Monopod turret support

A monopod turret support for rotatably engaging an object relative to a supporting environmental surface, comprising:

• an upper member having an upper end, an apparatus for engaging the object disposed at the upper end, a lower end, and a longitudinal axis;
• a lower member having an upper end, a lower end, and a longitudinal axis;
• an adjustable pivot joint disposed between and pivotally connecting the lower end of the upper member to the upper end of the lower member to enable the upper member to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the upper member relative to the longitudinal axis of the lower member, wherein the adjustable pivot joint comprises a first friction surface ultimately fixed to the upper member, and a second friction surface ultimately fixed to the lower member and disposed in abutment with the first friction surface to define an interface between the upper member and the lower member, and a torsion adjuster disposed to adjust clamping force urging the first friction surface against the second friction surface at the interface, and thus adjusting the amount of tensional force required to rotate the upper member relative to the lower member about the longitudinal axis, wherein the torsion adjuster comprises a screw bearing threads and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of the upper member and of the lower member, and a nut that has threads matingly compatible with the threads of the screw, wherein the nut and the screw serve as a clamp that adjustably imposes the clamping force urging the first friction surface against the second friction surface, and
• a lock element disposed selectively to lock the screw ultimately to one of the upper member and the lower member to enable the screw to drive the nut along the longitudinal axis of the screw, thereby adjusting clamping force when the upper member is rotated relative to the lower member.