Monopod support for Swarovski STC (1 Viewer)

[grackle314]

Thanks to the several ideas from forum members, a monopod was obtained for use with the new Swarovski STC. Here are some of my experiences.

A Sirui P-424FL Professional Modular Monopod was purchased for US$177. I ordered the longer monopod so the total pole length could be above my 180 cm standing eye height since angling of the pole would be needed. I measure the P-424FL at 200 cm maximum height to mounting plate with tripod foot base closed on tiptoe, 197 cm maximum with tripod foot on first stop, and minimum height of 13 cm when using the mounting plate on the tripod base with pole removed. The pole comes with tripod base which may be converted to single point ground contact via a rubber stop or a metal spike. The P-424FL monopod leg has three adjustable quick release sections of carbon fiber, thinnest section is 2.5 cm outer diameter. Total mass is about 1.2 kg.

There is a quick-release mounting plate quick release to the monopod pole and separate quick release of the scope. The mounting plate also fits to the quick release tripod base when using in prone position, hence the 13 cm minimum height. At the top of the pole is a hand strap (helpful for avoiding dropping the pole) and also a variable tightness collar for allowing rotation of mounting plate on the pole with resistance set by tightness. Completely tight holds the rotation rigidly. At the bottom there is a screw for variable tightness on the panning angle, roughly 36 degrees tilt with all three tripod legs on ground. While the monopod may be tightened for vertical standing alone, angular offset or bump would be potentially disastrous. To avoid accidental release and drop of the STC, I use the hand strap on the pole with my right hand while having the STC strap around my neck, a bit of redundant protection. Sirui provide a quick release mounting screw ¼ and 3/8, the 3/8 fits better with less wobble when fastened to the mounting plate release mechanism.

The STC was purchased after sampling both the angled ATC and the straight STC at my local Southern California online dealer Optics4Birding which also has a showroom convenient for me. For my purposes the STC is quicker to get onto a bird as the aiming with my eye is easier using a straight scope than angled. The choice between STC and ATC depends on several personal usage factors, I went with STC along with intention to be standing straight up most of the time when using it. I also wanted a lighter monopod compared to the tripod I use with the Swarovski ATX/BTX 115.

When using the Sirui P-424FL to view birds on the ground on an island 100 m away from my shore position, the adjustment of pole length with tripod foot attached allowed a quick, comfortable angled position with medium-tight panning and rotation with steady viewing across full range of magnification from 17x to 40x. It was a pleasure to watch Caspian Terns with the parenting activities and the great social cacophony these birds bring. It was easy to move the view along the island edge horizontally and easy to find birds on the water near the island. For birds on the water it was easiest to find them first with 17x and then increase magnification as desired all the way up to 40x. At 100 m it was trivial to tell apart the Clark’s and Western Grebes.

For a pair of great egrets circling in the sky, going to 17x first was required and going above 25x was problematic for staying on either bird.

Going now to a creek where my observing was from 50 to 200 m with a downward elevation drop of about 10 m overall to the creek, I found again easy comfort on angling the monopole and sighting terns, ducks, and coots. Along came a Black Skimmer with beak into the water near the close edge of the creek, onto this bird quickly at 17x gave a fun closeup of the meal gathering attempt. The bird has quite the agility to let the lower beak catch underwater objects slightly without yanking the head too much and crashing. When watching the creek from this elevated position, the full range of 17x to 40x was comfortable and stable to my eyes. This stability is due to holding the STC at the forward focusing ring with my right hand while my left hand has the magnification ring adjustment and my eye (right or left) has the eyeglass pressed against the slightly raised eyecup of the ocular. The STC ocular has an adjustable eyecup which works well for my glasses. When I took the tripod foot off the monopod (noticeably lighter now) and used the rubber point on the ground, the STC was usable only from 17x to 25x in my hands. The rotational degree of freedom for the monopod without tripod foot was unacceptable for vibration above 25x in my usage. Forum members who urged a stable footing for a monopod were spot on with their awareness, thanks!

 

[4John]

Total mass is about 1.2 kg.

