GorillaPod Focus

OREGATO

Hi all,

Interested in getting one of these:


http://joby.com/gorillapod/focus

Wondering if anyone has any experience with them and what they're like?

I've got a Canon 5DII with 24-70mm F2.8L and a 70-200mm F4L lenses.

I'd like to see if it's worthwhile in buying one of these instead of carrying a large tripod, (depends on where I'm going and if space is premium etc. These look like they could do the job.

Any advice or experience?

Thanks in advance.

bullpost

I've got one but without the optional head.
It will never replace a tripod . I've brought it with me a couple of times and couldn't find a decent place to secure it.

Great at what it does though and very portable.

OREGATO wrote: »

Hi all,

Interested in getting one of these:


http://joby.com/gorillapod/focus

Wondering if anyone has any experience with them and what they're like?

I've got a Canon 5DII with 24-70mm F2.8L and a 70-200mm F4L lenses.

I'd like to see if it's worthwhile in buying one of these instead of carrying a large tripod, (depends on where I'm going and if space is premium etc. These look like they could do the job.

Any advice or experience?

Thanks in advance.

smash

Got one years ago and it was great. However it did raise a few eyebrows when the security guard at the airport took it out of my hand luggage and asked what it was.

Sleepy

I have the regular SLR one and tbh, haven't found it particularly useful. Getting a good enough grip on anything with the arms for it to provide a stable enough platform for a long exposure is extremely difficult.

Can be useful when combined with an IR remote for group shots etc. but I found it very expensive for such limited functionality.

OREGATO

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm half tempted to get one of the cheaper ones on eBay but I wouldn't trust it with the camera. A case of you get what you pay for.

I wouldn't use it for the likes of wrapping it around a pole but would rather place the GorillaPod legs surfaces instead of the camera body.

Might check them out in a camera shop and go from there.

The idea is good though, I try to travel light when on holidays and a tripod would be just too heavy/bulky, when around Ireland it's fine to throw stuff in the boot of the car etc.

Cienciano

Check them out in a shop. I wanted a small tripod for when I'm strolling around a city on holidays, something I could just stick on a wall or something. Went into Gunns and they let me try it out.
The camera shook really bad, sort of vibrated/wobbled! It was designed for an SLR, but definitely didn't suit my setup (40d with 17-55)

bullpost

Forgot to mention I use mine with a mirrorless camera and this combination makes the gorrillapod more viable due to the smaller size and weight of the camera.

OREGATO

Hi guys, thought I'd update this thread.

So I took the plunge and got one, well actually, the other half decided to buy it for me for Valentines day.

So far, I can't complain with it, I've been attaching it to fences, poles and leaving it resting on ledges, bridges and walls and it works fine. It is a bit tricky to get it in the right position due to the stiffness of the legs, but after a while, you get used to making the adjustments. Having the head is ideal, it makes for composing the shot a lot more easier, I'm not sure it would be of any use if you were using it without the head as it would be difficult to compose just with your camera on the GorillaPod.

I got the Focus version which states it can hold up to 5KG, I've had my 5D2 and a 24-70mm on it with no issues, yet to try the 70-200mm but I'm sure it would be fine as the 24-70mm weighs a lot more.

I would advise, where applicable, keeping your camera strap around your neck when you're shooting, as you never know, with a strong gust of wind it could be a disaster.

I have used it in windy conditions and there isn't any movement or vibration, these were for exposures of up to 30 seconds.

I agree with the comments above that it won't replace a decent tripod, but if you're trading off travelling light and having some type of secure tripod mechanism, I can't recommend it enough.

Here are a few shots I've taken with the GorillaPod. I wouldn't say they're the best pictures in the world by any means (I'm still learning/getting back into photography) but it should give you an idea.

On top of a bollard:



On a railing, looking over the motorway (strap around my neck, just in case )



On a stone wall:



Getting down low, resting on the ground:



Another: