I Tried The Best Monopod Ever Made on Nikon Z6 III (Fotopro X Airfly Mono)

Today I finally try the best monopod ever made. Using the Nikon Z6 III with the TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 lens. Can the Fotopro X-Airfly Monopod save us from shaky footage? Is it easy to use out in the wild? Is this setup better than my Nikkor 600mm f6.3?
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Fotopro sent me the monopod to review for free
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[@cameraconspiracies]

If you buy today's gear through my affiliate links, you'll have a stick to fend off Bigfoot. I'll post B&H links when they become available. Those Fotopro links aren't even affiliate links. Thank you for your Bitcoin donations :) bc1qacvd72s9565hpat4jueeultha3qvrv4kznyl3f Fotopro sent me the monopod to review for free www.fotopro.com/product/x-airfly-mono/ MH-2A head bhpho.to/4bF5DeQ www.fotopro.com/product/mh-2a/ Nikon Z6 III amzn.to/3W1SbMd or bhpho.to/3zcpKmV TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (Nikon Z) amzn.to/4eKNgb2 TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (Nikon F) amzn.to/3VGKYBb TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (Canon RF) amzn.to/3zhGZmW TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (Canon EF) amzn.to/4cmLCL6 TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (Sony E) amzn.to/4eJ2fST TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (Fuji GFX) amzn.to/3L4BiLW TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (Fuji X) amzn.to/4bldxK9 TTArtisan 500mm f6.3 (L mount) amzn.to/4bq7t3c All my gear and recommended products can be found in my affiliate shop, thanks for shopping around! www.amazon.com/shop/vegetablepolice

[@ck-mi5jj]

The frog footage looked like something from Planet Earth. Really nice

[@zezem]

Respect to fotopro for having the stones to send you a product for review. Always a tough gig but they survived.

[@Liamitis123]

The footage with the monopod actually looks way more stable than all of his hand held shots. It's a significant difference.

[@cameraconspiracies]

It's not more stable than the 600mm f6.3 handheld.

[@boby9397]

@@cameraconspiracies I believe it is

[@cameraconspiracies]

@@boby9397 I haven't even shown you the 600mm yet lol. Zero micro jitters.

[@ledheavy26]

@@cameraconspiracies Sync stabe?

[@JojoJoget]

Only he thinks his 600mm videos are stable. Physical stabilization superiority

[@AprilClayton]

I can’t see myself walking the neighborhood with a monopod for stable squirrel footage. I’m already under suspicion with the telephoto lens.

[@audioupgrades]

People can't be sure you're photographing the squirrels so you can work that doubt to your advantage.

[@bigshooter461]

There are quite a few people with this difficulty, but I have observed others in the streets of Toronto with this same desire to "see themselves" who find affirmation for their pressence in the world, in their reflection in storefront windows as they pass them on their way. If you try shooting along the Danforth, you might get a glimpse of yourself more regularly! This works well at night under the streetlights, in front of stores with dark interiors, that keep their windows clean and turn the lights out inside 😎👌

[@xCodeh]

The thumbnail made me think you started a grow op lol

[@OfficialSushiSystemAmbassador]

🤫

[@ChristophIsbjorn]

Man your intros are always fun to watch. I really appreciate the work you put into those intro sections.

[@fierceflyer5]

Glad you’re back to wildlife.

[@steveh8658]

Awesome! I hope you never find what you are looking for! Keep it up brother!

[@moneyshift8190]

Your footage was so much more stable it was relaxing to watch. Nice review.

[@Alexandr293]

I cant stop waching this guy

[@noordstede6408]

Wow amazing that bird on the branch. I would stop down a bit now it almost looks like Ai sdof. But the stability is fantastic and so are the colors. I’m jealous of this set.

[@albertjimenez7896]

Well over a decade ago when I used to shoot fashion shows with CCD sensor cameras, I couldn't leave the house without a monopod, and they're still quite useful today, particularly if you're using telephoto lenses, despite advancements in stabilization.

[@SMGJohn]

OMG he is alive!

