Stabilization https://gimbalgarage.com Thu, 06 May 2021 08:00:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.15 https://gimbalgarage.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-fav-32x32.jpg Stabilization https://gimbalgarage.com 32 32 The Best Selfie Stick For Sony A5100 Cameras! https://gimbalgarage.com/selfie-stick-for-sony-a5100/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=selfie-stick-for-sony-a5100 Sat, 14 Dec 2019 21:31:32 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2863 In the age where being a social media influencer is one of the most highly sort after jobs it is no surprise that we see so many people reaching out and asking for advice on a number of different selfie stick related questions. On top of this, the Sony a5100 is a very popular camera that has a large number of photographers using it as their go-to camera body of choice so it is no surprise that we see so many people reaching out and asking for the best selfie stick for Sony a5100 owners.

Now, the main issue with the first and second generation selfie sticks on the market is that they were only ever designed to work with light cameras such as smartphones or action cameras. They are way to flimsy for an a5100 coming in at 0.62 pounds of payload weight plus the additional weight of any other camera accessories like your camera lens. Thankfully though, there is definatley hope as these new, next-generation selfie sticks have been specifically designed to be able to support mirrorless and light DSLR camera rigs in addition to smartphones and action cameras.

In our opinion, the Fugetek FT-568 is without a doubt the best next-generation selfie stick that is a very popular option amongst mirrorless camera owners. Since its release onto the market, its superior build quality has made it the obvious stick of choice amongst the community and ensured that it has managed to win the largest market share by far. On top of this, the stick also has an absolutely outstanding reputation amongst photographers too.

Performance And Functionality

Another great thing that the Fugetek FT-568 has going for it is the fact that it has some excellent features and some of the best performance out there when using a heavier camera rig like the Sony a5100. At the time of writing, the FT-568 offers a maximum usable length of forty-nine inches making it one of the longest selfie sticks currently available on the market. The main point that we want to make about its length is that it is able to support your a5100 when at maximum length with ease.

So many compeating next-generation selfie sticks on the market right now do say that they are able to support heavier cameras such as the a5100 and although they can, they also say in their small print that it is not supported at maximum length. This can really have an effect on the amount of background behind you that you are able to capture in your selfie, even with a wide-angle lens on your a5100. Thankfully, this is not a problem with the Fugetek FT-568 as it supports your a5100 all the way up to and including its forty-nine-inch maximum length.

The stick also comes with the standard quarter-inch mounting thread that is the exact same thread size on the vast majority of tripods. This ensures that you are able to quickly and easily mount or unmount your Sony a5100 with your stick. One thing that we would like to point out is that although there are videos online showing you show you can mount a quick release plate to the stick, this is not an officially supported feature and Fugetek only recommends you use the regular mounting thread for your camera.

Although this article is primarily focused on your Sony a5100, the Fugetek FT-568 also supports smartphones and action cameras and comes with various included mounts for them. The smartphone mount that comes with the FT-568 also allows you to mount smartphones that are up to 4.2 inches long rather than only sub-four inch smartphones like many compeating selfie stick. This ensures that you can easily switch between your Sony a5100, your smartphone, your action camera, or any other mountable device that you have with you to switch up your photograph or video as required.

The Fugetek FT-568 also comes with a great little Bluetooth remote control too. Unfortunately, the lack of Bluetooth connectivity on your Sony a5100 restricts what you can actually do with the remote but if you do plan to upgrade in the future or use your Smartphone or action camera with the stick then the remote offers some solid wireless remote control functionality.

One point that we would like to make about the wireless remote control is that it actually comes shipped face down in its holder in the handle of the stick. This is to try and minimize the chances of any potential damage to the remote while shipping. We have seen a number of people say that their remotes were actually missing when in fact, they were just in their holder back to front making it look like they were not there.

In all fairness to Fugetek, they really have done a great job with the FT-568 and it should definatley bee your primary consideration if you are looking for a selfie stick for your Sony a5100. On top of this, it has a massive customer base with many photographers who already use the stick opting to post their own, independent reviews of the Fugetek FT-568 that offer some great insight into the performance of the stick.

Build Quality And Design

As we mentioned earlier in the article, one of the main reasons that we feel the Fugetek FT-568 is such a good option for your Sony a5100 selfie stick is that it has the best build quality going at the time of writing. We have noticed a few compeating brands try and beat it with their latest models but none come close so we doubt anything will be able to knock the Fugetek FT-568 off the top spot any time soon.

The majority of the selfie stick is made from the same aluminum alloy that many professional-level tripods are made from offering the best possible structural integrity to support your camera’s weight during use. This is the main reason that you can mount heavier mirrorless cameras like your a5100 to the FT-568 while the stick is fully extended and not have to worry about the stick giving way under the weight.

The handle grip on the stick is also made from high-quality non-slip rubber to ensure that it does not slip during use in wet conditions. The rubber ensures that you can quickly and easily get a firm hold on the selfie stick without issue no matter the conditions. On top of this, the rubber handgrip is also very comfortable so you will easily be able to support the weight of your a5100 rig while mounted to the stick without getting hand cramps.

The stick is only ten ounces and comes in at 16.5 x 2 x 2 inches too making it extremely easy to add to your camera accessory bag or even just a backpack or handbag without having to take up much space or weight. This ensures that you can add the Fugetek FT-568 to your collection of camera accessories without it having to take up much space while still getting some solid selfie image stabilization when needed.

The last thing that we want to touch on is that the Fugetek FT-568 uses some excellent quality flip locks to keep each of its sections in place when extended. If you are used to using the Manfrotto style double lock flip locks then you will be familiar with what Fugetek has tried to do with the locks on the FT-568. Essentially they lock twice rather than just once to add that second layer of protection to the selfie stick to ensure your heavier camera is safe.

Our Verdict

That brings us to the end of our article going over what we feel is the best selfie sticks for the Sony a5100 and we hope that we have done a good job of explaining why we feel that the Fugetek FT-568 is the best option and should be your primary choice. If you have not made your mind up yet then there are some great, independent reviews of the stick online that you are able to reach if you wish. They offer some great insight into the selfie stick as well as how well it can perform with a number of popular mirrorlesses and lightweight DSLR camera rigs too.

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The Best Selfie Stick For Sony A6000 Cameras! https://gimbalgarage.com/selfie-stick-for-sony-a6000/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=selfie-stick-for-sony-a6000 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 17:12:39 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2853 Out of all the mirrorless cameras that have been released onto the market over the years, one of the most popular is without a doubt the Sony a6000. Although the other mirrorless cameras in the Sony Alpha range are gaining more and more popularity as the months come and go, the a6000 is still the most popular and by a long shot too. As you would expect for any camera body that is as popular as the a6000, we are seeing more and more people reaching out with various questions on-camera accessories that can help improve their image quality when using their a6000.

Now, we have seen a steadily increasing number of people over the last few weeks reaching out and asking for advice on the best selfie stick for Sony a6000 cameras. As you can probably guess, the vast majority of the first and second generation selfie sticks are totally useless for a mirrorless camera due to it being much heavier than a smartphone or action camera.

Thankfully though, there is hope, The Fugetek FT-568 is a next-generation selfie stick that can easily support the 0.76 payloads of your a6000 as well as all commonly used setups for it too. This ensures that you are able to capture that selfie that you want with your a6000 without having to worry about the stick-breaking or buckling during use and sending your a6000 to the ground.

Since its release onto the market, the Fugetek FT-568 has proven to be a very popular option within the community and has earned itself an excellent reputation too. This is largely due to its very robust and tough build quality ensuring that it can make easy work of mirrorless and come DSLR cameras in addition to smaller items like smartphones and action cameras. It already has a number of Sony a6000 owners using it as their go-to selfie stick of choice and can make a great addition to your collection of camera accessories.

Performance And Functionality

As we mentioned above, the Fugetek FT-568 is a next-generation selfie stick that is made from a superior quality aluminum alloy that many professional-level tripods and monopods use. Not only does this keep the selfie stick as strong and light as possible but it also ensures that it keeps its structural integrity during use too. This offers peace of mind for anyone who does use a heavier camera rig like the Sony a6000 with the selfie stick as it ensures the stick does not break.

In addition to this, the aluminum alloy that the stick is made from is rigid and very durable ensuring that you are able to quickly and easily capture wobble-free selfies with ease. If you are a vlogger or a social media influencer then this can be a great help as due to the fact that many places you will be wanting to capture a selfie will have a large number of tourists around. The time frame that you are actually able to capture your selfie without having other tourists in the frame can be very small so the speed and ease of the Fugetek FT-568 is a great feature.

The stick also has a maximum length of forty-nine inches making it one of the longest selfie sticks on the market at the time of writing. In addition to this, the FT-568 does not lose any of its strength or durability the longer you have it extended either. This is one of the main advantages of the Fugetek FT-568 over the compeating next-generation selfie sticks on the market that can support the a6000. Most of the other sticks list mirrorless cameras as being supported but if you read the small print it will only say up to a set length whereas the FT-568 supports them even when fully extended.

The Fugetek FT-568 also comes with a Bluetooth remote as standard that provides you with some wireless remote control functionality and the ability to trigger your a6000 from the selfie sticks handle. Please note, the Bluetooth remote that comes with the FT-568 comes face down in its holder in the handle when shipped to prevent damage. We see a large number of reports of people thinking that their remote is missing but it is just facing inwards and blends in with the sticks handle.

