Gorillapod - what's your opinion?

Look at these pokey things!!! They look sharp!!!

i'd quite like 1 or 2 for mounting flashes!

I voted, have one and don't use much. Maybe for Rebel owners with lighter lenses it may work ok, but when you throw a 5D, 24-70 on it, it's not that easy to position. That doesn't even count the ball head. Without a ball head, it's a PITA to position.

I have a friend who uses this with her P&S and she loves it. Like others have said, I would be concerned using this with a dSLR.

I've got the SLR zoom one. Used it a couple of times. IMO it's next to useless as a "tripod", ie with all 3 legs in a tripod configuration sitting on the ground/tabletop etc. Just not rigid enough.

It's not too bad with the legs wrapped around something solid like a fence post or tree branch (close to the tree trunk!), but it's pokey to get the right orientation.

I'd still prefer a tripod, even travelling overseas I left the gorillapod at home and took the tripod.

I had a play with one in-store and canned the idea instantly. No way would it be secure enough for me to feel happy hanging a 1D off it. I reckon for digicams it'd be awesome.

I have the SLR version (not the zoom model). To support any kind of camera/lens properly, other than the very lightest DSLR (think Rebel plus kit lens or nifty) it needs to be wrapped around something, so that the leverage forces exerted on the joints are quite low. If you try to use the legs extended, in a mini-tripod fashion, then collapse or sag is likely. You also need to be ware that you get reasonable stability with the centre of gravity of your kit directly above the head, but if you start to tilt your gear off balance (which you may need to do to get the composition you actually want) then the risk of collapse/sag increases. I've attached a picture of my SLR model holding my 40D with grip and 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens. It supports it but only if the balance is right. If I tried to aim the camera towards a subject of interest it would be a waste of time.

For wide angle group shots I think the lower end models might be able to step up to th demands of slightly heavier gear, but for mm perfect aim and high stability with a long lens I think the chances of satisfactory performance are poor. Maybe the SLR Zoom model is a significant step up - I don't know. Here's an example of how it is most effective in use....

https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=5213016&po​stcount=10

or at a push....

https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=2801072&po​stcount=15


Maybe the new Focus model is the one we really need.....

http://joby.com/produc​ts/gorillapod/focus/

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I have the SLR Zoom, love it, use it all the time. Nothing beats it if I'm going super light; I can strap it on my pack wrap it around the handlebars on my mountain bike, and it adds essentially no weight.

For me, its something that I keep in my camera bag all the time. I don't use a tripod all the time and therefore hardly ever carry a tripod along, so the gorillapod is great for those few times I need it (and vacations). I actually use mine for lighting more often than not - its small and I can hide a light anywhere with it.

shutterfiend wrote in post #6628569
Look at these pokey things!!! They look sharp!!!

HA! That looks awesome!

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Coincidence? I think not...
http://991.com …r-Of-The-World-325409.jpg

I got one of the big ones over a year ago and did not use it (for paid work) until yesterday on a architecture shoot I was assisting.
Its one of those pieces of equipment that when you need it nothing else will do.
I used it to hold a flash.

Gorilla Pod, one of the best inventions yet, really handy but a tripod it ain't.

You need the pro version as the others are just too weak, I tend to use mine more as a flash stand than for holding a camera, I use 1Dxxx so the weight is just about on its limits, add the 70~200 standard zoom lens and I'm in trouble ~

However, it's super configurable and if one uses it as an aid to, rather than a steadying tripod, then it is really inspiring. Very handy to have around, more versatile than a mini pod, but I stress again that it is NOT a mini pod ~ for my cameras, it's too light and for lighter cameras it does not have the surface grip.

The trick is using it were you can't use conventional gear, as in the ads for it.

I'd recommend the pro version the other two are too much gimmick and not enough substance and practicality, IMO, naturally.

Thanks for your comments guys.

I think you covered pretty much all case scenario, that's interesting to see what it is good at and where it shouldn't be used.

I guess I need to find a demonstration model in a shop and play a bit with it to see if it matches my expectations. Sounds like it would, but I take good note that a tripod ballhead is a must.

I'll definitely go for the pro/slr-zoom version, as I understand bending down the camera will further increase the weight strain on it.

I have one and I really like it for when I use it which is not much. However, it does come in handy when you are going somewhere you either can't or don't want to carry a tripod. Mine resides in the car full time that way it is always handy. I use it for night photography mostly if the camera is mounted to it and other times I mount the flash to it. It actually is sturdier than I thought it would be and holds well.