[Bubba]

I quite like the look of these - are they as solid as they look?

Are the "copies" best avoided and original Joby ones the only good 'uns?

[nik at work]

I've got two, a dinky little 'un which is pretty useless and a full size (about 12" long) one which is brilliant.
They are great in places like Font where there are trees and such like to attach it too, less amazing in flat featureless places where all photos/video will be from a pretty much ground level perspective.
It can take a bit of frigging around to get them solidly gripping branches/pointing in the right direction etc but you get better at judging which leg to move and how much etc quite quickly. Also they fit in a rucksack easily and there's none of that lowering out the legs, twatting about getting the tripod level, then moving it a bit, then twatting about again, then packing it up and spending the rest of time folding the legs back up (OK I may be slightly exagerating).
In summary, I rate 'em although they do have limitations, but it's pretty obvious what those limitations would be.

[(woz)]

I have a tiny one too (ooh matron etc) and :

In summary, I rate 'em although they do have limitations, but it's pretty obvious what those limitations would be.

[cofe]

i had one. wasn't really sturdy enough to take a slr with lens. beanbag might be better, and cheaper. it was good for holding flashes off camera though - fastening to trees etc. then i snapped a leg off it.

depends what size camera you're sticking on it it reckon.

[nik at work]

Good point Cofe, I only use a small digi (ixus85) and a camcorder which is pretty small and light (and certainly more evenly weighted than a SLR with a big ass lens on the front).

[GCW]

Call me paranoid, but I wouldn't trust 600 quids worth of optical equipment to one.
They have their place though, ideal for a lightweight tripod-replacement for a small camera.

[Bubba]

They do a large "SLR with zoom lens" model which might be strong enough...

[SA Chris]

I've got an Ultrapod II which might be an option worth looking at. If you set it up right - long leg forward - it can handle a fairly long lens, but obviously not a monster. The velcro strap can be cinched up nice and tight on small branches, poles etc.

[bigd942]

got one of these last week and is fine for what I do, reasonable good quality for the money

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Mini-Tripod-Traveller-Compact/dp/B000I8ONKC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1242427147&sr=8-5

Amazon seem to be having a clear out of the Hama stuff so if you type Hama tripod into the search you'll see all the bargins like this etc etc

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Star-Tripod-free-Carry/dp/B000EOMQM2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1242427147&sr=8-3

[GCW]

Tesco used to sell the Star 75 cheaper than that.
They are pretty good, but I bent a leg on mine and was surprised how easy it was to bend back.  Get what you pay for I guess.

EDIT:  £7.97 plus ClubCard points.  Seems to have been the same price for a couple of years now.

[badong]

have you considerd one of those super clamp jobbies. not as flexable but alot more secure.

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/MF6820/
http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/item/MF6812/

[Paul B]

bubba, I've got a small gorilla pod you're welcome to it if you want it. I am yet to use it and I just tested it with my video camera and it fell over on a flat table. My video camera isn't even that big or heavy!

[Bubba]

Thanks Paul but not sure it'll be much use with an slr if it can't hold up a camcorder I probably need the big silverback gorillapod version or something.

[cofe]

option d: use a folded up jumper or coat. it works very well.

[lagerstarfish]

bubba, I've got a small gorilla pod you're welcome to it if you want it. I am yet to use it and I just tested it with my video camera and it fell over on a flat table crushing my left hand badly and rendering the camera inoperable  - then the car crashed on the way to A&E due to an obscure mechanical fault which is excluded from all forms of insurance - the delay in getting to hospital allowed an infection to develop in the broken bones of my hand and I am now waiting to see if it needs to be amputated - whilst in hopital an uninsured team of bailiffs mistakenly removed all of our personal belongings from our flat and burnt them in the street. My video camera isn't even that big or heavy!

[cofe]

[Bubba]

Very funny lagers

A folded up jumper not that good for clamping to a sticky uppy object like my truck door/mirror/etc. I do still have an almost working big tripod but it's so heavy (80s vintage) that it's a major pain to take anywhere. Those Hama ones bigd posted above look like a bargain for a light thingy.

[SA Chris]

^^

ah bugger. Knowing my luck I won't be able to climb owt.

[Paul B]

bubba, I've got a small gorilla pod you're welcome to it if you want it. I am yet to use it and I just tested it with my video camera and it fell over on a flat table crushing my left hand badly and rendering.....

maybe I once won a lot of fried chicken? You don't know I didn't.