One of the main weaknesses of the traditional first and second-generation selfie sticks is that they lack a standard quarter-inch mounting thread that you require to mount your Sony a6000 to the actual stick. These next-generation selfie sticks that we feel the Fugetek FT-568 is the best option for do have a quarter-inch mounting thread allowing you to quickly and easily mount your a6000 to the stick without issue.

As the FT-568 also comes with a number of smartphone and action camera mounts as standard you can simply mount them to the quarter-inch mounting thread when needed then mount your phone or action camera. The smartphone mount is actually better than many of the compeating selfie sticks too as it can support smartphones that are up to 4.2 inches long with the competition usually only supporting sub-four inch phones.

When you factor all of this in, it is easy to see why the Fugetek FT-568 is such a popular selfie stick that has an absolutely massive customer base. Due to its excellent performance, many people who own the FT-568, including a number of other Sony a6000 users have posted so many excellent, glowing reviews of the stick that offers some great insight into its performance and how well it can do.

Build Quality And Design

One of the best features of the Fugetek FT-568 is the fact that it is extremely lightweight, small and robust. The robust nature of the stick is without a doubt one of, if not the most important reason that it is such a popular selfie stick for cameras like the Sony a6000 as it is strong enough to support the camera with ease. It is actually made from the exact same aluminum alloy that many of the high end, professional level tripod are made from to ensure that it is as light as it possibly can be while also being tough enough to hold some very heavy camera rigs.

The stick comes in at only 10 oz with dimentions of 16.5 x 2 x 2 inches when collapsed making it very easy to carry with you when not in use. You can easily add it to a bag or backpack without having to use much space at all, the Fugetek FT-568 can even easily ba carried in your hand if your dont have a bag with you too ensuring that it is as easy to travel with as possible.

The handle on the stick is also made from reinforced, non-slip rubber to offer a very comfortable hold, even when supporting heavy weights like a mirrorless camera such as your a6000. Another improvement to the first and second generation selfie sticks that Fugetek have added to the FT-568 is the non-slip handle to ensure that you can get a firm, solid hold on the stick in all conditions without having to risk the stick dropping out of your hand.

Fugetek have also developed their own fliplock system that is very similar to what professional level tripod brands such as Manfrotto use on their tripods to ensure that each section of the stick holds it possition. The fliplocks are very easy to lock in place too and can be locked or unlocked within seconds to ensure that you are able to save time when capturing your selfies.

Our Verdict

That concludes our article going over what we feel is the best selfie stick for Sony a6000 cameras currently available on the market. The Fugetek FT-568 really is a no brainer and can make an excellent addition to your Sony a6000 camera accessories and provide you with some great image stabilization. If you are yet to make your mind up though then there are a ton of independent reviews of the Fugetek FT-568 that you can read for an external, third-party insight into the stick from photographers who use it on a regular basis.

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The Best Monopod For Wildlife Photography! https://gimbalgarage.com/monopod-for-wildlife-photography/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=monopod-for-wildlife-photography Mon, 09 Dec 2019 12:25:08 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2803 With more and more photographers wanting to go further while traveling lighter while out and about capturing photographs of wildlife, we have noticed more and more people reaching out about downsizing from their tripod to a smaller, lighter monopod. Due to this, we have decided to base today’s article on the best monopod for wildlife photography to try and help as many of our readers in this situation as possible.

Monopods offer the advantage of being smaller, lighter, and easy to travel with than a tripod while still being able to provide you with some excellent image stabilization for your wildlife photography. In addition to this, professional-level monopods tend to be much cheaper than their professional level tripod counterparts too. This ensures that you are able to add a monopod to your collection of camera accessories without having to shell out or risk breaking the bank.

Now, we are actually going to be featuring two different monopods that come in at slightly different price points in the market rather than just one. We have the Manfrotto Element that is our more budget-friendly monopod for any of our readers who are looking to add a monopod to their collection but on a budget. Then we have our primary recommendation, the Sirui P-326 that retails at around the $100 price point depending on the retailer, the P-326 really is an excellent bit of kit that is well worth adding to your collection of camera accessories.

We have our comparison table below as well as a short break down of the advantages and disadvantages of each monopod to try and help offer some additional information on both products. After the comparison section, we will be taking a more detailed look at the Sirui P-326 as it is our primary recommendation and we want to go over why we feel it is such an excellent option.

Comparison Table

Product
Best Option!
Sirui P-326
Manfrotto Element
Image
SIRUI P-326 6 Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
Manfrotto Element Aluminum 5-Section Monopod, Red (MMELEA5RD)
Prime Delivary
-
Max Load Capacity
22 Pounds
14.1 Pounds
Max Height
61.4 Inches
59.1 Inches
Closed Length
15.6 Inches
16.3 Inches
Dimentions
15.8 x 2 x 2 Inches
2.5 x 2.5 x 16.3 Inches
Net Weight
0.88 Pounds
1.1 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$84.20
Price not available
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Best Option!
Product
Sirui P-326
Image
SIRUI P-326 6 Section Carbon Fiber Monopod
Prime Delivary
Max Load Capacity
22 Pounds
Max Height
61.4 Inches
Closed Length
15.6 Inches
Dimentions
15.8 x 2 x 2 Inches
Net Weight
0.88 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$84.20
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Product
Manfrotto Element
Image
Manfrotto Element Aluminum 5-Section Monopod, Red (MMELEA5RD)
Prime Delivary
-
Max Load Capacity
14.1 Pounds
Max Height
59.1 Inches
Closed Length
16.3 Inches
Dimentions
2.5 x 2.5 x 16.3 Inches
Net Weight
1.1 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
Price not available
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon

Last update on 2022-08-11 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

As you can see from our comparison table above, both of our featured monopods have some very similar features but the Manfrotto Element is made from an aluminum alloy whereas the Sirui P-326 is made from carbon fiber. Not only does the carbon fiber build of the P-326 allow it to support more weight while being lighter but it also ensures the product has a much longer shelf life due to it not suffering from elemental corrosion.

Even in this day and age, we see a large number of people who purchase aluminum alloy tripods and monopods thinking that they will never corrode as they don’t rust. Although it is true that they will not rust, they most certainly do corrode from the elements but their oxidization is in the form of white dust that is extremely fine. As the corrosion becomes worse the dust granules increase in size until they are similar to sugar granules and this is an indicator that the structural integrity of the product is compromised.

Now, this whole process can take as long as five years to take effect and degrade the build of your monopod until it needs replacing and even then, this is with regular use with the monopod being exposed to the elements. This means that if you are only expecting to use your monopod for five years or less then the aluminum option can be the better choice.

On the flip side of this though, if you are a professional wildlife photographer and know you will be using your monopod for longer than five years or that it will be out in the elements on a regular basis, the Sirui P-326 is a no brainer. Its carbon fiber build means that it will not corrode from the elements and can potentially last you decades without needing to be replaced.

On top of this, the Sirui P-326 has one of the best reputations going at the time of writing as well as an absolutely massive market share. This is due to the monopod offering you excellent performance, a great build quality, and a low price tag for what you are actually getting. Now, for the rest of the article, we are going to be going over the P-326 in more detail and looking at why we feel it is such a good option.

Performance And Functionality

The Sirui P-326 offers you a maximum load capacity of twenty-two pounds worth of total camera payload and although use usually only recommends that you use eighty percent of the listed limit, this still leaves you with almost eighteen pounds worth of support. This is likley enough to cover the vast majority of popular wildlife photography rigs at the time of writing, especially if you are using a mirrorless camera over a DSLR.

This ensures that you should easily be able to mount any camera accessory that you need to get the best possible image quality while out and about on your sessions. Super heavy, long telephoto lenses can be popular in some wildlife photography sub-niches and the Sirui P-326 should easily be able to support your camera with this level of heavy glass on it too.

The Sirui P-326 is a six-section monopod that can provide you with excellent image stabilization even if you only opt to extend five or four sections of the monopod. Depending on the niche that you are working in, you may have to sit down and extending the full six sections may not be needed. Either way, the twist locks on the monopods sections will secure it in place and ensure that a section does not give way once your gear is mounted.

The monopod has a maximum usable height of just over 61 inches that should be enough for the majority of our readers. For its price point in the market, we would expect around sixty inches of maximum height so the P-326 is just above average. When closed the monopod shrinks down to around a quarter of its maximum heigh coming in at 15.6 inches making it very easy to pack away without having to take up much space in your kit bag or pelican case.

The head of the Sirui P-326 also has a fully reversible quarter-inch and three-eighths inch screw mounting plate. This ensures that no matter what you are up to or what geat you have to mount to your monopod, you can quickly and easily switch the mounting plate over to get the required mounting thread and attach your gear to the monopod.

Coming in at around one hundred dollars depending on the retailer that you purchase it from, it really is easy to see why the Sirui P-326 is such a popular monopod, even in niches outside of wildlife photography. It has managed to win over a large number of photographers and videographers since its release with many of them opting to post their own, independent reviews of the monopod. Those reviews are well worth skimming over as they share some great third-party opinions on the monopod.

User Interface And Control System

Being a simple, easy to use monopod, there really isn’t much to say in the way of a user interface or control system for the Sirui P-326. Everything has been designed to be as simple and easy to use as possible so even someone who has never used a monopod previously can pick the P-326 and learn what to do in minutes and get optimal image stabilization out of it. If this is your first monopod then this can really play to your advantage as the P-326 is extremely easy to use.

We touched on the leg locking system on the P-326 earlier and although flip locks have historically had the better locking system for monopods and tripods, there have been a few tweaks to the twist-lock system over the last five years or so that have drastically improved them. This is great news as the Sirui P-326 uses twist locks and they lock in place perfectly.

