The Jobu Design Carbon Fibre Monopod is a all new 4 section Monopod with quick lock and a conservative rated maximum load of 5kg yet still weighing only 420gram.
Arguably one of the best load / weight ratio of all monopods and not without reason so.
Included is a handy carrying and protection bag and belt pouch for extra support. A great and unique solutions that allows the user to rest the monopod in the belt pouch giving the user extra support in super tight situations.
The monopod boasts a large aluminium milled base with a reversible p-stud (tools included). This means you can either choose to mount your camera or lens directly on the monopod which the average sport shooter would probably do or you could mount pretty much any type of head. Preferably a side loaded gimbal or a tilt head such as the Manfrotto 234. – The side loaded would allow you to tilt even bigger lenses such as a 300mm F2.8 or 500mm F4 or similar size. I would easily recommend a Jobu Design BWG-J2 or perhaps the all new Jobu Design BWG-LW2.
Just below the head Jobu Design has incorporated a wrist / hand strap that gives you just that extra safety in hectic situations.
The top and widest carbon fiber tube is covered with padding for comfort.
The tubing consists of 8 layers of carbon fiber and feels very ridged and stiff both in hand and in use. I think the tubing feels as good as a Feisol carbon fiber tube slightly below the top of the line Gitzo. Even as the tubing gets smaller moving downward on the monopod the quality remains consistent and high. The top 3 tubes features an anti-twist function that prevents the tubing from rotating when you´re extending and collapsing the monopod and is a wonderful feature and basically contributes allows you to extend the monopod with one hand only.
The other feature that allows for a one hand operation are the quick locks and require a very slight turn for these to lock or unlock in any given situation quite similar to Gitzo quick lock function. The locks require very little tightening when using smaller lenses and slightly more when using bigger. No mater its important to insure the rig is all tightened for all situations.
In use the monopod is a joy to use. I´ve used a Manfrotto monopod 682 quite alot and this is clearly a superior monopod. A professional grade body like the 1D and a 100-300mm F4 mounted directly on the monopods stud feels perfectly balanced and great for quick shoot situations which is the bare essential of a monopod.
Using a much bigger configuration as the Jobu Design BWH-LW2 gimbal, a 1D body and the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 lens you´re really pushing the monopod to its limit especially when fully extended. Actually is the joint that gets slightly wobbly where the tubing is as rigid as ever. Needless to say this combination is way over the maximum load rate.
I recon a 500mm F4 or smaller combined with a pro sized body would be perfect on the monopod.
Conclusion
As you might now by know I´m quite fond of the Jobu Design Carbon Fibre 4-Section Monopod. Its very light, sturdy and comfortable small and handy when collapsed perfect for the sport or wildlife photographer. It´ll easily handle 300mm F2.8 and 500mm F4 lenses and will give you quick operations for any type of action photography. And due to its a 4 section monopod it collapses to a very small unit perfect for all day hiking or use.
