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I do have a monopod ... I guess you can travel with it if it's under a certain size?
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We travel with carry-ons plus one checked bag, so I have never tried to carry my monopod on board. My guess is that it would be challenged at least occasionally because it looks like a club.
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maybe I do need a quick - release but I have absolutely no clue what they are or what they do
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They allow you to quickly attach and remove your cameras from monopods, tripods, etc. There is a plate that goes onto each camera and a socket that goes onto the monopods and tripods. You put the plate in the socket, which clamps the camera in place. I use a cheap QHD41Q ball head from Velbon. It has their QRA-3 socket. See:
Lineup of Head of Velbon The ball is quite sticky for small camera movements. This would not be acceptable on a tripod, but on a monopod you can make small movements by tilting and turning the monopod, so IMHO a small/cheap ball is acceptable.
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absolutely no clue ... what to look for
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For me the critical feature is that when the plate is inserted in the socket, the clamp lever must automatically capture the plate. A less-important but not-to-be-ignored feature adds a two-step release to the thumb lever so it can't be bumped against something, open, and release your camera. The Velbon does not have the safety release, but Gitzo (
Gitzo Quick release off-center ball head - off centre heads for example) and Manfrotto (
Manfrotto RC2 Rapid Connect Adapter with 200PL-14 Plate - Plate Adapters) have this feature. (Arca-Swiss plates are kind of the industry standard, but all the sockets seem to require that the plate be slid into place and a clamping screw then be tightened. This would not work for me. See:
Kirk Enterprises : Universal Quick Release Clamps)
7Thanks
) or what to look for etc.