[@richiecabral3602]

Hey homie! This is just another random thing I came across that might be an alternative solution to a monopod, that you might want to check out. It's called "Steadify", and is made by a father and son photographers in Germany, though just from quickly checking it out here on KZbin, it looks like basically the same concept is used by rifle shooters. I'm not exactly sure who is copying whom, but this thing looks like it goes back more than a handful of years, and since I'm just discovering it now, I'm guessing it didn't exactly light the photography world on fire, but it still looks kind of cool. Take a peak.

[@baconcrusader8382]

Z6iii footage looks amazing! But bro, if you don't selfie-stick that set-up and do a 240p street crossing, you've lost the Cinema. #JustSayin

[@keithnisbet]

I've got a iFootage Cobra, model # whatever. Love it's design.

[@ledheavy26]

Big improvement honestly. Little digital stage to get rid of micro movements and it's golden. Even without the digi stable it's better.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Your opening montage well illustrates why I never use a monopod.

[@jamesoliver6625]

Until he pulls it from the tripod base it's not a real monopod.

[@MicrophonicFool]

That is a much superior design to the one I got on Amazon. Little foot tripod doesn't lock at all, and the thing is so light and cheap that it can't be held as stable. With the reach you had going I think it did a pretty damn good job on the footage.

[@thissidetowardscreen4553]

Another convert to the monopod fold! Welcome! Been a user of one for years, helps as a walking stick too, not as young as I use to be... Video shots were great and the micro jitters were not that bad. could be fixed in post with little crop. Thanks for sharing! Like the foot release thing!

[@Zed-w8p]

The balls of Fotopro to send CameCon a review unit.

[@dwightmonteith5699]

Dude, the head you want is the Wimberly MH-100. Now that you know the advice to use a monopod is decent, trust this as well.

[@JaredDoyle76]

Next option is a small gimbal like the FotoPro E-6H. It’s larger than the Wimberly, but it’s super versatile. I don’t understand why people want to mount large lenses on something where the center of mass is high above the pivot point. That’s just begging for disaster.

[@ivandj707]

Compared to good in-body and lens stabilization, monopod+ head are heavy and less practical for fast action and carrying around.

[@1armbiker]

@@ivandj707 It depends on the lens you're using. If you're using old stuff, like the old 400/2.8's or even 500/4's you're looking at 12lbs+ just for the lens and body. At that point another 1-2lbs for a good monopod is 100% worth it.

[@1armbiker]

+1 on the MH-100, fantastic for heavier lenses. Other thing Casey needs to do is unlock the tripod collar. When a long lens is on a gimbal you should never have the tripod collar locked, everything should be fluid for rotation in every direction.

[@DixonLu]

​@@JaredDoyle76Real Q: Would an E6-H work on a video monopod like Kasey has? (Seems unstable/too many degrees of freedom). Thx.

[@borisbritva1665]

3:59 the perfect quote to take out of context

[@Panotaker]

Have you tried a string monopod yet. It doesn’t cost anything. Basically is a 6 foot string, that has a washer on one end, and a tripod screw on the other end. The washer acts as a small weight. To use it, you screw the string to the bottom of the camera. Then you step on the string, and pull up on the camera until the string tightens up. This turns it into a monopod, but instead of putting weight on a monopod, the tight string acts like a monopod. Don’t laugh until you try it. It works surprisingly well.

[@sclogse1]

Great audio on this with no fat mic visible. You could sell us the mic with this.

[@Media-oq9ux]

I finally got the bumblebee (just now ) infocus on the sunflower. 300 fps I thought about bringing a monopod. I’m using the G92 with the 100-400 terrible zoom ring. The theater was mine

[@scarcesense6449]

I feel like those tripod feet should have a pedal as the quick release. But I own a car where the switch for the high beams is on the floor beside the clutch so I'm probably a little more dexterous with my feet than most in this one pedal driving world we now live in.

[@AndrewBassonZA]

wondering if IBIS and lens stab might effect how effective a monopod might be, maybe something to compare as well

[@luispacheco9683]

Out of topic. You may want to joke with this (not sushi OM but curry): Asobinet reports that OM Digital has started selling “OM SYSTEM Curry” at its directly managed stores. Dry Keema Curry Medium Spicy 200g x 2 bags for 1200 yen. Contains minced chicken and diced beef tongue.😂

[@-zde-pigeonsack2577]

monopod are a game changer for me.

