gorillapod

[dennisatmph]

Hi Friends,

Yesterday I went to Everglades with my friend but unable to get any pics with both of us inside. I took her pics and she took my pics.

I would like to get something like a gorilapod to help take pics of both of us.
I have 50 L on canon 5dm2 with grip and 430 2 flash

1. What is the best brand out there for this kind of ultra small tripod.
1b is gorillapod the best brand out there ? I looked at the base, small round thing looks like slippery when put on the table
2. are there different sizes
3. where is the best place to buy?
4. I presume they are small things and light, and can fit into my 6 md crumpler
5. with the gorllia pod, must you bend the legs to use it, ie can i use it like a regular minitripod ie with the legs straight. I worry when I put the camera on it, the legs will somehow get bent?

Thanks for sharing insight.

dennis

[JohnnyEgo]

I got the heavy-duty Gorilla Pod for SLRs & Camcorders about a year ago. It is useful, but not as much as I had hoped. For starters, I don't trust it with anything but the lightest of lenses. You can use it like a mini tripod with the legs all the way straight. However, you have to position it very carefully, and you often get lens droop. I position mine with one front leg straight out along the line of the lens, and then bent up at the end to support the lens when used on the table.

This is important to note, because while the pod is really good at bending and gripping around odd surfaces, and has a pretty good hold on the camera, it's just too much weight on the very small center column to reliably position the camera body. I often have to figure out how much my camera is going to droop when I let go of it, and then orient the pod accordingly.

The pod has good traction, and the legs have pretty good friction which tends to keep them from getting bent when used within the design limits of the particular pod. They are light weight and a superb accessory when used in conjunction with a P&S camera, which is now how I use them the most.

In summary, I think the Gorillapod is a good product, as long as you have reasonable expectations as to what it can accomplish.

[dennisatmph]

Thanks alot for taking the time to reply with your detailed reply.
If that is the case, may be I should consider another brand. Is there another brand out there with just a straight legs, you know, like very small minitripod, instead of legs that can bend, so that I know for sure the tripod will not droop with the heavy SLR.

[Crazy Horse]

I have the SLR-Zoom version. I am actually quite impressed with the pod.

I choose this small tripod over others because of it's ability to sit on rough terrain. I have no desire to hang my camera from a tree branch, fence, railing - but making a simple, sturdy base for my XS+55-250, it does fine.

I am leaving next week for a 5 month backpacking trip through South America, so a full size tripod was out of the question. I needed something to hide easily.

As long as you know the limitations of this tripod, I think it's great. Don't expect to take 30 second exposures with it while hanging upside down, but for a few second exposures, or just a sturdy base it's fine.

I don't care how amateurish it looks, it suits my needs.

[Jon]

With any DSLR the minimum to consider is the SLR-Zoom model. And remember - it's not a tripod; you'll get best results if you don't treat it like one (with your camera standing on top of it with the legs stretched out straight). Use it more like a bean bag - mash the legs down on/around whatever you're using as a base for it.

[JohnnyEgo]

Thanks alot for taking the time to reply with your detailed reply.
If that is the case, may be I should consider another brand. Is there another brand out there with just a straight legs, you know, like very small minitripod, instead of legs that can bend, so that I know for sure the tripod will not droop with the heavy SLR.

I don't know too much about standard mini tripods, unfortunately. I agree with Jon & Crazy Horse that the Gorillapod is highly useful provided you understand it's limitations. I use mine frequently for impromptu group shots on timer, much as you have described your desire to do so. With an XTi and a light weight lens such as the 50mm prime, it does an admirable job provided you do your part in positioning and supporting it correctly.

I live by the nation's oldest tourist trap; St. Augustine, FL. I use mine frequently on the railings and walls of the Fort there to take pictures of myself and my wife. I think it will serve quite admirably for your intended purpose, although I doubt I'd trust it wrapped around an oar and held over the river with a 1d and a 70-200mm lens mounted to it.

