Product: Gorillapod OriginalManufacturer: Joby
MSRP: $24.95
Lowest Historical Price: $18 [History]
Preface
If you’re like most people these days, your point and shoot digital camera is never very far away so that you can capture every memorable moment in excruciating megapixel detail. Image stabilization technology has come a long way to mitigate your shaking hands, but there are some situations where only a tripod will do.
Review
Enter the Joby Gorillapod. It is a mini tripod that is very portable and pocketable, but that’s where its similarities to regular tripods ends. Each of the three legs are made out of ball-socket joints connected end to end for a total of 9 segments on each leg. This allows each leg to be manipulated and contorted into the perfect grip for stabilizing your camera. The grip is further enhanced by a grippy rubber ring that is overmolded to the circumference of each socket joint.
The Gorillapod attaches to your camera via the standard 1/4-20 screw, and the mounting pad that makes contact with your camera is made from rubber so that it won’t cause scratches. It has a quick-release compact shoe that is supposed to make it easy to disconnect your camera from the Gorillapod. That may be the case, however in our testing we found that leaving the shoe on your camera effectively impedes you from using a standard flat surface to free-stand your camera for taking pictures. You must then use the Gorillapod, which is not necessarily the best solution for spontaneous shots since it take a bit of fiddling to get it configured right. We found that instead of using the quick release shoe, we simply left it on and screwed the entire Gorillapod to the camera each time we wanted to use it.Weight Limit
The Gorillapod Original is designed for use with cameras weighing up to 9.7 ounces (275 grams), which pretty much limits it to point and shoot cameras. There are two higher priced Gorillapods available, the Gorillapod SLR for the Digital SLR enthusiast, as well as the the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom for even heavier SLRs with Zoom Lenses.Conclusion
Overall, the Gorillapod is an innovative product that does its job just as you’d expect it to. It allows you to position your camera in places you might not have thought possible before, making it a worthy addition to any photographer’s goodie bag.
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#1
mlpkar - Posted 7:34 pm PST 01/29/08 (66 Posts)
I purchased and these are really good to have.. Enjoyed it and also bought for my nephews. They liked them.
#2
michigan - Posted 2:10 am PST 01/30/08 (152 Posts)
If you have not yet experimented with your digital pocket camera in taking low light photos on a tripod such as this, when you finally do, you will be pleasantly surprised at the photos you can take!
I have been taking this kind of tripod and others on my annual european vacations for the last 6 years & take what I think are incredible photos that the average person cannot take. (If you had one of these tripods, then you can very easily take these photos!).
For example, inside great european churches, the light is typically not too bright and the camera wants to use the flash. But as the area is so large, the flash will not do the job. If you put your camera on a tripod such as this, turn OFF the flash, and use the self timer feature (2 second delay), you will get incredible photos. (The self timer is needed so that the camera is not being bumped/touched during the long exposure that the camera will automatically select.)
My Canon SD800 also has a SLOW SYNC flash mode that I use in certain situations. This mode combines the required slow shutter speed needed to let light from dimmer backgrounds expose properly along with the flash to illuminate the subjects in the foreground. I used this while in the caves of Nerja in Spain to capture the cavernous(!) background while capturing my wife and I in the foreground.
I give these away to friends so that they can take these cool low light photos and also so that they can get in their own photos! My wife's friend had a lot of photos of her new baby dautgter, but no photos of the the whole family. This year's Christmas photo card had all 3 of them and a special note of thanks to me. Try it out!
I have been taking this kind of tripod and others on my annual european vacations for the last 6 years & take what I think are incredible photos that the average person cannot take. (If you had one of these tripods, then you can very easily take these photos!).
For example, inside great european churches, the light is typically not too bright and the camera wants to use the flash. But as the area is so large, the flash will not do the job. If you put your camera on a tripod such as this, turn OFF the flash, and use the self timer feature (2 second delay), you will get incredible photos. (The self timer is needed so that the camera is not being bumped/touched during the long exposure that the camera will automatically select.)
