Monopod
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- For the creature from Naturalis Historia and The Chronicles of Narnia, see Monopod (creature).
A monopod, also called a unipod, is a pole used to help support cameras (and more rarely binoculars). It allows a still camera to be held more steadily, allowing the photographer to take sharp pictures at lower shutter speeds, and/or with longer focal length lenses. When used by itself, it decreases the camera shake by infinite stops in the vertical plane. It does not stop horizontal movement, however, by leaning against an object, the user creates a bipod. Monopods are usually made to fold, or "telescope," when not in use, allowing them to be transported and stored much more easily.
Unlike a tripod, monopods cannot support a camera independently, limiting the shutter speed that can be used. They still allow lower shutter speeds than hand holding, and are easier to carry and use than a tripod.
Many monopods can also be used as a "chestpod," or "beltpod," meaning that the foot of the monopod (sometimes with a special adapter) can rest on the belt, waist, or chest, of the photographer. The result is that the camera is held more steadily than by hand alone (though not as steadily as when the foot is planted on the ground), and the camera/monopod is completely mobile, travelling with the photographer's movements. This is similar to a finnstick.
In terms of mobility vs. stability, generally if stability increases, mobility decreases. From most stable/least mobile to least stable/most mobile: tripod/tablepod/resting on surface of some sort, monopod, chestpod, handheld.
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