Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod with BH1 Ball Head with Bubble Level for Digital SLR Cameras

Reviews of Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod with BH1 Ball Head with Bubble Level for Digital SLR Cameras

1.) Excellent addition to my bag
Reviewed by: ksuwildkat Monterey, CA
Rating:
I read the reviews here complaining about the weight not being supported but I have had no issue so far. I use a Pentax K200D with a battery pack and while I have not used my biggest lens "in the field" with this, I have tested it and once I got it balanced, it did fine. Im not sure I would try hanging it off the side of my car with a huge lens on but I feel more than comfortable with my lighter lenses.

If you are familiar with the Gorillapod concept there is nothing new about this one other than being bigger and having a ball head. The legs are big enough to wrap around a normal railing/post you would find in most touristy places. Bigger than a stop sign pole but smaller than a street light pole.

Attaching it to strange places is much easier due to the quick release on the ball head. You can position the pod, slide the camera in, test the load and then either adjust or start shooting.

My ball head is quite stiff to the point that if it has been unused for more than a day or two I have to push hard to get it "fluid" again. Not a bad thing in my opinion.

The quick release plate is small the level placement is excellent. I have gotten in the habit of leaving it on and using it to level my shots hand shooting. The connector is a screw and really needs to be tightened with a quarter so keep one handy.

If I had a complain it would be that getting the legs straight for storage can be a pain. It seems like getting one straight makes the others bent. This is not a "carry in a pocket" tripod and leaving it attacked would not be a good idea. I got mine on sale and I am not sure if I would have paid full price for it. Its a great product but the full price seems a bit excessive.

I have not explored the world of wild connections much but for me where the Gorillapod really shines are those low angle shots. I can make my "real" tripod get as low as the Gorillapod but it means reconfiguring to flip the center post and shooting upside down. 20 minutes vs 1 minute with the Groillapod. It doesnt replace a full tripod but it does a lot of things better and faster. Highly recommended.

2.) Does the job!
Reviewed by: PodunkPaul Northwood's of Wisconsin
Rating:
I took a couple pictures with my iPhone of my Canon XSi with my 55-250mm lens and hood on the Gorillapod. I seem to have deleted the pictures, but will look for them and hopefully I can post after the fact. It was very solid, legs had no problems supporting the weight and I wasn't nervous in the least. The rubber feet do an excellent job of keeping it in one place. I used this tripod to take a number of pictures and it was so easy to get it in just the right spot, thanks to the ball head and level!

A friend of mine has a cheaper brand and is always complaining about how the joints in the legs don't hold position. If anything, the Gorillapod joints are almost too tough to move, but I consider that a necessity! I think having to finesse the tripod into a solid and stable position is a good thing. I think the little extra you might pay for the Gorillapod is worth the peace of mind when you're setting $1,000, or more, worth of gear on top of it! I was able to take advantage of a promo and got this at a very nice price. Look around for promo's and make this a real bargain!


3.) Very Functional
Reviewed by: random reader Pasadena, California.
Rating:
When carrying a tripod doesn't make sense, too lazy to carry one a tripod, or just one of those tripod less days, this product comes in handy. I've coupled the joby with a 5D Mark I with grip and 70-200 F2.8 IS lens and the joby held up pretty well. I was impressed. The legs were, beyond my expectation, stiff. Very function and fits comfortably in any camera bag. Not a cure all product but for the space requirements, this works very well.

4.) Very, very versatile! Used in ways I didn't think I'd use it!
Reviewed by: SiestaKey1 Pennsylvania
Rating:
This is an awesome little tripod that works great. I'm using it with a Nikon D90 with battery grip (including 2 batteries) and it holds the weight just fine. The ball head on this tripod is sturdy for the application. I wanted a small, lightweight tripod that I could carry easily when I was mobile without having to take my larger Manfrotto tripod with me. This unit is very small in size and easily clips onto my SlingShot 202AW camera bag. The ball head has a quick release plate that attaches to your camera and there is a level on the back side for convenience. It's a 1/4" thread screw with a flat-blade notch for tightening. You might want to carry a quarter or other coin with you to tighten this screw. Another method I found that works well if you DON'T have a coin is to get the screw finger-tight with the back of the quick release plate (side with the level on it) pointed to "10 o'clock". Then just turn the quick release plate to "12 o'clock" and it tightens up. Turn the quick release plate counterclockwise to loosen the screw.

Using the tripod is easy with the adjustable legs. Each "nub" has it's own ability to twist and pivot within it's mount so you can really twist this thing around a number of items for great shots. I recently wanted to take a photo of me and a bunch of friends lined up a staircase in a vacation home so I wrapped the Gorillpod around the top of a dining room chair for a make-shift tripod mount and was able to get the shot. Very nice. I used it to take pictures of a sunrise by wrapping the Gorillapod around the corner of a patio deck and was able to get the shot. It just sets up so quickly that it's hard NOT to want to use this thing more and more.

