Shaky Footage? How to Get STABLE Monopod Shots for Video

Are you tired of dealing with shaky or unstable monopod footage?  Looking for a way to get solid monopod shots for video, that look either as steady as a tripod shot, or as smooth and free-flowing as handheld motion?

In this tutorial, I'll walk through how to get stable footage when shooting video with a monopod, utilizing a variety of points of contact and general techniques to achieve this.  These same techniques are the ones I use on a day-to-day basis shooting with monopods for weddings, corporate work, commercials, etc., and should provide you a good foundation for getting stable shots.

I'll specifically demonstrate this using my Sony a7 III, but this applies to those with newer cameras with better stabilization (e.g. Sony a7S III, FX3, a1, a7 IV), and those with select cameras from BlackMagic, Canon, etc. or other cinema cameras that don't have stabilization as well.  I'll also use my iFootage Cobra C180-II as the example monopod for this video, but these techniques are applicable to other monopods from Manfrotto, Benro, Sirui, or almost any make and model.

If you like tutorials like this, feel free to subscribe and let me know in the comments below!

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[JPC]

Exactly what I was looking for—just got a Cobra 180 II and I’ve only used tripods and handheld before

[earlgreybeard]

I already own the Manfrotto, but this is really helpful advice for any monopod. Given these tips plus all the stabilisation now available in lenses, cameras and software, I may just give this another go for video work. Many thanks.

[iCanoe_]

Hi Andrew. Excellent content! Subbed. I have never used a monopod and am now considering one for video. I have noticed that v3 of this tripod only tilts to 40 degrees rather than 90. Do you see this as a significant creative constraint? Which one would you get? Cheers!

[_brushie]

I saw that clip of the top handle mounted into the hot shoe and made me so worried. I don't think most hot shoes on camera bodies can handle too much weight or else it could warp the metal tabs that hold flashes and such to the shoe.

[nebulabass]

Hi Andrew. I have been using a large tripod to record rock concerts in small venues. I have gotten some complaints asking me to move my tripod farther away from the stage. I am thinking of getting a gimbal. Do you think a gimbal would work well for recording these shows?

[DNICTimor-LesteTV]

brother i need monopod support for Sony av

[kimberlytaylor]

Andrew how do you orbit with a monopod?

[FOOKyourFEELINGS]

I have a a6000 with no image stabilization.
The lens I'm looking at is a 70-200 f.2.8 with also no image
Do you think with a monopod I could shoot indoors in low light?