Monopod or Tripod??

What are your guys opinions on monopods and tripods? I'm looking to get into wildlife photography and I need a monopod or tripod.
Does a monopod get the job done? Or do the pictures tend to come out much worse? Is a tripod so much better or no?
Any opinions would be great!
Thanks

LAST EDITED ON Dec-20-12 AT 12:36PM (MST)[p]I use my mono for sports shooting where I'm shooting at different locations and angles during a game. I also use it when shooting wakeboarders/skiers out of the back of the boat. On the other hand, I only really use my tripod when I'm shooting long-exposure shots where any camera shake is magnified significantly.

The other day I shot at my son's school Christmas program and forgot my mono and that was a big mistake...trying to hold up a 70-200 lens while taking a movie is too tiring. The mono's are good when you have to be mobile and you need some stability.

I don't get out into the hills to specifically shoot wildlife, but if I did, I'd take the mono.

Hope this helps

Gaetz

With a tripod, you have the ability to use a wire remote shutter button, reducing camera shake. You can also relax while waiting for the next shot,
Yelum

It depends a lot on which lens you're using and how mobile you need to be. I use my monopod a lot with my 200-400, if the light levels are high enough to allow a decent shutter speed. With my 600mm, the monopod isn't much of an option for me, that lens is just too big to handle except on a tripod. On the smaller side, my 70-200 almost never sees a tripod, its a monopod or handheld unless the light is really poor.
All things considered the tripod will produce the highest percentage of sharp photos but the monopod is quicker to get into action and less cumbersome. I know pros who never shoot without a tripod and other folks who rarely use one.
Whatever you get, don't go cheap.

I've only used tripods that are rock solid. New models are super light, compact, and stable...don't skimp on price you get what you pay for! The benefit to a super tripod is you can use it for hunting. If you are like me and spend hours each day looking through a spotting scope a stable tripod is worth it's weight in gold!