I read reviews where users said that getting the legs straight after bending them was an issue but I didn't find it hard at all. As I mentioned above, each nub can pivot in it's own mount so just work the legs moving one mount at a time and you'll get them straight in no time. It seriously only takes less than 30 seconds. However, even if it took longer it's still worth it because the Gorillapod allows you to get really creative in taking photos. You're not supposed to take photos from the same vantage points as your true amateur...you're supposed to capture angles not seen before and this tripod definitely helps achieve that goal.

I recommend this unit 200%. Absolutely worth the money, it's lightweight, build quality is solid, and the ball head is smooth but tight. Great buy for the money and you won't be disappointed.

5.) great gadget
Reviewed by: CL Denver, CO USA
Rating:
I bought this for my hubby who has a cannon SLR with one of those huge zoom lenses and he hasn't really used it a ton but so far so awesome. I was doubtful that it would be sturdy enough for the weight of his camera and lens but it seems very durable and so far holds it up in all kinds of crazy positions.

6.) Good for a DSLR
Reviewed by: W. Lackner Washington, DC
Rating:
We needed a travel tripod for a Canon XSi w/kit lens. The Gorillapod works as advertised, very flexible but it holds its shape where you leave it. Gave it 4 stars for build quality because it had some oily stuff on the ball head - no big deal though.

7.) I love this tripod/ball head combo.
Reviewed by: Jim
Rating:
I bought one of these in a hurry so I could bring it with me on a trip to visit with my daughter and family when my 2nd grandchild was delivered. I own a couple of full size tripods (a Manfrotto and a Velbon), but did not want to be lugging these around and manipulating them in a hospital. This tripod w/ball head worked great for taking in-hospital photos of my newborn grandson et al, and for a number of other photos I shot on the trip in question (e.g., shots I took during a long walk with a friend in a wooded area alongside a river).

The Joby GP3 is a heavier-duty tripod than what I need for my Panasonic Lumix FZ28 digital camera (as well as a couple of hand-held prosumer HD camcorders I own), but I wanted the ball head, wanted to err on the side of caution as far as sturdiness is concerned, and think that someday I will step up from my "bridge" camera (the Lumix) to a digital SLR. My son-in-law is a professional photographer and he tried the GP3 with one of his gi-normous digital SLR's with a giant zoom lens attached, and the tripod and ball head held the monster stably and my son-in-law was impressed and said he may have to pick up a Joby GP3/ball head combo.

The tripod/ball head combo is as portable as can be. When hiking in the woods I carried it attached to my camera which was slung 'round my neck, and it never got in the way when I was walking and when I took a few hand-held shots, and I barely noticed the extra weight. When carrying it in and around the hospital, I simply bent one of the legs in such a way that it held to part of the handle of my camera bag and it was as unobtrusive as can be.

I also own an original Joby tripod which I use for Flip and Vado mini-camcorders, and when I had a problem with that Gorillapod's locking mechanism (a mechanism not found - or necessary - on the GP3), I emailed Joby and received some of the best customer service I've ever received (I say that as someone who once managed customer service reps). That excellent customer service experience convinced me that Joby stood behind its products and was an ethical, trustworthy company, and so I had no problem paying what I would say is a price on the high side for this tripod/ball head combo.

The ball head itself is as smooth as can be and is easy to adjust. The flexible tripod legs are not as easy to adjust as are the flexible legs of the original Joby tripod, but that is to be expected given that the original is only meant to hold up to 11.5 ounces while the GP3 (AKA the SLR-Zoom) is meant to hold up to 6.5 POUNDS. It just takes more force to adjust the flexible legs, but they adjust just fine and adapt well to tree limbs, chair arms, the rails of hospital beds, backyard deck rails, fences, etc. They are also easy to re-straighten if you straighten each leg one movable part at a time (a procedure that takes much less time than it sounds like it might take).

I consider the Joby SLR-Zoom/ball head combo a great addition to my modest collection of digital photography supplies and accessories, and am glad I sprung for it. I want to add that one reason I wanted this ultra-portable tripod was so I could take more photos using my camera's timer (so I can get sharper photos than I typically can when hand-holding the camera, and occasionally include myself in shots; unfortunately my Lumix is not designed to be used with a shutter release cable), and this combo is ideal for that.

8.) King Kong of Minipods
Reviewed by: author1701
Rating:
I don't have a digital SLR yet, but I do have a rather heavy superzoom digital. Sometimes I need to get my camera up close and personal to something low to the ground or on a table where a regular monopod or tripod would be too tall and holding the camera in my hands would ruin the shot.

Enter the Gorillapod which has worked beautifully for just such shots. I went for this configuration with the ball joint mount to increase the possible angles of attack in my photography and I'm glad I did. The way the articulated legs are constructed, I've been able to get my camera into all kinds of positions I could only get handheld before if I could get them at all. You may have seen pictures of the Gorillapod wrapped around tree branches and other objects and I'm here to tell you that's a completely practical application of the versatility of this tripod.

It's very well constructed, easy to use, and lightweight making it easy to tote around to use about anywhere cameras are allowed.

