Best Buy Ratings and Reviews

Best Buy Ratings and Reviews

Customer Reviews for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Model: RF-MONO70C
SKU: 1062925
UPC: 600603131790
This monopod features a quick-release plate for easy attachment and removal of your digital camera or camcorder and high-quality carbon fiber tubes for stability and portability.
Average Customer Rating:
4 out of 5
4.0
 out of 
5
(16 Reviews) 16
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Snapshot 16 reviews
5 stars
8
4 stars
4
3 stars
2
2 stars
0
1 star
2
75% of customers would recommend this product to a friend 
(
12 out of 16
)
Customer Questions & Answers:
4 Questions | 4 Answers
Customer Reviews for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod
Review 1 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Good carbon fiber monopod for a great price

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: MrGoogle
on 05/05/2012
Value for Price
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Ease of Use
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Durability
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Ease of Storage
4.0 out of 5
4.0
What's great about it: included ball head, great price (on clearance), light weight, rigidity
What's not so great: Pan knob, Pan action too tight, Regular price too high
I recently set out to replace my aging Velbon RUP-40, a cheap $20-$30 aluminum monopod. I wanted a nicer ball head than my DIY one as well. I'd ruled out the Rocketfish because bestbuy.com said it was sold out on-line and wasn't available for store pickup or in stock. I was comparing this to the SunPak model they sell. Since one store near me had the SunPak I went to take a look. The SunPak was terrible for $70...way too thin and flexible. To my surprise, my BestBuy had the Rocketfish in stock and for even cheaper than website ($60# and at checkout was even cheaper #$52). This was only $2 more than the Manfrotto aluminum I was considering as a 2nd choice.
I haven't used in the field yet, but it's just as rigid, if not slightly more, than my old Velbon and is slightly higher. One knob has a metal rough spot, but otherwise it's OK. The panning is way too tight, but I'm not sure when you will be panning a monopod anyway. So far it appears to be a great purchase for only $52. I think it would be way overpriced for the quality you get @ $79. So check your local store.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Do Not Buy

Customer Rating
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Posted by: rocketmanrb56
from carlsbad, california
on 03/08/2012
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: nothing
What's not so great: vender doesnt carry replacement parts
Do not buy this monopod. You cannot get parts for it. I've had it three weeks and lost the quick release plate. This is the part that they advertise as sooooo wonderful. I tried to order a new part but they dont make the part anymore nor do they have a replacement for. I contacted rocketfish customer service to here the same, that the part is no longer made or carried. They told me to search the free market for part no. WFC573-06 to get the part. I searched the web but NO ONE has the part. It doesnt exist. I now have a monopod that I cant use because of the missing part. What a let down. If your in the market for a monopod spend the extra and make sure they supply parts for it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-4points
0out of 4found this review helpful.
Review 3 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Decent, but not a pro level item

Customer Rating
3.0 out of 5
3.0
Posted by: flagmarshal
from Harrisburg, NC
on 03/01/2012
Ease of Use
3.0 out of 5
3.0
Durability
1.0 out of 5
1.0
What's great about it: rigid and easy to adjust
What's not so great: loose bolts, floppy ball head.
The quick release plate is hard to tighten and works loose easily. The bolts that hold the head to the main body worked loose within just a couple of weeks' use. The ball head is nice but a little better friction control would help - it's either too tight or floppy with very little in between.
For the price, I'm not going to complain much, but I certainly would recommend saving your pennies and getting a pro model for heavy use.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 4 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Not worth the money

Customer Rating
3.0 out of 5
3.0
Posted by: ghostcrawler
from USA
on 02/27/2012
Value for Price
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Ease of Use
3.0 out of 5
3.0
Durability
2.0 out of 5
2.0
Ease of Storage
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Over priced and a pretty terrible design on the camera mount.Have to retighten constantly.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-1point
0out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 5 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

great for the price

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: AnotherUser
from Burlington, KY
on 02/08/2012
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
3.0 out of 5
3.0
Durability
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Ease of Storage
4.0 out of 5
4.0
What's great about it: good price. it was on sale. lightweight
What's not so great: have to tighten the sections really tight
For the price it is a good value. Sturdy and light weight but wish the sections had different tighteners to keep the sections from sliding without having to tighten them hard. The quick release is nice.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 6 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Very Good Value