One of the main issues with the twist lock system from back in the day is that it could be a pain to find your screwing thread when twisting them meaning your leg section would not lock into place securely. Thankfully though, the majority of modern twist locks use a seating unit to basically guide the threads together to ensure they seat correctly and form a solid seal.

In addition to this, the twist-lock system also keeps its traditional advantages of being quicker and easier to activate when needed. You can lock or unlock all of the locks at once when the monopod is compressed by putting one hand over all of the locks and turning. Although this is just a small advantage, it can potentially save you time, especially in cold conditions where finger sensitivity can drop when needing to use flip locks.

We would also like to mention that the included wrist strap and handgrip on the monopod are easy to use and the handgrip is particularly comfortable to hold and is well insulated too. This gives you a solid are of the tripod that you can hold if you are working in colder conditions without having to directly touch the cold carbon fiber.

Build Quality And Design

As we touched on earlier in the article, the fact that the Sirui P-326 is made from carbon fiber rather than an aluminum alloy really helps it score points over the competition. Not only is carbon fiber lighter than all of the aluminum alloys available at the time of writing but it is also tougher allowing a lighter tripod to offer a higher load capacity while also being lighter than their aluminum rivals.

This allows the P-326 to come in at only 0.88 pounds while also being able to support its massive maximum load capacity of twenty two points of camera payload! If you have to hike to remote locations for your wildlife photography then this lighter weight and higher load capacity can be worth the price tag alone.

We have already touched on the differences in corrosion between aluminum and carbon fiber earlier in the article so we won’t be going into it any further but our point is that carbon fiber offers all of the advantages. One thing that we do want to touch on is that the twist locks on the P-326 are enhanced with silicon elements to help increase their durability during use as well as help protect them against the elements to ensure they do not suffer from wear and tear while in use.

Our Verdict

That brings our article on what we feel is the best monopod for wildlife photography on the market right now to an end. As we pointed out back at the start of the article, the Manfrotto Element can be a solid cheap monopod if that is what you need and it also has a decent reputation amongst the community.

That said though, if you want a product that can last as well as put up with any bumps and knocks during use then we would highly recommend that our readers looking to add a monopod to their collection of camera accessories seriously consider the Sirui P-326. As we have pointed out throughout the article, it has a number of advantages over the competition and really does offer some great image stabilization and functionality.

If you are yet to make your mind up then many photographers and videographers have posted their own dedicated review of the Sirui P-326  online that you can read. Those reviews are well worth skimming over if you are still on the fence as they offer you some great insight into the monopod and its performance.

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The Ultimate Manfrotto MT055XPro3 Review! https://gimbalgarage.com/manfrotto-mt055xpro3-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=manfrotto-mt055xpro3-review Sun, 08 Dec 2019 03:19:14 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2776 Our regular readers will probably be aware that one of the main tripods that we always recommend to our readers is the Manfrotto MT055XPro3 no matter what their situation. In our opinion, it is a solid tripod that offers some of the best possible performance and functionality available for its price point. The level of image stabilization that it provides is outstanding for its price point and we have no doubt that it can help improve the image quality of any photographer, videographer, vlogger, or social media influencer no matter what camera body they use.

After recommending the MT055XPro3 so many times, we realized that we have never actually published a full, dedicated Manfrotto MT055XPro3 review so we have decided to make the MT055XPro3 the subject of today’s article. This gives something to link our readers to when they start asking for advice on high-quality tripods and points out all of the reasons that we feel the MT055XPro3 is such a solid little tripod that has a very fair price tag for what its worth.

Now, like much of the Manfrotto tripod range, the MT055XPro3 is available in a two variants. A cheaper aluminum variant and the more expensive professional level carbon fiber variant and both builds of the tripod have managed to earn an excellent reputation for themselves. Now, both variants of the tripod are almost identical other than the carbon fiber one being around 1.1 pounds lighter and a fair bit tougher than the aluminum variant.

Although both versions of the tripod are great, the recommended variant for you will largely depend on your plans for the future and your current budget. If you are on a tight budget or only plan to be taking part in photography or videography for five years or less then the aluminum variant is probably the better option. If you are a professional-level photographer or videographer then the carbon fiber variant is the obvious option as it is a true investment and can last you decades.

This is due to the corrosion the aluminum variant will take over the years meaning that depending on what you put it through, in three to five years it will likely need to be replaced due to structural degradation. On the flip side, the carbon fiber variant of the tripod does not corrode from the elements and with proper care can last you for decades without its structure degrading. This means that although the aluminum variant is around half the price of the carbon fiber variant if you are planning on using your tripod for more than three to five years, it’s better to go with the carbon fiber variant from the get-go as it ends up saving you money.

Anyway, the vast majority of the points we will be making from here on in the review of the Manfrotto MT055XPro3 will stand for both variants of the tripod. If we do touch on a topic that is different between the two then we will specifically say but other than that, any feature we mention will be relevant to both versions of the tripods.

Performance And Functionality

The Manfrotto MT055XPro3 offers a great maximum load capacity of 19.8 pounds (9kg) meaning that it is easily able to support the weight of the vast majority of popular camera setups used at the time of writing. It makes very easy work of all mirrorless camera rigs as well as pretty much every single heavy DSLR camera rig that we can think of off the top of our heads.

On top of this, the variable leg positions and next-generation leg locks that we will cover in more detail later in the article ensure that the MT055XPro3 can support even super heavy, long telephoto lenses too. If you are working in a niche where you need to use a long telephoto lens then this is a godsend as even at this price point in the market, there are some compeating tripods that can tilt with super long lenses. Thankfully though, this is is not an issue with the MT055XPro3 as it holds its center of gravity and its adjustable leg positions essentially work as an anti-tilt feature.

Another great feature of the Manfrotto MT055XPro3 is that it has an absolutely massive usable range that allows you to always have your camera angled as required to get the image or footage that you need out of your camera. At the upper end, the MT055XPro3 can provide you with a maximum usable height of 170cm with the center column fully extended and 140cm with the center column down.

In addition to this, it also provides you with an absolutely tiny minimum usable height of only 9cm beating out the vast majority of compeating tripods at this price point in the market. If you are into your macro photography or videography, being able to get your camera as low as only 9cm while still having the professional-level image stabilization of the MT055XPro3 is absolutely excellent, especially when you factor in its maximum usable height as many brands either try to be small or tall but rarely both.

Now, a potential weak point of the MT055XPro3 is that in exchange for this massive usable camera range, it comes in with a closed length of 61cm. Now, in all fairness to Manfrotto, they don’t market the MT055XPro3 as a travel tripod and we would expect a regular tripod to come in at around the 60cm mark for this height so it is about average. That said though if you know that you are going to be traveling by air on a regular basis then just keep the closed length of the tripod in mind although it shouldn’t be a problem if you pack all of your gear into something like a Pelican case for travel anyway.

As we touched on earlier in the article when talking about the tripod’s ability to support super heavy, long telephoto zoom lenses, Manfrotto has innovated on the traditional flip-lock leg locking system to give us what they call their quick power lock system. It is essentially a beefed-up flip-lock that has an additional lever inside of it when locked to help to ensure that your tripod has maximum stability once your leg locks are in place.

The whole system operates in a very similar way to a traditional flip-lock but has that extra layer of security hidden away inside of it. Not only does this ensure that the legs of your tripod will hold the position and length that you lock them at but it also gives you the peace of mind that your camera rig is safe when mounted. Although some people do prefer twist locks due to how quick they are, flip locks are definatley better for keeping your tripod leg in place and the Manfrotto quick power lock system just takes this a step further.

Another thing that Manfrotto has decided to switch on the MT055XPro3 to ensure that they have that extra advantage over their competition is what they call their one-finger operation system. Essentially it is a system where the vast majority of tasks on the tripod should be able to be completed with only one finger. In our opinion, it is a little gimmicky as your natural grip on most things will go with multiple fingers anyway but the ease of use is there.

Now, our personal favorite feature on the Manfrotto MT055XPro3 has to be its easy link connector system. The majority of the Manfrotto intermediate to professional level tripods have this system on them now and it essentially allows you to turn your tripod into a mini portable photography or videography studio.

You can mount any number of camera accessories to your camera via the system to make your life as easy as possible while in the middle of a session. For example, say you need an LED video light mounting, simply mount it to your tripod via the accessory arm and you are good to go. Other popular camera accessories to mount via the system include reflectors, microphones, and additional flash units but you can mount pretty much any camera accessory that you need.

When you take all of this into account, it really is easy to see how the MT055XPro3 has managed to earn itself such a large share of the market since its release. Both the aluminum and carbon fiber variants of the tripod also have a very fair price tag in our opinion so it is not surprising that so many people who own the tripod have posted their own glowing reviews for it. It is well worth spending a few minutes going over those reviews as they offer some great insight into the MT055XPro3 from photographers and videographers who use it as their go-to tripod of choice on a regular basis.

User Interface And Control System

As you would expect from a modern Manfrotto tripod, all of the systems are as user-friendly as possible to ensure that anyone, even if this is your first ever tripod or at least your first serious tripod can quickly and easily learn how to operate the tripod with ease. We have already touched on the quick power lock system and its easy link connector system in the section above so we won’t be recovering it again in this section.

The main thing that we want to touch on in the user interface section for the MT055XPro3 is the 0-degree column and its four leg angles that allow you to adapt the tripod to meet the needs of pretty much any situation that you may find yourself in. The supporting leg angles are 25°, 46°, 66°, and 88° with the actual angle locks being very smooth and easy to use. Many of the compeating tripods at this price point have a slightly awkward system to secure the leg angles in place but the MT055XPro3 is very smooth and easy to adjust.

