It's all a matter of technique and discipline to stick to it. The monopod is but one leg of a tripod, the videographer supplies the other two legs. Got it?

Sebaz, is it possible that the "shakiness" was caused by the image stabilizer being enabled on your cam? If you are doing a pan with the stabilizer on, it will try to stabilize the shot until you move far enough that it will jerk to the next position. This is why camera manufacturers specify to turn the image stabilizer off if shooting from a tripod. I think it would be possible to get the same effect if you panning with a monopod.

/jerry

Jerry, you might have a point there, but I think it's mostly that it's a very difficult thing to use. It seems it requires a lot of practice, but even if I got that practice, I found it annoying in other ways. For example, I kept kicking it when I walked even a little bit. Then, even though I bought a head for it to have tilting capabilities, I found that tilting with a monopod is very different to tilting with a tripod, and I just didn't like it.

That same night, at the wedding party, I didn't use the monopod, I only used handheld with a consumer camera (Canon HD100) and the footage was far better than the footage from the wedding. I think the motion stabilizer works much better (and is probably designed that way) when you have the camera on your hand, and the motion stabilizer doesn't work that well when the shaky movement is only horizontal and not in every direction.

Now, monopod aside, I remembered after my original post about Deshaker, so I gave it a try, although it involves loading the footage in Virtual Dub, but I could not believe how good the results were, although just in three minutes that I exported. It's like day and night. All the shakiness is gone. I thought it might be OK, but not so good. So now I'm rendering another chunk to see if it's so good in other type of footage with more motion in the frame.

Hello Sebaz,
don't overlook the new stabilizer from New Blue ... they have a free trial so you can compare it to others you might try...

I like it ... it's doing just fine for the tettering and jittering I might occasionally create on the tripod shots ... it won't provide much help on footage shot handheld with deliberate blair witch project motion and panning techniques. . . (grin) I'm not sure anything will help that sort of commotion.

I've also used my tripod with the legs folded up as an overhead crane at times ... I often wonder how a monopod might work - since the tripod gets heavy very quickly holding it over my head. . . (sigh)

Give it a try and let us know how it works for you...

Until that time. . . Earl J.

Manfrotto makes a 'Self Standing Monopod"

http://www.manfrotto.com/product/0/682B/_/Self_Standing_Monopod_Black

It takes some getting used to like any monopod but if you fold out the legs on this one it does have a soft fluid panning ability, better than just a plain vanilla monopod.

I like shooting live music concerts with a monopod so I can get a steadier shot than hand holding, and I can keep walking around and keep shooting as the action changes.

If the audience stands up I open the LCD screen and lift the monopod above the heads and keep shooting while bracing the length of the monopod against my body.

Its saved the ending of many a song from getting blocked by folks who stand up at the end which can totally wreck a good video up to that point~

Eileen

Tip. Leave your camera on the tripod when you move. A tripod with a mid level speader will collapse very quickly, just pull the spreader up and hoist tripod and camera over shoulder. Having solid legs and big camera helps. Take rubber feet off tripod, those exposed spikes are great for clearing a path through the crowd.
Generally best to do this with rented or network's kit :)

Bob.

Don't throw your monopod away just yet. Try this:
1. Find an old butt pack. Turn it around so the bag hangs in the front, just below your belt.
2. Rig a strap to the top of your monopod, so you can hang it around your neck.
3. Collapse the monopod down and stick the bottom end in the butt pack, so the weight is supported by the pack.
4. Set the tilt head so the camera is level, and the monopod forms a triangle with your arm, the butt pack and your body.

Voila! You now have a very effective Steady-Stick-style mobile stabilizer at a fraction of the cost of a commercial model. You can walk without tripping, and you'll find that if you pull down slightly on your right arm, you can get very stable results.

Just ignore any "phallic" jokes you might get.

Just ignore any "phallic" jokes you might get.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!

Joke aside, I will try your suggestion.

If you're willing to spend a little more money, this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=manfrotto+361&N=0&InitialSearch=yes
is a worthwhile addition.

A monopod is useful as a sort of low angle steadycam.
Shoot with the business end of the monopod and camera upside down.
Flip it right side up in post.
Have also used the monopod fully extended to shoot down,--a kind of poor man's jib arm.
An elastic band is part of that technique, a large and very strong one.
Also, at my age, the monopod makes a heck of a walking stick a the end of a long shoot!