Hiking poles with camera mount - opinions?

[ChrisLilley]

I have a dodgy knee and have been told that a hiking pole will help, especially going downhill over rough ground. I know that some can also work as a monopod, so I am looking for recommendations and to hear people's experience with them.

It needs to work well as a hiking stick, and should preferably work well as a monopod as well. (In other words, a monopod that "might work as" a treking pole is not what I am looking for).

leki is one option (but only seems to ship to US and Canada).

I'm also not sure how tall these go and it its even workable as a monopod (I'm quite tall).
_________________
Camera (ˈkæ mə rə), n. Device for taking pictures in bright light
There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t. Key: Ai-P, Ai, Ais, Ai'ed, pre-Ai
Camera: Nikon D40, DK-21M eyepiece, ML-3 remote MF lenses: Nikkor 20mm f/4 non-AI | Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AiS late model | Арсенал (Arsenal) Мир-24Н (Mir-24N) 35mm f/2 | Cosina Voigtländer Ultron SL II 40mm f/2.0 | Nikkor-S.C 50mm f/1.4 non-AI | Nikon 50mm f/1.8 E | Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AiS | Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron) 70-210 f/3.5 | Zoom-Nikkor 80-200 f/4.5 Ai | Nikkor 135mm f/2.8, Ai'ed 1976 model | Арсенал (Arsenal) ТЕЛЕАР-Н (Telear-n) 200mm f/3.5 | Nikkor 300 mm f/4.5 Ai (full equipment list)

[bob955i]

From Speed Graphic in the UK:

Gitzo Mono-Trek @ ?85

http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=4272&1=Gitzo+G1560+Monotrek+Monopod

Exped Viewfinder @ ?25

http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=7285&1=Exped+Viewfinder+Trekking+Pole

[Jesito]

[ChrisLilley]

[j.lukow]

I don't know if they ship to the UK, but Lee Valley sells parts for walking sticks including 1/4 x 20 screw for camera mount.

If you don't like anything available - cause size is all wrong, I might be able to help you out as I deal with them regularly, I have an extensive shop, including a lathe . . .

Jim
_________________
Jim's Kit:
Minolta Kit: Minolta X70 & Autowinder G, Minolta SRT200
LENSES:Minolta - 45mm & 50mm F1:2, PF 58mm F1:1.4,
Tamron 28mm f1:2.5, Tamron SP 35-80mm f1:2.8/3.8 & CF TeleMacro zoom 80-210 f1:3.8,
Vivitar f3.0~4.5 35-200mm macro focusing zoom, f 2.8 28mm CF Wide angle, 2x macro focus teleconverter,
Sigma F4 25-250, f 2.8~4 35-70mm zoom master,
Tokina SD f4-5.6 70-210 zoom, f4.5 80-200 "Ultra" zoom,
AutoImage 135mm F1:2.8, Spiratone 400mm f1:6.3, Magicon f3.5-4.8 35-70mm macro zoom,Accura MD mount Macro bellows
Start of M42 Kit:Praktica PLC2,Yashica TL Electro X
LENSES:Meyer Goerlitz Oreston 50mm f1:1.8 ,
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Zeiss . . .
Zeiss Contaflex 126 system
Zeiss Contaflex Super

Other gear - Gossen Luna-Pro

[Seymore]

Chris... about 2 years ago I came across a local vendor who made walking sticks from natural wood, but they were only about 5' tall. The sticks were about $150, and for about $20 more he had an option of adding a 1/4-20 thread and a screw on wooden ball.

Now, I can only hope that I see him again somewhere this summer as my knees are also beginning to suffer a bit and I believe I'll be in the same boat shortly. I also believe it would be really nice to have something with a bit more character than a metal stick...

