Best Gorillapod for small-type camcorder?

[assassin24]

Looking for a little advice on a Gorillapod for my Canon HF200.

Smallest gorillapod says that it can hold 11.5 ounces. My Canon is 12 ounces.

What do you guys have?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I would probably just go with the next size up. Better to be more stable than not.

 

[gsellis]

I got the biggest one for my Sony HC7. The only issue is it really is for stills with no great panning. If you are using if for the mobility, a head is difficult to find if panning is in your future. But, it is great for attaching to railings and about anything around.

Pic in PR
http://georgeandlorrie.com/gallery/photo/thumb.jpg

 

[assassin24]

Ordered the SLR version. http://joby.com/gorillapod/slr/ Might get the ball head in the future if I think I need it.

 

[randomlinh]

Are these things reliable? I was at B&H and the small one (want to buy one for my GF1/20) was all sorts of loose. I wouldn't trust a disposable camera on it.

 

[assassin24]

There are a lot of people that swear by gorillapods for everyday use.

Are you sure that the one you saw at B&H was abused/misused while on the floor as a model?

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
Are these things reliable? I was at B&H and the small one (want to buy one for my GF1/20) was all sorts of loose. I wouldn't trust a disposable camera on it.

In the pic above, that is my $1200 video camera on a 6th floor balcony railing. I trust it.

 

[corkyg]

I got the biggest gorilla I could from B&H. It is truly reliable. I have no balcony, but here is a quickie of it entrusted with my EOS 5D and 50mm f/1.2 L lens on the back of a chair with only one leg holding the burden.

Gorilla

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: gsellis

Originally posted by: randomlinh
Are these things reliable? I was at B&H and the small one (want to buy one for my GF1/20) was all sorts of loose. I wouldn't trust a disposable camera on it.

In the pic above, that is my $1200 video camera on a 6th floor balcony railing. I trust it.

that's not a pic, that's a couple of pixels but dang, you're crazy, haha. I'll probably get the SLR non-zoom one (mostly to use w/ a GF1 and future "GH2").

 

[Kaido]

On a tangent, I have pretty much the entire Gorillapod line. Love em! My big ones are rigged up with a ballhead & a fluid-head for smooth pans & tilts. It's especially great for table-top shots. I do get a lot of positive comments on them, people are always like wow that's so cool! Where can I get one??

 

[theblackbox]

i use the slr zoom with my hf s10. very happy with it and it's been nothing but durable. ball head is a must.

 

[akugami]

Originally posted by: Kaido
On a tangent, I have pretty much the entire Gorillapod line. Love em! My big ones are rigged up with a ballhead & a fluid-head for smooth pans & tilts. It's especially great for table-top shots. I do get a lot of positive comments on them, people are always like wow that's so cool! Where can I get one??

I was thinking of getting one for use with my DSLR. Would you trust the largest size Gorillapod with something along the lines of a DSLR with 70-200 F/2.8? If it'll take that, it'll likely take anything that I would use.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: akugami

Originally posted by: Kaido
On a tangent, I have pretty much the entire Gorillapod line. Love em! My big ones are rigged up with a ballhead & a fluid-head for smooth pans & tilts. It's especially great for table-top shots. I do get a lot of positive comments on them, people are always like wow that's so cool! Where can I get one??

I was thinking of getting one for use with my DSLR. Would you trust the largest size Gorillapod with something along the lines of a DSLR with 70-200 F/2.8? If it'll take that, it'll likely take anything that I would use.

Oh yeah, definitely. The biggest one is the Gorillapod Focus, which is all-metal. It's a beast. You can put up to 11 pounds on it. The second-biggest one is the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom, which can hold up to 6.5 pounds. That's the one I use my fluid head with - it's smaller & lighter than the metal Focus model and bends a bit easier. The metal one is for really serious heavy duty stuff lol.

Maybe I'll put up a quick video off my iPhone when I have some free time. I use the smaller ones for my mics & lights, they actually have a shoe mount so you can pop your strobes on and off real easy, great if you've got some PocketWizard or AlienBee type of remote flash trigger stuff. I actually wish I had a few more of them, I really do use them for everything, they're just so handy!

