the post just below where the wrist strap is attached. I cut the tape at the wrist strap ring and at the tilt and that was that. Well, not before getting it set to absolute vertical. Otherwise, very sturdy and not really all that heavy in the bag strapped over one's shoulder, and nice-looking too. Unlike these things that look like storks trying to stand on one (or three, for that matter) leg after sustaining four or five compound fractures. Those levers are a pain, and add a lot to bulk even when they are well made. (I know, I also have a Manfrotto tripod, that's made of the same material as this monopod near as I can tell. Levers are all over the place!) The wrist strap and padding are perfectly designed to hold this thing. The fact the wrist strap is attached by a loose wring matters too. One can keep holding while turning, if necessary.It's very well designed in a world of things very badly designed. Including a simple enough quick-release type head. Unusual, but functional enough and certainly solid! The whole thing is very solid, strictly as a monopod.The Giotto will act as a tripod in a crunch, though if one wants to lighten the weight one need only remove the legs from the bottom tube and leave them home. As one reviewer noted, it works best as a tripod when legs are inserted to two holes just below the head—making for a mini-tripod. Attaching legs to the bottom three holes to stand up the monopod does not make for so sturdy an arrangement, obviously. Still, sturdy enough to hold a PnS or a smaller DSLR or old SLR for a decent interval, if not for 20 minutes or all night while photographing stars. It's not designed to do that; tripods are. One can use a tripod as a monopod too if one doesn't mind the extra weight.This is as sturdy a cross-over as one is likely ever to find, short of carbon fiber at four or five times the price. And then you'd have another kind of weight problem because, however stiff, not heavy enough to stay put, which is the problem with overpriced carbon fiber tri- and monopods. (Great for bicycles though.)Sorry to "fawn," but I got what I expected and a little more. 'Cept for missing registration marks. Sleek

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

I wanted a monopod with tilt head. This one is heavy as it is all aluminum. The tilt head does not work very well and I tend to expect alot from my gear. It would probably be better to have a monopod and attach a ballhead of your choice to it.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

The MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head by Giottos is the righ combination of stability and weight.

For the moment, I'd have to say that I made and excellent choice by picking out the MH5580 by Giottos over all the other choices that I looked at.

Thanks to Giottos and B&H Photo!

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

This is a very solid monopod for a great price considering it includes the head. If you are looking for a small, lightweight monopod, this is not for you. I use it all of the time now. It hasn't replaced my tri-pod, but I can use it for the majority of the same shots. As others have stated, the legs don't work all that great as a true tripod. They are very thin and it become more like a shock absorbing spring. However, they do work great mounted towards the head.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

Got the P-Pod on a B&H recommendation. Unsure if I was happy at first, but the thing grew on me as I worked with it. I have few complaints, and like the price.



The P-Pod is tall enough to put a stabilized camera at eye-level. Tilt head works well for look-up/-down shots. The round rubber foot is plenty non-skid - doesn't need a "swivel foot" - & it doesn't leave black skid marks behind. Satisfies all my primary functional requirements for a monopod.



The provided round QR seemed strange (see photo in Accessory list), but it works well. Lock it in place for use; don't leave it loose & swiveling (or don't complain if you do). Adding a full ballhead is overkill here; duplicates most of the build-in swivel head's capabilities. Hand strap's attachment ring rotates around the P-Pod's top section; not a problem if you grip the P-Pod as you should.



Adding a QR base, however, *is* beneficial - as long as it's like the one on your tripod, and compatible with the plate already attached to your camera (duh!). Both 3/8"-16 & 1/4"-20 threading provided. Interchange between tripod & P-Pod easily, and quickly drop the P-Pod off the camera as needed (e.g. to safely scoot before the "tripod police" have a chance to intercept you & play dumb about monopods ... ask me how I know!).



The "legs" (stored inside the lowest section) that screw into tapped holes in the foot do *not* make this a tripod. Even without leg flex (of which there's plenty), there's no way something so tall & skinny with an SLR & lens on top will be stable; it will & does sway like an inverted pendulum.

But, the legs make this a monopod that stands on its own. It's great for holding a speedlight, or a small diffuser/reflector. I put a Crane accessory shoe on the P-Pod & mount my Nikon SB-900 on that, so I have wireless background/side lighting that stands by itself, at the right height. Used like *that* there's less mass up top & less sway, and flash unit performance tends not to care any way. All this with just the monopod I'm already carrying, plus a tiny accessory shoe (in my pocket along with a gray card).



