Joby Tripods

Hi,

Can't really take the credit for finding these. Douglas on my Twitter feed posted the url to Joby Tripods. They looks quite interesting. You can wrap them around things, trees, polls etc.

Anyone got one or have any feedback?

http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/

Cheers

Michael

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Thomas von Hassel on January 13, 2008 at 11:48am: I know a pro photographer who uses them for everything: cameras, lights, flashes, so i guess there pretty good :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jaberg on January 14, 2008 at 11:42am: I don't own a Gorillapod but I've played with them a little. (I do sometimes carry a Pedco Ultrapod 2.) The Gorillapod is a nice "pocket pod" for use with a compact camera. One of board members of BMAC mounts his pocket camera on one, sits in on a table, and captures videos of the monthly presentations. You need to take an extra moment (or five) to make sure the camera is level. That's true for any camera support of course, but the freeform nature of the Gorillapod legs make the device more prone to these errors.

A lot of the functionality of the Gorillapod can be McGyver'd. I often find that the time spent improvising a camera support also results in taking a closer look at the subject and, in the end, a better photo. Also, there are better ways for me to fill the space in my my fanny pack or camera bag. In the case of my pocket camera, I'll (usually) improvise rather than carry the Ultrapod--or anything beyond a cleaning cloth, spare batteries, spare memory card and, occassionaly, a small folding reflector. By the time I'm thinking of carrying that Gorillapod model intended for a DSLR, I'm going to be packing my Bogen Super Clamp instead--or for that matter my tripod and ballhead!

The portable support/stabilization device that I do often think of getting is one of those bean bag things. They seem much more versatile than any of the legged solutions. And there's no particular reason to get one with a tripod screw attached either--in most cases "just the bag" would do the trick.

This isn't intended as an indictment of the Gorillapod itself--it seems to be well made and function as promised. If it's something you would use regularly and you think it would improve your shooting, go for it!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jaberg on January 17, 2008 at 9:42am: Why take our word for it? iJustine did a MacBreak from the Joby booth at Macworld. I haven't watched it yet myself--it's in the download queue--so it may be fluff, but Justine Ezarik is easy on the eyes and she does do guerilla video/new media production so she should least understand what the 'pods are for.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shawn King on January 22, 2008 at 4:44am: I wouldn't trust an expensive camera with one but a little P&S might be OK.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jesse on February 13, 2008 at 1:54pm: it looks really cool...
but i dont think
i would trust it
with my baby either! : ); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dan Neal on February 13, 2008 at 11:31pm: The web site shows one of them supporting a giant Canon lens and DSLR. That at least suggests that they would be adequate for your D50.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shawn King on February 13, 2008 at 11:52pm: "Adequate" sure as hell ain't good enough. Do they offer an insurance policy or a guarantee that their tripod will support my camera and/or promise to replace it if it falls off their tripod?

No, I didn't think they did. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Fauquet on February 23, 2008 at 8:10am: I bought one of these for Ron for Christmas. He has used it as a traveling tripod and has found it more useful than the more conventional travel tripod we have owned for years. He has not wrapped it around anything yet. I bought the smaller version at Macworld for my iPhone (they are coming out with suction cups for it in March--I got a pre-production one). I have also used it with my Nikon S10, a point and shoot, but once again as a desktop tripod. I did a Google search and the comments were interesting . When it gets warmer, I suspect I will get both of ours outside for some real-world use; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt Storlie on February 27, 2008 at 11:37am: I own a small GorillaPod for my Canon G7 digital camera. But I only use it for "lightweight" duty. I wouldn't use it with my Nikon SLR - which weighs too much. It is a little quirky, but works pretty well. I get a little annoyed sometimes with all of the little parts of the leg going in every which direction! Then I have to work them all back into place. But I do use it for a quick tripod at home for my little digital camera, or when I go hiking with it - you can put it pretty much anywhere. I just wouldn't recommend it or trust it for a larger, heavier camera. I use a full-fledged tripod with my Nikon SLR.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Liana Lehua on February 28, 2008 at 1:44pm: I use the Gorilla Pod with my Canon 30D a lot. The great thing about the bendable "legs" is that you can put your camera in places and at angles you want to shoot and need the stabilization of a traditional tripod. I've used the Joby with my 30D with a 18-200mm lens fully extended, "legs" wrapped around a tree branch just to see if it would hold. I had an extra pair of hands courtesy of a friend, just in case. No problems. It held very sturdy while I took a blast of photos using the timer. The image had no camera shake. The images weren't great, but that's user error. :) I really just wanted to test its strength. I've also used this with my Canon G9 to take pics on a timer so I can be part of the group pics with my friends and family. IMHO, it is totally worth the $54.95 for the big boy pod. I own 3 of them, because I use one with my DSLR, one for a remote flash and the other one with my video cameras. These are definitely nice to have in your arsenal.; ▶ Reply to This