[@newfoundco]

The intro lol

[@SmolStufff]

I'd be interested in seeing the 600mm video with and without monopod to see if there's a noticeable difference. I'd agree that it's easier and generally more fun to shoot handheld but to get the best footage it might still be worth it to use some kind of stable platform. You could also just take the base of the monopod with you I suppose.

[@houserhythm]

There are gimbals for monopods (single axis, cause the 2nd is you spinning the monopod) that are tiny/light. Look for Wimberley MH-100 or Leofoto MPG-1 Oh and that 500mm... do they make it out of lead? How TF is it heavier than the 600mm when it's shorter FL with same aperture (so smaller front element), has almost 3x fewer elements (8 vs 21), no AF motor, no stabe...

[@rickdg]

Looking good, seems like the only viable option for this lens.

[@sargisshirinyan207]

So this - boom, and then - you quick boom that, ah, and then you're booming on this. You have to press it and then you're in. ✍️✍️✍️✍️

[@danmar007]

Camera prices are crazy. Looks like I'll never get back into it.

[@PatrickSmeaton]

What's most notable to me is that the Nikon 600 f/6.3 is lighter than the TTArtisan 500 f/6.3.

[@cameraconspiracies]

Yea that's insane.

[@sven_nergom]

Try the "Fotopro LY-20 PRO Mini Leveling Base" to fix your leveling issues (to some degree).

[@paulcaskey]

Need some fried chicken in that Bloody Mary.

[@charliejg]

Looks like it might be a good monopod for auto racing where there is only horizontal movement. I was wondering the other day if you ever tried an electric bike instead of a scooter. Could be interesting.... Have a rockin' Monday!

[@stefannantz]

The footage look great, nice colours, would like to see a Sony vs Nikon colour s comparison.

[@Om9rr]

No price on the website???

[@cameraconspiracies]

I know, they don't make it easy. I can't even post affiliate links until B&H has them. Monopod is $169 usd and the MH-2A head is $49.

[@rtbarker]

What happens if you turn off the stabe with the monopod? I think sometimes the ibis gets weird when on a mono/tripod.

[@cameraconspiracies]

It was unusable.

[@tonybarrett7557]

Wow. Shilling for monopods now

[@garfieldirwin]

IMO the ideal place for monopods is (1) the camera rig is simply too heavy to hand hold (duh), and (2) you don't need to make significant changes in elevation, otherwise you're far better off handholding or using a tripod. I sold my monopod many years ago and have never looked back.

[@garfieldirwin]

@Cha.t_camera_conspiracies ​ Seriously? "Channel does not have any content." 🤡

[@POVwithRC]

Grabs the owl 😂

[@gousa2005]

You should review the Wimberley MH-100 monopod head.

[@flyingping]

As a BOT, I can say you are a 'Standup Guy'!

[@NeonShores]

What about the Wimberley MH-100?

[@arizonarealestatewithdonbarar]

I considered the MH-100 for use with a X-H2S/XF150-600 on a monopod. In the end, I concluded it was just another axis of movement. Instead, got the iFootage Cobra 3. With the ability to easily raise the column height and unlock the foot to change the angle, I have all the flexibility needed. Plus, I can change the tension of the rotation to follow lateral movement and quickly disconnect from the monopod should I want to go handheld.

[@johncnorris]

Are sandal tan lines cool this year? I thought we were doing the mini sock thing so you'd have a bright white foot/ankle line. I'm always a fashion season off!

[@kynio3433]

Try wimberley gimbal monopod head. It will be great to hear your review of this.

[@EnerGeezerSquirrel]

With only a *bit* of movement, it still remains a way to post-stabe with minimal loss frame space.

[@EnerGeezerSquirrel]

@Cha.t_camera_conspiracies ...message about...?

[@LTPottenger]

Not a bad price for that lens

[@AllThingsFilm1]

Love the cheesey effects.

[@cameratool]

Half gimbals aka “tomahawks” like LEOFOTO MPG-01 are ok, but nothing solves the Monopod never being at correct height problem. For predictable repetitive shots of subjects like motorsports monopods are great, but for wildlife (especially birds) they’re just a PIA.