We actually tried to work out how it was so easy when compared to the compeating tripods and we were unable to find any solid information on it. Due to this, we are just presuming that it is something to do with the Manfrotto one finger system to ensure that everything is as easy to use as possible.

Another solid system on the Manfrotto MT055XPro3 is its rotating bubble level system that we absolutely love. It is something so simple and easy to use that can actually help you out while using your camera but at the time of writing, most tripod manufacturers are not adding them to their own tripods. Essentially it lets you rotate the bubble level on the tripod around its central column to allow you to see it in various positions.

If you are planning to use a large camera body with the tripod, this makes your life easier as so many tripods position their bubble level in a bad, fixed location meaning you can’t see it with a large camera body. Thankfully, if you mount your camera body of choice to the MT055XPro3 and your bubble level is covered you simply just spin it around to a location where you can see it.

Build Quality And Design

Moving onto the build quality of the tripod, as you can probably guess with it being a Manfrotto product, the build quality is absolutely outstanding and Manfrotto has managed to make an excellent tripod that is very tough and robust. Although the aluminum variant of the tripod is robust and tough, the carbon fiber variant variant blows it out the water due to the tougher and lighter properties of carbon fiber.

As we mentioned back at the start of the article, the aluminum variant of the tripod will likely need replacing within three to five years depending on what you are doing with it. This is due to elemental corrosion and we see so many people who still think that aluminum can not corrode but this is untrue! Unlike steel that rusts when corroding, aluminum secretes a white powder that turns from a fine flour dust into a more gain like dust similar as the corrosion gets worse.

The carbon fiber variant of the tripod does not have this weakness and is much better at holding its structural integrity too and this is why it can potentially last you decades without being replaced provided you look after it.

Our Verdict

That brings our Manfrotto MT055XPro3 review to a close and we would highly recommend the tripod to our readers. It is an excellent source of image stabilization that can be added to your camera accessories and work in the vast majority of situations without issue. In our opinion, the aluminum Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 is an absolute steal at its price point in the market and pretty much outright beats all of the competition.

Although the carbon fiber Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 is an excellent bit of kit, it is probably more suited to a professional level photographer or videographer who will be using it long enough to warrant its higher price tag. That said though, even being double the price of the aluminum variant the carbon fiber MT055XPro3 is definatley work purchasing if you know you will be using it for five years or more.

If you are yet to make your mind up and would like to read more reviews then we would highly recommend that you skim some of these as they are have been posted by independent photographers and videographers who use the MT055XPro3 as their go-to tripod of choice. They offer a great insight into how good the tripod actually is and show why it is such a popular option amongst the community with no sign of compeating brands knocking it off the top spot any time soon.

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The Best Tripod For Nikon D5300 Cameras! https://gimbalgarage.com/tripod-for-nikon-d5300/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tripod-for-nikon-d5300 Sat, 07 Dec 2019 21:00:52 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2765 The Nikon d5300 is an extremely popular entry-level DSLR camera body that is very popular for photography, videography, and vlogging while also having a solid following amongst streamers and social media influencers too. The core customer base of the Nikon d5300 is still steadily growing with each passing month and just like any popular camera, we are consistently seeing a number of people reaching out and asking for advice on a number of different camera accessories for the camera.

One of the most popular questions that we have seen asked over the last few weeks is based around the best tripod for Nikon d5300 cameras. No matter what niche you are working in or what you are using your d5300 for, a tripod is almost always going to be a solid investment to ensure that you are able to improve the image quality that you are able to capture via the image stabilization that the tripod provides.

Due to this, we have decided to publish this article going over what we feel any of our readers who own the d5300 should be considering as their go-to tripod of choice for their camera. We are hoping that our article will be able to help as many of our readers as possible as well as anyone who finds our content through Google or social media too. Unfortunately, there are an absolute ton of tripods on the market that are essentially a waste of time so we are hoping to help suggest some solid products to our readers.

Now, we know that the Nikon d5300 is an entry-level DSLR camera so some of our readers may be on a very strict budget. If you are on a tight budget then we would recommend that you check out the Zomei z699c as it is a great little tripod that is very cheap for the performance and image stabilization that it offers you. On top of this, since its release, the z699c has managed to grow itself a massive customer base and earn a A great reputation for itself too.

That said though, the z699c does have its flaws and we would highly recommend that our readers try to find the additional budget required to add an aluminum Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 to their collection of camera accessories. In our opinion, it is without a doubt the best tripod available on the market right now for its price point and it has an excellent reputation that just keeps getting better. Additionally, in the grand scheme of things, it is not too much more than the z699c but blows it out of the water when it comes to functionality and build quality.

If you do have a higher budget available then you could take the carbon fiber Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 variant instead as it truly is an investment in your camera accessories that can literally last decades due to its carbon fiber build. That said though, the aluminum variant of the MT055CXPRO3 should easily be able to meet the vast majority of our reader’s needs who use the Nikon d5300 and is around half the price of the carbon fiber variant. Due to this, we will be taking a more in-depth look at the aluminum MT055CXPRO3 throughout the rest of the article as in our opinion, it is the tripod that any Nikon d5300 owner should seriously consider purchasing as it really is a great bit of kit.

Performance And Functionality

Now, your d5300 camera body comes in at around 1.06 pounds of payload weight without any additional camera accessories mounted to it meaning that by DSLR camera standards, it is a very light camera body. As the Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 offers a maximum load capacity of just under twenty pounds of total camera payload weight, you can rest assured that it has all the load capacity that you could ever need even with the super heavy d5300 rigs.

In addition to this, the center of gravity on the MT055CXPRO3 and its weight displacement ensures that even if you are using a super heavy, long telephoto zoom lens with your d5300, the tripod will easily be able to provide you with the image stabilization that you require. Although there are some solid competitors to the MT055CXPRO3 at this price point in the market, in our opinion, there are few that we would trust with a long telephoto lens like we would trust the MT055CXPRO3.

Coming from Manfrotto, one of the few world-renowned tripod brands, you can rest assured that you are getting the best possible specs in your purchase too. The MT055CXPRO3 offers a maximum usable height of 170cm, 140cm if you want to keep your center column down with a minimum usable height of as little as 9cm! This massive range of usable height ensures that you are able to set your Nikon d5300 up as required to ensure that you can get the angle you need while still having all of the great image stabilization that the tripod provides.

If you are in a niche where low angle photographs or videos are needed on a regular basis then being able to position your camera body as low as only 9cm allows you to get up close and personal without putting your camera at risk. This is excellent for anything like macro photography or videography and can even be useful for things like food photography to ensure that you are able to get as close as possible to the food you are capturing to show it in all of its glory.

Now, with this massive maximum usable range comes the first potential weak point of the Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3, the closed length is around 61cm and although this is around average for this usable range and price point, we would have loved to have seen Manfrotto shave a little off to make it easier to travel with. That said though, we doubt that this will be an issue for the majority of our readers anyway, we just wanted to point it out and make you aware of it.

As you would expect from Manfrotto, there are a few features on the MT055CXPRO3 that they have innovated on with the first one being their quick power lock system. The system is very similar to the traditional flip-lock system seen on compeating tripods but Manfrotto have reinforced its locking mechanism to ensure that your camera rig is secure while mounted and that the legs of the tripod will not give way during use.

Although the twist-lock system used on some tripods has the advantage of being quicker to release and tighten as required but the flip-lock system has the added lock to keep your legs firm offering additional security over the twist-lock system. Manfrotto has essentially strengthened the locking mechanism in their locks with there quick power lock system and made the actual flip a little easier to rotate as needed.

Another thing that Manfrotto have innovated on with the MT055CXPRO3 is their one-finger operation system that can actually end up saving you a ton of time over the course of a session. The vast majority of adjustable parts on the tripod have been designed so that you can quickly and easily adjust them using just one single finger. Gone are the days of having to fight to get a solid grip for your leg lock or angle adjuster, one finger, a little pressure, and the job is done with the MT055CXPRO3.

The final feature that we absolutely love is the easy link connection system that allows you to natively mount additional camera accessories directly to your tripod during use. Say you are doing a spot of videography with your Nikon d5300, you can quickly and easily mount video lights to the easy link connection system to help improve your overall image quality. In reality, you can mount pretty much any camera accessory that you can think of to the system to essentially turn your tripod into a mobile, mini studio.

When you take all of these features as well as the excellent image stabilization into account as well as the fact that the Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 is a sub-two hundred dollar tripod, it is easy to see why it is such a popular option with the community. On top of this, hundreds of photographers and videographers have decided to post their own independent reviews of the tripod that are well worth skimming over due to the excellent insights they offer.

User Interface And Control System

Thankfully, the MT055CXPRO3 sticks to the regular Manfrotto philosophy of offering their customers products that are as easy to use as possible while still being able to get maximum performance from them. If you are a first-time tripod user then we are confident that everything on the MT055CXPRO3 will be straight forward and allow you to easily improve the image quality that you are able to capture with your Nikon d5300. Although we doubt that it will happen, if you do run into any problems, the user manual for the MT055CXPRO3 can be a great help and if that is unable to fix your issue, the Manfrotto customer support is excellent.

Now, one of our favorite things on the MT055CXPRO3 that can make your life much easier is that it has a fully rotating bubble level that you can spin through all planes. Although this should not be an issue for the Nikon d5300, if you do upgrade to a larger camera body in the future, this ensures that if your gear does cover the bubble level, you can quickly and easily just rotate it around the head until you are able to see it again. Not only does this make your life much easier when setting up for your session but it also allows you to quickly and easily glance down while working to check that everything is level and flat for optimal image quality.

