Slik EZ pod
http://www.adorama.com/SLEZP.html?s...ezpod&item_no=4
Benefits important to me:
it weighs less than 1 lb
18.5" folded
has a quick release plate
it costs less than $50


I also checked out the varizoom but i'm not sure how it works or what it adds for the extra price.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...oughType=search
it weighs 2 lbs
20" folded
has a quick release plate
it costs $90

Which one would you use for traveling with a Sony HC1 camcorder (less than 2 lbs weight)???

anything better out there that I'm missing?

Thank you

Max

I have a silk monopod I've been using in crowd scenes for several years, I can assure you that it's a solid piece of work. Mine, however, is a standard model. I've added an extra weight to the bottom for stability.

Not sure what you have Dean, but I got a Slik monopod perhaps 8 years ago that looks like the one in that photo. I think it's a pretty useless piece of junk personally. When extended the sections are very thin and wobble a lot. For a very light camcorder it might be a little better than handheld, but not much. I used it for awhile with a 35mm still camera and then a small digital camera but later gave up on it, so it's hardly had any use in all those years. I would not recommend it to anyone, but of course we all have our own likes and dislikes. My overall experience with Slik products has been very negative, having seen the heads snap right off two of their tripods.

Your second link (varizoom monopod) doesn't work for me: I get a 404 error.

Regardless of which brand you choose, we encourage you to shop at DVinfo.net's sponsors. B&H photo carries a nice assortment of monopods:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=397

I'd lean towards getting an off-brand carbon fiber monopod instead of a name brand aluminum one if they were the same price.

Thank you for previous suggestions>
I am looking for a monopod with:
1. a quick release plate
2. short length folded and
3. light weight for travel

So after much research I've come up with these 4 choices:

For about $40 each
Giotto 825
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=373784&is=REG
or velbon UP4D
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=141696&is=REG

FOR ABOUT $70 each:
cullman 1747
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=113838&is=REG
Bogen_manfrotto 559B
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=325238&is=REG

to my specifications,
The giotto adds a tilt/pan head
the cullman adds a tilt/pan head and three legs at the bottom

any suggestions anyone who has seen/used these before?

thank you

an S-pole 2 that I bought about 2 to 3 years ago. It's been a fine piece of equipment so far. Have it rigged at the bottom with a weight and the bottom part of a table tripod (don't use this much anymore.) It's a classic screw joint w/ a bogen quick shoe. I have to add, this is not that cheap a set-up!