I was considering buying a monopod for night time shoots at Disney or anywhere, it is really a good investment or should I just find something steady to lean/sit the camera on? I have a tripod, but it is a bit bulky to carry around.
I've got a monopod that I use for this type of thing and I find it useful if I'm really tired. But if you can increase your ISO or aperture, you might be able to get the shutter to move fast enough so that you don't need to worry about the stability of your camera.
A monopod could be helpful, but I think more for long zoom shots, or slightly lower light or slower shutter shots. For full-blown nightshots, with shutters over 1/2 second, there really isn't a substitute for a tripod or at least a level surface to place the camera on - best to be as hands-off as possible! With a good DSLR or higher-end prosumer, the high ISOs can help you get by for some nighttime snaps. And a monopod can help you push the shutter down to nearly 1 second in speed for when you need to pull in more light. A tripod will ultimately be best for night photography where you can leave the shutter open for many seconds and pull in the lush, saturated colors and lights and textures. Consider getting a small, portable tripod, or table-top style tripod, for when you don't want to lug around your full-size one. I have an old Vivitar tripod that when folded is 10" long and can fit in my camera bag, but can still extend to 48" when open - it is less stable than a full-size and won't support any mega-lenses, but works just fine for a standard camera body and is very convenient to bring along. If I don't feel like carrying the big tripod, I just slip the compact one in the overflap of my bag, where I have it if I need it.
i use velbon ultra luxif tripod. folds down nice and small and i can throw it in the bottom of the stroller when i am not using it. opens up nice and tall and holds a pretty good load. recommended.
I've only used a monopod for photographing Fantasmic! at DL. That's because I was taking pictures when the only IS lenses available were the: 75-300, 28-135 and the 300/2.8L. Of course the 300/2.8L IS was very expensive. So it really helped to allow the shutter speeds necessary back in the age of film and to hold up my ol' 200/2.8L I for 30 mins. And to keep the camera up when I was changing rolls of film. But I use the smaller Manfrotto/bogen travel tripod that will fit in a 21" suitcase for checking purpose, and it isn't that bulky to carry around with me in the park.
i just bought a lightweight bogen monopod and so far i like it. bought it mostly as i have some weakness/tremors in my hands and right now my rebel xt and 70-200 f4 lens is pushing the limit for me handheld but figured the monopod would help from it pushing me over the edge...also bought a new giotto mt tripod which i love for better stability( my little quantary 7yr old tripod wasn't doing it anymore ) evidently the giotto is attractive as i have had more people come up and comment on it ???
With tripod you can use it as monopod, but not the other way round. However, since I've bought the IS lenses (combined with ISO 1600), I only use my tripod for group shots where I'm part of it and fireworks.
i use tripods when i go to disney. the problem is carrying them. a traditional sized tripod is too big for a typical shoulder bag. but i have bought a "tabletop" tripod and i put them on garbage cans or even the floor and it gives maybe 12-16 inches of height. its very portable. i have also bought a half sized tripod so i get portability but i trade in height and sometimes it doesn't clear the fences. a good tabletop will satisfy you 90% of the nightshots. fireworks, just because you'll have no idea of where youre going to stand, probably is best with a full height tripod. i see people walk around with massive manfrotto tripods. i am always trying to balance "my" photography desires with my group's desire to go on rides and have a good time. ps. get yourself the remote shutter. if you have your camera on a tripod you don't want to be pushign the shutter, especially for longer shooting times.
I feel like I've used up my tabletop tripod. I've had enough wandering around Tomorrowland looking for trash cans and checking the view from each of them to see if it gave me a useful view of something. I need the flexibility of being able to pick the exact point that the picture will be taken from. Still I'm uncertain about the logistics of bring a tripod. I've NEVER done it before.. I have a tried and true system that involves a backpack (not a camera pack, but I've kind of turned it into one), and I just don't know what I would do with a tripod. I'm uncomfortable with trusting it on the airline baggage system (I've watched the baggage handlers, it's like they go out of their way to lift suitcases up before dropping them onto the conveyor belt up to the plane, and don't get me started on the x-ray machine I once saw that forcefully ejected bags out the back, shooting them into the air and letting them drop onto a rubber bumper located lower down).. sooner or later I'll have to do it, but I've been resisting so far.
ok dan, bite the bullet, get the velbon, and the pistol grip head, tim was right on the money on that choice, now it travels with me all the time, probably even to europe in may, just pack it into the checked bag wrapped in clothes, mine has survived every flight so far, you can't sweat all the little things, either it survives or not, old saying: it ain't my life and it ain't my wife, ain't nothin but a small thang gary
I took a full sized tripod on my last visit. The lockers are small enough to store it throughout the day while you enjoy rides/events etc. As long as you leave yourself a few extra minutes to retrieve it before sundown events you should be good to go. I carry a backpack style camera case, so I'm going to rig up a strapping device to hold the tripod for easier hauling.
