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Gizgeek OctoPod Mini Camera Tripod |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Wednesday, 15 August 2007 |
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Thanks to Gizgeek for the product sample.
Compact digital cameras are extremely common these days and quite a few people own one. Whether it's for shooting in spare time, something to take with you on vacation, or another thing you "just have to have", they're everywhere. However as any seasoned photographer will tell you, it takes a lot of bad pictures to get a good one. Often times you need a stable surface and for this reason a tripod comes in handy. But tripods are big. Even the "small" ones are inconvenient and you certainly wouldn't carry one in your pocket. Today we'll be taking a look at the OctoPod, an all-terrain miniature tripod that just might fit the bill.
The sample arrived in a padded envelop - nothing fancy. At first the unit looks unimpressive and a bit childish, but once you start using it you begin to realize its true potential. Essentially it's a miniature tripod with multiple joints that allow you to position it literally anywhere. Flat surfaces are no longer a requirement. It's also extremely convenient to carry around, as it measures about 6" in length and weights a mere 48 grams.
It can certainly hold its own on a flat surface.
As you can see the legs can be placed any which way. The tripod head also rotates in every imaginable direction so positioning is completely up to the user. Furthermore, it has rubber feet to give it a bit more grip and stability.
There's a clip at the top that removes the attachment which screws into your camera. Once you have it installed, snap it back into place. Simple, yet brilliant.
Surprisingly the joints are pretty stiff and the overall construction is very sturdy. It supports compact cameras weighting up to 275g and I had no fear mounting mine upside down with it. The OctoPod DSLR is available for heavier cameras. It's bigger and supports models weighting up to 800g (1.75lbs). Now why would you want something like this? For starters, if you want to take shots on a timer you have to set your camera down somewhere and it's extremely rare that you'll find the perfect spot - either it won't be flat or the elevation will be off (or both). Furthermore, certain angles are extremely difficult to get and some people just have shaky hands.
Imagine this: you're out hiking and spot a grizzly. Immediately you want to take a snap a pic of yourself and your [insert other people]. So what do you do? First off, you never run from a bear. After that, you can find the nearest tree branch, attach the camera (like above) and set the timer. Voila. There are of course endless possibilities. The OctoPod can be hooked to almost anything - railings, fences, statues, round surfaces, jagged surfaces, whatever. While it does lack the sophistication of a full sized tripod like precise balancing and elevation selection, it's the perfect accessory to take with you anywhere you take your compact camera. And at $15 it's not a bad deal.
Pros
- Very unique concept
- Small, portable, and lightweight
- Extremely durable
- Stiff legs allow for mounting anywhere
- Surprisingly effective (the possibilities are endless)
- Inexpensive
Cons
Gizgeek's OctoPod may look like a novelty product and I must admit I was skeptical at first, but once you use it a few times you realize exactly how invaluable it is. In a way, it's the perfect mini tripod as it has exactly what a compact camera user needs: a steady resting spot on any surface at a moment's notice. There's not a thing wrong with it. For these reasons it receives our Editor's Choice Award. If interested, you can get yours here. Feel free to comment on this review here. Thanks for reading and enjoy the site!
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 August 2007 )
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