I see that the Gorillapod people just came out with their "Focus" model which they claim will hold 11 lbs! Anyone thinking about getting one? I'm always looking for new and unique ways of supporting my gear but I haven't come up with any situations where I wouldn't be able to use either of my 2 tripods, my monopod or my beanbag...

$140!! i'll stick with my slr zoom.

It could be useful for some special purpose, and even one usable shot would be worth the cost.

EBH

I have one. Got it on special from Adorama for "only" $100.

Hard to say how useful these things will be for most people (more on that below) but as far as build quality, this unit seem VERY solid. With my 5D and a 300mm lens attached, standing on a table as if a little tripod, I can tap the camera, and feel basically no residual vibration. It's about as stiff as a good aluminum tripod. My friend has the SLR version, and that one definitely does not damp vibration as well.

The strength of the legs (holding power when wrapped around something) is excellent, at least when the pod is new. No idea how it will age.

Another plus for this model is that it's taller than the SLR model. In "tripod" mode, it's about 11" to the screw. Sitting on a typical table, that gives you the equivalent of about a 40-41" tripod. Not great, but slightly more useable than the shorter model. I'm putting a Bogen vertical squeeze-grip head on mine, which will give me another few inches (over a standard ballhead.)

-BTW, I don't think these pods are very useful without ANY head. You probably want to also add a quick-release clamp. Start to get expensive, so you REALLY need to ask:
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Is it useful?

Well, for group portrait shots with a remote, sitting on a table, it's still a little short. (useful in an emergency, though)

For low-to the ground shots, and some macro & product shots, it is fantastic. -but again, you're going to want a quick-release clamp, or it may not be worth the effort to use it. (you might also want a 90-degree angled viewfinder. I'm hoping Canon's next offerings have articulating LCD's.)

For keeping in the truck as an emergency, well that's the main reason to have one, yes? -But I dunno how often when you need a tripod, you're going to find a convenient lamp, or ledge, or tree branch, right where you need it. What else can you attach this to? That's the problem.

One last use, and the reason I bought mine: I'm a musician, and like to take pics (movies also if I get the 5DII) of my band performing. It's usually rather difficult/dangerous to set up a tripod at the back wall of a club. However, there are typically lots of solid things hanging on the back wall & from the ceiling. I will use the pod to thus suspend my 5D high up on the back wall, and take pics with my radio remote. For, me, that one use is worth much more than I paid for this gizmo, even with the extra head & clamp.

Is that the 5D + 300/2.8 IS or something else?

EBH

No. Just a "lowly" Nikon 300/4.5 (a great lens, BTW)

I bought it, when I initially seen the $140.00 price tag I said ouch too, being its so small, but my first outing with it, and its already paid for itself (did a nightshot from the top floor ledge of a skyscraper with a 5D/70-200mm 2.8L, it was stable and I got sharp shot) this model gorillapod is indespensable if your like me and your all over the place doing night shots and you dont want to drag the real tripod out. I can think of 100 other great uses with it for DSLR users such as travel.

Interesting -- sounds intriguing. Any chance of doing some tests at a range of shutter speeds? Long night exposures are nice, but even more useful would be to see how it does between 1/4th and 1/30th of a second with even a moderate tele lens.

Does it work well enough as a low pod?

EBH

EB-1 wrote:
Does it work well enough as a low pod?

EBH

i found the slr zoom perfect as a low pod even with a d2h macro shots, no sharpness issues

So this new one should be sturdier, right?

EBH

Yes.

It's firmer than a bunch of HS football players, hiding out in the girls locker room during shower-time.


Well, maybe not THAT firm.

I just discovered a situation in which the Gorrillapod is actually SUPERIOR to a tripod.

Well, OK, my tripod is only a mid-level aluminum Manfotto, but still:

I was hiking yesterday, and wanted to do a 3-5 second NDF exposure on a stream. It was a very windy day, but I was several miles in, and didn't want to come back. Plus, the light was perfect.

Using my tripod, even with a heavy weight hanging from the center-hook, I got a lot of blur.

Luckily, there was a pine tree right there, and I had brought along the pod. Using the pod wrapped around the lowest branch, the shot was rock-solid. A world of difference.

Granted, the position of the camera wasn't dead-perfect, which bothers me, but the shot itself was far superior. My guess is that it would have outperformed even a top-end Gitzo, in this particular situation.

This gizmo is definitely worth having in your kit.

For 140 bucks, you'll get 5 professional clamps like these:

http://www.adorama.com/BG2915.html?searchinfo=bogen%20clamp&item_no=17

... or one super clamp and a used heavy duty tripod ...

They'll hold the weight safely.

I wouldn't trust my 2k or 3k gear on a plastic gorilla pod ....

Mario

Got an Ebay version. Works a treat. 90% of the time I use it for holding a flash unit though, as I can put a flash in positions where I couldn't before.
Wouldn't be without it!

Cableaddict wrote:
I just discovered a situation in which the Gorrillapod is actually SUPERIOR to a tripod.

Well, OK, my tripod is only a mid-level aluminum Manfodo, but still:

I was hiking yesterday, and wanted to do a 3-5 second NDF exposure on a stream. It was a very windy day, but I was several miles in, and didn't want to come back. Plus, the light was perfect.

Using my tripod, even with a heavy weight hanging from the center-hook, I got a lot of blur.

Luckily, there was a pine tree right there, and I had brought along the pod. Using the pod wrapped around the lowest branch, the shot was rock-solid. A world of difference.

Granted, the position of the camera wasn't dead-perfect, which bothers me, but the shot itself was far superior. My guess is that it would have outperformed even a top-end Gitzo, in this particular situation.

This gizmo is definitely worth having in your kit.




This kind of long exposure is probably what they do best (I have the SLR version). Unfortunately, 3-5 second exposures really aren't the best test of stability, since they give the rig time to settle. At shorter speeds, there's still a lot of bounce and mirror slap, and I haven't gotten the sense that the Gorillapods can come close to handling exposures between 1/2 and 1/30th of a second.

They're handy tools, though.

Ah, but that's where I see a big difference between this focus model, and your DSLR model. The legs still aren't rock solid, but much stiffer.

Stiffer than... you get the idea.

pr4photos wrote:
Got an Ebay version. Works a treat. 90% of the time I use it for holding a flash unit though, as I can put a flash in positions where I couldn't before.
Wouldn't be without it!

That's brilliant!

I never thought of that as a possibility, but I use two Speedlights, so it could be fantastic. Thanks for the idea.

Sorry to be such a skeptic -- I'll try to check one out sometime.

I use my SLR with a flash shoe all the time -- it's perfect for that. A couple of times, I've hung a pair of flashes in table lamps indoors (Nikon SB-800 & SB-600). Quick, easy, discrete light for a party -- works great.

pr4photos wrote:
Got an Ebay version. Works a treat. 90% of the time I use it for holding a flash unit though, as I can put a flash in positions where I couldn't before.
Wouldn't be without it!

Can you share a link to the eBay version?
How much was it?