It does if your using a camera that is lightweight such has a point and shoot or a low end slr with smaller focal length lenses,,,,But when you put a camera body on one that weighs nearly 3 to 5 lbs with batterypack and a combine that with a lengthy lens that can be anywhere from 1.5 to 5 lbs or more for the 500-800mm group.... You get the Idea!! they are hard enough to try and hold let alone hold and balance on a monopod...Some people will say it is better than nothing but with my experience the more weight you put on one the harder it is to keep balanced and steady,,,,Plus you don't get the camera angles you can with a ultralight tripod and ballhead....