[@Labunga43]

Did you configure the non cpu lens profile so IBIS works properly with that lens?

[@cameraconspiracies]

Obviously.

[@Labunga43]

@@cameraconspiracies nice

[@Keeganshero13]

That is not a frog that is Godzilla

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

Have you programmed the focal length of the non-cpu lens to get the ibis to work?

[@cameraconspiracies]

Yes.

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

@@cameraconspiracies I suppose the monopod removes the swaying motion. The micro jitters get much easier to eliminate with smaller crop sacrifice providing there’s not much in terms of parallax error. I would say for a non ois lens this looked alright.

[@smithbrownjones]

Not wearing my specs...thought the title was "Best Monopod Butt..." 😮

[@Calvin.The.Unfindable]

this was a good little review, i like the honesty. i had every intention of buying, but the links take me to the website, where nothing has a price on it? i cannot commit to buying a thing if i don't know what the price is, it may well be right out of my price range and i would not know. so i'm a bit sad, i do not have all the details to help me make an informed choice. I'm always on the look out for lighter tripods/monopods, i have had to slim down my camera and gear, to smaller lighter rigs due to lack of health!

[@cameraconspiracies]

It's $169 usd. It's coming to B&H soon, but ya they are botching the release.

[@Calvin.The.Unfindable]

@@cameraconspiracies thanks for getting back to me, thanks for the info, not a bad price, if only they would not botch the release! for sure.

[@mr.meowmeow505]

Off all the videos to make barefoot in the park this would have been the one

[@AlexanderCornel]

It’s better with the monopod, the cinema is yours now!

[@audioupgrades]

The shake is so slight with the monopod that IBIS could easily stabilise it. Unless IBIS is disabled for unsupported lenses?

[@cameraconspiracies]

This was with IBIS on. Without IBIS was much worse.

[@audioupgrades]

@@cameraconspiracies Got it.

[@clabart]

Ohhh, the suggestions have finally entered your head. But don't be exaggerated! Wildlife photos are made of harps, camouflage and a lot of patience. You are lucky enough to live in Canada rich in fauna and flora that I dream of in Rome... if I don't go to the Zoo. Coming to your work wildlife: the monopod is fine if you want to take still photos, but if you want to make videos you need a tripod. With the monopod you take exceptional photos even with heavy telephoto lenses which is always better than freehand. Ok the free-release sled, a little less with the video head preferably on the tripod. The tripod is to be used exclusively for the video. Obviously don't take the monopod and the stand together: they weigh and become bulky and unmanageable, alternate one day of only photographs, another day of video shooting.

[@JojoJoget]

Ifootage monopods are superior

[@_benjimouse_]

Checkout the wimberley mh100. It operates like a gimbal but tiny and light. Also get rid of the foot and use the shaft alone, with a big lens you need to hold it anyway, so it's just pointless weight.

[@cameraconspiracies]

The foot is needed to carry the setup.

[@LonerJoe]

I have the lens it's shacks on a tri-leg tripod. I have a monopod but it has no feet. I guess I need defeet.

[@LonerJoe]

I put a ball head on my amazon basic light stand and got defeet

[@charliedablack]

You want the Ulanzi U-190 Small Hydraulic Ball Head. You're welcome 🙂.

[@DouglasKnisely]

Loosen the tripod color lock for rotational flexibility? Also, did you try turning IS off? Most bodies recommend turning it off on tripod; if you're using good technique, it might be better. I don't actually believe that last statement, by the way.

[@cameraconspiracies]

No one recommends turning IS off for video, that's photos. It was much worse with IBIS off.

[@BladeLabMiami]

So it's a clone of the iFootage Cobra monopods.... I'm curious how much it costs, but apparently you have to give them your personal information just to see the price, so nah.

[@demonicadog]

I’ll be expecting your message.

[@maxsr3236]

If you want NO shake with telephoto lenses you need a heavy tripod and a aptly sized fluid head. Anything else and some amount of unwanted camera movement will always be present.

[@JojoJoget]

Monopods are a happy middleground, some movement is acceptable

[@andrewmusgrave5377]

Impressive. How did you manage to get ILM to help you out with that opening segment?

