Manfrotto 681B Professional Aluminum Monopod (Black)

by Manfrotto

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000WKYU4
• Item model number: 681B
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #20 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Tripods & Monopods > Monopods
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The Bogen Manfrotto 681B is a robust three-section black anodized aluminum monopod featuring sure rubber grip, wrist carrying strap, quick action lever leg lock system with 45-degree flip, large 2.3-inch camera/head platform with plastic cover and dual 1/4-20"-3/8" camera screw.

Product Description

Robust three-section Monopod featuring sure rubber grip, wrist carrying strap, quick action lever leg lock system with 45° flip, large 2.3" camera/head platform with plastic cover and dual 1/4-20" - 3/8" camera screw.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great build quality, December 23, 2007

By 

Bogus Exception (Norwich, Connecticut United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Manfrotto 681B Professional Aluminum Monopod (Black) (Electronics)

I bought this retail, and threw a 486RC2 ball head on it. Phenomenal build quality. The bottom section is wide, and there is a very nice rubber foot on the end that is as large as I expected.

I already forked over $65 and got a crappy monopod from B&H called a "ShotPod". It is only good for a stand to attach a remote flash to, and not for what a monopod should be for.

It doesn't collapse as small as the 4-section, but let me tell you that seeing them together makes the decision easy. The 4-section is heavier (more hardware), and the last leg (bottom-most) is very small compared to the 3-section. That also means the rubber foot is smaller, which of course means quicker wear, less stability, etc.

Get the 3 instead of the 4. Period.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars just learning it all...., April 9, 2008

By 

Jadecat (Lake Orion, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Manfrotto 681B Professional Aluminum Monopod (Black) (Electronics)

I just got a canon 40D and am hoping to shoot some photos out on the soccer field. I bought this after hearing much about the Bogen-Manfrotto name. There are a bunch of similar looking monopods for sale, and I couldn't tell you how they all compare or differ from each other. Still, the price on this one was good, and I got it with the 3229 ballhead. The camera can mount to the monopod without the ballhead, but it just feels better with it, and also you can't tilt the camera sideways on the monopod without the ballhead on it, otherwise you are picking up the whole monopod. This may seem simple to some people, but I never had a monopod or nice camera before, so I didn't understand all these little things. I did take the monopod to some soccer games, and it made shooting nice and easy. I don't see how I could have done it without the monopod.
Overall, its a good quality item at a good price, so I am happy with it.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent quality at a great price, January 21, 2009

By 

M. Erb (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Manfrotto 681B Professional Aluminum Monopod (Black) (Electronics)

I've been wanting a monopod for my SLR Digital camera for quite some time. I'm currently shooting with a D300 and usually have a vertical grip and either the 17-55 f2.8 or 70-200 VR lens attached. It's just about a 5 pound package and a monopod is the perfect solution for certain types of shooting where you know you should not probably be hand-holding the camera. It's also nice if I want to travel a bit lighter and with less bulk than by hauling a tripod around.

I coupled this with the Manfrotto 234RC Head and think I made a great choice. The monopod is built extremely well. The two-section design is rock-steady and not as heavy as you might expect. When compared to the cost of a graphite monopod, I'll live with the "weight" of this and have no regrets.

The leg extension locks are sturdy without being difficult to use and in fact are easily handled. There is a really nice and long section of foam at the top of the monopod which makes gripping the monopod secure and comfortable. The dual 1/4" - 3/8" fixing screw is a thoughtful inclusion for those people that need a 1/4" solution.

It's a great piece of equipment and I'm giving it 5 stars.

You may also want to consider the 682 version which includes retractable legs. Amazon did not have this available at the time of my order and I'm quite happy with the 681B.

UPDATE: 5/14/2009- I am still extremely happy with this monopod. However there is one issue I need to mention: the wrist strap is constantly slipping out of the nylon "buckle". It's only a matter of time until I accidentally lose the strap because of it's tendency to come un-done out of the buckle. Other than that I love the monopod.