Customer Reviews

Vanguard ELITE-CP324 Lightweight Professional Carbon Fiber Monopod

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was in need of a monopod and needed it overnight so I figured I would settle for something, well, anything that could ship via Amazon Prime. When this monopod arrived wow, was I surprised with the quality.

The build quality is SOLID. It's very light weight being carbon fiber. Also due to the carbon fiber it is also very strong and I can even use it to help the creaky old bones get up. ;)

I use this with a 40D Canon and any range of lenses. I have not mounted a head on it yet but will probably add a simply tilt & swivel though I might add a smaller Bogen-Manfrotto Ballhead.

The one thing I do not care for but got used to is the twist lock legs vs. lever-flip leg lock/adjustments. It takes a bit to get the hang of the twist. Though as I have hand problems I might end up selling this one because it could get rough for me to turn them tightly enough to engage the lock securely enough. Not a short coming as when properly locked in place everything is fine and solid.

If you need a high-end build quality of a carbon fiber monopod this is an EXCELLENT option.

EDIT (05/02/2009): I have now been using this monopod for about a year. It has been a true work horse and never failed a single time. I decided to add a simple Manfrotto tilt-swivel head with an RC2 quick release adapter module, since the tilt-swivel just seemed more practical for use on a monopod. I also still use mine as a walking stick when the camera is not mounted on it. I would not put my whole weight on it, but it's great for helping with balance when needed, you know since somehow I seem to be a tad 'rounder" than I used-ta-was. ;)

I could not be happier with this monopod. It's truly an exceptional value. It has every feature one could want on a monopod--carbon fiber, large foam grip, belt/backpack hook, wrist strap, extra-large twist locks, and the best rubber foot (with built-in spike) I have ever seen on a monopod. Even comes with a handy little wrench tool. It's lightweight but as sturdy as a lamp post. I checked out other monopods in my local camera store, and the only similar model cost $205. I mounted a Bogen/Manfrotto 234 tilt head and added a Really Right Stuff QR clamp and L-plate to create a super camera support for my DSLR. The free Amazon shipping was icing on the cake!

I made the move from Manfrotto to Vanguard and love this monopod. It is carbon fiber which makes it very light to carry and it is strong enough to keep my camera and 70-200 lens steady on the sidelines. I really like the swiveling base that can be used for flat surfaces or as a spike on uneven terrain. It is easy to use and carry. Definitely recommend this product.

I had a Bogen Manfretto monopod fail and got no satisfaction, not even a reply (!) from them when I asked for their help. As a result I decided that while I was at it I would buy a lightweight but sturdy replacement even if I would have to spend more.

This Vanguard monopod is built like a tank - very sturdy yet surprisingly lightweight. In addition it has superior screw-type (twist) lock that is far less likely to self destruct and ruin a trip's shoots as did the previous one. Although it's not cheap, it is a good investment.

I did not purchase my monopod at Amazon, but I do a lot of shopping at Amazon. I rely on these reviews for helping me make good decisions. I bought this directly from Vanguard through a special program for employees of camera stores. The quality seems to be very high. The monopod is very light in weight and has some great design touches. For example, in the third photo above, you can see an imbedded conversion screw from 1/4" to 3/8" It stays out of the way but is there if you need it. I am generally not a fan of twist leg locks, preferring levers, but these are well designed -- kind of a barrel shape with ribs that are easy to grip and turn, and the locks seem very sturdy. The carbon leg sections seem very strong and stiff. I got the SHB-250 head from Vanguard to go with the monopod. Check out the Vanguard ball heads -- very good quality and price. This particular head has a quick release plate, and it came with an extra QR plate! Haven't seen that before. Check this out as a great value.

I have been using a Bogen monopod for almost 20 years and this was a big change for me. It is very light and sturdy. I love the foot. You can screw it out and you have a spike on the base that grabs the ground, or you can twit it down and the have a foot that sits on the ground. For the price this is hard to beat.

I bought this monopod at my local camera store for $99 and only got around to checking the reviews after I made my purchase. That doesn't usually happen to me and I am glad to see that I wasn't ripped off on the purchase price. I bought this unit from the store because I am very tall (6'7") and was having trouble finding a monopod that was tall enough for me. Many of the descriptions on Amazon don't tell you how long the pod extends out to.

When the clerk suggested this pod I hesitated. It looked bulky and heavy. Then he handed it to me and I was _shocked_ at how light it is! This is clearly a robustly built piece of equipment, but at the same time it is a feather weight.

I added the midrange Vanguard ball head with quick release (SBH-30) because unlike the model below it, this is easier to flip the camera up into portrait mode. (By `midrange' I am talking about features, not quality. The quality across the line was consistently high.) The Vanguard head weighs about as much as the monopod -which is not a complaint.

I am coming to love the twist locks on the leg. I thought I would prefer the lever lock style of my tripod but for a monopod I am now convinced that twist lock is the better option. With the right technique you can leave just enough tension keep the leg sections recessed. Then with one hand you grab all three twist locks and give them a ¼ turn (maybe less) and pull all the legs out in one smooth motion. Working from the bottom up you give each one a quick ½ turn and the pod is locked _solid_ and ready for the camera to be slid into the ball head. Very fast! The twist locks are just perfect. I suspect they won't have to change its design of the lock or the rubber grips for the next 20 years.

With lever locks they can snag things when the pod is strapped under your camera bag. The twist locks are a cleaner design and are the right call for equipment that is supposed to be highly portable.

I don't know if it has been mentioned in other reviews but the rubber foot is mounted on a ball socket that allows it to swivel a bit. A very nice touch! And the way it is integrated with the retractable spike for outdoor use shows the engineering that went into this.

One thing I would like to see is a monopod of this length that collapses into a shorter package. That would mean adding one more retractable leg segment which would make the top section go from ~1-1/4" in diameter to ~1-1/2" in diameter. That may get a little chunky for the average hand, especially with the foam grip at the top. But it would make the monopod that much more portable in my opinion. Right now this sticks out from the underside of my camera bag by almost 7" -not including the ball head. Luckily this is _easily_ robust enough to use as a hiking stick, so I pop the head off and do just that...

Great monopod light weight carbon fiber construction, but very strong and steady when set up. Easy to tighten and loosen segements when expanding or colapsing. I really apppreciate the swivel foot that can be sscrewed in to reveal a spike when various surfaces need it. It holds my Nikon D90 and a really heavy 70-200 f2.8 VR lens. Comes with handy wrist strap attached to further help you steady you equipment. It comes with a handy clip on tool holder for adjustments of if needed I as need. Works for both 1/4 & 3/8" threads.

I had a $15 monopod previous to this purchase that was way too flimsy for my 50-500mm lens, so I purchased this one for this purpose. It is amazingly light yet very strong and sturdy. Since my huge lens is around 10 lbs. and doesn't have image stabilization, it really tested out this monopod's strength and it passed with flying colors. I am so pleased with the clarity of my photos from using this monopod with my heavy lens. And it is very comfortable and easy to use.

Just purchased the Vanguard Elite-CP324 and am very impressed with it so far. Being carbon fiber, it's light and very sturdy with hardly any wobble when it's extended to 65"+. I coupled it with the Manfrotto 234-RC quick-release head an it's a perfect setup for shooting with either a small Canon G9 or big Canon DSLR with a 70-200 2.8 zoom-telephoto lens attached. The nice thing about using the 234-RC head is it's compatible with the quick-release plates that came with my Manfrotto 322-RC2 Grip Action Ball Head that's fitted to my tripod.
Love it!