Becoming a wildlife photographer may be considered the easiest thing to do! But still, there are some things that there are required to become one.
Regarding wildlife photography, it is essential to use different accessories on your camera, such as a monopod.
I present to you the best monopods for wildlife photography.
A Quick Look at My Favorite Monopods for Wildlife
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Affordable  | 10 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Compact  | 9 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Carbon Fiber  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best For Hiking  | 8.5 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Multi-Functional  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon |
Key Takeaways
- I am sure that a monopod will help you capture wildlife photographs and stay away from the wildness.
- In case you need a monopod that can be used for most things, there is the COMAN KX3232 as a multi-functional.
- K&F Concept 4-Section Monopod is indeed one of the most affordable monopods that you can find.
- A monopod for wildlife should be lightweight and portable enough to accompany you wherever you may go.
In this article, you will be able to find the best monopod for wildlife photography, which are included top five picks of very famous monopods that you definitely heard of! I hope this article will help you choose!
The Top Five Best Monopod for Wildlife Photography
5. K&F Concept 4-Section Monopod – Best Affordable
What I Like
- Affordable
- Lightweight and Portable
- Steady Camera Mount
What I Don’t Like
- Locks are not quite Strong
- Better with DSLR cameras than others
K&F Concept is one of the newest brands all around the world when it comes to photographic needs or accessories. Being the first product in this article this K&F monopod is also the most affordable one. It comes in with a cheaper price tag when compared to the other monopods that will be mentioned during this article.
This monopod is quite lightweight, weighing only 0.77 pounds, however, that doesn’t show us what the monopod is capable of. It can handle anything that weighs up to 6.6 pounds. As for the measurements, the K&F monopod all in all measures 22.44 x 2.36 x 2.36 inches, when extended it can go up to 67 inches, and when collapsed as said above, 22.44 inches. It is a definite portable monopod so while going out for wildlife photography it definitely comes with you wherever you go! In general, the monopod is made of aluminium and it is an ideal one when it comes to outdoor photography.
The feet section of this monopod is 4 in number and they are stable enough. At the bottom part, you will also encounter three locks that are used for the steadiness of the monopod, still, they can move a little bit. The monopod now in the upper part includes a threaded crew camera mount, in which you can easily adjust the camera, by just rotating the screw. Don’t worry because the crew holds the camera pretty well!
Why should you buy it?
It is a portable monopod, so while going out for wildlife photography, it comes with you wherever you go!
4. Manfrotto Compact Extreme – Best Compact
What I Like
- Lightweight and Strong
- Affordable
- Used with Many Camera
- 4 Variations of Mounting
What I Don’t Like
- The Rubber on the Feet is a little Loose
- The Stand can become loose too
As the name supplies, this monopod is extreme when used for wildlife photography, and with any type of camera! DSLR, mirrorless, Action Cameras, and even smartphones! As you may know, Manfrotto is a very famous name and among the most popular ones that as a brand deals mostly with tripods and monopods. Plus, it is a 2-in-1 product, meaning that it can be used as a monopod and a pole too!
Not only extreme but also compact! That’s what the name tells! Well, not only the name. This monopod owns a very compact build. It is made of aluminium too and it is a monopod that could really last for a lifetime. The weight of this monopod is 0.71 pounds, and the weight that it is capable of handling is 2.2 pounds. When it comes to the dimensions, all in all, it measures 9.84 x 5.51 x 14.57 inches which tell the collapsed way of the monopod, while when extended, the monopod can achieve a height of 51.57 inches.
The leg sections on this monopod are as well 4 in number, and it also includes three locks on the bottom part, which assure stability and steadiness, and let me say that they do the job in the most perfect way possible. On the bottom part, you will also find the rubber material. I would advise you to be careful with them because they are loose and can be lost easily. The part where the camera goes is a ball head mostly, but it also comes in 4 types or versions. You can choose between those four variations based on what type of camera you use, and what does the camera needs, of course, in order to be mounted.
Why should you buy it?
This monopod assures stability and steadiness, and let me say it does the job in the perfect way possible.
3. SIRUI P-326 – Best Carbon Fiber
What I Like
- Lightweight
- Made of Carbon Fibre
- Portable
- Super Stable
What I Don’t Like
- Silicone Locks
- Expensive for Some
Even though this monopod is older when compared with the other two mentioned, the Sirui P-326 is one of the most famous monopods that is used in wildlife photography in general. Why is it the best, though? Well, in this monopod are combined the two most important things, that a monopod should own; the high build quality and great stability!
Differing from some other monopods when it comes to the build material, in this monopod Sirui chose to use carbon fibre, and we are more than happy! It has a very robust body, it can be used not only during wildlife photography but at any other extreme type of photography. The measurements of this monopod are 15.75 x 1.97 x 1.97 inches when collapsed, and when you choose to extend it on the highest weight, it can go up to 60.62 inches. The weight on the other hand is 14.10 ounces and it is capable of holding up to 22 pounds!
The legs that are placed at the end of this tripod are full 6 in number; making it stable enough to work with any type of camera. There are included locks as well, and they are made of silicone for durability. The mounting of the camera is related to the mounting plate that it owns, however you should use the screw that is found in there. It keeps the camera with stability and comfortability as well. As mentioned above stability is the best thing that makes this monopod known.
Why should you buy it?
It has a very robust body; it can be used in wildlife photography and any other extreme type of photography.
2. Benro Adventure 3 – Best For Hiking
What I Like
- Strong and Durable
- 35.3 Pounds Weight Limit
- Lightweight
- Locks are easy to be used
What I Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Not the Most Stable
Let’s start an adventure with this Benro monopod! At least that is what the name says, and what could be a better adventure than wildlife? Benro is a brand or a family (how they call themselves) that brings all around the world amazing products, of course, related to photography and cameras in general. The monopod that I chose is one of the best known!
