My Gorilla Arrived!

[northbeach]

It arrives yesterday, just in time for me to photgraph the turkey with my camera hanging from the chandelier.

Ruth, I don't think it needs a ball head to take a vertical image. I'm able to turn the top part totally to achieve a vertical, although I haven't put my camera on it yet. I will do so later and take a photograph of it with my other camera.

It's a pretty fun thing and I think it going to prove to be very useful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sheila

[bytethis]

Congrats Sheila and Mappy Thanksgiving...Enjoy swinging from that chandelier ...oh yeah, enjoy your new friend also.

I thought you'd all be interested a mini review of the SLR version of the Gorilla Pod I came across in the last few minutes, from DigitalCameraReview.com

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/d...pod+slr+tripod

I can see myself getting one of these sometime soon.

Happy holidays.

[northbeach]

Hi, Graham,

I did get the SLR version ~ I have a panasonic FZ30 and it has pretty hefty zoom lens.

I got it from b&h photo and paid $39.00 - $10 less than suggested in the review.

I think this is going to be a very handy little tripod.

Thanks for your holiday greetings.

Sheila.

[Ellen]

I just checked this out today and have added it to my Christmas wish list. I was reading about it in one of my photo magazines and decided to check it out. Then I remembered that you (Sheila) had posted about getting one. How do you like it???

[northbeach]

I love it, Ellen. I haven't used it tons but I did do some tabletop work with it, with the legs splayed out pretty flat. It's so fast and easy to adjust.

I also wrapped it around a railing and was able to get an angle down into a crowd below I couldn't possible have got with a conventional tripod. That's what I think it's best it, it will get you that extra foot that a tripod won't.

Tell Santa to look at Amazon I believe they deliver to the North Pole and he can take it from there. I believe it's less expensive than B&H>

Let me know if you get one

And Merry Christmas, Ellen.

Sheila

[Hellbelly]

I saw this "Gorilla" mentioned somewhere before and was wondering what you were talking about. But now I see the pictures of it. It looks like a very handy piece of equipment, especially if you shoot outdoors alot like I do, on camping trips and the like.

HB.

[northbeach]

HB, perfect for camping trips I should think.

Just be sure you get the right one. There are three. One is for the smaller point and shoot, the next up is SLR and then the largest is for an SLF with a big, heavy zoom lens.

There;s a quick release that you can attach to your camera and I'm about to look into if I can get a second release so I can have one for both of my camers - press a button and the camera is released.

sheila

[RTaylor]

Hi Sheila,
Which quick release are you buying?
I have one I bought the same time I bought my D70 back in Aug 04.
I think its called Quick Connect but I could be wrong, its on my tripod which is in my car and at 4:20am its too cold to go out to check LOL

It has a little metal screw disk that goes onto your camera and doesnt get in the way.
If thats the one you are getting, be sure to screw on the disk very tight so it doesnt fall off.

The first year I had mine I lost 2 of them and they aren't cheap meaning about $15-$35ish per screw, I forget now.
But since my husband screwed it on tighter for me I havent lost one since.

I can unscrew the bottom mount plate and have it on either my tripod, monopod or gorilla and still use the same metal disk on the camera.

I'll get the brand name for you in a few hours

[Ellen]

Thanks Sheila for the info. At first I thought there was only one, but after checking again, I found all three. I think I want to go with the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom. I have two zoom lenses that might cause me to need this one. This one holds up to 6.5 lbs. The SLR one holds up to 2.5 lbs.

[northbeach]

Ruth, I haven't started checking out release plates yet so I'll appreciate the information. And when I get them I'll screw them on tight

I think the industrial strength definitely sounds like a good choice or ape for you, Ellen. Do let us know when you start using it.

Sheila

[RTaylor]

Ok Finally got my tripod out of my car

Its Novoflex Quick Release MiniConnect

http://www.adorama.com/NVBHQR.html

A photographer friend told me about it.
He's been into photography for 40 years and has tried them all and said he found annoying things about lots of them but this one he liked.
So thats why I bought it

I like how easy it is to pop the camera on and lock it or release the switch and pop it off.

[northbeach]

Thank you, Ruth. I'll look it up later today. I think this is a must even if a person only has one camera.

Sheila

[northbeach]

It turns out that Joby, the manufacturer of the Gorillapod, does sell quick release plates for it. They are $5 plus s&h. They also sell a plate that will accommodate a flash, also $5.

I've ordered the regular plate and the flash plate, I think it's a nice tool to have for so little money.

Nice stocking stuffer.

Sheila

[KHedquist]

Sheila,

Thanks for sharing the Gorillapod info. I bought 4 of them for different family members for Christmas. I hope somebody gets the hint for my stocking.

Cheers,

Kevin

[northbeach]

Kevin, what a good gift giver you are

I actually contacted Joby and asked them if they were a public company...they are not, otherwise I'd be buying stock. This is a great little item and I feel sure they'll be branching out into other creative things for the photographer.

Sheila.