Gorillapod "copies"

vRSG60

vRSG60

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Shaun
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Has anyone used one of the Gorillapod-a-likes off Ebay or Amazon?

Such as this
With a ball head like this.

There are variations on Ebay quoted as good for 3KGs. I'm talking occasional use of a D7000 with Tokina AT-x 11-16 f2.8 + YN565 sat on a flat floor NOT wrapped around a tree or post.
 
Dont bother, most are low quality and useless as they end up sinking under any weight
 
I had the official gorillapod slr zoom, quoted to be able to handle 3kg. tried 5D mark 2 on it with 24-105mm lens, which should be less than 2.5kg, it still failed to handle the weight.

You should always make sure the tripod can handle around double the weight of your equipment.
 
Even a real SLR Zoom isn't ideal as a free standing tripod, far better when wrapped around something solid. Got given a copy little one and it's absolutely useless - wouldn't even use it as a flash stand. Binned.
 
I have the one from your top link, I didn't get a head for it. It was cheap and I bought it for the specific purpose of taking long exposures on top of tall buildings where tripods were banned. A head may have made it a bit easier, but would have probably reduced stability.

Without a head it was a bit of a faff to align it, but still quicker than setting up a tripod...it's subtle too, doesn't get in everyone's way should you be somewhere busy.

It handled a Canon 7D and Sigma 10-20 for the following:

2.5 seconds

Central Business District by ACW#, on Flickr

25 seconds

East Singapore by ACW#, on Flickr

edit- That said, due to the ledges, these were not your standard 3 legged set ups. The 25 second one was more of a bipod configuration with the third leg at 90 degrees.

To be honest, I think a flash gun on top would be too much and affect the COG negatively?
 
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domino1999 said:
Nice shots. I'll be back in Singapore in April, so might have to invest in one of these. Been to marina bay sands once before, but no camera with me at the time.
Click to expand...

Thanks Darren, that's where we stayed, it was a difficult 10 days but I struggled through it :lol:

Definitely invest in one of these to take up to the viewing platform on 57, you can wrap it nicely over the edge and get a good secure grip. Wish I'd taken it up to 1Altitude, only had the compact up there. Enjoy your trip!
 
I have both and think there's probably 'copy' and 'copies' :confused:
I originally bought the SLR zoom and the Ball Head X as they where a reasonable price in the States when on holiday. Later my mum bought me a large 'style' gorillapod as a Christmas present, because the quailty isn't great although adequate it actually makes it very stiff to use and in some sense feels stronger than the official one. Saying that I've only ever used it for positioning off camera speed lights so if you bought a copy and didn't trust it you could always send it back or relegate it to lighter duties :D
 
If it's for use on-the-flat or over chair backs, rather than wrapping around lamp posts, then I use a Trek-Tek Optera. It's very stable and I find it handy for throwing into a small case when travelling for work - just occasionally you get a decent light-trails view from a Premier Inn/Travel Lodge window..
 
ACW said:
Definitely invest in one of these to take up to the viewing platform on 57, you can wrap it nicely over the edge and get a good secure grip. Wish I'd taken it up to 1Altitude, only had the compact up there. Enjoy your trip!
Click to expand...

Not sure I'd want to hang anything over the edge - it's a long way for my 5D3 to fall. It's been a while but I seem to remember there being handrails here and there on 57, by some steps and in other places. Presumably security didn't have any issues with you wrapping the gorillapod around things? Security seemed very tight when I went up - felt like I had eyes on me all the time - moreso than the Empire State building in NY.....maybe it's just my dodgy looks!!
 
Had two of them. Both copies had one leg snap at the joint.

Gorilla pod focus, I can highly recommend. Takes the weight of a ungripped D7000 and 70-200 with legs out and a smaller lens (500g) wrapped around anything.
 
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I have been looking for something light and small to use as a travel triopd for months, far too often i have the camera but left the redsnapper at home then i find a surprise sunset or something in lower light and fail to get the shot because i cant hand hold without blur, this thing is so light it comes everywhere the camera goes now! Anyway I finally decided to go for the Gorillapod SLR Zoom with Joby ball head, so far it holds my gripped D7100 and Tamron 17-50 f2.8 without any problems. Must admit it thought it is a little springy, because of this i use timer to release allowing a few seconds to stop bouncing, managed a 30 seconds exposure on a very windy day as a test and here is the result...

12237650954_e2d2584bc6_z.jpg


I expected the wind to make it shake but as you can see it worked very well. Early days yet but so far so good!
 
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Mr Mike said:
I have been looking for something light and small to use as a travel triopd for months, far too often i have the camera but left the redsnapper at home then i find a surprise sunset or something in lower light and fail to get the shot because i cant hand hold without blur, this thing is so light it comes everywhere the camera goes now! Anyway I finally decided to go for the Gorillapod SLR Zoom with Joby ball head, so far it holds my gripped D7100 and Tamron 17-50 f2.8 without any problems. Must admit it thought it is a little springy, because of this i use timer to release allowing a few seconds to stop bouncing, managed a 30 seconds exposure on a very windy day as a test and here is the result...

12237650954_e2d2584bc6_z.jpg


I expected the wind to make it shake but as you can see it worked very well. Early days yet but so far so good!
Click to expand...
Let's be fair though...a zoom can't hold much wrapped around a lamp post etc...
 
I have a copy from DX.com and I've done a side by side with a real one. Couldn't tell the difference, tbh...I guess the moral here is that QC of the copies varies a fair bit...
 
Phil Young said:
Let's be fair though...a zoom can't hold much wrapped around a lamp post etc...
Click to expand...

I tried to wrap it round the building site fences, you know the cross hatch wire held together with poles standing in concrete blocks...well the wind shook these so violently i used top of what looked like 4ft high metal electrical junction box. Flat surface and gorillapod legs out like mini tripod.

Really didn't think I had any chance of 2 seconds never mind 30!
 
I bought a copy one in MBK, Bangkok and used it while travelling, in Halong Bay, Vietnam wrapped it around a hand rail on the boat we were on.... went to adjust it and snap! Off came a leg and my D3 & 14-24mm took a dive into the water below..

I have recently bought an original from here and so far that looks like it will do the job.
 
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