Unipods/Monopods

[volks]

This is direct from Nikon.

The Vibration Reduction technology built into some Nikon lenses or the COOLPIX 8800 can reduce or eliminate vibration during shooting. When the camera is on a tripod there will be very little (if any) movement so the question arises if VR should be used or not.

There are two techniques when using a camera/lens mounted on a tripod; keeping the pan/tilt head loose or fluid (when panning or moving with a subject) and keeping the pan/tilt head locked down and rigid while using a cable release (time exposures or for the new HDR techniques).

With the following lenses/cameras VR should be “Off” when the camera is mounted on a tripod and the pan/tilt head is locked down and using a cable release:

105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro Nikkor
18-200mm f3.5-5.6 ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
70-200mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR AF Zoom-Nikkor
70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
Coolpix 8800
With the following lenses/cameras VR should be “On” when the camera is mounted on a tripod and the pan/tilt head is loose (fluid) while using the cameras shutter release button:

105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro Nikkor
18-200mm f3.5-5.6 ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
70-200mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR AF Zoom-Nikkor
70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
Coolpix 8800
Nikon VR technology in the following lenses can detect minute vibrations that emanate from tripod legs.With the following lenses VR can be “On” when the camera is mounted on a tripod for either technique:

200-400mm f4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
200mm f2G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor
300mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor
For all lenses VR should be “On” when the camera/lens is used on a monopod.

[Franglais]

...
For all lenses VR should be “On” when the camera/lens is used on a monopod...

That's interesting. I think that I'm going to have to try it out one day.

[Franglais]

Edit: I have a day off and it's a nice dull day. I did the camparison with a 70-300VR at 135mm 1/30 f8 on the D800, Manfrotto 190DB tripod and 479B Monopod extended to shoulder height. Each time I did three identical shots and chose the best one out of the three.

These are screen captures from a 100% view of the center of the RAW image on Lightroom

1. Hand-held no VR
2. Hand-held VR
3. Monopod no VR
4. Monopod VR
5. Tripod with mirror lockup

I never realised before but the view in the viewfinder when using a monopod is much more stable with VR on that with it turned off.

BTW I spent months doing this sort of test on the D800. If you want to get the maximum out of the thing then you have to use perfect technique (Tripod and mirror lockup). But most of the time - you don't need that much detail anyway

[Loupey]

A monopod is indispensable to me - I have 2 and I use them far more than all my tripods combined (I have 4 or 5 of those).

I use my monopods to shoot macros (300mm + extension tubes), telephotos (500mm and 300mm+2xTC), and sports (70-200mm zoom with and without 2xTC).

I always leave my lens stabilizer "ON" when using a monopod.


Lastly, since I hike alone, I carry my monopod like a staff and keep people from thinking I am an easy theft target. It also makes a great walking stick.