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Seventeennames
from St. Pete, Fl
on 02/01/2012
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Storage
4.0 out of 5
4.0
What's great about it: Ease of Use/Functionality, nice carry bag & strap.
What's not so great: Slightly bulky when carrying around. But not bad.
I use it with a Canon camcorder in low light situations like at a party or a nightclub and it works great, even being 6'3" tall. It's light, sturdy and easy to use. Just a little bulky when carrying not in use, but it's worth it.
The swivel head and quick release function perfect. For the price it is a Very Good Value!!! I would buy another just like it if I lost it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 7 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Very sufficient for mono application..

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: lrrp69
from Georgia
on 02/01/2012
What's great about it: Light.. sturdy over 60",, price..
What's not so great: Could use a retractable built in spike on the bottom top for certain applications.. Reason for 4 Stars in lieu of 5..
Sturdy until you extend the last lower section but.. at 5' 11" I don't need it so this monopad is perfect for my use. Light... sleeve locks on extension leg work well and the removable plate that attaches to camera locks in well on the ball head adapter plate.. Having caught it on sale... I couldn;t ask for more at the price...!! .
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 8 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

For those of above average height, this is the one

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: AMontcri
from Oviedo,FL
on 01/27/2012
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Durability
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: Height, light, durable, carrying case, non-slip foot, ball head
What's not so great: Locks take some time getting used to
Because of my height, my experience with monopods has been a pain in the ... back! Having to bend over or crouch to get that "perfect" shot can be bad for your back. Fully extended, it's the perfect height. Lightweight, compared to others in this category, but durable and with a great carrying case. Non-slip foot works great in bleachers. The ball head is excellent, if only a tiny bit rough when panning forward. Tubular locks compared to paddles takes a bit to get used to, but are very secure when tightened in place. Quick release plate is well made, with a wonderful locking mechanism that prevents it from detaching by accident. Event with my monster lens, this monopod is great!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 9 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Great Monopod for the Price

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: Larryfl
from Fort Lauderdale, FL
on 01/18/2012
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: Sturdy & good build quality.
What's not so great: Twist style leg extension locks.
Very happy with this purchase. Monopod is sturdy yet light weight and easy to set up. Locking ball head really clamps solid and at any angle. Fitted carrying case takes up no more room than necessary and makes it very easy to tote around. The only slight minus I have is with the twist style leg section locks - they can be overstressed if you're not careful and in a hurry it can get confusing which one controls which leg segment. A quick release style latch would be a nice improvement, but overall the build quality is great, the monopod is solid and I'm very happy with it for the price.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 10 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Good deal for the price with a lot of flex.

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: DickinsonDad
from Northern VA
on 01/13/2012
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
3.0 out of 5
3.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: Price and weight
What's not so great: Flexes too much
I use this to support a D3s with a 400mm f2.8 for sports photography. It is replacing my aluminum monopod that was taken out by a wide receiver. Since I am 6'4" I have almost all sections fully extended. I get a lot of flex which is a bit disconcerning. I will continue to use it but will probably replace it early next season.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 11 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

It's a good monopod!

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: RiffRaffCat75
from Georgia
on 12/28/2011
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: the ballhead, light weight, easy to use
What's not so great: foot on bottom needs to be flat and wide
At first I wasn't so sure about this monopod because of other reviews I'd read having negative things to say about it, but I bought it anyway. I figured I need to decide for myself if this was a good buy or not. In my opinion I think It's a good buy and a good product. The one that I bought hasn't come apart and isn't really that wobbly. I don't extend it all the way out and I feel that keeps it from being wobbly. The ball head is really nice and is worth the money. The only thing that I wish was different is the foot on the bottom. I feel it could have been different, maybe with a spike or a wide flat cup/bottom on it. Overall, it is well worth the money.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 12 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Quality monopod on the cheap (on sale)

