Review: Manfrotto 685B Neotec monopod with Wimberley 2 head

I have been asked to write a review of the Manfrotto 685B Neotec monopod and Wimberley 2 head that I used to shoot the Calcutta Cup...

There are many tools that a sports photographer might use but arguably the most important rig is a 10fps camera fitted with a 400mm f/2.8 lens, sat on a monopod. A tripod isn't allowed. The glass is too heavy to hand-hold for long. The camera and optics are so expensive that the price of the support is irrelevant, so I use a Manfrotto Neotec with a Wimberley 2.

The Neotec is the quickest tripod to set up. Just place your foot on the bottom of the leg (to keep it on the ground) and lift the camera. Wherever you stop, the monopod locks. It couldn't be easier.

To collapse, squeeze the trigger on the hand grip at the top of the shaft (remembering to squeeze the safety lock with your little finger) and simply let the weight of the camera collapse the leg towards the ground for you.

The leg has a comfortable hand-grip at the top and a foam cover at the bottom. The leg telescopes "the other way round", getting narrower towards the top rather than the bottom. This helps to keep mud and grit out of the mechanism.

I'm sure it's not the lightest monopod and it doesn't collapse down as far as usual, but it is very fast and convenient to use.

Build quality is good with the exception of the strap - there is a little hand strap which is made out of thin yet stiff nylon webbing - it is so stiff that it slips out of it's buckle far too easily.

On top of this sits a Wimberley 2 head. Specifically designed for long lenses that have a rotating tripod collar and usually seen on a tripod, this is the head of choice for long lens use. Take time to read the instructions and both the height as well as the fore and aft adjustments to ballance the head so that it stays perfectly in place wherever you put it. I set up my Wimberley 2 on a tripod and marked the adjustment positions for my different lenses using tape.

On the monopod, the Wimberley is wonderful. It has a much more natural movement than is provided by a tilting monopod head. There is no risk that the thing might flop over to the side as a big rig might do on a ball head (particularly on a monopod, where the support is more likely to move unexpectedly). But the big win is in the freedom of movement. Because the lens and camera have neutral balance in the head, you don't need to balance it yourself. You can take your hands off the camera and just hold the monopod - it is that secure. This might not seem important, but when you are changing cameras to follow fast changing action, the freedom of knowing that the camera won't fall off or over is invaluable.

The Neotec and Wimberley is one of the most expensive monopod rigs you can build but the support, speed and confidence provided is second to none.

Andrew