Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras

Amazon Customer Reviews

(4 out of 5)

Sufficient but not revolutionary

I have had my Gorillapod SLR for only a couple of days and have used it just once. I bought it for use with a Canon 300D with my 17-40mm lens. (Total weight on this setup is unofficially 2.6 lbs.--unfortunately appearing to be .1 lbs. over the maximum weight specified by Joby. But, for my purposes, I'm considering that close enough.) Given this weight, my heavier telephoto lens is out of the question. Of course, I knew that prior to my purchase.

Here are my initial thoughts/tips:

- Make sure you do not associate any of the regular Gorillapod's "demo" photos on Joby's website with the SLR version's--or at least pay close attention to the SLR "demo" photos. Specifically, around poles and trees, you will want the legs to wrap fully around the object. Anything less will lack the necessary strength/grip. This point is self-explanatory in the photos but I personally didn't examine them close enough and I did sort of mix "demo" photos in my mind when building my expectations. (Call me an idiot but I was slightly curious if the "Gorillapod-helmet" would work. It--perhaps obviously--will not. I don't think I'd even trust it with my Canon A610 digicam. :) But, I broke out a ski pole and the Gorillapod will definitely be secure on the thin pole. An aspen trunk? Maybe if it's a young tree. A swing set pole? Again, a thin one is likely to work.)

- The Gorillapod seems to have a "sweet spot"--in a traditional tripod stance--where it is just fine and seems perfect. Yet, a slight movement lower causes gravity to win the battle and pull the whole thing down in the middle. A movement in the opposite direction seems to make the Gorillapod unstable--too upright perhaps and ready to topple. If, in the future, Joby could implement some form of "parital leg lock," this issue could be solved.

- My next use of the Gorillapod will be for mountain summit photos and an accompanying hike this weekend. The Gorillapod's "feet" are pretty "sticky"--that is, they're basically like a no-slip Vibram sole. So, I think the Gorillapod will do just fine on 14ers/13ers and on lake rocks, boulder fields, etc.--especially in the traditional 3-leg tripod setup. Gorillapod competitors seem likely to struggle on uneven rocks so I'm feeling good about the Gorillapod in this use.

- I bought the Gorillapod because I thought it was the best option I have seen on the market for throwing in a Camelbak--be it for skiing, hiking, or biking. (My other tripod is a 7.2 lb. Gitzo. I've lugged it around on a hut trip and backpacking trip--sans a few leg sections to shave weight. The Gorillapod will suffice from now on, I believe.) When I took the Gorillapod out today for some shooting, I just put it on the camera and carried the camera with it on--the camera being on my shoulder. I walked to a park and didn't really even notice it. The Gorillapod really does weigh almost nothing.

- The Gorillapod makes a nice "monopod" when used with three legs straight down.

- My 22 month old son loves it. So, at worse, it's a great infant toy for improving motor skills.

- Don't worry about the Gorillapod's camera attachment. It's solid.

- I have a buddy with an Ultrapod. I bought the Gorillapod thinking I had way superior technology despite an over doubling of price. Turns out I probably have merely equivalent but cuter functionality. Also, that buddy has a Canon 10D. The Gorillapod only makes sense for Rebel users in Canon's digital SLR lineup--preferably users with the 18-55 kit lens.

In summary, I would call myself satisfied but not overjoyed. I think it is at least equivalent to the alternatives if not slightly better. But, it is not quite revolutionary. And, keep in mind, these are my first impressions following a single use of it. It didn't knock my socks off but I think I can make it work.

I give it a 4-star rating because I will also use it with my A610 digicam. It should be excellent with that camera when compared to the digicam Gorillapod. 3-stars is likely fitting for use with my SLR (given the sweet spot issue, 2.5 lb. limitation, and slightly elevated cost). But, 3-stars seems low. So, consider my rating a 3.5 and I'm rounding up.

(5 out of 5)

Awesome

Fantastic product. We bought this while looking for one of those mini tripods that you can velcro to another object and found this to be much better. The grip is strong and most situations can be accommodated. It's a little pricey, but well made so very much worth the cost. Older, heavier cameras may tend to overwhelm it in some positions, but for the most part, it works great. If nothing else, it replicates a "traditional" tripod well, and the added bending and gripping feature really makes the difference. I no longer have to balance the camera on the hood of the car with sticks and rocks to get a good photo of us during our travels. Everywhere we go, somebody stops us to ask where to get one... it's quite a spectacle.

I ordered an extra shoe so we can transfer the gorillapod from her camera to mine. If you're in the market for a new camera, try and get one with the tripod mounting shoe somewhat centrally located on the bottom of the camera. My fiance's camera has the tripod mount on one side so the camera wants to lean to the other side. Fortunately, the gorillapod is strong enough to resist this.

(5 out of 5)

Best tripod on the market!!

I still can't believe that this thing is real! And I'm blown away by the quality of the tripod.

The 'legs' are stiff enought that it doesn't fall out of shape as it holds the camera. Each little grey ring around the ball-like pieces are rubberized to help it grip onto objects. I have been able to mount my Canon SD600 and hold one 'foot' of the tripod while it remains in the shape I bent it into. The leg didn't change shape or sag at all.

I've had it on top of my LCD, hung it from a doorway, sitting on top of a lamp... I think the legs are long enough and the feet are 'grippy' enough to mount it to the side of a bowling ball!

The clip on top lets you mount and dismount the camera quite easily and without hassle. The only problem I could see is that with the mounting clip attached to the camera I can't put the camera in the fitted Canon carrying case that I have for the SD600. Well, it fits with it on, but very snug.

I can't stress how much I love this little tripod!! Get one; you won't be disappointed!

(5 out of 5)

Excellent Utility Toy

Joby GP2-01P Gorillapod (large model)

We've converted exclusively to digital, so the 1 kilo weight limitation is not an issue for my family's use. Since I'm generally the pack mule for the group, I like the size and weight. My primary uses are when we're at the family's ranch, when hunting or other "way out" areas that make carrying a "real" tripod less than optimal.

Comments from the previous reviewer indicated that he'd has some problems getting the 'pod to attach to larger diameter objects. I've used it out in the boonies to "grab" a large variety of goodies, rocks, tree stumps, ledges, even a telephone pole. My daughter has since made it her mission to attach the unit (w. camera) to everything she encounters. This has included light standards for street lights, all the variety of street sign poles (thick and thing), road markers

(5 out of 5)

Probably the best of the supercompact tripods

As long as you don't expect the world of the Gorillapod, it won't disappoint. I've had a slew of small tripods for years (to match my succession of digital cameras; I'm tough to please). The Ultrapods are good, sturdy and stable, but not as versatile as this. For me, the biggest feature has to be the quick-release shoe. My full-size tripods have always had this feature, but I've never been able to find it on the minis. It's extremely useful. No more struggling with screwing the tripod in when you need to take that quick picture, desperately trying to keep from cross-threading the plastic mounting threads common on today's cameras. The Gorillapod snaps onto the camera in about three seconds. This won't hold my camera as still as my 4-pound tripods, but it's a heck of a lot lighter and easier to carry with me all the time. While Joby lists the maximum weight capacity as 12 ounces, my camera still works fine despite being a couple of ounces over that. If there's one thing I don't really like, it's that it does take a bit of fiddling to straighten out the legs after use. But if you're not obsessively neat, you probably won't mind some slightly crooked legs. If you really want a bit more stability, see the Gorillapod SLR. A quarter pound heavier and twice the price, but when you need it, sometimes you need to bite the bullet.