Another thing that Manfrotto has done to make your life as easy as possible is to ensure that you can easily adjust the legs of the tripod within seconds to meet your needs while keeping your Nikon d5300 mounted. The 0-degree column and four easily adjustable and lockable leg angles ensure that the MT055CXPRO3 can pretty much reach any position that you need it to. This can make your life much easier if you are going to be out and about with uneven surfaces while still needing to capture content.

Build Quality And Design

Over the decades that Manfrotto has been building tripods, they have managed to earn themselves an excellent reputation for their designs and build quality and this rings true for the MT055CXPRO3. We have already touched on a few things that they have innovated on for the tripod earlier in the article helping to push it ahead of the competition but we have not said much about the build quality yet.

Although the MT055CXPRO3 is extremely robust and tough, it is around the average size and a little heavy with it coming in at 5.5 pounds. That said though, if you are planning on using it as a travel tripod then you should really consider the carbon fiber variant as it is lighter than the aluminum one.

That said though, other than the weight of the tripod, pretty much everything else is solid about its build quality as you would expect. The three-section leg system has been implemented flawlessly to ensuring that it will hold its position when set up and in use without buckling or slipping keeping your Nikon d5300 safe.

Our Verdict

That concludes our article going over what we feel is the best tripod for Nikon d5300 cameras on the market right now. As we mentioned back at the start of the article, if you are on a very tight budget then the Zomei z699c can be a solid option but in our opinion, you should try and stretch your budget to pick up the aluminum Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 instead.

It offers some of the best image stabilization going for its price point with some outstanding features that let it put the competition to shame. Its build quality is outstanding and everything on the tripod is as simple and easy to use as you could ever imagine. If you still haven’t made your mind up then we would highly recommend you check out these independent reviews of the Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 as they offer some solid insights into its performance and how good of an option it actually is.

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The Best Gorillapod For Sony RX100 Cameras! https://gimbalgarage.com/gorillapod-for-sony-rx100/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gorillapod-for-sony-rx100 Sat, 07 Dec 2019 14:39:06 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2753 The Sony RX100 is one of the most popular entry-level vlogging cameras at the time of writing and it has managed to build up an absolutely massive core customer base of vloggers over the years who absolutely love the camera. With the Sony RX100 VII being released a few months back now a surge of new videographers and vloggers seem to have picked up, or upgraded to the latest version of the camera.

Due to this, we have noticed a large number of people reaching out and asking for advice on a wide range of camera accessories for their RX100. With the Joby Gorillapod range being one of the most popular vlogging camera accessories on the market it should be no surprise at all that one of the most commonly requested things we see is advice on the best Gorillapod for the Sony RX100.

As we always like to try and help our readers and offer as much advice as possible we have decided to make this the subject of this article. We know that a number of our readers own the Sony RX100 as well as that a number of them use their camera for vlogging so we feel that this article will be able to help a fair few people.

Now, over the years, the Joby Gorillapod range has expanded to include around ten different tripods that all have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. For a camera like the RX100, there are three different Gorillapod models that vloggers seem to use so we have decided to feature all three of them below. That said though, we do feel that the Gorillapod 1k is probably the best overall option for the RX100 and that it will easily be able to meet the needs of the vast majority of our readers.

Since its release, the Gorillapod 1k has proven itself to be a very popular option amongst the vlogging community and has built up an outstanding reputation for itself due to its low price tag, excellent image stabilization and great build quality. This is why we feel it will be the best overall option for any of our readers who use the RX100 as their go-to camera body of choice.

Anyway, we will still be going over all three of the featured Gorillapods that are popular amongst vloggers below along with having our comparison table showing some of their key features too. We will go over all three of the different tripod models to share out thoughts on them and then spend the rest of the article having a more in-depth look at the Gorillapod 1k.

Comparison Table

Product
GorillaPod 500
Best Option!
Gorillapod 1K
GorillaPod 3K
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 500: A Compact, Flexible Tripod for Sub-Compact Cameras, Point & Shoot, 360 Cameras and Other Devices up to 500 grams
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
1.6 x 1.6 x 8.1 Inches
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
Weight
0.17 Pounds
0.43 Pounds
0.86 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
1.10 Pounds
2.2 Pounds
6.6 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Click To Read
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$26.00
$27.16
$49.19
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Product
GorillaPod 500
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 500: A Compact, Flexible Tripod for Sub-Compact Cameras, Point & Shoot, 360 Cameras and Other Devices up to 500 grams
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
1.6 x 1.6 x 8.1 Inches
Weight
0.17 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
1.10 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$26.00
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Best Option!
Product
Gorillapod 1K
Image
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
Weight
0.43 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
2.2 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$27.16
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Product
GorillaPod 3K
Image
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
Weight
0.86 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
6.6 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$49.19
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon

Last update on 2022-08-11 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Before going any further, we just want to point out that there are not seven different variants of the Sony RX100 on the market and we fully expect additional versions of the camera to be released in the future. Now, although each variant of the camera does have a slightly different weight, they all come in at around half a pound of payload weight give or take 0.1 pounds each side for the different versions of the camera.

In addition to this, the new variant, the Sony RX100 VII also comes with an external microphone input jack allowing you to add an external microphone to your RX100 to help improve the audio quality that you are able to capture. As you can probably work out, this can add some additional weight to the overall payload weight of your rig that you have to factor in when choosing your Gorillapod.

Anyway, moving onto the actual products, first up we have the Gorillapod 500 that is essentially the entry-level tripod from the range that provides you with a usable load capacity of around 1.10 Pounds. As your RX100 is likely around the 0.5-pound mark, maybe around 0.75 pounds if you have the RX100 VII with an external microphone mounted to it, you can probably use the Gorillapod 500 without issue.

Since the 500 was released onto the market, it has managed to grow a solid reputation for itself in many niches but in our opinion, it has one main drawback. Although the build quality of the 500 is solid, it is nowhere near what you are getting with either of the other two featured Gorillapods below. If you are involved in travel vlogging then we feel the wear and tear will quickly take its toll on the tripod and cause its structural integrity to degrade quickly.

If you are planning to use your RX100 for something like beauty vlogging where your Gorillapod will just be placed on a table indoors and left there though, you will probably be fine going with the 500. That said, we would not recommend it for much else as the Gorillapod 1k is only around $5 more depending on the retailer and is much tougher.

That brings us nicely onto our next feature unit that is also our primary recommendation, the Gorillapod 1k with its maximum load capacity of 2.2 pounds of camera payload weight. In our opinion, this is without a doubt the best option as it is extremely robust and has the load capacity available to mount the RX100 VII even with a heavy external microphone mounted to it.

On top of this, you can also use it in the vast majority of vlogging, photography, and videography niches without having to worry about it taking much damage and weakening as it is extremely tough. As this is our primary recommendation, we will be spending more time taking an in-depth look at it after this section so will just move onto the next featured tripod.

The final item that we feel is actually overkill for a camera as light as the Sony RX100 is the Gorillapod 3k that has managed to make a name for itself and earn a great reputation since release. In our opinion, you can save yourself a bit of cash by going with the Gorillapod 1k almost every time and still get some excellent image stabilization as the 3k is designed for use with heavier mirrorless cameras with its 6.6-pound load capacity.

The only time that we would recommend any of our readers who own the RX100 to go with the 3k over the 1k is if they know for a fact that they will be upgrading from the RX100 to something like the Canon m50 or Sony a6400. This essentially lets you future-proof your purchase and save you having to rebuy a Gorillapod when you get your heavier camera body as the one you purchase for your RX100 will easily be able to support the weight of your upgrade.

Anyway, now that we have gone over our initial thoughts for the three features Gorillapods, we will be focusing exclusively on the Gorillapod 1k for the rest of the article as we feel it is the best option for our readers.

Performance And Functionality

The low price tags of the Gorillapod range coupled with their excellent performance and functionality is probably the main reason that the tripod range has proven to be such a popular product amongst the community. Although at the time of writing, a number of compeating brands have tried to release their own version of the Gorillapod, to date, every single one of them has failed to gain any significant market share from Joby as the competing products just don’t have the same performance and are unable to compete.

As we mentioned earlier in the article, the Gorillapod 1k offers you a massive maximum load capacity for its price, size, and weight coming in at 2.2 pounds of payload weight. This makes it perfect for the vast majority of Sony RX100 users, especially if you are working in a travel-based niche where you need to travel as light as possible on a regular basis.

In addition to being able to mount your RX100 though, the Gorillapod 1k is also ideal for mounting a large number of other popular camera accessories too. These include lighting units, external microphones, and a bunch of other gadgets that you may want to mount to your Gorillapod to ensure that you are getting the best image quality possible no matter the situation.

This allows you to mount your lighting unit or other camera accessories to your Gorillapod and then vlog with your RX100 in your hands. Although this does have a direct effect on your image stabilization, if you are in a low light area then your image quality can be better by sacrificing your image stabilization in favor of optimal lighting for your vlogs.

Another great feature of the Joby Gorillapod range is the versatility that it offers for you and the level of image stabilization that it can perform is such a wide range of common situations too. Not only does it provide you with similar functionality to a traditional tripod when you have access to a level surface but you can also use your Gorillapod 1k in a number of other ways too that are ideal for various travel vlogging situations.

For example, the extremely flexible legs on the Gorillapod tripod range allow you to wrap it around a large number of objects while out and about to support your camera with ease. These include items such as street lamps, tree branches, signposts, and pretty much anything else the legs of your Gorillapod can reach around. In addition to this, if you are on the move and wanting to vlog then you can quickly and easily change the shape of the legs on your Gorillapod to make it easier to hold it in your hands and vlog directly into your Sony RX100 while walking around.