The rotational degree of freedom for the monopod without tripod foot was unacceptable for vibration above 25x in my usage. Forum members who urged a stable footing for a monopod were spot on with their awareness, thanks!

grackle314,

I have used a straight Nikon ED50 on a monopod as my main scope for over 10 years and concur with your experiences. Whilst 1.2kg for a "monopod' maybe better than your tripod, you can do a lot better. You need to try a 'normal' monopod around 0.4 to 0.6kg with a simple lightweight fold down foot like this to really reap the benefits :



This is a a much cheaper, simpler and lighter solution than a tripod foot. Often the friction of the foot on grass is all you need to stop the monopod twisting to allow you to use up to say 30x magnification. If you put your foot on the foot 40X magnification is perfectly usable. You also soon get used to lifting your foot slightly to allow the monopod foot to slide on the ground as you pan the scope.

 

[grackle314]

Hello 4John, thanks for ideas in your reply. On seeking a "test" monopod, I looked for something which met all the geometrical characteristics of the suggestions from forum member earlier on this topic along with needing pretty tall maximum height and looking for new product. The height issue is because my lack of familiarity with the needed body bending and monopole angle meant that something overly long would work. The Sirui unit has variable extension up to the max so that flexibility is good. It also was about the only one I could find with sufficient maximum height and something at the bottom which would eliminate rotation wobble.

The Sirui unit can have a rotation freedom with specified resistance, I think that matches your foot and pedal issue which works similarly with the foot lifted slightly. Probably practice makes your foot pedal solution simpler and lighter than the Sirui unit.

The Sirui P-424FL on my home scale separates out approximately as 1.2 kg total = 0.7 kg monopod + 0.5 kg tripod foot.

There were not many monopods with maximum height over 180 cm available. And I found none with the simple foot pedal in your picture. Can anyone point me towards a solution closer to 4John photo? In the meantime, I'm pleased with the flexible and stable action of the Sirui P-424FL for the STC used when I am standing straight up.

 

[etudiant]

grackle314,

I have used a straight Nikon ED50 on a monopod as my main scope for over 10 years and concur with your experiences. Whilst 1.2kg for a "monopod' maybe better than your tripod, you can do a lot better. You need to try a 'normal' monopod around 0.4 to 0.6kg with a simple lightweight fold down foot like this to really reap the benefits :

View attachment 1588812

This is a a much cheaper, simpler and lighter solution than a tripod foot. Often the friction of the foot on grass is all you need to stop the monopod twisting to allow you to use up to say 30x magnification. If you put your foot on the foot 40X magnification is perfectly usable. You also soon get used to lifting your foot slightly to allow the monopod foot to slide on the ground as you pan the scope.

Hi John,
This seems like the solution I've been searching for, a monopod with a lightweight foot. Please tell us who makes it and where it can be bought.

 

[4John]

grackle314 and etudiant,

The only one I have ever been able to find off-the-shelf is one of these :

New 70" Pan Head Tilt Travel Monopod Adjustable Digital Camera Lightweight Stand | eBay

If you, or anyone else reading this post can find anything else that's similar please let me know.

I bought one over 10 years ago, but the link above is current. The same thing is available worldwide with different brand names, one of which is Konig. If you Google "monopod footrest" and use the image search you should get the right hits. IMO the concept is perfect, and it's very light, simple and pretty cheap. The problem is that the holes in the bottom section of the monopod that the foot rotates in are a little larger than the diameter of the bent metal foot. This means you have to keep the monopod twisted slightly to take up the slack/slop. It also has a pan and tilt head I have no use for that can't be removed and replaced with a standard quick release plate holder. I got fed up with that and designed and made my own adaptor to attach the foot to a Velbon RUP4 monopod :



The body is made of wood because it's easy to work, cheap to prototype, and only requires basic tools. It's also ideal for 3D printing if you are able to generate the right files. The metal inserts are designed to be threaded into wood. The front bolt clamps the body onto the 20mm diameter bottom section of the monopod and the rear metal threaded inserts are drilled out to 6mm which fits the bent metal foot perfectly and makes a rudimentary bearing. The sides of the bent metal foot are held together with a zip tie. There is no slack/slop in this arrangement.

 

[4John]

grackle314 and etudiant,

The only one I have ever been able to find off-the-shelf is one of these :

New 70" Pan Head Tilt Travel Monopod Adjustable Digital Camera Lightweight Stand | eBay

If you, or anyone else reading this post can find anything else that's similar please let me know.

