Geeky Traveller

Joby Gorillapod - review

by Sherry on April 24th, 2008

I already wrote about the Gorillapod but back then I was only really discussing how cool it seemed to be. Then Joby was kind enough to actually send me a complimentary SLR-compatible Gorillapod for review purposes.

I wish I had been able to get to this review much sooner but our weather here in Montreal through all of March and part of April was not very conducive to taking my camera out for such outings. Now that Spring has finally really arrived, I’ve been spending much more time outdoors, especially in our local park. The other day I looked like the epitome of a true dork since I went to the park with my kids while carrying my Canon Rebel XT SLR camera, my point and shoot Fujifilm Finepix S700, any my Gorillapod. I’m sure some people in our neighborhood think I’m weird what with all the camera-glued-to-my-eye action they see from me.

While my kids played in the sand I set up the Gorillapod in a few different locations around the park. I can say without a doubt that it is sturdy and holds well as long as you’re taking proper precautions to wrap the flexible legs tightly.

First I set it up on the swingset leg to see how it would handle a smooth and angled metal pole. I wrapped two of the legs tightly around the pole (my goodness that sounds so dirty!) and used the third leg to prop it up straight. It held with no trouble, no slipping at all.

Good stuff and the SLR Gorillapod definitely has no trouble supporting my XT with the basic kit lens.

Then I went and used it in a similar way to a standard tripod, except that I propped it on a rock. Because of the flexibility of the Gorillapod, it was very easy to place it on a surface as uneven as a rock.

While I was at it, I decided I may as well set the self-timer and take a photo of myself, because hey… why not right?

(Notice my gigantic camera bag stuffed full of dorky goodness. I am unapologetic.)

My final test was definitely the scariest of all. I fully admit that I had mild heart palpitations when I attached the Gorillapod (and my beloved camera) in such a way that it hung straight down, dangling from a piece of the park equipment. You have to understand that my camera is like an extension of my body, I love it that much. Thus, it’s a testament to the faith I had in Joby when I willingly (albeit nervously) walked away from it to take this photo.

Not only did it not fall, it didn’t even slip or make any scary movements at all.

Overall, I completely and fully endorse the Gorillapod. A basic tripod is great - I have one of those too and use it from time to time. However, if you’re traveling you’re not going to want to carry a full tripod around with you. You can always hand your camera to a stranger to take a photo of you and your travel companions in front of the Eiffel Tower or beside a sacrificial cenote in the Mayan jungles, but what if there’s no one around to do that for you? Or maybe you’re like me and wouldn’t trust anyone enough to pass them your camera. I think there’s a really good chance that you can find a lot of suitable spots to use your Gorillapod while you’re traveling for all kinds of photo ops that you might miss out on otherwise.

The prices are reasonable, the customer service is STELLAR, and the Gorillapod is so versatile and handy that I can’t imagine anyone ever regretting their purchase. With prices ranging fro $21.95 to $49.95 depending on your camera, I urge you to consider adding the Gorillapod to your camera gear before your next vacation.

(All photos taken by me)

Technorati Tags: joby, gorillapod, digital photography, joby gorillapod, travel photography, geeky traveller

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