If you are out and about then the rubber feet of the Gorillapod range really does play into your favor as they ensure that the tripod can easily grip the surface that you place it on without issue. This means that if you have to use a wet, slippy, or uneven surface then you can easily get some solid image stabilization for your RX100 without having to worry about your tripod tipping over or giving way.

When you factor all of this in as well as the fact that the Gorillapod 1k is usually under the $30 price point, it is easy to see why it is such a popular option. On top of this, the community have really taken to it with so many of them choosing to post their own glowing, third-party reviews of that tripod that we would highly recommend that you read if you have a few minutes spare.

Build Quality And Design

If you have read any of those reviews that we linked to above then you will likely see that one of the most common things that users of the Gorillapod 1k is that it has an absolutely outstanding build quality. This is true for the whole Gorillapod range as Joby pride themselves on providing their customers with the highest quality products possible.

This results in a very robust and durable tripod that is also very small as well as extremely lightweight in relation to the level of performance that you get from your Gorillapod. The 1k comes in at only 2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches with a weight of 0.43 pounds making it the ideal tripod for anyone who has to travel on a regular basis while keeping their kit as light and small as possible.

Joby achieves this by constructing the tripod from the highest quality ABS plastics, a zinc-aluminum alloy, and small amounts of stainless steel. This ensures that the product is as light as possible while also being taught in addition to being very resistant to corrosion from the elements if you do need to use it outdoors too.

In addition to this, the Gorillapod 1k also has a few things that the cheaper Gorillapods don’t have such as a clearly visible bubble level on the tripod head to allow you to easily see if your tripod is level before capturing your content. In addition to this, it also comes with a 360° panning bed to allow you to quickly and easily capture slow pan video footage or epic panoramic photographs with ease too.

It also has the 90° tilt feature that is pretty much essential for any vlogger and social media influencer these days. It essentially allows you to quickly and easily switch your Sony RX100 between landscape and portrait within seconds. As landscape video footage does better on sites like YouTube yet portrait style content does better on sites like Instagram, this allows you to easily capture optimal footage with ease.

Our Verdict

That brings our article going over what we feel is the best Gorillapod for Sony RX100 cameras to a close. We hope that we have done a solid job of explaining why we feel you should go with the Gorillapod 1k over the other Gorillapod variants for your RX100 as we really do feel that it is the best option. If you are still on the fence about taking the 1k then you can read these independent reviews of the tripod for some great external insight into its build quality and performance.

Image Licensing

Shared under Creative Commons – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

hey tiffany! – Gorillapod slr zoom – https://flic.kr/p/65C21a

Morgan – 324/365 – March 24, 2009 – https://flic.kr/p/69SVss

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The Best Gorillapod For Canon G7X Cameras! https://gimbalgarage.com/gorillapod-for-canon-g7x/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gorillapod-for-canon-g7x Fri, 06 Dec 2019 19:30:35 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2740 With the Canon G7X being an extremely popular entry-level vlogging camera amongst the vlogging community, it should be no surprise that we see so many people reaching out for advice on what the best Gorillapod for Canon G7X cameras is. In our opinion, the Gorillapod is probably the most popular camera accessory for vloggers and the great performance, solid build quality, and low price tag of Gorillapods has made them a very popular product that many people choose to use.

Now, over the last few months, we have noticed more and more people reaching out and asking for advice on using the Canon G7X with a Gorillapod so we have decided to make it the subject of today’s article. We have posted a few articles going over some other popular G7X camera accessories that have gone down well so we feel that some of our readers who own the G7X may be able to benefit from this article too.

Now, one of the main reasons that we see people reaching out is due to the fact that there are actually a number of different Gorillapods in the Joby range now that all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Thankfully, with the Canon G7X being such a small, lightweight point and shoot camera, you can almost always get away with using their cheaper tripods without running into issues.

In our opinion, the Gorillapod 1k is going to be the best option for the vast majority of our readers who use the G7X as it is more than capable of meeting your needs while providing some excellent image stabilization without you having to break the bank. It is a very popular option amongst vloggers and over the years, has managed to earn itself one of the best reputations of the Gorillapod range amongst the community and it just keeps getting more and more popular.

That said though, there are three tripods in the Joby Gorillapod range that could be considered the best option depending on what you need. Due to this, we have decided to feature all three of them in our comparison table below and we will spend a little time going over all three options. After that, we will be focusing on taking a more in-depth look at our primary Gorillapod recommendation for the G7X, the Gorillapod 1k and going over why we feel it is the best option for you.

Comparison Table

Product
GorillaPod 500
Best Option!
Gorillapod 1K
GorillaPod 3K
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 500: A Compact, Flexible Tripod for Sub-Compact Cameras, Point & Shoot, 360 Cameras and Other Devices up to 500 grams
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
1.6 x 1.6 x 8.1 Inches
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
Weight
0.17 Pounds
0.43 Pounds
0.86 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
1.10 Pounds
2.2 Pounds
6.6 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Click To Read
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$26.00
$27.16
$49.19
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Product
GorillaPod 500
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 500: A Compact, Flexible Tripod for Sub-Compact Cameras, Point & Shoot, 360 Cameras and Other Devices up to 500 grams
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
1.6 x 1.6 x 8.1 Inches
Weight
0.17 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
1.10 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$26.00
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Best Option!
Product
Gorillapod 1K
Image
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
Weight
0.43 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
2.2 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$27.16
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Product
GorillaPod 3K
Image
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
Weight
0.86 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
6.6 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$49.19
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon

Last update on 2022-08-11 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Now, the first thing that we have to point out is that there are currently three different versions of the Canon G7X on the market each with more advanced features than the last. All three variants come in with a camera payload weight of around 0.66 pounds and with the G7X point a point and shoot camera with a fitted lens, your payload capacity will rarely vairy much more than this, especially for the first two variants of the G7X.

That said though, the latest version of the camera, the Canon G7X Mark III comes with an external microphone input meaning you can add an external microphone to your camera rig as required to help improve the audio quality of your videos. Now, most people will usually opt to for an external microphone like the Rode Video Micro as it is very lightweight, cheap, and provides excellent audio quality but some people do choose to go with heavier microphones.

So, moving on to our first featured Gorillapod for the Canon G7X, the Gorillapod 500 with its maximum load capacity of 1.10 Pounds. This can be ideal if you are using the first or second generation of the G7X camera body as the maximum load capacity of your rig will always be around 0.66 pounds meaning that the tripod can easily support it.

Since its release onto the market, the Gorillapod 500 has managed to earn itself a great reputation amongst the community as it is so cheap and offers some solid image stabilization. That said though, the Gorillapod 500 is one of their entry-level tripods and is not as robust as the other two tripods we are featuring. If you are into something like travel vlogging then the wear and tear can definatley have an effect on the Gorillapod 500 and weaken it in a relatively short period of time and potentially put your camera at risk, this is why it is not our primary recommendation.

Next up we have our go-to recommendation for your G7X, the Gorillapod 1k that we feel is going to be the best option for the vast majority of our readers. At the time of writing and depending on the retailer you purchase it from, the 1k is only around $5 more than the 500 but it offers so much more bang for your buck that we feel it is a mistake not to take this option.

Not only does it offer a maximum load capacity of 2.2 pounds of camera payload weight meaning that it is ideal for the Canon G7X mark iii even with some heavy external microphones mounted to it but it is also made from better materials to increase its toughness. If you are involved in travel vlogging or anything else where your gear is being packed up and moved around on a regular basis, the different in toughness really shows and the Gorillapod 1k holds its structural integrity much better than the 500 keeping your camera safe when mounted.

Our third and final featured option is the Gorillapod 3k and in all honesty, we would not recommend this for use with the Canon G7X but many vloggers who use the G7X choose to go with it so we decided to feature it. Not only is it more expensive but the 6.6 maximum load capacity of the 3k is definatley overkill for a camera as light as the G7X.

The only time that we would recommend that you go with the Gorillapod 3k over the Gorillapod 1k is if you know for a fact that you are going to be upgrading from your Canon G7X to something like the Canon m50 for the ability to switch your lenses as required. The Gorillapod 3k is the best option for the m50 and can easily support the weight of the vast majority of m50 rigs with ease. This means that you are able to futureproof your Gorillapod purchase for when you upgrade to your heavier camera body while still using it with your G7X until your new camera arrives.

That brings us to the end of our comparison between our three featured Gorillapods and as we mentioned earlier in the article, we will now be moving onto a more in-depth look at our primary recommendation, the Gorillapod 1k and why we feel that it should be your tripod of choice for your G7X.

Performance And Functionality

There is no doubt in our mind that the excellent performance and functionality of the Gorillapod range for their low price tag is the number one reason that the range has proven to be so popular. The tiny size, lightweight, low price, and massive relative load capacity of 2.2 pounds blows the competing tripods out of the water. It is the perfect tripod for anyone who uses the Canon G7X and needs to travel as light as possible on a regular basis.

That said though if you are traveling light then you can take advantage of the quarter-inch mounting thread on the tripod for more than just your Canon G7X too. Provided that it is under the 2.2-pound maximum load capacity then you can also use the Gorillapod 1k as a stable mount for lighting units, microphones as well as other popular camera accessories while vlogging into your camera when holding it in your hand.

