Manfrotto MVMXPRO500US XPRO Aluminum Video Monopod
- Load Capacity: 17.6 lb
- Max Height: 79.9"
- Closed Length: 30.7"
- Sections: 4
Sirui P-325FL 5-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod with VH-10 Video Head
- Load Capacity: 13.2 lb
- Maximum Height: 70.7"
- Max Height w/o Base: 66.7"
- Minimum Height: 28.5"
Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod with SBM-001 Stabilizing Base
- Monopod with Base for Added Stability
- Load Capacity: 39 lb
- Combined Maximum Height: 68.1"
- Combined Weight: 2.25 lb
Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod, 65"
- Load Capacity: 39 lb
- Maximum Height: 65"
- 10x Carbon Fiber Construction
- Folded Length: 21.1"
iFootage Cobra 3 Carbon Fiber Monopod with Pedal-Release Mini Tripod Base
- Load Capacity: 17.6 lb
- Maximum Height: 71.3"
- Folded Length: 27.2"
- 5-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
Sirui P-326 Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Max Height: 61.4"
- Closed Length: 15.6"
- Sections: 6
Oben CTM-2600 6-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 26 lb
- Maximum Height: 64.7"
- Closed Length: 16.7"
- Sections: 6
Sirui P-325FS Carbon Fiber Monopod with VA-5X Video Head Kit
- Head Load Capacity: 6.6 lb
- Height Range: 25.7" to 58.4"
- VA-5X Video Head with Side-Load QR Plate
- 5-SectionCarbon Fiber Legs, Flip Locks
Oben CTM-2400 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
- 59.2" Maximum Height
- Supports Up to 22 lb
- 6x Carbon Fiber Construction
- Retractable Spike in Foot
Manfrotto 290 Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Max Height: 59.4"
- Closed Length: 19.3"
- Sections: 4
Manfrotto MVMXPROA4US Aluminum XPRO Video Monopod+
- Load Capacity: 39.7 lb
- Max Height: 75.6"
- Closed Length: 26.8"
- Sections: 4
Manfrotto Element MII Aluminum Monopod (Black)
Sirui P-325FL 5-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Maximum Height: 66.9"
- Max Height w/o Base: 62.8"
- Minimum Height: 24.8"
iFootage Cobra 3 Strike Aluminum Monopod with Low Profile Minipod Base and K5S Fluid Head
- Load Capacity: 11 lb
- Working Height Range: 36.5 to 67.2"
- Folded Length: 36.5"
- 3-Section Aluminum Monopod, Twist Locks
BUSHMAN Panoramic Claremont Bushman Monopod V2
- Load Capacity: 6.6 lb
- Maximum Height: 60.6"
- Closed Length: 15.6"
- Sections: 5
Benro MSD46C SupaDupa Carbon Fiber Monopod (72")
- Load Capacity: 88.2 lb
- Working Height Range: 17.9 to 72"
- Closed Length: 17.9"
- 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 Spring-Loaded Mount
Oben ACM-1400 4-Section Aluminum Monopod
- 17.6 lb Load Capacity
- 61" Maximum Height
- Collapses to 19.2"
- Lightweight - Just over 1 lb
Leofoto MPQ-404C 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod with Case
- Load Capacity: 55.1 lb
- Maximum Height: 70.9"
- Closed Length: 22.8"
- 4-Section Design
Sirui SVM-165 3-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Working Height Range: 32.3 to 65"
- Folded Height: 32.3"
- One-Step Height-Adjustment System
iFootage Cobra 3 Carbon Fiber Monopod with Pedal-Release Mini Tripod Base and K5S Fluid Head
- Load Capacity: 11 lb
- Maximum Height: 75.4"
- Folded Length: 31.3"
- 5-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
iFootage Cobra 2 Round Base Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Working Height Range: 30.3 to 79.4"
- 3-Section Aluminum Column, Twist Locks
- Built-in Accessory Hook
Sirui SVM-165P 3-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Height Range: 32.7 to 65"
- Retracted Height: 32.3"
- 3-Section Aluminum Legs, Adjustment Knob
Gitzo GM4552L Series 4 Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 77.2 lb
- Maximum Height: 74.8"
- Closed Length: 22"
- Sections: 5
iFootage RB-A200 Cobra 2 22" Round-Base Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Maximum Height: 22"