 

[AkumaX]

I'm looking to find a way to mount/hold an HD camcorder to myself/helmet/vehicle while riding on a motorcycle/scooter. Any suggestions?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: akugami
Would you trust the largest size Gorillapod with something along the lines of a DSLR with 70-200 F/2.8? If it'll take that, it'll likely take anything that I would use.

OK - here it is. The 70-200 f/2.8 attached to my EOS 5D hanging off the back of a chair. No problem at all. That could just as well be the branch of a tree.

Gorilla2

And here it gorilla-grabbed to the top of the chair back in a normal position.

gorilla3

 

[akugami]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: akugami
I was thinking of getting one for use with my DSLR. Would you trust the largest size Gorillapod with something along the lines of a DSLR with 70-200 F/2.8? If it'll take that, it'll likely take anything that I would use.

Oh yeah, definitely. The biggest one is the Gorillapod Focus, which is all-metal. It's a beast. You can put up to 11 pounds on it. The second-biggest one is the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom, which can hold up to 6.5 pounds. That's the one I use my fluid head with - it's smaller & lighter than the metal Focus model and bends a bit easier. The metal one is for really serious heavy duty stuff lol.

Well, the idea was to get a little extra as far as weight goes. I've read that the type of joints the Gorillapods use do wear out and don't grip as well. Having one that is specced to take more weight than a DSLR with a 70-200 F/2.8 attached means a little safety of mind. Especially when the 70-200 F/2.8 belongs to my brother since I don't own one.

@corkyg

Thanks for the pictures. Really gives confidence in using one of these. I think I'll order one soon. Especially since I've got a little extra cash burning in the pockets since I'm up some money in football wagering. Need to spend it before I lose it back.

 

[Kaido]

Here's my Gorillapod SLR-Zoom holding my D90 with an 18-55 lens: (overlooking the Connecticut River today, wheee!)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6896/gorillapod.jpg

I take the SLR-Zoom more places than the Focus because it's quicker/easier to bend than the bigger metal version, but when my camcorder is all loaded up with stuff, I like the sturdiness of the metal version better.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: AkumaX
I'm looking to find a way to mount/hold an HD camcorder to myself/helmet/vehicle while riding on a motorcycle/scooter. Any suggestions?

Totally different realm. I created a helmet cam for mountain biking using a Bonehead Composites Dbox (for skydiving). It involved screws (I used nylon to avoid skull penetration in a bad accident), a scavenaged quick release (from a $30 tripod), and a counterweight. Bonehead Composites does offer full helmet rigs for skydiving, but not sure what else they have as I have not been on their site for about a year. You might want to consider a rig from them. And note that YOU are the image stabilizer, so you have to develop techinics in riding style if you want to be Hollywood quality (vs Blair Witch).

The shortest video I have online with it (and other stuff - just for educational purposes...)
http://georgeandlorrie.com/gallery/video/TAKMBD360.wmv

 

[corkyg]

Also, check this out:

Helmet

 

[AkumaX]

Originally posted by: gsellis

Originally posted by: AkumaX
I'm looking to find a way to mount/hold an HD camcorder to myself/helmet/vehicle while riding on a motorcycle/scooter. Any suggestions?

Totally different realm. I created a helmet cam for mountain biking using a Bonehead Composites Dbox (for skydiving). It involved screws (I used nylon to avoid skull penetration in a bad accident), a scavenaged quick release (from a $30 tripod), and a counterweight. Bonehead Composites does offer full helmet rigs for skydiving, but not sure what else they have as I have not been on their site for about a year. You might want to consider a rig from them. And note that YOU are the image stabilizer, so you have to develop techinics in riding style if you want to be Hollywood quality (vs Blair Witch).

The shortest video I have online with it (and other stuff - just for educational purposes...)
http://georgeandlorrie.com/gallery/video/TAKMBD360.wmv

oh yah, i know i diversed from the gorillapod. i just didn't want to make another thread

nice vid btw!