9.) Excellent
Reviewed by: ANDRES TL
Rating:
Excelente producto, trípode multifuncional, de muy alta calidad, versátil, se agarra a prácticamente a todas las superficies, incrementa las posibilidades para hacer fotografías, con este trípode la creatividad se amplia sin limites, el nivel que trae es muy útil, y la cabeza giratoria lo hace aún mas completo. muy bueno, lo recomiendo.

10.) Light, portable, but not a 'real' Tripod
Reviewed by: W. T. Hall Virginia
Rating:
Bought this for a trip to China. Weight and size were a consideration, but I knew I wanted some kind of stable platform for low-light/night shots.
Gorillapod filled the bill. Bought it with the BH1 ball head, and strongly suggest some kind of adjustable 'head' as screwing the camera onto the g'pod alone gives very restricted movement.
Used the G'pod extensively in the 'TerraCotta Warrior' exhibit in Xi'an. Almost perfect. Attached my Nikon D90 with a medium zoom. Wrapped the flex-legs around the guard rail and shot some very low exposures. Worked well. Attaching the 70-300mm zoom caused some 'creep' unless the lens/camera combo was almost level. Still, that's a lot of weight for so small a ball-head, and should be expected.
Night shots along the seawall in Shanghai and Hong Kong were perfect. DO use a self timer or remote release, as this isn't the most stable of platforms. That said, there aren't many tripods which will curl up in your camera bag. Took it to several museums which required a "Professional" permit for tripod usage and no one batted an eye.
Pro: Small, inexpensive, sturdy and okay for light zooms.
Con: The tacky rubber rings WILL slip on metal rails w/o careful adjustment.
Recommended

11.) Flex for creative pictures
Reviewed by: Pierre Larribau South of France
Rating:
I discovered this tripod on the internet, it's perfect for travelling and specially for the outdoors. It opens new perpectives for pictures, you can take it anywere and have some stability where you would not expect it. Great buy for me. Seems strongly built and resistant, the only set back is that when you have twisted it sharply it's kind of hard to put back to it's original state again !

12.) It'll Hold
Reviewed by: Andrew
Rating:
I was skeptical at first about how well the GP3 would hold a dslr but now I believe. I have a Nikon D60. It's not the heaviest camera around but my Nikon 18-200 lens and the battery grip (which holds 2 standard batteries) adds not only to its' weight but its' height as well. The GP3 is able to hold it steady even when the lens is fully extended. The mounting plate is small enough that I can put my camera back in my camera case without removing it. The rubberized feet on the GP3 seem to do a good job of not slipping on smooth surfaces as well.

13.) Glad I bought, but . . .
Reviewed by: Robert E. Glasscock
Rating:
It's easy to reach the Gorillapod's 6.5 lb weight limit. My 40D plus a zoom lens like the 38-135mm, or larger, plus a Speedlite 580EX II and a wireless receiver and I'm at or over the limit. Plus, good luck on the Gorillapod's (small) ball head holding the camera in portrait orientation (sideways) without drift. It holds somewhat better in portrait orientation without the Speedlite and with a lighter lens like the 50mm. Somewhat.

Works fine in landscape orientation (normal camera position) on relatively level surfaces. But when wrapping the legs around an angled object, you're back to depending on the (small) ball head to keep the camera level -- which again is difficult to do without drift when trying for portrait orientation.

So far I've not found the Gorillapod as practical or versatile as I'd hoped and imagined. So I've used it far less than I anticipated. I've heard exactly the same reactions from a friend who bought his Gorillapod a week before I did.

Am I disappointed? Maybe I was expecting too much. Yes, it's easy to carry and I will use it (or try to) in some situations. Is it overpriced? Not really, in my opinion. Will it replace your tripod? Not even close. Is it essential? No. Helpful? Yes.

Frankly, I imagine I'll ultimately use it more often to position a Speedlite than to hold my camera. For THAT, it's terrific. Will hold a shoe mount multiclamp, Speedlite and umbrella -- as long as there's something to wrap the Gorillapod's legs around. You can quickly set your light in some interesting positions, depending on the environment.

Features of Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod with BH1 Ball Head with Bubble Level for Digital SLR Cameras

The Gorrilapod SLR Zoom attaches to SLRs (with zoom lenses!), video cameras, and your own tripod head, and can support a whopping 6.6 pounds (3kg)!

The BH1 Ballhead is designed to work with the popular Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM model, the ball head affords users the ability to easily tilt and rotate their cameras, while the Gorillapod provides unwavering support on almost any surface. The ball head is capable of a full 360-degree pan and 90-degree tilt. When locked into place with its indexed adjustment knob, the ball head, like its eponymous Gorillapod, can support up to 3 kg (6.6 lbs). The ball head also includes a quick-release bubble level clip that can remain attached to a camera for effortless, instant setup, ensuring a perfectly level photo every time.

1.) Adaptable Screw: attaches to cameras with 1/4" or 3/8" tripod thread;
2.) Flexible Joints: bend and rotate 360 degree to form the perfect shape;
3.) Ring & Foot Grips: provide extra gripping power to grapple wherever you go;

Package Height x Length x Width: 12.52 in. x 12.52 in. x 2.83 in.
Package Weight: 1.01 lbs.

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