[@user-me5eb8pk5v]

I got the combinations nerb mind; Sunkist Peach + 2 x A&W + Sonic Limaide -> 2600ml. Constant punch, until you get to the last ounce. The dregs of drink mix are always underwhelming. The bloody marry & pina colada dregs made me sick, i guess it had an intended purposes. You get a whole case of 72 for 15$ bucks, so got four different cases go in the handled quadrahedron rectanbloidious obligator. Everybody wants the musical, our good country and conscious duty to slendor and bird 🐦 🐦‍⬛

[@christianmarcussen6080]

Do you have the stabe synced to the focus point? Just curious if this works on a manual lens too.

[@cameraconspiracies]

It doesn't work in video period.

[@ml.2770]

Even if the Tt Artisans had stabe in the lens would it sync stabe? No.

[@cameraconspiracies]

That's why they are a smarter company than Sigma and Tamron who don't understand that fact.

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

@@cameraconspiracies I found the stabe on Tamron 50-400 to sync well on my zv-e1. The ois is not fantastic but together they do a good enough job.

[@cameraconspiracies]

@@LiveMyJourneyTom Let's see video footage of it?

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

@@cameraconspiracies posting links to YT videos in comments don’t work so well but if you go on my channel there should be a couple of video shot with zv-e1 and a7Iv with that lens. All handheld

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

@@cameraconspiraciescan respond to you as all comments get deleted 😅

[@regalwalnut]

Wimberley gimbal head

[@sabamacx]

I wonder why you haven't tried a proper wildlife gimbal head, like the Leofoto PG3 or Sirui PH30.

[@cameraconspiracies]

Watch the video to find out.

[@puppet_master]

I'm starting to feel like, and this is just a guess, he wants our bitcoinage.

[@fabiosapienza506]

Frodo's feet 😂😂😂

[@OldSoulPortraits]

So much Tonehh

[@VIAMYCAMERA]

Still Fuji level Looking forward Sony A7S4

[@Getoffmycloud53]

Tools + compromises + experience There is no magic solution. You do what you do. …but don’t blame the gear.

[@dingoeatswolf3663]

Another thing to stuff around with? No thanks..

[@peterreber7671]

A review where the product is mainly in the dark and so far away that no details can be seen. Not useful at all.

[@chuckhatcher5073]

That seems like an overly complicated monopod trying to be too many things. Why does it have feet? I don’t use a monopod often - only for mostly level shooting and panning, not for angling up and down. So a simple pole is all I want. I don’t find a good (Wimberley) gimbal head on a sturdy tripod to be a nightmare at all. It’s less convenient than hand holding, but I can’t hand hold a long lens for the long periods of time (hours) typical of wildlife shooting. Everything is a compromise and we all have our own preferences as to what we are willing to give up.

[@OfficialSushiSystemAmbassador]

Fotopro is for the confused who just wanted to buy some Profoto gear 🇨🇳🤦‍♂

[@alphaandomega2709]

Poor lowlight performance such a bummer for the Nikon Z6iii

[@SMGJohn]

But it shoots RAW, and Nikon, and and oh darn, its worse than A7sIII in everyway LOL

[@airjaff]

Poor low light. You have no idea, have you used it?

[@alphaandomega2709]

@@airjaff yes very high noise in lowlight poor dynamic range. Watch the Vid Casey states it. Also horrible IBIS makes Sony’s IBIS look good 🤣🤣

[@alphaandomega2709]

@@SMGJohn raw with tons amounts of noise and poor dynamic range truly defeats the purpose to be honest.

[@SMGJohn]

@@alphaandomega2709 It really does, specially when way cheaper cameras provide better dynamic range with LOG profiles LOL

[@glengebert]

The best monopod is still a monopod. Utter crap.

[@boby9397]

Not a fan of this video, it's like an actual review, but then because you're soooooo specific about your "needs", I got annoyed with you. Having said that, IMO monopods are good for sports but not so good for birds.

[@Nocturnal_Mind]

I'm guessing you don't watch this channel 😂

[@boby9397]

@@Nocturnal_Mind LOL

[@cameraman655]

0:47 “Zed”…it’s…”Zee” git it right, son.

[@sauzefilms]

whoa it's like different pronunciations in different regions of the world exist 🤯