But I'm also thinking that 5' would not be tall enough, being I'm 6'2". But I also then have to remember that when you're out in the bush, anything (even only 5') is clearly better than nothing at all...
_________________
Seymore...
- smugmug

"One axiom I discovered proved to be of great value: the client seldom, if ever, knows exactly what he wants from the photographer. However, his pride does not allow him to give you any such ridiculous impression. The desire and need for interpretative work is usually uninformed and the client often looks to the professional for guidance in this respect.
Ansel Adams - An Autobiography

[Seymore]

[Jesito]

Hi Chris,
Don't know if you already got your hiking pole, I found that in Decathlon sports retail shops they sell a hicking pole (with a "widia" point) that has already a screw compatible with the heads in the market, the brand is QECHUA, and model DIOSAZ 500 "Photo comfort", it's 34€.





Jes.
_________________
Jesito's backsack:
Zooms Sigma 18-200, Tamron 35-135 and 70-210 short, 70-210 long, 28-70 CF Macro (Adaptall)
Fixed CZJ Planar 50mm 1.7, Helios 44-2, Cosinon 28mm, CZJ Sonnar 135, Industar-61, Jupiter-9, Industar-50, CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8
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Compact Digital Caplio GX100, Aiptek Slim 3000, Canon Powershot 520


Life is that boring wasted time in between two pictures

[ChrisLilley]

Jes, thanks for the pointer! And for confirming that this model has a photo thread, since the decathlon website makes no mention of such a thing for the Diosaz 500
http://fr.decathlon.com/diosaz-500-nw_117_268077.htm

although a different model, the Arpenaz 500, is mentioned as having a photo thread
http://fr.decathlon.com/arpenaz-500-photo-comfort_117_36657.htm

I will have a look at them, there is a Decathlon shop on the outskirts of Nice reachable by train from where I live.
_________________
Camera (ˈkæ mə rə), n. Device for taking pictures in bright light
There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t. Key: Ai-P, Ai, Ais, Ai'ed, pre-Ai
Camera: Nikon D40, DK-21M eyepiece, ML-3 remote MF lenses: Nikkor 20mm f/4 non-AI | Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AiS late model | Арсенал (Arsenal) Мир-24Н (Mir-24N) 35mm f/2 | Cosina Voigtländer Ultron SL II 40mm f/2.0 | Nikkor-S.C 50mm f/1.4 non-AI | Nikon 50mm f/1.8 E | Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AiS | Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron) 70-210 f/3.5 | Zoom-Nikkor 80-200 f/4.5 Ai | Nikkor 135mm f/2.8, Ai'ed 1976 model | Арсенал (Arsenal) ТЕЛЕАР-Н (Telear-n) 200mm f/3.5 | Nikkor 300 mm f/4.5 Ai (full equipment list)

[ChrisLilley]

[ChrisLilley]

[Seymore]

[ChrisLilley]

[ChrisLilley]

I now have a Manfrotto 484RC2 ballhead on one of these sticks. It supports up to a 4kg load and the weight is not too bad. The 482 was too flimsy, with a load of only 2kg; the 486 is huge and unbalances the stick.

Gitzo magnesium models were twice the price and with less choice of sizes.

I got two qr plates, one for the camera and one for the 300mm from Richard, which will hopefully arrive tomorrow.
_________________
Camera (ˈkæ mə rə), n. Device for taking pictures in bright light
There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t. Key: Ai-P, Ai, Ais, Ai'ed, pre-Ai
Camera: Nikon D40, DK-21M eyepiece, ML-3 remote MF lenses: Nikkor 20mm f/4 non-AI | Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AiS late model | Арсенал (Arsenal) Мир-24Н (Mir-24N) 35mm f/2 | Cosina Voigtländer Ultron SL II 40mm f/2.0 | Nikkor-S.C 50mm f/1.4 non-AI | Nikon 50mm f/1.8 E | Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AiS | Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron) 70-210 f/3.5 | Zoom-Nikkor 80-200 f/4.5 Ai | Nikkor 135mm f/2.8, Ai'ed 1976 model | Арсенал (Arsenal) ТЕЛЕАР-Н (Telear-n) 200mm f/3.5 | Nikkor 300 mm f/4.5 Ai (full equipment list)

[peterqd]