tripod
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CineSkates smooth your camera's roll (video)
Wheels make everything better, right? That certainly seems to be the case with CineSkates. Joby has given a big thumbs up to the Kickstarter project, which help the Gorillapod Focus capture some pretty sweet tracking shots, because nothing says "elegance" like a gorilla on wheels.
Gerber Steady multi-tool includes tripod, puts Bear Grylls and Ken Rockwell on common ground
Ever been on a six-mile hike and needed a miniature tripod to snap a picture of you and your fellow explorers? Yeah, we've been there too. As luck would have it, Gerber is throwing the much needed, but usually too cumbersome, camera accessory into one of its next multitools. Behold the Steady, a new member of the company's jack of all trades tool family. However, this one, with its pair of legs on one side and a folding tripod screw on the other, will make that all-important group shot in the middle of nowhere much less of a challenge. Of course, the usual 12 tool arsenal is included along with a knife... perhaps for opening all those frustration-included memory cards and dehydrated meal packages that you'll carry along. You'll be able to snatch the pocket tool up sometime next year for $65, moving your Joby one step closer to unemployment.
Canon 18-55mm lens torn open to expose visuals of Image Stabilization (video)
Hey there, snap-shooter. If you've ever used a Canon DSLR with an 18-55mm lens, you may be horrified to know that the image above is its exposed lens elements. Don't worry, though, it's for science! Recently, Preston Scott from Camera Technica used a laser to show how unsteady your hands are when taking a photograph; now he's back to detail how lenses with Image Stabilization compensate to help in achieving crisper images. IS isn't exactly new technology, but seeing how the glass' internal springs, accelerometers, and gyroscopes react to movement is mesmerizing. Not surprisingly, he also found that photos taken with IS deactivated were usually less sharp. You'll find a steady video of the action past the break, as well a detailed breakdown by hitting the source link below.
Mountkestrel DuoPod turns your shaky shoulders into a DSLR steadicam (video)
So you've got an expensive new DSLR that can shoot video, and you've seen all of the press about people using the things to make movies and music videos. But really, you're not going to become a DIY Kubrick without the proper accessories. The Mountkestrel DuoPod is a pretty solid looking option if you're looking to do the steadicam thing with your DSLR, slipping over your shoulders for on-the-go shots. It's a little unwieldy compared to a lot of consumer camera stands, but that's pretty par for the course for these sorts of rigs. As its name suggests, the DuoPod also doubles as a two-legged stand for those times when your shoulders need a break. Check out a fittingly shaky video of the stand in action after the jump.
Lasers prove you can't hold a camera still (video)
If you think schlepping a tripod along with your DSLR isn't worth it because you're convinced you can get a clean shot if you just concentrate hard enough, we have to ask... how's that working out for ya? To demonstrate the destructive power of shaky hands, Camera Technica attached a laser to the hotshoe of a Canon 7D, with the light reflecting off a wall 20 feet away. The lesson: it's challenging enough to get a crisp shot with a tripod -- let alone without. In the video below, the laser point wobbles erratically when the photographer gingerly presses the shutter with his finger. In the second clip he uses a remote release, which visibly cuts, but doesn't eliminate, the shake. Only when he locks up the mirror and resorts to a remote release does the shaking drop to a minimum. Need some more vivid evidence? We highly suggest heading past the break for a demo that might just make you reconsider that decision not to pack a Gorillapod.