My Canon SD800 also has a SLOW SYNC flash mode that I use in certain situations. This mode combines the required slow shutter speed needed to let light from dimmer backgrounds expose properly along with the flash to illuminate the subjects in the foreground. I used this while in the caves of Nerja in Spain to capture the cavernous(!) background while capturing my wife and I in the foreground.
I give these away to friends so that they can take these cool low light photos and also so that they can get in their own photos! My wife's friend had a lot of photos of her new baby dautgter, but no photos of the the whole family. This year's Christmas photo card had all 3 of them and a special note of thanks to me. Try it out!
#3
psonn - Posted 5:08 am PST 01/30/08 (79 Posts)
I have no complaints about my Gorillapod. It's great, and I only have two things to add:
First, make sure you stick with Joby. Several companies make products that look the same, however they do not perform nearly as well.
Second, the weight limit shouldn't be a major concern. I use this with my Canon S5 IS which is 15.9oz without batteries and something like 19oz with them and I haven't had a problem.
First, make sure you stick with Joby. Several companies make products that look the same, however they do not perform nearly as well.
Second, the weight limit shouldn't be a major concern. I use this with my Canon S5 IS which is 15.9oz without batteries and something like 19oz with them and I haven't had a problem.
#4
billy_bob - Posted 1:26 pm PST 01/30/08 (601 Posts)
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Awww, it is hugging the thermos, that is adorable.
Tripods are awesome. This thing bends?! That means it is even more awesome! And it hugs thermoses! Hot damn, I love it.
#5
cadaver - Posted 10:03 am PST 01/31/08 (2406 Posts)
Nice product. It will grab almost anything.
#6
preferbasic - Posted 10:46 pm PST 02/1/08 (107 Posts)
hmmm, I could really go somewhere with this. But I won't.
#7
jerryslacks - Posted 10:40 pm PST 02/4/08 (606 Posts)
i have this. i got it from joby.com the manufacturer for pretty cheap i used coupon code gorillapodlove i am not sure if it still works. they said fedex "lost an entire shipment" of theirs so it delayed my crap by a week but i think theyre just lazy. it may b a strange one person operation because the person i spoke with in the email and the person who answered the phone when i called were the same person. very weird. its still lowdown and ghetto though. the tripod has been okay so far not as useful as i imagined at first but it will come in handy one day i m sure.
#8
jubb - Posted 8:29 pm PST 02/8/08 (13 Posts)
I want one.
#9
stevenxpham - Posted 5:24 pm PST 02/17/08 (25 Posts)
interesting concept
#10
Janus - Posted 4:33 pm PST 02/24/08 (50 Posts)
I always wanted one because it was an interesting concept but I have an SLR and I'm afraid it won't support the weight. I can't get myself to spend the 50 bucks to get it and try it.
#11
johnnyh - Posted 8:23 pm PST 03/3/08 (10 Posts)
nani?!
#12
jlee0417 - Posted 7:50 pm PST 03/8/08 (9 Posts)
i'm getting on for my nikon d80
#13
dutchsong - Posted 1:17 pm PDT 03/21/08 (40 Posts)
Room for improvement on the look
#14
kris27 - Posted 11:29 pm PDT 03/22/08 (112 Posts)
i am getting it
#15
loco_ese - Posted 1:13 pm PDT 04/15/08 (9 Posts)
I have seen this before and thought that it would be a great idea (like stated) to use just about anywhere. It's going to come in handy in the summer time catching the night storms with the shutter open.
#16
davidnphan - Posted 9:53 am PDT 11/1/08 (11 Posts)
not a bad deal
#17
MChamb4150 - Posted 7:01 am PST 12/9/08 (17 Posts)
Well - I have never seen one of these. This is very interesting. I might just have to get me one.
#18
diabl0451 - Posted 3:46 am PST 01/10/09 (11 Posts)
Bought one and it works great. Mold the tripod to fit anywhere.
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