I've got a Manfrotto 190, it's the cheapest medium/heavy duty cam with a simple head. It actually came in a kit. The is no head slip (movement) while I've got my 300mm on and I leave the camera plate on all the time (to the base of my Canon 350D that is).

I've also got a Manfrotto 618B monopod. I use this for panning and fast action shots or for when I'm going to be standing on spot for a long time. I haven't got a head on it as it's got a screw for the cam to go straight on. Which is a problem if you want to shoot in portriat format, Which I do all the time more than landscape. So i've generally got my monopod resting at a horizontal angle along my left or right arm.

Having a monopod arond makes for a good weapon when you go into an area you don't really know... LOL

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