Joby Gorilla Pod

Yup but you can get basically the exact same thing from dealextreme for a hell of a lot cheaper if you don't mind buying from HK and waiting a while for delivery.
 
Well I'm just thinking of christmas pressie ideas for the family as they never know what to get me so was just wondering if its any good really?

On the pics its like wrapped round poles and that, it that actually possible?
 
ohh i want it for an SLR does anyone use it for their SLR?
 
I occasionally use mine with an SLR (not 100% sure what model gorillapod it is as there are a few models.) more as a mini tripod than wrapped around trees etc.

I do find it useful for mounting a remote flashgun when a lightstand is not possible
 
They make one for compact and gf1 size cameras, one for dslrs, one for dlsr with zoom I believe.

7dayshop do their version..SUPERHERO... was about to buy one but not sure wether to go for the real thing.

It would be very useful .. except.. if you want to take a landscape shot anzd you happen to be in the middle of a field!
 
Last edited:
They work ok as long as you aint got a whooping great lens on your body, I have one but only use it for my compact on holidays TBH.
 
I have the Gorillapod SLR which can take upto 3KG in weight and takes my D300s with no dramas. It works brilliantly when its got a ball head fitted to it (another £30) but without the ball head its hard work trying to get it into position.
 
the one in the link says its compatible with my slr. Might just bite the bullet and give it a try. Im a beginner to photography so total beginner to tripods and when to and not use them.
 
I bought a cheap copy and suck a manfrotto 494RC2 ball head on it as I was unsure how much I would use it. The copy works great, holds on to stuff just like it is supposed to do. One of the joints has gone a little loose I'm not sure if the real ones would but I play with mine quite a lot wrapping it round posts and stuff. The ball head makes it far more useful I have had a gripped 500D and 70-200 f/2.8 IS on there mounted on a ladder and it felt perfectly fine. Getting the best gripping position is the key and can take a few attempts before I will put the camera on there but it does work.
 
Scrolling down that linked page tells me that it's a GorillaPod SLR Zoom. I use one as a travel support, with a D700 and assorted lenses mounted. Works rather better when wrapped around things than it does as a stand alone tripod, although it does work as the stand alone if necessary (takes a minute or 2 to get all the legs straight for max strength). I have a small Manfrotto ball head mounted on mine, as much to give me a QR plate as anything, although it does also make it a lot easier to frame the shot I want.

There's also another (more expensive) model which is supposed to be even sturdier.
 
I use the SLR version and it goes everywhere with the camera in case I get a "damm, wish I had a tripod" moment. Fiddly to set up, but a useful bit of kit.
 
I have the SLR Zoom and Ball head and was surprised at how good the head was. Great bit of kit with anaconda like grip! ;)
Phil
 
CanonKim said:
ohh i want it for an SLR does anyone use it for their SLR?
Click to expand...

I used it in a recent trip where I could not take my Redsnapper - shot the image below with it. The camera was Nikon D200 with Nikon 17-35 f/2.8 lens and B&W LPL and Cokin P holder with ND Grad filter - so pretty heavy.

The tripod itself is fine as a quick fix for the "don't have my large and sturdy tripod" situation but I would not recommend of use it on a permanent basis. I don't think it is good for very long exposures either. Not really easy to setup in a position with heavier camera (can't imagine how long it took them to setup the SLR one on their advertising photo with telephoto lens) the legs are fiddly and to set and in some positions give in really easy and bend under weight. And I would not trust it twisting around the pole as in advert either - the leg sections simply not strong enough to lock and hold the position for anything but very simple/small SLR and lens combos. I think investing in portable tripod would be a better idea to be honest.

 
Last edited:
I use one when I go trekking in the Lakes and Snowdonia, as stated, it can support up to 3kg, but usually camera and lens comes to about 1/2 that. Its ideal if you want support for your camera and are limited on space and weight in your rucsac, but its not a replacement for a tripod, but then I wouldn't really want to carry a tripod up half the scrambles I did earlier this year in the lakes. Be careful which one you get, there's the SLR version and the SLR Zoom version, the Zoom is the 1 to go for, abit fiddly to setup and adjust, but at least proves a reasonable platform for your camera unless you overload it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top