Best Monopod I have ever owned!
928338
This Pod is well built and will last a lifetime. A bit heavy but so is my gear and the weight helps me in steadying my Nikon D700 with a Nikon 200mm or longer telephoto lens and that includes a battery pack ta-boot. Truly a great Pod for better shots on the go! The fold out legs rattle a bit when stored inside the Pod but I fixed that with a very thin velcro strip wrapped around them. If you want the best, just get it!!

V/R

KMW
3294835
I've been a Manfrotto fanboy for a few years now where almost all my mounting gear is Manfrotto. Read a lot of great things about this monopod and everything has been fantastic! Such a great and useful tool.
96045
Well here is my reasoning:

I wanted to be able to take the head off my monopod and be able to use it on other gear (such as slider, whatever..). The first wedding I shot I used a basic tripod and I thought it was great but I still new it was a slight hassle being new to the industry. This monopod blows the tripod away. It is so fast and portable to move around and establish different shots. It is so quick to move to a different height, where as the tripod you have to unhinge 3 legs here its only one, big difference. The 3 claw feet at the bottom provide ample stabilization for the monopod and you are even able to leave it standing on its own if you find the center position of the ball head at the bottom (don't recommend you stepping away with your camera on it like that though).

The "Popping Issue" :

When I first got this I knew of this issue. So when I got it out of the box I played around with it and pulled hard and moved it around and I had no issue with any "popping." But....When I got to the wedding after some time it started to do the popping at some points when I would slightly pan with the monopod. Heres the fix: Grab one of those WD-40 pens and dab the ball joint at the bottom with that. It will work miracles. Don't get to liberal with the pen though. After that keep the pen your gear bag.

Another suggestion. Out of the box the monopod wasn't exactly "tightened" to my liking. I suggest tightening up those hex bolts on the ball joint a little tighter so your pans and movements when shooting aren't so erratic. <---My opinion.

Finally:

The 561BHDV-1 is around $300.00. This monopod (562B-1) and the MVH500AH fluid head were $327.00. The fluid head is great! I had the 502 head but I felt it was slightly too big for the monopod for me and I returned it and got the 500 which is sweet butter. So for the extra $27.00 I am able to have a fluid head I can use on other gear and I am able to choose my own head. Although the 562B-1 might actually come with the MVH500AH or the 701 I can't remember.
3425929
I only used this a couple of times and it's fantastic.  It allows me to get more stable shots when I need a slower shutter speed without Vibration Reduction (or Image Stabilization on the Canon systems).

This is very light and feels very durable as well.

The only thing I wish it came with is a fast release mount.  I hate having to screw the thing in and out each time.  I unscrew it as move to another location because I am not comfortable with screwing the camera + lens on and just carry it all and hoping the screw and the pod doesn't bend or break loose just yet.  $20 monopod.... carrying 5lbs of camera + lens..... I'll just unscrew it or get a fast release adapter for now. P:)
2969611
Its hard to find a cane/walking stick that doesnt collapse under your weight but this one really delivers.  No i am not a shill.  I really like this product.  As a photographer i'm always looking for a handy monopod.  This is adjustable easily and locks in place but also has a spring to absorb shock.  After getting mine I immediately ordered one for a friend for Christmas as it is a good product at a good price.  Really well done!
387414
ORDERED = 12/17/2015 || SELLER = Goodios || PAID = $44.95
(Beware of Seller changes! That's when you may get burned!)

:: PROS ::
1.) Arrived on-time and undamaged, included good zippered canvas bag.
2.) IMMEDIATELY upon holding the Monopod I knew it was good quality. (It's better then my similair model Manfrotto.)
3.) I have 3 Monopods, this is the best and the 2nd most expensive. (I have started regretting my more expensive monopod.)
4.) Feels good, foam is not 'cheap' foam, has a nice thickness.
5.) Highly recommend this to complete the set&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dolica-G100-Pistol-Grip-Head/dp/B00AB4DFH0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dolica G100 Pistol Grip Head</a>

:: MY COSTS ::
PAID :: $44.95 - 12/09/15 - Dolica WT-1010 61-Inch Monopod

 This is a great mono pod and feels 'Strong & Solid'.  It feels as good as it looks, I am very happy with this item.  The matching trigger head from Dolica adds an impressive look to the mono pod, little heavy, but stable & reliable!
2412182
I use this monopod with my Canon 400mm 2.8L II with 1.4x III TC and 6D with battery grip which makes for an extremely heavy setup, something close to 17lbs.  So it is important to have a light monopod to keep weight down where I can and this monopod is PERFECT.  Much better value than something from Gitzo or Manfrotto but rock solid stability even with close to 20lbs of gear.  Allows easy shoulder carry and handling is superb even in the clinch when trying to grab wildlife action, etc.  Leg extension is smooth and easy to control and the height is PERFECT for me at 5' 11".  I really like how you can loosen all legs in almost one simple motion and same with tightening after collapsing the legs.  Mounting platform is easy to work with and reversible mount sizes are perfect.  If you need a nice carbon monopod on a budget, you cannot get any better than this, especially for handling big heavy gear.
268580
There are fake and cheap flexible tripods out there and I have tried mulitple differed ones. I finally bit the bullet on this even though it was slightly higher in price, but the quality and how good it holds up in keeping the tension of the position you bend it in is well worth the money. I actually broke the display on one phone when I was using a cheap bendy tripod since it slipped forward, luckily I had a tempered glass screen protector on that phone and it did not break the display. So, I am a TRUE believer on these JOBY GorillaPods!!!
4485666
I (as of the time of this writing) own 3 Dolica tripods. Each is of varying price and quality. Of my set this one is hands down the best tripod I have ever seen for light to heavy duty. The quality of construction is really solid. The features and abilities are some of the best I have ever seen on a tripod at this price-point. Lets get to the features:

>> Quick attach for the bottom of your camera means within under a second you can detach your camera and put it back on perfectly lined up.
>> Built in spirit level (this is standard on low end tripods too but the one here is easy to use in all axis.
>> Full 360 swivel, fluid and smooth (great for panning)
>> Easy open legs and extentions
>> Quicky convert to monopod for sporting events and other fast location switching requirements
>> Light yet strong

Some minor complaints include:
- Sometimes several of the levels of attachment turn at the same time while rotating. This can cause it to come apart in the middle if you are not careful.
- When opening legs even fully unscrewed the legs can jam inside a little bit.

These are very minor problems that I have seen and do not thing its worth removing a star, just worth noting is all.

Overall I **LOVE** this tripod and would recommend it to anyone.

Thanks for reading my review.
3791491
I find this to be a sturdy, well-constructed monopod. In addition it is light and very portable.  I have been using this monopod for about 1 month now.  Setup using the flip levers is very quick.  I am 6 foot tall and the monopod puts my  camera precisely where it needs to be.  There has been no slippage of the extension tubes.  I am quite happy with this purchase.
540163
There are many monopods out there that you can buy. This one stands out for several reasons:

* Quality/Craftsmanship: It has elements of carbon fiber in the rod portion, so it has the strength of quality steel, but is lighter. Since this is made to last and to handle punishment, it has to be more sturdy and heavier than smaller, lower-quality monopods. It weighs about 1.5 pounds, so it's not too bad.
* Unique functionality: Although in essence it is a monopod, it can free-stand by way of three smaller rods which fan out from the bottom. However, in this mode, it is not made to handle a heavy load, and can only balance a camera with a compact, light lens, or say, a wireless flash, etc., and only on solid flat ground. On less than ideal ground, I don't recommend anything on top of it.
* Price: When new, it costs about $200 USD.

If you only want one monopod that can last you forever, and that you'll never have to get another, then I recommend this one. It might not be ideal for every situation because of its weight, but if that is not a key factor for you, then I would go as far as saying this is the best monopod I have ever used.
1877431
This is my most used camera accessory! It is well constructed, affordable and super versatile. It comes with a nice bag that has a pocket inside that you can store things like extra memory cards. My only small gripe is that the tripod legs do not tend to stay in their upright position. They lock into the down but not into the up. If they locked into the up this would have been perfect. It is still the best monopod with legs you can get for the money!!
4869711
I think I summed it all up in the title. I own 4 of these. They are indispensable. They a so much cheaper than all the other ones out there (that I know of). This has a grip that feels really gishmocke. It's sturdy and feels solid. I also own a slik monopod and I am unhappy with it. Besides for the fact that I spent so much more on it.
706770
Monopods should be in the arsenal for anyone who likes to do video - DSLR or otherwise. I won't go into why - chances are if you are looking at this product you already know the value of having one.

The local store I bought from (sorry Amazon!) did not have the twist lock, only the flip. To be honest, I'm glad. I prefer the functionality of the flip locks on the legs. The S4 head is pretty smooth. I can pan pretty nicely and with my lightweight setup it locks in place just fine. I would have preferred a positive lock instead of a tension but this works.

Initially the feet were really noisy when I angled the monopod around, but I was able to loosen the screws holding them down and now it is silent. It doesn't "stay" upright in place as well as if the feet were screwed in more tightly, however, so I would not trust this to stand alone.  I can sill balance the cam on it though, but my hands are ever hovering nearby just in case. If you're not careful, one little gust...bye bye 1000's of dollars of glass and capture device!

All in the all, the build quality is very good - better than I would expect for the price, as compared to the Bogen's excellent build quality and much higher price point. Time will tell, I haven't taken it up into the mountains yet and subjected it to the abuse my other gear gets. I may have to revise but so far, I very much recommend this tool!
3059394
This monopod is excellent and is my second one.  I bought the first one for a couple of years ago and have had no any problems at all with it.  I read the one bad review and it is always possible for a few bad ones to be shipped out, but there are many 5 star reviews on this item from satisfied customers.  One thing I do differently is use a head on the monopod.  The head makes it much easier to adjust your camera and without it, the monopod is not nearly as useful.  It also takes the stress off of the tripod screw in taking it off and on all the time.  I like it in that it is lightweight and strong at the same time and is plenty long when fully extended.  The Opteka is lightweight and strong enough to use it to extend the height of the camera way above the crowd to get the shot.  The legs work well, and the locks work in keeping the monopod tight and locked in without slipping.  The last point is the price.  The price is so inexpensive and the quality is there.  It is a no brainer for me.
1986397
super awesome! good quality! sturdy and the grip is good as well! if you investing on an expensive gopro please invest on a good monopod like this.
655319
I just recieved this wonderful monopod, very sturdy, well built & Strong. It is 21" when collapsed. I use it for my Nikon D90 with Sigma 50-500mm!!! it can manage the weight but you must always catch the camera and not just the monopod - because of the flexible rotated head -.

Overall, this is the best you can have with the price. I recommend it.

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