The balancing process for the Gorillapod is extremely easy too due to the legs being so flexible and easy to adjust rather than the rigid legs on a traditional tripod. If you are brand new to using a tripod with your G7X then this really plays into your advantage as it ensures that you can quickly and easily balance your tripod as well as get confirmation that your rig is level from the bubble level on the Gorillapod 1K head unit.

The rubber feet on the base of the legs of the tripod also ensure that it can easily get a firm and secure grip on wet, slippy or uneven surfaces. If you are doing something like travel vlogging then this is another great feature of the Gorillapod 1k as it ensures that you can always get a level base for your camera body while out and about.

Moving away from the traditional tripod uses, the Gorillapod range also excels at handheld use when vlogging or taking selfies of yourself. Being able to quickly and easily group the three legs together and then bend the legs as required to get the optimal camera positioning to vlog yourself. Another great thing about the legs of the Gorillapod range is that their legs are so flexible that you can easily wrap them around branches or poles on your travels to secure your Canon G7X to anything that you have available.

The Gorillapod 1k also features a ball head with a 360° panning bed to allow you to quickly and easily pan your G7X while mounted to it. This ensures that you can quickly and easily capture panoramic photographs or slow pan video footage with ease to document the landscapes you see in all their glory. The head also offers a 90° tilt feature to allow you to easily switch your G7X from landscape to portrait orientation within seconds.

If you are a social media influencer then you are probably aware that some platforms like YouTube do better with landscape content whereas sites like Instagram tend to do better with portrait content. With the Gorillapod 1k being able to switch between the two within seconds you can capture the sights you see in both orientations for different platforms without having to waste time.

When you take all of this into account as well as the fact that most retailers sell the Gorillapod 1K for around $30, it really is not surprising that the tripod has been such a massive hit with the community. Additionally, many of the people who use it have chosen to post their own independent, glowing reviews of their experiences online that you can read. They offer some excellent insight into its performance from people who have used the tripod for a long period of time as their go-to source of image stabilization.

Build Quality And Design

As we mentioned earlier in the article, the Gorillapod range has some of the best build quality going for their price point in the market. This is largely due to the tripods having been made from ABS Plastic as well as a Zinc and Aluminum ally with TPE and some stainless steel having been used in parts too. This ensures that the Gorillapod range is not only lightweight but also extremely robust too.

Considering that the dimensions of the Gorillapod 1k are 2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches with a weight of 0.43 pounds it offers a very impressive maximum load capacity. On top of this, its build quality is extremely tough and it can hold up to a surprising amount of punishment considering its small size. This is one of the main reasons that we would always recommend the Gorillapod 1k over the 500 as it is much tougher.

Although a few compeating brands have tried to release compeating tripods with the same type of design as the Gorillapod range over the years, to date, none have managed to hold their own and actually take a market share away from the Joby range. This is largely due to the superior build quality and performance that the Gorillapod range offers over their competition.

Our Verdict

That brings our article going over what we feel is the best Gorillapod for Canon G7X cameras to an end. We hope that we have done a good job of explaining why we feel that the Gorillapod 1k is your best option as well as why each of the other two tripods covered at the start of the article can also be used effectively with the G7X. If you are yet to make your mind up about the Gorillapod you want to add to your collection of camera accessories then you should consider reading some of these independent reviews as they offer some great insight into Gorillapods and their performance and image stabilization capabilities.

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The Best Gorillapod for Sony A6000 Cameras! https://gimbalgarage.com/gorillapod-for-sony-a6000/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gorillapod-for-sony-a6000 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 17:04:26 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2714 At the time of writing, the Sony a6000 is probably the most popular mirrorless camera on the market and has a massive customer base. In addition to this, when you factor in the rest of the Sony Alpha mirrorless camera range that fit very similar dimensions and weights as the a6000, the customer base is absolutely massive. As you would expect from any camera as popular as the Sony a6000, there are always people reaching out asking for assistance on various camera accessories that they are considering purchasing.

Now, depending on your niche, a Gorillapod can make an excellent accessory and they are very popular little tripods so it should not be surprising that we are seeing a steadily increasing number of people reaching out and asking what the best Gorillapod for Sony a6000 cameras on the market is. As we always try to help as many of our readers as possible, we have decided to make this the subject of today’s article and we are going to take a look at a number of different Gorillapod that are suitable for use with the a6000 as well as other cameras from the Sony Alpha range.

We have decided to feature three different tripods from the Joby Gorillapod range but we feel that the GorillaPod 3K will probably be best for the vast majority of our readers who use the a6000. Since its release, it has proven to be very popular due to its great image stabilization and amazing build quality while also having a cheap price tag. This has also led to the tripod earning itself an excellent reputation within the community that just keeps on getting better as time goes on.

We will be going over all three of our featured Gorillapods below and going into the areas where we feel that they are optimal for your a6000 or other Sony Alpha camera body. We have our comparison table where we will be going over some key features of all three of the Gorillapod and then having a short breakdown of each below. After that, we will be focusing exclusively on our primary recommendation, the GorillaPod 3K and going into why we feel it is the best option.

Comparison Table

Product
Gorillapod 1K
Best Option!
GorillaPod 3K
GorillaPod 5K
Image
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit. Professional Tripod 5K Stand and Ballhead 5K for DSLR Cameras or Mirrorless Camera with Lens up to 5K (11lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
2.6 x 2.6 x 15 Inches
Weight
0.43 Pounds
0.86 Pounds
1.01 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
2.2 Pounds
6.6 Pounds
11 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Click To Read
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$27.16
$49.19
$99.97
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Product
Gorillapod 1K
Image
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
Weight
0.43 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
2.2 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$27.16
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Best Option!
Product
GorillaPod 3K
Image
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
Weight
0.86 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
6.6 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$49.19
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Product
GorillaPod 5K
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit. Professional Tripod 5K Stand and Ballhead 5K for DSLR Cameras or Mirrorless Camera with Lens up to 5K (11lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2.6 x 2.6 x 15 Inches
Weight
1.01 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
11 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$99.97
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon

Last update on 2022-08-11 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Now, the camera body of your Sony a6000 comes in at around 0.76 pounds of payload weight without any camera accessories being mounted to it at all. You then have to factor in the weight of your camera accessories too so you can estimate your total payload weight. You will have your lens of choice that will usually range from 0.5 pounds up to around one pound, potentially an external microphone that can be between 0.1 to around 0.25 pounds, and potentially an external flash unit as well as any other camera accessories you need.

We would highly recommend that our readers workout the highest possible camera payload weight that you may be used with your Sony a6000 prior to choosing your Gorillapod below. The last thing that you want is to mount your a6000 to your Gorillapod thinking it can take the weight only for it to give way due to your camera payload being higher than the Gorillapod maximum load capacity.

Now, first up, we have the GorillaPod 1K this is the lowest possible Gorillapod that you can safely mount a Sony a6000 to. That said though, we would never recommend the 1K as it only offers a maximum load capacity of 2.2 pounds and the vast majority of a6000 setups will come in above this. That said, there are a small number of very light a6000 rigs that can work with the Gorillapod 1k but we would always recommend that our readers go with either of the options below over the 1k.

Next up we have our primary recommendation, the GorillaPod 3K that we feel will be the best option for the vast majority of our readers who own the Sony a6000 or any other camera from the Sony Alpha camera range. It offers a maximum load capacity of 6.6 pounds of camera payload weight and will cover the majority of regular a6000 rigs that we would imagine that most of our readers will be using.

Again though, as we said at the start of this section, double-check the total payload weight of your own a6000 rig and make sure that it is under the 6.6-pound maximum load capacity. If it is lower than 5.28 pounds it is even better as we only ever recommend that our readers use up to eighty percent of devices maximum load capacity.

The final Gorillapod that we would recommend for use with the Sony a6000 is the GorillaPod 5K but in all fairness, its eleven-pound maximum load capacity is going to be overkill for the majority of our readers. The additional cost on the Gorillapod 5k just makes it a weak option in our opinion unless you use a very heavy rig with your a6000 or you know that you will be upgrading to a heavier camera such as a DSLR in the near future.

Now that we have covered all three of our featured Gorillapod options for Sony a6000 cameras we will be focusing exclusively on the GorillaPod 3K for the rest of the article. As we have mentioned above, it is our primary recommendation and in our opinion, it will be the best option for the majority of our readers so we want to focus on it.

Performance And Functionality

The versatility of the Joby Gorillapod range is second to none at the time of writing and they are able to provide you with some excellent image stabilization in a large number of situations where a traditional tripod would struggle. For example, if you are into your vlogging then you can use the Gorillapod as a quick and easy handheld grip to vlog into your camera and then place it on your desk to use as a tripod without having to interrupt the vlog. If you are out traveling and need to be able to mount your camera to a random object, the legs of the Gorillapod can easily wrap around branches or poles and a whole manner of other things too.

This versatility ensures that you almost always have access to a quick and easy source of image stabilization for your Sony a6000 no matter your situation. The easily adjustable legs on the Gorillapod range also make the tripod as easy as possible to balance, even on uneven surfaces while the easy to see bubble level allows you to quickly and easily see that your camera is level before capturing any photographs or video footage.

As we mentioned earlier in the article, GorillaPod 3K offers a maximum load capacity of 6.6 pounds of camera payload weight meaning that it can easily support the vast majority of popular Sony a6000 camera rigs at the time of writing. On top of this though, its mounting thread can also allow you to mount other camera accessories such as video lights to the Gorillapod that are within its load capacity limits to help ensure you are getting the lighting you need when on location. This just further increases the versatility and list of uses of the Gorillapod range if you do choose to add one to your collection of camera accessories.

