Buy Now...

click image to enlarge

Manfrotto Monopod MMC3-02

Even those with a minimal knowledge will have heard of a tripod that is designed to hold a camera steady for a tricky shot either for the distance, the zoom or just for lack of light, sometimes however there is no room for a tripod.

That is where a monopod can help, in its basic form it is a stick with a screw at one end to attach your camera to.

This offering from Manfrotto in its fully collapsed form is 38cm long. The top 10cm is a rubberised handle and there is an adjustable wrist strap to enable easy transportation when not in a camera bag, this even in this form can provide a sound base.

See also: Accessories

more

There are a total of four telescopic sections that can be extended separately (by any amount) up to a maximum of 1.46metres, unless you are really tall that should suit most people and the beauty is only a single footprint.

Even a small tripod requires a good amount of space to be deployed a monopod requires almost no extra space.

Having a decent monopod means that even when sitting you can adjust the extension to get a comfortable eye level and of course for those ‘arty’ shots you can tilt the monopod while the rubber oval foot still has a good grip.

The foot is oval at 1.5x1cm and gave a solid feel. There is even a push on cap for the screw fitting no doubt to satisfy the health and safety zealots but it does make the wrist strap fell even more comfortable when it is fitted.

The Manfrotto Compact Monpod MMC3-02 is available from shops or I found it online at the link below for £19.95 with free delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0049SZA9U?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/product/8374.76909.83527.0.0/MMC3-02/_/COMPACT_MONOPOD_GREY

click image to enlarge

Manfrotto Pocket Series for DSLR

While the monopod takes up little space sometimes carrying a 38cm piece of aluminium is not possible and this pocket unit will fit easily –strangely enough- in a pocket.

When I say small I mean small fully collapsed it is 8x5x1cm and it weights only 60grams, that is both small and light.

With its three legs evenly deployed it becomes 3cm tall so a small to mid sized DSLR unit can be supported. Yes raising it 3cm is not a lot but if say you have an uneven surface such as a rough wall each of the feet move independently so this can give a more stable footing for you to shoot from.

There is an even smaller unit for those who use a pocket camera but I did try a couple with this unit and they were secured by it. Each foot has a sprung control and the tripod screw can move 1.5cm forward or backwards from its central position.

The Manfrotto Pocket Series for DSLR MP3-D02 is available from shops of from the link below for £25.54 with free delivery, the same company also does the smaller (pocket camera) one for £18.37.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0049SXAU6?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/product/8374.84752.83536.0.0/MP3-D01/_/POCKET_SUPPORT_LARGE_BLACK