Hardhat vs Monopod

Technology is continuously improving when it comes to capturing job sites in construction, but the human element is still very constant. 360 Cameras have been developing at a rapid pace, but at the end of the day, we're still placing them on tripods, monopods and hard hats resulting in an essential topic of discussion: human input and limitations.

Diving in let's break down the Pros and Cons of capturing with a couple of different setups; in particular Hard Hat vs. Monopod.

Hard Hat

Pros:

Ease of UseUsing the hard hat requires the least amount of effort in holding the camera in a consistent positionFrees up a handWith this mount one of the user’s hands will be completely free to help navigate or hold other itemsConsistent Capture The level of photos being captured will be consistent and thus provide a streamlined perspective when comparing photos on a timeline

Cons:

AdjustingAdjusting the camera means removing the hard hat (Safety)Checking the CameraKeeping updated on memory/battery requires removing the hard hat (Safety)VideoWalk IssuesVideoWalk is less reliable due to natural head swiveling when keeping awareness up on the job site. This results in blurry frames and potentially a loss of dataObstacles Low hanging items and doorways can be troublesome to navigate with the extra height for some users risking damage to the camera

Monopod

Pros:

ControlThe monopod allows the user to move the camera as needed for obstacles and navigationAccessoriesThe monopod supports items such as device mounts for phones/tablets, a light for darker conditions and battery packsPseudo TripodSome monopods are as tall as 6 feet at full extension and can be placed with their base on the ground as a sort of assisted tripodUniversalCan be shared among different team members to execute capturing sessions with easeReach The user can extend the camera pass ceiling framing and capture spaces that a hard hat mount cannot
 

Cons:

Captures the UserAt least some part of the user who is using the monopod will be captured in the images/videoWeightWith a fully accessorized monopod, the weight of the set up will be significantly higher and can require a certain level of endurance for a full day of capturingUpkeepStorage, tracking, and making sure all parts are tightly fastened: a fully set up monopod will want to be properly maintained to avoid any issuesBoth Hands Occupied Taking photos with the monopod and operating the mobile app will require coordination with both hands

If a team is currently trying to decide which solution to go with 'it's never a wrong decision to have both as an option. Depending on what sort of goal your capture needs are trying to obtain, one might be more suited than the other.

For Example: If the team needs to go capture and document installation of drywall across an entire floor of rooms to show that it was done then a hard hat mount is going to work very well to deliver this data with very little time spent capturing. If the team needs to capture duct work and possibly parts of installation beyond framing in the ceiling, then the monopod is going to offer a quick solution to get the camera into snug spots that a hard hat mount cannot.

All in all, it's great to have options and find out what works for each scenario when it comes to capturing and documenting the job site.

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