Gorillapod Focus anyone?

[Garbz]

Anyone here have a Gorillapod Focus or Gorillapod SLR? I'm specifically looking at opinions on these two models since my camera gear will weigh approximately 2.5Kg. I want to know if anyone has either of these two and have loaded them up to somewhere near the weight limit.

I have seen these all over the place. They look cool, and I even had a tiny one for a really tiny camera. Do these handle the weight? Do they get loose over time and fail? $160 is a lot of money for something which I have always considered a toy.

Any experiences? Would you mount your camera on a tree above a river using one?

 

[Brick]

I have the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom with the ball head (wouldn't bother getting it without the ball head - very frustrating to compose a shot) and I like it a lot. Easy to throw in my messenger bag and take into places that don't look kindly on tripods.

I've only been using mine for about 2 or 3 months so I can't say much about it loosening up after time, but I it's always held up fine being wrapped around a pole or railing (although I always keep the camera strap in hand just in case, don't know that I'd feel comfortable leaving it dangling above a river). I shoot a lot of HDR so I bracket my shots and every time I've used it all 3 shots have lined up perfectly - no camera shake at all.

I've got a d90 and a sigma 10-20mm - not sure how much that weighs.

 

[mrpink]

I have the Gorilla PoDSLR w/o the ball head. Yes it is kind of a pain to make those minor adjustments when composing, but it is rock solid. $25 from Wal-Mart well spent. Holds my D40, SB-600, and 55-200mm VR easily. As above, I have shot a number of HDRs with it- no problems. It's always in my bag.

Would I hang my camera on a tree over a river?? sure. Would I shake the tree? not on your life.

p!nK

 

[CxThree]

I have the Gorillapod focus. Just used it on vacation in Mexico. It is actually very nice. It's not as small as the other models. Beefy for sure. I used it with my 7d gripped, 24-105L Lens and flash. I also used the 70-200mm F2.8L IS lens with that same setup.

It worked great. Finally got some vacation pics with me in them.

 

[FrankLamont]

Focus is the new titanium (?) model, right?

Hmm; it's an awfully expensive one - I would probably use the Zoom, unless the weight is really troubling.

I've used the Gpod SLR before - it's all right; seemed a little flimsy to me.

 

[SrBiscuit]

i have the gpod slr, but it doesnt really hold the weight i need it to.
it's now a flash stand.

and for the record, the weight that was too much for it was a gripped d40 with 18-70 and sb600.

i think the zoom version adds another 5lbs to its max weight cap.

 

[Garbz]

Sorry guys just to be clear I was talking about the SLR-Zoom vs the Focus.

I didn't realise there was a separate "SLR" model which wouldn't even hold my DSLR

Fried chicken this is what I'm worried about. The SLR-Zoom is rated to 3kg, however my kit will borderline hit the 3kg mark, so i'm worried.

 

[FrankLamont]

Yes, that was what deterred me from the whole Gorillapod thing.

Ted's only lists the SLR and Focus - they skip the Zoom entirely. If you buy from Ted's, then you have your answer.

However, if you're like me and find Ted's distastefully mainstream-consumer-focused and over-priced, then... online. You probably already know, but order online or get a local shop like DCW (Digital Camera Warehouse). There's one in Melbourne, and should be one in Brisbane and Sydney from what their website says. I tend to go Camerasdirect.com, which is quite cheap.

Anyway, in most of these non-Ted's-type stores, the Zoom is about 95, and the Focus 199. In this case, are you prepared to pay about a 100 bucks for a moveable tripod with 2kg more capability? Definitely, it's metal and will last longer. I daresay it's probably not too much more heavy than the others, but...

 

[Brick]

Sorry guys just to be clear I was talking about the SLR-Zoom vs the Focus.

I didn't realise there was a separate "SLR" model which wouldn't even hold my DSLR

Fried chicken this is what I'm worried about. The SLR-Zoom is rated to 3kg, however my kit will borderline hit the 3kg mark, so i'm worried.

Oh right, apparently I had forgotten which model I purchased. I actually have the SLR-Zoom (edited my post above).

 

[Garbz]

Ted's is good for one thing, and that's bags of Kodak X-Tol on short notice

If anything I'll be buying online. But the SLR-Zoom is plastic? Didn't realise. That kind of puts me off it a bit given how I mistreat my gear. Weight isn't an issue though. The Focus would still be lighter than the Manfrotto monstrosity I have as an only alternative.

Will mull over this until my next paycheck. Then I'll probably do an impulse buy and feel guilty until the following paycheck.