P-Pod *is* rather heavy for size. Fairly sturdy all-metal construction is consistent with P-Pod's 33-lb load rating - clearly for use with heavy but mobile work. Build quality is consistent with price, but that means watching that you don't cross-thread some of the things that screw together - the biggest negative for me. The basic design is sound, but it needs better implementation - carbon fiber, magnesium, etc. Of course, that means a higher price.



There are 2 extra leg-screw-in holes up near the head. With 2 legs *above* the hand hold, the fully/ partially collapsed pod sections act as the 3rd leg, so the P-Pod becomes a kind of mini-tripod. The Pod's heft helps counter-balance the camera, but with the narrow footprint you need to be careful of tipping. This config is also unexpectedly handy with the pod sections *extended*. I've stabilized against walls, on railings, stairs, tree limbs, etc. ... & still avoided the "tripod police". You *do* have to watch out to not poke people/kids with those high-riding wire legs. I also put the camera down low, & used the extended pod to push the camera under things for some interesting perspectives.



Not sure I would've bought the P-Pod if I'd had one in-hand before I bought it; it's not what I expected, nor what I was looking for. I had to use it a few times to see how well it actually met my needs. Now I the P-Pod a lot. It's versatile & compliments my tripod, & I don't feel I need to baby it. It's not a magical camera pod-walking stick, but it *is* a well thought out, well enough made, relatively inexpensive tool. *If* it meets your needs, and you have a little imagination (it's surprising how many photographers don't), then the P-Pod is a very good buy - not great - but very good.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

I use this for my 50mm f1.8 and it is of a great help.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

This is a great heavy mono pod and real sturdy, I use it on most outings as a mono pod and have used it as a tripod too, those little legs are quite strong and held my Nikon D80 and a 28-70 f2.8 not a light lens, but it held it real still.

I would like them legs not to rattle but I think a small rubber band could do the gob just fine.

Great product easy to use really very solid and stable nothing to say bad about it at all.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

I use this for macrophotography in the field (indoors and outdoors) where a tripod would be impossible. I need (in many situations) photos as close as possible (1:1 preferably) and the monopod permits small apertures and, hopefully, fast shutter speeds so I can get sharp exposures with maximum depth of field that are essentially hand held. The tuck-away legs are very useful in many situations. It would be even better if it were a little shorter but the tuck-away legs probably couldn't allow this.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

Highly recommended as an all-in-one tool. Very robust, seems almost bulletproof. This is a great tool for anybody who needs a field monopod, but might need a tripod on occasion. All the adjustments are tight and strong and it has the feel of a professional tool. Impossible to be disappointed.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

This can be used in pinch for a tripod by using the the feet stored in the bottom. They are a pain to put on and store. The head can't be used for side tilting if the monopod is not held up straight. I sawed mine off. It is heavy and only so-so for a hiking stick.

Pro: It is heavy and a good support. I do use it. The feet make it better than a monopod without since they make it more stable. It opens up to about 6 feet tall.

I would not buy it again. I think this is better if you can see one.

Comments about Giottos MH5580 P-Pod Monopod with Tilt Head:

Built like a tank, with rigid leg sections that hardly wobble when monopod is fully extended. this is further complimented by the p-pod's relatively heavy weight.- support legs, as expected, amount to little more than a gimmick. when taking into account the small hassle involved in attaching/removing them, their usefulness goes from negligible to non-existant. - tilt head is reasonably functional, but coupled with a terribly shoddy quick-release system, which is prone to fist-shaking amounts of rotation and shakiness. had giottos not been taking a [*] when deciding whether or not to make their tilt head REMOVABLE, the p-pod could have been a wonderful tool. unfortunately, though, giottos dropped the ball. they dropped it, then waited patiently for the neighborhood bully to punt it over the fence, into that yard with the angry pitbull.in all seriousness, giottos hasn't put together a horrible monopod - but you'd be much better off simply forking over the extra cash for a gitzo and a decent tilt head. at least then you wouldn't feel forced to compensate for your wasted $100 by fawning (as i'd seen in so many forums - a contributing factor in my purchase) over a monopod that deserves little more than the customary at least you tried pat on the head.bottom-line: i took a gamble, knowing that the p-pod's non-removable head could take the rest of the package down in flames with it. i lost the bet, and so will you.buy something else. there's worse out there, but not for this price.