Today I received the Canon* EF 500mm f/4.0L IS…

[nicolas claris]

Bonjour Nill

after having tried the 500 mounted straight on the monopod… got seasick after 20 minutes! and very difficult to frame accurately.
So I went yesterday to my local dealer and I bought this Bogen Manfrotto 486RC2 for a try, not an expensive try anyway!

I'll post later if it does its work as expected.

Have a great day

Thanks all for your great advice and Bart for the latest infos about the RRS System.

I tried "in real world" the Bogen Manfrotto 486RC2.
It works but as others have predicted I need the friction brake.
I guess the BH-55 RRS with a quick release clamp is what I need, but phew! they don't give it!

Re. extra lubricating, I wonder if Teflon spray would do it...

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

I guess the BH-55 RRS with a quick release clamp is what I need, but phew! they don't give it!

That's correct. It costs a bundle, although when you also need other components from their system approach it's an investment for the rest of your life. Components build on each other and everything is really well thought through.

Re. extra lubricating, I wonder if Teflon spray would do it...

It's simpler than that, and it is described in the papers that come with the head. They recommend a little bit of fine machine oil on a rag and describe how to rub it on the ball. The caveat is that you'll never get the maximum gripping action back that's achievable with the non-lubricated ball. They strongly recommend to first 'break-in' the head before resorting to lubrication, there's no way back.

Bart

 

[John Harper]

EF 500mm F4L - Update on Ball head for Monopod

Thanks all for your great advice and Bart for the latest infos about the RRS System.

I tried "in real world" the Bogen Manfrotto 486RC2.
It works but as others have predicted I need the friction brake.
I guess the BH-55 RRS with a quick release clamp is what I need, but phew! they don't give it!

Re. extra lubricating, I wonder if Teflon spray would do it...

Hi Nicolas

I was wondering if you might update myself and others as to your experience with a ball head on your monopod for your 500mm lens.

Have you managed to find a combination that works for you. I am now fortunate enough to have one, and have been using it mainly handheld so that i can pan fast enough for aircraft and birds in flight shots.

A monopod is nice to take some of the weight and i have had some portrait shots of birds that were sharp at 1/160th of a second on the monopod, although the IS may have been the biggest factor.

I find i can handhold it for around 30-45 seconds before i need to lower it down to give my arms a rest and have been pleased with the shots i have had from it.

I would however be pleased to hear the comments from someone who uses it "in anger" so to speak to earn a living from, rather than the more occasional user like myself.

Regards


John

 

[nicolas claris]

Hi John
welcome to the long L lens owner's club!
I have tried several combination, as being on a boat shooting another one needs to hold longer than 45 secs!
The last ball head I tried showed me that it's the way to go but it was too weak and too small for the "break" to be efficient, I have ordered a new one which I would get this week.

Enjoy your new baby, it is really amazing!

[EDIT] Wrong link, here is the one I have ordered…

[EDIT]