I bought one over 10 years ago, but the link above is current. The same thing is available worldwide with different brand names, one of which is Konig. If you Google "monopod footrest" and use the image search you should get the right hits. IMO the concept is perfect, and it's very light, simple and pretty cheap. The problem is that the holes in the bottom section of the monopod that the foot rotates in are a little larger than the diameter of the bent metal foot. This means you have to keep the monopod twisted slightly to take up the slack/slop. It also has a pan and tilt head I have no use for that can't be removed and replaced with a standard quick release plate holder. I got fed up with that and designed and made my own adaptor to attach the foot to a Velbon RUP4 monopod :

View attachment 1589162

The body is made of wood because it's easy to work, cheap to prototype, and only requires basic tools. It's also ideal for 3D printing if you are able to generate the right files. The metal inserts are designed to be threaded into wood. The front bolt clamps the body onto the 20mm diameter bottom section of the monopod and the rear metal threaded inserts are drilled out to 6mm which fits the bent metal foot perfectly and makes a rudimentary bearing. The sides of the bent metal foot are held together with a zip tie. There is no slack/slop in this arrangement.

Further to my post above, I kept the monopod that I pointed to above, which I bought 10 years ago and from which I took the fold down foot. I have now had another look at it, and contrary to what I said above, the pan and tilt head simply pulls off and leaves a plastic "stump". This can be removed from the top tube of the monopod after undoing 3 screws and the top sawn off to leave a flat surface with a hole in the middle to which a Q/R plate holder can be bolted. The holes in the bottom tube are c. 6.5mm diameter. These can be drilled out enough so that nylon shoulder or "top hat" washers with a 6mm inside diameter can be pushed in to act as a bearing. The 6mm bent metal foot can then go into the nylon washers. I haven't tried it, but I think it's a workable solution. It may even be possible to screw in the threaded fittings I used in the adaptor I described above. As this is the only off-the-shelf monopod with a single fold down foot I can find, and it's pretty cheap, some cheap and simple mods to make it usable may be worthwhile. I am happy to share more details if anyone is interested.

 

[Hermann]

There were not many monopods with maximum height over 180 cm available.

But you can use a tripod extension. Sirui, for instance, makes two different models, both in carbon fibre, for instance the SL-200: Zweiteilige Mittelsäule aus Kohlefaser. Works nicely on shortish monopods and tripods.

Hermann

 

[Hermann]

The best monopod I ever found is the Monostat with its big rubber foot. Works very well indeed with any scope, up to about 35x magnification. It was the monopod used by sports photographers for their long telephoto lenses.

Unfortunately the Swiss company that made it went out of business. But in Germany you can still easily find them on Ebay Kleinanzeigen, often at pretty low prices.

Hermann

 

[flatfield]

The best monopod I ever found is the Monostat with its big rubber foot. Works very well indeed with any scope, up to about 35x magnification. It was the monopod used by sports photographers for their long telephoto lenses.

I second that. My Monostat RS16SL (extra-long) works perfectly with my spotting scope. I still get a very comfortable view at 45x magnification.

 

[Montereyman]

I bought the ifootage Cobra 2 A150S that can be extended with a simple twist of the top grip. Much easier than adjusting the individual sections and it has a detachable base with three legs that fold down. I need more height with subject off the ground and this monopod makes this fast and easy to do.

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

My STC goes with the RRS MC-34 monopod. Doing a lot of raptor watching I need a straight scope to find the birds easily. It's also much more stable since you press the eye cup against your head. Then there is a force 'pushing forward' which reduces the rotation.

One hand is in the wrist strap, pushing down, that also gives extra stability. The other hand is resting on the monopod. With my index finger I can use the focus ring. This is my best way to get a stable view, it may be different for others.

The STC is directly connected to the monopod. Transport is much easier without the extra head because even lightweight heads are relatively heavy compared to the monopod. Besides, you don't need it. Simply turn and push forward/backward. When a bird is right above you, just lift the whole monopod, happens maybe once a day.

For standard use, on paved roads 25x magnifation is the maximum. However as soon there is some sand, mud, gravel, you can put the monopod in a small hole. The rubber ball foot is ideal for that. When panning you lift it up, that goes automatically after a while. This way 35x and even 40x are usable. It takes some effort though, you get tired after half an hour.

For longer periods of watching I connect the monopod to everything that's available: trees, benches, poles, fences, signs etc. For that you need a large clamp and magic arm stuff. It works, preferences will be different for everyone but you don't need the heavy tripod. A lightweight tilt-pan head on the monopod is enough. The clamp, magic arm and head are heavier than the monopod itself. But at least it's a choice. With just the monopod you still have a good view.