- Minimum Height: 10.6"
- Center Column Sections: 3
Sirui P-325FS 5-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
- Load Capacity: 22 lb
- Maximum Height: 55.1"
- Max Height w/o Base: 50.9"
- Minimum Height: 22.4"
Really Right Stuff MC-34 Series 3 Carbon Fiber Monopod (3/8"-16)
- Load Capacity: 50 lb
- Maximum Height: 67.3"
- Closed Length: 21.6"
- Sections: 4
Magnus DLX-M1 4-Section Monopod
- Load Capacity: 6.6 lb
- Maximum Height: 67.5"
- Folded Length: 21.25"
- Sections: 4
Benro MSD36C SupaDupa Carbon Fiber Monopod (64.9")
- Load Capacity: 88.2 lb
- Working Height Range: 16.6 to 64.9"
- Closed Length: 16.6"
- 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 Spring-Loaded Mount
Learning About Monopods
Monopods provide support for cameras and help photographers steady their shots. They also help take the weight off heavy cameras and long lenses. This benefit reduces fatigue after long shooting sessions. While similar to selfie sticks and extension shooting poles, they’re usually sturdier, and meant to rest on the ground.
What's a Camera Monopod?
Also known as a unipod, this one-legged support is also a collapsible pole. This photography accessory steadies a mounted camera by eliminating vertical motion. Leaning it against solid objects, such as a wall, turns the single-leg pole into a makeshift bipod that also dampens shakiness in the horizontal axis. Stabilizing cameras in this way eliminates blurry shots. The best monopods for video capture also reduce jerkiness in footage. By serving as a stable platform, a unipod makes it easier to shoot sharp images and videos at slow shutter speeds and with long-focus lenses.
How Do Monopods Compare to Tripods?
They’re lighter and more compact than tripods, and better suited for on-the-go photography. They’re also easier to pack when traveling, and ideal for outdoor photography. Sports and wildlife photographers who spend a lot of time shooting in one place choose unipods for these reasons. Some of the best monopods also double as walking and hiking sticks. These trekking poles have capped and threaded tops that fit monopod heads.
A monopod is easier to deploy than a tripod. With three legs to spread out, setting up a tripod takes longer. Therefore, unipods are better for quick action shots. However, having three legs make tripods more stable. This design locks cameras firmly in one position and makes tripods better for studio and time-lapse photography.
How to Choose a Monopod
The three key features to consider are weight capacity, height, and construction. The most common materials used for camera monopods are aluminum and carbon fiber. Aluminum is the more affordable option. It’s a strong, lightweight metal. Carbon fiber is a tough material that’s also strong, lightweight, and durable. A monopod’s weight rating is the maximum weight it can bear without buckling. Choose one with a higher rating than the combined weights of your biggest camera, lens, and battery grip. Consider those with the highest weight capacities when looking for monopods for DSLR cameras.
Look for a unit with a maximum height that puts its top at your eye level. You may also consider the pole’s folded length to determine whether it’s short enough to go in your camera bag. The monopod head is another feature to consider. Besides flat heads, the most common ones are ball, fluid, and pan-and-tilt. Ball heads add flexibility and allow you to point your camera wherever you'd like. Pan-and-tilt heads allow multi-axis movements. Fluid heads are perfect for video monopods, as they enable smooth moving shots by providing fine control over pan and tilt.
Get a monopod to keep your camera steady, and to support heavy photography equipment. Check the wide selection at B&H Photo and Video to find the perfect monopod for your cameras and lenses.