Photojojo provides a convenient telephoto lens for iPhone
The iPhone makes a great at-the-ready camera. Those of us appropriately sidearmed with an iPhone usually keep it easy to grab, which makes it the perfect device to yank from our pocket and snap a few pictures. And while the digital zoom is an awesome feature, it has limitations, and usually ends up killing the final photo quality. So, you're stuck with the convenience of your iPhone versus its inevitable limitations as a camera. Photojojo has a solution. The iPhone Telephoto Lens screws onto an included iPhone case, allowing you to get up to 8x the normal amount of zoom. The lens fits in your pocket when you're not using it, so it's not like you're hauling around a huge accessory to go with your iPhone. Even better, the iPhone Telephoto Lens comes with a tripod. As most professional photographers will tell you, using a tripod is the single best way to improve your photographs. The lens package is available for both the iPhone 3/3GS and iPhone 4. For US$35, you get the lens, a case and a tripod. It's a pretty good deal to help improve your iPhone pictures. [Via Cnet]
iPhone photographers, get your Glif on with new tripod mount
It's a local-boys-make-good story for the Internet age: two New Yorkers brainstorm an idea for the kind of iPhone 4 tripod mount/stand they'd want to buy. They put their design on Kickstarter with the intention of raising US$10,000 in ramp-up funding. With a snazzy prototype video and the attention of some traditional and not-so-traditional media outlets, they missed their funding estimate by more than 10x -- in the positive direction. Having collected almost $140,000 in preproduction pledges, the gobsmacked inventors have now moved on to full-scale production and are accepting orders for the final product on their website. You can pick one up for $20, and although they aren't promising holiday delivery they say they're doing everything possible to get the Glifs out the door in time to slide under the tree (with priority to their 5,000+ Kickstarter contributors, of course). [Commenter Ben points out that his company has a cheaper alternative to the Glif, called the Grippit.] [via Silicon Alley Insider]
Gorillamobile revised for iPhone 4
The other day I was editing some very shaky video taken with an iPhone 4, and I suggested that the owner pick up a tripod -- so this is pretty good timing. Made just for the iPhone 4, JOBY designed the new Gorillamobile with an included bumper case (which stays on your iPhone) that slides into a rail attachment on the tripod itself. The rails work in both portrait and landscape modes, and they don't add any more weight to the phone than a regular case. Seriously, if you are going to take video for more than a few seconds, do your viewers a favor and pick up a tripod; they will thank you for it later. And if you never got your free bumper case from Apple, this may be a good way to pick up a case AND a new tripod for US$39.95. Click "Read More" to check out a video of the Gorillamobile. [via Engadget]
Joby's Gorillamobile gets revised, caters specifically to iPhone 4 with added bumper case
Are you ready for a barrage of Apple-specific peripherals from the labs of Joby? Can't say we are either, but they're coming regardless. Today, the famed creator of the original Gorillapod has pumped out a seriously overhauled version of the Gorillamobile, with this one designed to work specifically (and only) with the iPhone 4. The real difference here is the inclusion of a bumper case (no, not that Bumper case), which slides in perfectly to an accompanying rail attachment on the bundled tripod. Slip in, slip out -- you dig? It's available today for $39.95 if you're eager to ditch the case Apple gave ya, and you can expect more when this came from by the time CES 2011 opens its doors in two short months. %Gallery-107040%
Ask Engadget: best travel-friendly / portable DSLR tripod?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Deepanshu, who is already beginning to understand why the term "money pit" follows" DSLR." If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I went out and got a Canon T2i, and now I am looking for a decent tripod, preferably one that travels well. I need one which is lightweight, with a price range of $75 to $125 or so. The main purpose of the tripod will be for HDR photography, night shots, etc. when I'm on-the-go. Thanks!" We're guessing Joby's Gorillapod Focus will get a nod somewhere down in comments, but how's about any suggestions in the more conventional line of tripods? Got any that extend out nicely without killing your back (or forcing you to check it on an airplane)? Let us (and him) know!