[_aravena]

^Ditto. I must say, it seems ya'll have forgotten it's newest product, the Gorillapod Focus being much larger and on sale at REI.com. I was tempted to buy it actually as it's 25% off and quite a steal. I have the SLR Zoom and it's quite nice actually and gets teh job done. I can wrap it around with confidence with my smaller lenses and it acts a stabilizer when using the 70-200. So if instead of a tripod on the ground, this goes on a ledge, table, or whatever and I can take stabilized shots or long exposures with smaller lenses.

I would trust the focus much more though with the new design and all.

[Jon]

I'd have said something about it except my REI is perpetually sold out of it. But maybe that should tell us something too . . .

[_aravena]

http://www.rei.com/product/783608 + shipping!

[Canon Bob]

I'm not advocating using one in this type of setup but the shot is simply designed to give you an idea of strength.....a 300/2.8 IS and gripped 50D
Bob

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/IMG_0116w.jpg

[dennisatmph]

I'm not advocating using one in this type of setup but the shot is simply designed to give you an idea of strength.....a 300/2.8 IS and gripped 50D
Bob

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/IMG_0116w.jpg

Bob,
Thanks for the pic. Which gorilla pod is this one ?
Is it the SLR-zoom ?

[Crazy Horse]

With any DSLR the minimum to consider is the SLR-Zoom model. And remember - it's not a tripod; you'll get best results if you don't treat it like one (with your camera standing on top of it with the legs stretched out straight). Use it more like a bean bag - mash the legs down on/around whatever you're using as a base for it.

I often hear people say that it isn't a tripod. The way I see it, since it is a pod with 3 legs, or a tri-legged pod - I have no problem referring to it as a tripod. Like you said, I think the important thing is understanding that it will not replace your Manfrotto.

Again, like you said, mashing the legs down works great to create a nice platform.

I'll set mine up in some of my favourite positions and take a few shots. They may be helpful to someone looking into getting one.

[Crazy Horse]

Bob,
Thanks for the pic. Which gorilla pod is this one ?
Is it the SLR-zoom ?


Yup! That's the SLR zoom.

[junji98]

i have the GP focus. It's solid carrying my gripped xti with a 17-55 2.8 IS attached :)

[Canon Bob]

Bob,
Thanks for the pic. Which gorilla pod is this one ?
Is it the SLR-zoom ?

Yup! That's the SLR zoom.

As CH spotted...it's the "zoom" version

[Canon Bob]

Ooops

[Crazy Horse]

As CH spotted...it's the "zoom" version

Oops! Brain fart! It's the same as mine, yes, the SLR-Zoom.

[troybal]

Hey folks just found this post concerning the Gorillapod. I am traveling for 3 weeks outside the country and want to take a tripod with me for night shots, group shots of family etc... has to be light but I want it to be dependable as well. May need it for trips when I get back in the USA as well.
So thanks for the pics. Would you folks put a ball head or something on top of the Gorillapod to give you some room to move the camera up down/sideways? Or would you not recommend that?
Thanks!
TR.

[Jon]

A Gorillapod isn't a tripod. They don't (even with a super light camera) offer a lot of height (less than a foot), so they will usually have to be on something else. Adding a ball head just adds extra weight to the load, and makes free-standing use even more problematic. A Gorillapod is much better used as a sort of super-versatile bean bag you can wrap around objects to stay at odd angles. And that way I certainly wouldn't use a head on it.

[troybal]

A Gorillapod isn't a tripod. They don't (even with a super light camera) offer a lot of height (less than a foot), so they will usually have to be on something else. Adding a ball head just adds extra weight to the load, and makes free-standing use even more problematic. A Gorillapod is much better used as a sort of super-versatile bean bag you can wrap around objects to stay at odd angles. And that way I certainly wouldn't use a head on it.

Thanks John!
I was just looking for something that was lightweight and could fit in a travel bag as I am headed out of the country. Could you recommend a lightweight tripod that would be good for travel and fit in a carry on type of bag?

I figured the Gorillapod Focus because it states it can support 11lbs and it is less then a 1lb.
TR.

[Jon]

My travel tripod is the Slik 613CF Pro; height about 3' less center column and before adding the head on; weight 1.5 lb. (again, without head; I use the Adorama Flashpoint F-2 since I use Arca-Swiss style plates) and it fits in a small suitcase easily (probably fits into a carry-on sized suitcase for that matter).