Pro Series 72" Monopod w/Quick Release for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Samsung, Olympus, Fujifilm, Panasonic & Pentax + eCostConnection Microfiber Cloth

This Review is for the 72" Monopod. I did not read every of the 450 reviews (as of 5/15), but the 72" monopod makes up about 8% of the total reviews, the others for the 50" and 72" tripods. To save you time, all the monopod reviews were 4's and 5's.I used the monopod for a two day conference, in and out of rooms all day, and 700 shots. My camera is not a DSLR, but a much lighter Canon SX50 Superzoom (23 oz).The best:-Black color for less distraction-quick and quiet leg extension and locking mechanisms-quick release for packing camera or battery/SD card exchangeThe worst:-the quick release base that screws into the camera was built smaller than most, but it still covered my batt/SD compartment, so I had to unscrew it each time I accessed the compartment. Your camera may not have an issue, but I imagine most bottom-accessible compartments will. It is not a deal breaker and I do not see how any quick release can avoid covering a bottom compartment.-the set screw that holds the mount sleeve to the monopod shaft failed and the camera flew off halfway through the conference. Luckily it was not a huge drop and it was on carpet. A little masking tape made the connection very tight, and it did not separate thereafter. Upon inspection, the undersized set screw was only 1 mm from the edge, and that is where the aluminum failed. You have 25 mm of space to put in a set screw, why place it 1 mm from the edge???!!!I will reposition the set screw and maybe even add a second for security. Perhaps you should too before taking it to the field.Overall, it was a great value for the little amout of time I will be using the monopod. It was the perfect tool for steadying indoor zoomed shots while being fast on its feet in and out of small rooms. A tripod would have been too bulky and clumsy. Another plus is that you can easily raise it above crowds and get 9-10' shots.

Welp. I'd say it's just about as good as you're going to get for the price. The quick release lever will allow the plate to move up a little if you pull on that side of your camera while it's mounted, but it still feels pretty solid. I wouldn't feel secure holding the monopod with my smaller camera (a Nikon D3300) on top though, and I definitely wouldn't do that with a medium sized DSLR (I checked it with a nikon D70). The poles are definitely snap-able, but like the saying goes "doctor, it [breaks] when I do this", "so, don't do that". They are built well enough, and on the plus side, the monopod makes up for lack of strength by being light as all getout. The mounting plate can be a problem. The part on the bottom that you hold to screw into your camera won't fold back into the plate depending on how it's positioned when tight. It'll fold back with my camera, but just barely. There's probably an easy way to fix this with a little creativity though. The wrist strap was about as poorly made as they usually are on Chinese products, but the hand grip feels nice. I just wouldn't go rubbing it on a stone wall or anything. I did have to send it back because of a crack in one of the leg locks, but that seems to be the gamble you have to take when buying cheap stuff. I still got another, though, because in order to get a strong monopod that extends beyond midget level (okay, I mean above 57 inches) you have to pay upward of $50! the thing about these cheapies is (besides how light they are) if you break them, then no big deal. I'm not ready to spend $60-$70 bucks on a "professional" monopod, so I'll stick with this until it breaks. It will probably end up lasting me years. :)

Purchased this 72" Monopod for $15 from ECost and fulfilled by Amazon. I was expecting junk due to the low cost but I now see that it is a great buy! It actually comes in a retail box instead of wrapped in a gob of plastic like most stuff you get on Amazon nowadays. I like that. My first impressions are real good about this.PROS:1. Good quality construction. Everything fits tightly.2. Nice and Sturdy. Very little flex in the tubes when fully extended. Various components all seem to be of a heavy enough gauge.to take normal wear and tear.3. Nice foam grip!4. Great 72" height for us tall folk!5. Easily can handle a medium weight DSLR. No problemo!CONS:1. A lot of the construction is plastic so it will fail sooner or later but the gauge is heavy so it will probably take a beating okay.2. The D-ring on the quick release head is small and difficult to access for us folk with big fingers.3. Found just one REAL FLAW in the construction though. It is where the head attaches to the metal leg tube . This held together with just ONE tiny self-tapping screw. (see photo) Totally inadequate! And to add insult to injury the person in China who assembled it placed the screw too high on the sleeve and missed the metal leg! The head just falls off! A 'normal' person would probably send it back as defective but I can fix that easy with some epoxy and 2 screws properly set in the head/leg joint. An elephant won't be able to pull it apart when I'm finished! LOL I would give it 5 stars except for this one fault.SUMMARY: I really like this monopod! I'm sure it will work just fine. I could break it if I wanted to but I'd have to work at it. OH! For you that wonder about the spike tip ... you can rotate the rubber boot down to cover it ... so your Linoleum floors are safe!

This 60" monopod is much lighter and more compact than my previously-owned 72" models. Its shorter collapsed length makes it easier to pack, and the extended length is fine for camera work. When using it as a hiking pole, I have not had to put my whole weight on it; I do not expect it to be as sturdy as a dedicated hiking pole. Fit and finish are excellent. Recommended.

This monopod is suitable for hobby photography as it is light and easy to carry as well as fairly sturdy.

Had a bit of trouble getting last end out and had to pull hard to get it released. I am using it on my camera to hold it steady so there will not be any shaking.

Much easier to travel/hike with than tripod. Camera attaches quickly and makes steadying for zoom shots much easier.

Within less than 12 hours from receiving it it fell apart. Didn't even get to mount a camera on it. The internal plastic parts that keep the bars from separating are very very thin and brittle. Was hoping that for 20 some odd dollars I'd be able to open it more than twice before needing to replace ...