Re-Evaluating the Sunpak Monopod

So in a previous post I bemoaned the little Sunpak monopod that I had bought from Best Buy. The biggest problem with the monopod is the fact that the smallest leg extension at the very bottom is not secured in place with a twist lock, but rather simple spring-loaded clips that give easily if even a little bit of weight is placed on them.

However, I've been shopping around for higher-quality monopods, and what I've found is that there really isn't anything nearly as light or as small as the Sunpak. It's extremely convenient to carry around, unlike even the smallest carbon-fiber monopod I've seen, so I'm much more likely to carry it around. And the cost simply can't be beat. $30 for the Sunpak, with ball-head, is drastically cheaper than even a simple aluminum three-section Bogen with the entry-level ball-head.

So I've resigned myself to keeping with the Sunpak for now. I will probably stop trying to use the third leg that collapses on itself to avoid the biggest problem with the Sunpak. With the other legs fully extended the monopod is the same height as when I am bending down on one knee, so that's still pretty useful for a lot of the pictures that I take. It will go with me on my trip to Greece and hopefully be very useful for me.

Testing out film

So I'm going on a trip to Venice and the Greek islands at the end of May, and I expect to take lots and lots of pictures while I am there, I'm very excited! But one thing I need to get done before then is figuring out what film stocks to take with me. I love Provia for its high contrast, rich colors, and tight grain, but every once in a while I find it's a little bit cold, and I'd like to find something a bit warmer. I'd also like to see what a lower contrast film looks like, especially on very sunny days around noon. And then there are 400 speed films to evaluate (I normally shoot 100 speed) for those times when it gets dark. To that end, I've bought:

1. Two rolls of Kodak Elite Chrome 100 (to test out the warmer palette)
2. Two rolls of Fuji Sensia 100 (to test out the lower contrast)
3. Two rolls of Fuji Sensia 400 (to test out a 400 speed film)
4. Two rolls of Fuji Velvia 100F (to give it another try)

And of course, I bought 5 rolls of Provia 100F, just because that's my standard. Hopefully over the next month I'll be able to test out all four of the above film stocks and decide exactly what combination to bring with me on my trip.