I would like to start directly with the dimensions of this monopod. It measures 1 x 3.3 x 20.7 inches, 20.7 inches is the collapsed or folded mode of the monopod, but don’t worry because when it is extended it goes up to 62.4 inches. However, there is also the weight which is an important thing that you should know, it weighs 1.1 pounds as a whole but it is capable of holding anything that doesn’t weigh more than 35.3 pounds. By the way, 35.3 pounds is quite heavyweight! The material that this one is made of also includes carbon fibre, which stands as one of the strongest materials while making a monopod or even a tripod.
As for the mounting of your camera. It can be attached to this monopod, by using the plate on top of the monopod. Also by using the mounting part or hole on the bottom of the camera. The mounting is only possible if you use the screw that is found in the monopod. Moving down to the legs, the monopod owns 4 sections of them, and three locks that are very easy to be opened or closed.
Why should you buy it?
Carbon fiber, which stands as one of the most robust materials while making a monopod or even a tripod, is the material form of this monopod.
1. COMAN KX3232 – Best Multi-Functional
What I Like
- Multi-Functional
- Super Durable
- Stable in many ways
- Achieves 73.2 inches when extended
What I Don’t Like
- Could have been made of Carbon Fibre
- Pricey
The Coman KX3232 is considered and listed by photographers worldwide as a professional one! It cannot do the job without a camera but still when used with one, it brings the best performance ever! It is a 2-in-1 product as well, we deal with a monopod and a tripod at the same time, plus a stick that can be used easily outdoors!
This monopod is a little bit bigger, considering the measurements when it is collapsed, of course when compared with the other monopods that I mentioned. It measures 4.17 x 4.17 x 25.98 inches and that can mean one thing; when extended, it can achieve more than the others and it goes up at 73.2 inches, it weighs 3.9 pounds and handles up to 13.2 pounds! In general, it is made of aluminium, which is strong, but for some people, it may be not the strongest.
On the bottom part of the monopod, you will encounter three sections of the legs or better to say three kinds of legs. They are very stable, even though made of plastic. What is special about this monopod is that it owns a pivoting base that can be panned and tilted in many degrees. On the side of this monopod, you will also find a bubble level, which is used in order to tell you if it is properly stable while in use. The mounting is able via the quick-release plate placed on top of the monopod.
Why should you buy it?
This monopod owns a pivoting base that can be panned and tilted in many degrees.
Which Is Better For Wildlife Photography? Monopod or Tripod
To make this clear, wildlife photography needs you to be precise and fast at the same time! That’s why I definitely advise you to take into consideration that monopods are better when it comes to this category. Always have in mind that I am not saying that the tripods are not great accessories or that they can never be used, the thing is there is movement as well as tranquillity at the same time. To sum it up, when it comes to wildlife photography monopods seem to win the game!
Things to consider when choosing the best monopod for wildlife photography (Buying Guide)
Before buying anything we tend to find some of the most important things, and the most important things while choosing a monopod for wildlife photography are as follow:
Cost
Cost otherwise price tag is the most important thing when purchasing anything, not only a monopod. However, since we are more concentrated on the fact of using a tripod for wildlife photography, the cost of a monopod stands important here as well. That’s because you don’t go to take wildlife pictures every day, and once you buy one you should think about the usage as well. There are different monopods, and they, of course, come in a variety of price tags. I always say that the higher the price tag the higher are the features, and I believe in that a lot.
Keep in mind that the products, monopods, that I listed above are listed based on their price tags, from the cheapest to the most expensive ones.
Height, Capacity and Portability
When mentioning height I am not mentioning how tall it is the better it looks! The height in this case is related to the folded or extended version of any tripod. That is clearly related to the portability feature as well! Why is that so? Well, once a monopod can be folded. you can easily put it even in your bag! As long as capacity is concerned, it can only mean one thing; how much weight can a monopod handle? You definitely wouldn’t want your camera or anything else to fall off, right?
To get a lightweight camera that will be suitable for hiking, you can take a look at our article of the best hiking cameras.
Feet and Stability
The last thing that you should consider, stand the feet of a monopod and how stable they are. You should always search for more information about stability in general so that you won’t have to deal with a monopod that has soft feet or no lock, and your pictures or videos won’t be stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a monopod for wildlife photography?
A monopod is an accessory that photographers use in order to make their cameras stay more stable and capture great pictures. When it comes o wildlife, besides offering stability, a monopod will help you capture pictures at a distance because you never know what you will encounter.
Are monopods too expensive?
It all depends on what you choose, but mostly, it depends on the material used in making that monopod. There are monopods made of aluminum and carbon fiber, and you should expect the carbon fiber ones to be more expensive.
How should I use a monopod?
You can use a monopod in any way you want it! They are small and convenient for every user, and you can hold them easily in your hands or just put them on the ground. There is no proper way of doing so, as monopods are versatile enough to be considered proper in any way.
Final Words
So here you have it! This article includes the top five picks regarding the best monopod for wildlife photography! I tried to choose different monopods (even though they own almost the same features), they at least come from different brands so you can choose based on that, besides the features. I really hope my article will help you choose the best one!
Further Reading
Since this article included monopods, you may be a fan of a tripod as well, and that is not a mistake, tripods are great purchases too! In case you own any type of camera and you have difficulties choosing the best tripod for it, I think some of my articles may help you. Those articles include:
Photographer & Writer
I specialize in landscape, street and portrait photography and I have been featured in various galleries and publications. I believe that photography is a way to tell stories!