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: kanehi
from Honolulu, HI
on 12/07/2011
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: Carbon fiber, light weight, easy to manipulate, price, can be used as a walking stick
What's not so great: no spike at the end, only rubber.
This is an affordable carbon fiber monopod with an included ball head. The monopod sections are adequate in size to make it steady when taking photos. This monopod extends up to 70" (I'm 67") so it'll be rare for me use it at full length. Youtube has some great hints on how to steady a monopod and I highly recommend watching them. There's a reason why a monopod is wobbly when fully extended and that's because it becomes top heavy when the camera is mounted. The ball head is a great asset because the camera can be positioned any way you want it. The ball head is like a smaller version of my Dolica tripod ball head which can also be use on this monopod, the plates actually fits this ball head! One minor negative is it doesn't have a metal spike at the end. Overall this is a great bargain specially when it's on sale! Highly recommend!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
Review 13 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

good value

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: mrbillzwa
from NW Washington
on 09/21/2011
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Storage
4.0 out of 5
4.0
An impressive monopod for the money! The included ballhead is functional if not a bit clunky and comes w/ a (proprietary) quick release plate. The mount surface (of the monopod) features both a 1/4 and 3/8 inch screw. It is rather lightweight and collapeses to a very workable length that easily fits in my travel duffel. Build quality seems very good. My only (possible) concern is the ease of replacement of the rubber foot when it wears out- it seems to be attached permanently.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+6points
6out of 6found this review helpful.
Review 14 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

The Ball Head alone is worth the price.

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: InventoryTroll
from Jerome, ID
on 08/06/2011
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: Light, Ball Head, Firm mounting plate.
What's not so great: Bit Wobbly fully extended, but I'm not 70" tall.
The Ball Head on this monopod is very high quality. I use the head on this monopod and my heavy duty tripod. It can easily support my Canon 60D =1.7lb with battery grip = .6lb and Sigma (or bigma as it is nicknamed) 50-500mm EX DG 4.1lb, a 6.4lb setup. It is has a sturdy metal plate with a screw type clamp. The ball can lock tight or be left slightly loose to adjust and leave as well as a full cutout to pivot head 90 degrees to the side. The monopod is very light and easy to use but as stated in a previous review can be a bit wobbly when fully extended. The likelihood of using a 70” monopod fully extended is between slim and none, possibly for hillside setup but that’s about it. This monopod is on my camera backpack at all times and makes a great walking stick on unforgiving terrain. But all in all I would have paid this price for the head alone!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+11points
11out of 11found this review helpful.
Review 15 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

took it back after first use!

Customer Rating
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Posted by: bestbuyer10
from boston
on 10/22/2010
Value for Price
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Ease of Use
2.0 out of 5
2.0
Durability
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Ease of Storage
4.0 out of 5
4.0
bought this product for my wife, an avid photographer...
during her first use, she managed to pull the bottom half of the pod away from the body... probably due to her not reading directions on propoer use or whatever, i have no idea, but it was definitely broken!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-44points
2out of 48found this review helpful.
Review 16 for Rocketfish™ 70" Carbon Fiber Monopod

Nice carry around monopod

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: JFromSD
from Rapid City, SD
on 09/29/2010
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Durability
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Ease of Storage
5.0 out of 5
5.0
What's great about it: light weight, sturdy, good quality for the price
What's not so great: wobbly when fully extended
I purchased it for taking along on walks/hikes in the hills where my tripod would get too heavy. I have had this for a couple weeks and so far it has done fine.
The twist locks on the leg are solid so you don't have to worry about it creeping back down while you are setting up a shot. The only down side is that the leg is a bit flimsy when extended. There is a little wobble when you get that last section extended.
The ball head is nice and solid and doesn't take a lot to keep it in place. I hung my 7D with a 70-200L on it and it stayed put every time when I needed it to. There is also a cut out so you can turn the camera 90 degrees to portrait orientation which is a very nice feature to have on the ball head.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+47points
47out of 47found this review helpful.