When deciding on camera support, the choice often comes down to monopod vs tripod. How do you know which one to use? Both share features like materials and locking systems, but their difference is clear: three legs for stability, one leg for mobility. The best choice depends on your style of photography, from landscapes to events to wildlife.
What are tripods and monopods? The key difference is the number of legs
Both monopods and tripods serve the same purpose—holding your camera stable when shooting from a stationary position. The difference between monopod and tripod lies in leg design: a monopod uses a single leg (“mono”), while a tripod relies on three (“tri”).
What is a tripod?
A tripod is a three-legged stand designed to keep your camera steady. It’s especially useful for capturing photos or videos without unwanted shake.
Key Features
⭐Three-Leg Structure: With three legs spread out, a tripod forms a solid base that provides better stability than a single support.
⭐Steadiness and Balance: Its main purpose is to minimize blur and ensure smoother video by holding the camera firmly in place.
⭐Adjustable Height and Angles: Tripods can be extended or angled in various ways, giving flexibility in how you frame your shots.
⭐Additional Functions: Many models include extras such as swivel or ball heads for smooth camera movement and built-in levels for perfectly aligned compositions.
What is a monopod?
A monopod is a single-legged support for cameras, built to reduce shake when shooting photos or videos.
Key Features
⭐One-Leg Construction: Monopods use a single, extendable leg that rests on the ground, giving your camera a stable point of support.
⭐Lightweight and Portable: They’re generally much lighter than tripods, making them easy to carry and ideal for travel.
⭐Quick Setup: A monopod can be extended and ready to use within seconds, helping you capture fast-moving moments without delay.
⭐Enhanced Mobility: Unlike tripods, monopods let you shift angles and reposition smoothly without lifting and resetting the entire stand.
Camera monopod vs tripod: Pros and cons
Both monopods and tripods have their strengths and limitations. Understanding their pros and cons can help you decide which one fits your shooting style, whether you value stability, portability, or speed. In this section, we’ll break down what each offers and where they fall short, so you can make an informed choice for your photography or videography needs.
Portability: Monopod wins
When it comes to size and weight, monopods are the clear winner. They’re slim, lightweight, and easy to slip into a suitcase or strap to a backpack. This makes them ideal for travel photographers, hikers, or anyone who values convenience. By contrast, tripods are bulkier, often three times larger and heavier, with added components like a center column and tripod head that take up even more space.
Stability: Tripod wins
Nothing beats a tripod for rock-solid stability. You can set it up, let go, and trust that your camera will stay steady—perfect for long exposures, astrophotography, or time-lapse work. A monopod does improve steadiness over handheld shooting but still requires your hand for balance, leaving room for small movements. In situations where absolute stability matters, the tripod has the advantage.
Flexibility in crowded spaces: Monopod wins
In busy environments, a monopod takes up virtually no more space than you do, with its single leg fitting neatly between your feet. This makes it practical in crowds or venues where space is limited. A tripod, however, spreads its three legs outward, creating a tripping hazard. Many tourist attractions even ban tripods for this reason—so in public or crowded locations, the monopod outshines the tripod.
Cost: Monopod wins
For photographers on a budget, monopods are usually far more affordable. Even at the same quality level, a tripod will cost significantly more because it uses more materials and moving parts. If you’re looking for basic support without spending much, a monopod is the economical choice.
Versatility for long exposures: Tripod wins
While monopods are handy, they can’t match a tripod for extended shutter speeds. Tripods allow hands-free shooting and open creative possibilities such as light painting, nighttime cityscapes, and star photography. In these cases, a monopod simply can’t compete.
When to use monopod vs tripod: It depends on your needs
Photography involves more than simply aiming the camera and pressing the shutter. Each genre has its own lighting demands and camera settings. While both tripods and monopods are useful tools, knowing when to use each one is key to capturing the best results.
Landscape photography: Tripod is preferred
Landscapes often require small apertures and long shutter speeds, making tripods the better option. They let you keep ISO low, reduce noise, and ensure sharper images. A tripod also helps with creative effects like silky water or starbursts by holding the camera steady during longer exposures. While a monopod can help if you’re traveling light, a tripod remains the go-to for serious landscape work, reflections, or time-lapse sequences.
Long-exposure and low-light photography: Tripod only
Whether you’re shooting waterfalls at slow shutter speeds, cityscapes at night, or astrophotography, a tripod is essential. Exposure times of several seconds—or even hours—demand rock-solid stability that a monopod can’t provide. With a tripod, you can capture crisp Milky Way shots, northern lights, and star trails while keeping ISO under control.
Monopod vs tripod for wildlife photography: Both have a role
For stationary setups—like waiting in a blind or near a nest—a tripod with a gimbal head is invaluable, keeping heavy telephoto lenses steady for long periods. But if you’re moving frequently through the field, a monopod is quicker to deploy and far easier to carry. Many wildlife shooters keep both on hand: a tripod for patient waiting, a monopod for fast, unpredictable action.
Portrait and wedding photography: Tripod for posed, monopod for moments
In controlled studio or wedding portrait sessions, a tripod allows precise framing, consistent composition, and helps photographers interact with subjects more naturally. During fast-moving wedding ceremonies or receptions, however, a monopod provides just enough stability to handle dim light without slowing you down.
Monopod or tripod for sports photography: Monopod leads
Sports demand speed, agility, and long lenses. A monopod supports the weight of your gear while letting you track athletes freely, even in tight, crowded sidelines. Tripods, by contrast, can get in the way and pose tripping hazards. This is why most professional sports photographers rely on monopods to balance stability with maneuverability.
Macro photography: Tripod is essential
At high magnification, even tiny shakes ruin sharpness. A tripod is necessary for techniques like focus stacking and for low-to-the-ground compositions where you can invert the legs to get closer to subjects. Monopods can help with larger subjects in good light, but for detailed macro, it is advised to use a tripod for macro photography.
Product photography: Tripod for precision
Since products don’t move, stability and fine adjustments matter more than speed. A tripod keeps your setup consistent and ensures maximum detail. While a monopod can work, it lacks the precision most product photographers require.
Monopod or tripod for video: Monopod for mobility, tripod for heavy gear
For documentary-style “run-and-gun” shooting, a monopod with a fluid head provides smooth pans and tilts while keeping you mobile. With lighter mirrorless setups, this creates a balance between stability and flexibility. However, for larger cinema cameras and heavier lenses, a tripod with a robust fluid head is necessary.
Takeaway
👉Choose a tripod for landscapes, long exposures, low light, macro, product work, and posed portraits.
👉Choose a monopod for sports, wildlife on the move, weddings, and mobile video.
👉Use both depending on the situation—tripods excel at maximum stability, while monopods shine when speed and portability matter.
A tripod that converts to monopod exists on the market. This is achieved by detaching one of the tripod legs and attaching the tripod head to it. A good example of this is the Moman CA70 carbon fiber tripod. For those who want the benefits of both a monopod and a tripod, this feature can help save money.
Conclusion
There’s no definitive answer to whether a monopod or tripod is “better”—it all depends on your shooting style and equipment. If you’re working with a compact camera, avoiding long lenses, or not doing long exposures, a monopod may be sufficient. On the other hand, for low-light photography, night scenes, or creative techniques like star trails, a tripod is crucial. If a tripod’s weight is a concern, consider a travel or carbon-fiber model.
If you’re still unsure, why not have both? That way, you’ll be prepared for any type of photography you want to explore.
