All the talk on photo.net seems to be about tripods. Does anyone out there know if there is a standard setup used by photographers doing football games - - monopod and quick release set up? I'm using an N90s and 300 f4 for my college games. I know all "good things" don't come cheap, but what do the pros use? Thanks

-- Mike (michael.kear@ey.com), October 13, 1998

Answers

I don't know what "the pros" use, but I use a Gitzo 1564 with a Bogen 3232 Tilt head and a Really Right Stuff B-2 clamp (for Arca-Swiss- style mounting plates). This is perfect for lenses with tripod collars--tilt the head for up-down, pivot the monopod for side to side and rotate the lens for vertical or horizontal. Much less fiddly than a ballhead, much more flexible than no head. It handles my 300/2.8 AF- S with TC-20E easily.

The Really Right Stuff catalog shows you how to put this together. Call 805-528-6321 and feel free to mention my name.

-- Danny Weber (danny_weber@compuserve.com), October 14, 1998.

Mike, I also use the Gitzo monopod with the RRS arca style quick release plate. I do not use the bogen swivel but just tilt the monopod. I do this for several reasons, I use the combo with an F5 and 300/2.8, 400/2.8 or 600/4 and the swivel puts too much play into the system in my opinion, especially if yu are moving quickly down a sideline or going from kneling to standing and back. The extra stability given by the quick release plate (arca style) is very good as compared to just screwing the pod into the lens collar. I did not believe Brian Geyer of RRS when he said I would not go back once I used this set-up but he was right. The QR plate makes changing faster as well. I have used this setup for pro tennis, college football and basket ball and college and olympic swimming. Works great.

Good shooting

-- Petr Bick (Bick@iquest.net), January 14, 1999.