What would be the slowest shutter speed possible while using a monopod and would it make more sense having IS turned on while using a monopod for slow shutter speed?
1 Answer
There is no such thing. Unlike a tripod, a monopod only improves stability. How much will depend on the particular monopod, its height, the wind, the focal-length you use, how you breath, etc.
What you can hope is that it will improve compared to how you hand-hold. Remember than these is no absolute their either. A common rule of thumb is 1 over the focal-length but recently many photographers claim 1 over twice the focal-length or more. That is because increased resolution requires more stability.
With good breathing, a solid stance, a short focal-length and stabilization on, it is possible to hold 1/4s or a little less but I am not sure at all how this can help you.
In regards to stabilization, yes use the stabilizer as there is still movement to stabilize with a monopod.
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2\$\begingroup\$ And the most common use for a monopod is to take the weight of very long lenses so that you can get up to the 1/f or 1/2f level in the first place -- not easy with, say, a 12-pound (5.3kg) 400mm/2.8 handheld at all. \$\endgroup\$– user2719Aug 23, 2012 at 17:45