monopod

A monopod is a single-legged camera support used to stabilize a camera or other optical device. It offers mobility and quick setup compared with a tripod, at the cost of maximum stability. A monopod typically consists of a telescoping leg, a foot at the base, and a mounting head or plate at the top to hold the camera. The standard camera screw is 1/4-20 inch, with some larger systems using 3/8-16; many heads are removable and can be a small ball head or a tilt/pan head.

Materials include aluminum for light weight and carbon fiber for high strength relative to weight. Heights vary; many models extend to roughly 1.5 to 2 meters, with shorter versions for low-angle shooting or travel. Features may include twist-lock or flip-lock leg segments, a rubber or spiked foot, a wrist strap, and a grip.

Variants include consumer monopods such as selfie sticks, which are lightweight and designed for handheld use with phones or action cameras. In professional contexts, monopods may incorporate a video head for smooth pans or a stud for mounting a larger camera.

Use and advantages: Monopods stabilize the camera while allowing rapid movement and panning. They are widely used in sports, wildlife, documentary, and street photography, especially where a tripod would be cumbersome, heavy, or slow to position. They reduce hand fatigue with long lenses and can support heavy setups, but provide less stability than a tripod and do not inherently limit shake in any direction.