Joby's Gorillapod Video breaks cover at Photokina, complete with swivel arm
Joby has pretty much set the standard for portable, flexible, curious looking tripods, and while it has evolved over the years to include support for bulky DSLRs, it hasn't really made the same strides to cover the burgeoning pocket camcorder realm. Until today. Here in Köln, the outfit used Photokina as a launching pad for their newest portable tripod, the Gorillapod Video. For all intents and purposes, this is a classic Gorillapod with an omni-directional positioning video head, an extension arm for pans and tilts and magnetic feet for connecting it to your nearby barn. There's a small button on the head that allows the swivel arm to collapse for even easier travel, and during our moments with it here on the show floor, we were duly impressed with how it held the pocket camcorder strapped on top of it. It's available to order right now for $29.95, with shipments expected within the next fortnight. You know the drill -- gallery's below if you're craving more. %Gallery-103090% %Gallery-103091%
Adding a Carl Zeiss SLR lens to your iPhone 4
If the 5x digital zoom on the iPhone 4's 5 MP digital camera doesn't make your heart pound with joy, maybe you should dig out some of those lenses from the SLR film camera that you're not using anymore and use 'em with your iPhone. We're not sure of the source of this Franken-cam, but it looks like the real deal. Think of this as an über-Owle Bubo, with the ability to use higher quality lenses with your iPhone to take amazing photos. Starting with a Manfrotto Model 797 Modopocket tripod, the rest of the rig appears to be some sort of clamp holding the lens and (on the camera side) a T-mount adapter. I'd be willing to venture that there's some sort of lens in the T-mount so that our friend, the iPhone, doesn't have to squint to see through that nice Carl Zeiss lens... TUAW readers -- can you identify the other components used here? Should you recognize any of the bits and pieces, let us know what they are via the comments so that the digicam geeks in the crowd can assemble this kit. [via Technabob and Engadget]
iPhone 4 gets outfitted with vintage SLR lens
Sure, the iPhone 4 may have a pretty great camera as far as phones go, but there's always room for improvement -- right? Continuing the great tradition of iPhones awkwardly outfitted with camera lenses, one intrepid individual has now come up with a contraption that will let you "attach" a full-size SLR lens to your iPhone 4. While complete details are a bit light, Technabob notes that the camera mount at the bottom of the rig is a Manfrotto pocket tripod -- so you at least have a place to start for building your own. [Thanks, Demetri]
Joby Gorillapod Focus and Ballhead X review
No need for magnets? Plenty of need for strength and flexibility? You're in the right place, bub. Joby's been cranking out Gorillapods for eons now, and they've essentially set the standard for what a flexible, mobile tripod should be. What started as an easy way to compose timed shots from point and shoots quickly snowballed into an entire lineup of varied products (like the Gorillatorch Flare, for instance), the latest of which involves holding cameras up to 11 pounds and pivoting them around with just a twist. Care to get our take on the Ballhead X and its Focus companion? It's all just a click away. %Gallery-95577%
Joby's Gorillapod Magnetic now sticking cameras in unexpected places worldwide
Did you finally run out of precarious places to suspend your camera using an original Gorillapod? We find that hard to believe (did you try the chandelier?) but just the same are happy to inform you that a world of new possibilities is now open with the Gorillapod Magnetic, which is shipping worldwide for $24.95. Sadly it still only manages to support a meager 11.5 ounces, so SLR-toting shooters will not want to rely on this lodestone-augmented franken-pod, but those of you rocking compacts should be receiving theirs soon. We look forward to see what new and exciting places people stick theirs too -- just note that the one wood has already been done, and so anyone looking to replicate that feat is a low-down, dirty copycat. %Gallery-86171%
Joby Gorillapod Magnetic flexible tripod hands-on
Hey kids, wanna see your golf drive Sam Raimi style, i.e. from the perspective the club itself? It wouldn't be with the fanciest of cameras, and we're sure wind resistance would throw you off your game, but we are curious if Joby's Gorillapod Magnetic would be able to hold tight. The flexible little tripod's tips certainly give it a surprisingly strong pull -- a shame it only holds 11 ounces, else we'd be putting our DSLRs in some crazy and unreasonable spots. Want one now? You're in luck -- it's on sale over at Joby's website for a pile of change less than $25. %Gallery-86171%
Joby demonstrates brilliance with Gorillapod Magnetic flexible tripod
