Monopods are Better than You Think

By: Robert Seagle

When starting out in Videography and acquiring gear, usually one of the first things people invest in, after their camera and lenses, is a good tripod. But what if I said depending on what you are shooting there is a better investment to start out with: The Monopod! While a somewhat basic piece of film gear, a monopod is highly versatile in many situations and a camera support that I personally use at least 85% more of the time over my tripod.

Monopod Types

Monopods can come in many different sizes and configurations. Some are just a simple telescoping leg while others are more focused for video have a pan/tilt head on them and feet on the bottom for extra stability. The latter is what I recommend for video. I personally own and love a Benro Monopod, but bands like Manfrotto and Sirui make very good ones a well. You can even find carbon fiber ones that are lighter than regular aluminum ones but at a higher cost.

Event Videography

While monopods are great general film tools, where they really shine is in event videography. A large amount of my freelance work is done filming weddings and on a wedding day I am using my monopod 90% of the time. It allows me to quickly set up and execute shots of any nature. An example of this would be filming bride prep on a wedding day. The place where a bride is getting ready can some times be a cramped, small hotel room or a tiny bridal suite at a venue. With a monopod I can get into tight places and get unique and interesting shots that a tripod simply could not. But this does not only apply to weddings. Monopods also shine in filming conferences or speeches in crowded areas where you need to move around to get a variety of shots. It lets you be mobile and take up less space while not sacrificing quality.

Versatility

With a good tripod head on your monopod you can get pans and tilts but that not all it can do. While we have talked about it’s mobility, monopods are also extremely versatile. Leaning a monopod forwards or backwards can emulate a slide shot. Go behind a pillar in a building and lean to the side for a great revealing shot of something. You can even attach a handheld gimbal to the top of a monopod and now you can get shots that look like you used a crane or a jib. While they may look simple you can get tons of uses out of a good monopod.