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Thread ID: 51669 2004-11-26 22:15:00 A one legged tripod!!! Heather J (815) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
296801 2004-11-26 22:15:00 A family member has early stages of Parkinsons disease and her digital photos are starting to show the effects of her shaking, is there such a thing as a flexible 'one legged' tripod for her digital camera? She is very involved in a gardening discussion board and posts lots of photos, so it would need to be flexible for her to get down to her plants. Thanks Heather J (815)
296802 2004-11-26 22:19:00 Yes

You want a "monopod"
godfather (25)
296803 2004-11-26 22:20:00 What you're looking for is called a mono pod. You should be able to get one from any good camera shop. Spout (6433)
296804 2004-11-27 00:55:00 It depends on how low she needs to get (ie pansies height or dahlias!), but I am pretty sure some of those walking poles (one brand is Leki, another is Gabel) have provision for a camera fitting on the top. They are telescopic aluminium but they may not reduce to a low enough height. However, this would be a multi purpose solution if they were the right length - if a walking stick becomes necessary for balance.

You could check them out at a good tramping goods store like Bivouac etc.

PS I just checked the Leki www site and they don't say they have a camera mount, but the Gabel www site has one pole called the Traveller that does. It has a wooden knob on the top, rather than the moulded handle that is more common. Here are the dimensions:

T R AV E L L E R
(cm/in) L: 59-125 / 24-50
(gr/oz) W: 245/8,64

Here is the website: Gabel (www.gabel.net)
John H (8)
296805 2004-11-27 03:48:00 Monopods are relatively the same.
Try to get ones that are thicker stubbier legs as they balance better than the thin lighter weight more compact ones when folded down.

Try to avoid the cheap aluminium if you can, at least get hardened alum. I forget the name. Depending on what you are after you may want a monopod head unit on top. This lets the camera sit straight on but also allow it to be flipped to the side for portrait shots.
nomad (3693)
296806 2004-11-27 19:24:00 Thank you so much for your help. I think a few of the family will get together to buy one for a Christmas pressie. Heather J (815)
296807 2004-11-27 21:51:00 I have a 'Makalu antishock' made by Leki, www.leki.de
The ski type handle-grip screws off so the camera can screw on.
The length is adjustable.
I bought mine in a tramping/outdoor type shop.
Peter.
Peter (676)
296808 2004-11-27 22:04:00 >I have a 'Makalu antishock' made by Leki, www.leki.de

Ah, it just didn't say so on the www.leki.com website.

However, I did not look carefully enough before I posted - there are at least four models of Leki pole that have an integrated photo mount, in addition to the Makalu that Peter refers to. If you look at the National Geographic series you will see three of them. There is also the Sierra AS model, so you can basically get any style of handgrip that you want, including a trad walking stick style of handle.

Sorry for being slack with my first post.
John H (8)
296809 2004-11-27 23:43:00 Wouldn't holding a one legged tripod have the same "shaking" effect on a camera as not using a tripod?

Why not get a three legged one, they are as light as a one legged one.
Baldy (26)
296810 2004-11-28 01:35:00 The other useful stabiliser is a beanbag . Not the furniture type . :D Just a small bag filled with some granular stuff (wheat, beanbag polystyrene beads . . . ) .

Flop it in a table, wall, car bonnet, sit the camera on it, point and shoot .
Graham L (2)
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