It's the ultimate "why didn't I think of that?" concept, but kudos to Joby for doing more than just keeping a bar story to itself. Following in the footsteps of the magnified Gorillatorch, Joby decided to add a few magnets to the feet of its tried-and-true Gorillapod flexible tripod. The result? The Gorillapod Magnetic, of course! Reportedly, this little bugger supports digital cameras and camcorders weighing up to 11.5 ounces, and it should go on sale worldwide this April for an undisclosed amount. We know you've been dreaming of a way to snap group photos while inside those steel prison bars, and at long last, those dreams can be become reality. In related news, the company is also showing its professional side with the April-bound Ballhead X, which is described as a "portable yet sturdy" head that can pan, tilt, and rotate cameras up to 11.1 pounds, and while it's designed to play nice with the Gorillapod Focus, it should work fine with 3/8- and 1/4-inch threads on other tripods. Full release is after the break. %Gallery-85963%
TUAW Review and giveaway: Blur Tripod and app for iPhone
Way back in September, we announced that Mobile Mechatronics was going to be selling a combination of a tiny tripod and an iPhone app called Blur. The idea behind this combo is that the tripod can hold your iPhone more steadily than your hand can, and then the software can assist you by either taking a photo after a delay or taking several photos in quick succession. At the time, I asked Mobile Mechatronics to send some samples for us to test and then give away. The tripods arrived very quickly, but the software was nowhere to be found. In my quest to get review equipment out of my office and into the hands of TUAW readers, I kept searching the App Store for the app. It appears that Mobile Mechatronics fell into the bane of iPhone developers everywhere -- slow approval of apps -- because it finally showed up when I searched this week.
iPhone photo news: tripods and water drop lenses
The iPhone has made photography fun for me again. I frankly hated the cameras I had in some of my other, older phones, and I don't like carrying around my big Canon digicam all the time, so having a fairly capable camera in my pocket has opened up my photo-taking horizons again. When I got the 3GS this summer, one of my first tests was to take some macro pictures using the camera. Sure, the 3GS is better at macro photos than the original or 3G models, but it still isn't a "real" macro camera. What if I wanted to take close up pictures of a tiny insect or a detail of a flower stamen? The Apple Press has a great little tutorial today on how to take better macro photos with the iPhone using alternative lenses. I'll leave reading the post as an exercise for our readers, but let it suffice to say that you can do a lot of really cool macro shots with an iPhone by putting a small drop of water onto the lens. The Apple Press also provides a link to Amazon for an inexpensive magnifier that can fit in your wallet, perfect for those who are a bit queasy about putting even a drop of agua on their iPhones.Meanwhile, the geniuses at Mobile Mechatronics are now selling an inexpensive product designed to help you take better photos with your iPhone. The Blur Tripod ($US14.99) consists of an iPhone tripod adapter, a mini tripod, and an upcoming companion app called Blur Software that provides an adjustable delay to your iPhotography so that all vibrations in the iPhone / tripod combo are damped out before the photo is snapped. The app is going through the labyrinthine approval process right now, and will hopefully be approved by Apple in the near future. In the meantime, I'm going to go out and take some more pictures and video with my iPhone. What's your biggest wish for iPhone photography? A telephoto lens? A flash? Leave your comments below.
ZGrip iPhone Jr. available August 15th
Dave Caolo tempted TUAW readers in early July with news about Zacuto's ZGrip iPhone Pro, a handy (no pun intended) articulated grip for taking steadier video with the iPhone 3GS. While the US$295 price tag was a bit out of the realm of possibility for all but well-heeled iPhone geeks, there was a tantalizing bit of news at the end of the post stating that a "low-cost consumer version" would soon be released. That news was very accurate, as you'll be able to buy the US$69 ZGrip iPhone Jr. starting this Saturday, August 15th. While it doesn't offer all of the features of the Pro model such as the rotating grip head, it holds an iPhone 3GS securely in a set of fingers, has a handle grip to steady your hold on the device, features an accessory mount on top for a light, and even has a standard mount on the bottom of the handle for attaching your iPhone to a tripod. Check out the video in the 2nd half of the post for details and a look at an early production model of the ZGrip iPhone Jr. If you pre-order the ZGrip iPhone Jr. before Saturday, you can take another US$10 off of the purchase price. If you're still not tempted to buy one, what's your favorite way of keeping your iPhone 3GS steady while you're shooting video? Leave a comment below.