Although Joby has always ensured that the price tag for their Gorillapod tripods is as low as possible does not mean that they are low quality, quite the contrary. They have an excellent build quality and the rubberized foot grips at the base of the tripod’s legs offer a firm and secure grip when in use too. This gives you the peace of mind of knowing that your a6000 is safe when mounted to your Gorillapod when in use on wet or slippy surfaces.

The Gorillapod 3k also comes with a three hundred and sixty-degree panning bed as well as the ability to fully rotate the tripod head through ninety degrees to tile your Sony a6000 in either direction as required during use. Although this may not be too useful depending on your niche if you are using your a6000 for something like vlogging and your social media accounts it is a great little feature.

You can use the tripod with your a6000 mounted in landscape to capture photographs or video footage to show off on your YouTube channel before quickly and easily tilting your camera through ninety degrees to capture content ideal for platforms like Instagram. Due to the orientation of smartphones, portrait based content tends to do much better on apps like Instagram and the Gorillapod 3k offers you the ability to quickly and easily switch between portrait and landscape while still having your image stabilization.

When you factor all of this in as well as the fact that the Gorillapod 3k is only around $40 depending on the retailer that you purchase it from, it really is easy to see why it is such a popular tripod option with the community. It is great for your a6000 as well as any other mirrorless cameras and the community has chosen to post a bunch of excellent, third-party reviews that you can read for additional insight.

User Interface And Control System

Now, unlike a traditional tripod, a Gorillapod has no real control system to speak of and has been designed to be as simple and straight forward to use as possible. If you are new to using tripods or are looking for something that is quick and easy to use then this plays to your advantage as a Gorillapod can be set up within seconds.

As we touched on above, the Gorillapod 3k is extremely easy to balance and the bubble level on the Gorillapods head makes it quick and easy to double-check that your a6000 is level. If you are doing something like travel vlogging or travel photography where you may be switching location multiple times while having a short duration to capture your content then this can really help.

Build Quality And Design

Joby has managed to build up an excellent reputation for their Gorillapods amongst the community with them rapidly becoming known for having an excellent build quality that ensures you are getting a very tough and robust tripod. This is a great feat considering just how robust the Gorillapod range actually is while also being so small and lightweight at the same time as well as providing massive maximum load capacities relative to their price point and size.

The Gorillapod 6k comes in at around 2.4 x 2.6 x 12 inches while being only 0.86 pounds of weight too. This makes it extremely easy to add to your camera accessories bag without having to take up too much space or weight. If you are working in a niche where you have to fly on a regular basis this reduces the chance of your Gorillapod knocking you over your airline baggage allowance and helping to reduce costs.

This is due to the majority of the Gorillapod 3k being made from with Japanese medical-grade ABS plastic or high-quality German TPE. It ensures that the tripod is light, tough, and extremely effective at providing your Sony a6000 with reliable image stabilization during use. All in all, as you would expect from a Joby product, the tripod has an excellent build quality for its price point in the market and we doubt that any compeating brand will be able to beat it for the foreseeable future.

Our Verdict

That concludes our article going over what we feel is the best Gorillapod for Sony a6000 cameras on the market right now. As we mentioned back at the start of the article, if you are using a super heavy a6000 setup or know that you will be upgrading to a heavy DSLR camera body in the future, the GorillaPod 5K may be the best option for you.

That said though, we are confident that the GorillaPod 3K is the best option for the vast majority of Sony a6000 owners and should be your primary consideration. It offers a great maximum load capacity with great performance without having to worry about you breaking the bank.

If you are still on the fence about the Gorillapod 3k then there are a large number of independent reviews online that have been posted by third-party photographers, videographers, and vloggers that you can read. You are able to skim over a handful of those and see how effective the Gorillapod 3k is and how good of an addition to your camera accessories that it can actually make.

Image Licensing

Shared under Creative Commons – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Morgan – 324/365 – March 24, 2009 – https://flic.kr/p/69SVss

hey tiffany! – Gorillapod slr zoom – https://flic.kr/p/65C21a

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The Ultimate Zomei Q555 Review! https://gimbalgarage.com/zomei-q555-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zomei-q555-review Wed, 04 Dec 2019 21:28:48 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2706 We are seeing more and more people reaching out about the various tripods in the Zomei range as their reputation continues to grow at a steady pace as their customer base expands with an almost exponential growth rate. Our regular readers will probably know that we are massive fans of the Zomei tripod range and feel that they are probably the best entry-level tripod brand on the market right now with a bright future ahead of them.

This is due to the Zomei range having the lowest possible price tag with an impressive feature list and the ability to provide some great image stabilization while also being very tough and durable. At this price point in the market, all of this in one tripod in the sub-one hundred dollar price point is rare and Zomei has essentially set the bar for the competition to meet.

Now, over the last few months, we have noticed more and more people reaching out and asking for a dedicated Zomei q555 review so we have decided to make this the subject of today’s article. Our hope is that our article will be able to help any of our readers who are considering purchasing a new entry-level tripod, especially if they are looking at the q555 in particular as it is a solid option.

Since its release onto the market, the Zomei q555 has managed to go from strength to strength with each coming month growing its market share due to being better than the rest of the competition at this price point in the market. This has allowed the tripod to rightfully earn a great reputation for itself within the community that just keeps on growing.

Performance And Functionality

Considering that the Zomei q555 is currently priced towards to lower end of the sub-one hundred dollar price bracket but offers some of the best possible performance and functionality for this price point in the market. It offers a massive maximum load capacity of 17.6 pounds of camera payload weight meaning that it is easily able to support the vast majority, if not all of the popular entry-level to intermediate camera rigs going at the time of writing.

Now, although we do feel that the Zomei q555 is an excellent little cheap tripod, that is perfect for a cheaper camera rig we would not recommend that you use it with an expensive, heavy DSLR camera worth thousands of pounds. On the risk to reward scale we would rather spend an additional few hundred dollars on a tripod like the Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 and have the peace of mind that any expensive professional level rig is secure.

Now, with a minimum usable height of just under twenty-three inches and a maximum usable height of just under twenty-three inches, the Zomei q555 is far from breaking any records in the grand scheme of things. That said though, relative to its price point in the market, it is about average and none of the tripods from the competition outright beats its usable range. Although this does not score the q555 and points against the competition, it definatley does not lose any either.

The base of the legs of the tripod has non-slip feet attachments meaning that you can also use it on slippy surfaces both indoors and out without having the risk of your tripod slipping or giving way too. The non-slip feet are also great at helping to ensure that your tripod legs have a secure grip when being used on any uneven ground too helping you get peace of mind that your camera rig will be safe while mounted to it.

The legs of the Zomei q555 are based around a traditional four-section design too with four individual aluminum alloy sections to offer a firm structure while also being as lightweight as possible with the lowest possible price tag. Each leg section is secured in place by a great little flip lock that offers another advantage for the q555 over the competition that tends to use twist locks on their legs.

Although twist-lock legs do offer a quick and easy way to lock and unlock the legs on your tripod, flip locks usually have a better hold giving you a firmer hold. Flip locks are rarely used on entry-level tripods due to the fact that they usually cost more than their twist-lock counterparts. Thankfully though, Zomei has worked out a way to put some solid little flip locks on the q555 without having to hike its price tag up offering additional protection that your legs will stay in their locked position during use.

The legs on the q555 are also fully adjustable too supporting individual angle adjustments of 25, 50, and 80 degrees with ease. This allows you to warp your tripod into pretty much any position that you need using use too. If you are involved in an outdoor photography niche such as wildlife or travel photography where you never know the surface that you will be working on the adjustable legs on the q555 can make your legs much easier.

Another advantage that this offers you is that the Zomei q555 does a solid job of supporting any longer and heavier, entry-level telephoto lenses that some compeating tripods can struggle with. Although we would highly recommend that you always try to reinforce the position of your tripod with a leg directly under your telephoto lens when using a longer or heavier lens.

The counterweight hook on the bottom of the central column of the tripod also ensures that you can mount counterweights to the bottom of the central to help secure your tripod too. The hook is made from cast metal rather than cheap plastic too ensuring that the hook will last a long time. If you are using a long telephoto lens or using your tripod while out and about in heavy winds we would highly recommend you hang your backpack or other counterweights from the hook to help keep your tripod’s center of gravity correct during use.

Moving onto the ball head of the Zomei q555, for its price point in the market, the included ball head is actually pretty decent. That said though, just like all ball heads, they can cause problems for vlogging or videography as they can be a pain to smoothly pan. Thankfully though, if you remove the included ball head, a standard 3/8 inch mounting screw is at the top of the tripod so you are able to mount a decent, cheap fluid head to allow smooth panning of your camera during use if needed.

The quick-release plate that is included with the q555 as standard is also surprisingly good quality too. If you use multiple camera bodies or just want to pick up some spares then additional plates are cheap and very easy to source too. This can offer another advantage as many entry-level tripod brands make it a total pain to purchase additional quick release plates.

When you take all of this into account, it really is easy to see why the Zomei q555 has proven to be such a popular option amongst the community. It is a great entry-level tripod and the community seems to have really taken to it and have posted a ton of great reviews for the tripod. If you are thinking of adding the q555 to your camera accessories then scanning some of those reviews can offer some great insight into its performance.

User Interface And Control System

Considering that the Zomei q555 is a very cheap tripod, it actually has a pretty solid control system and user interface on it that makes it as easy as possible to use the tripod efficiently in a number of different situations. In our opinion, the Zomei control system beats pretty much everything that their competitors are offering at the time of writing and offers everything that an entry-level to intermediate photographer or videographer could ever want from a tripod.

The included ball head comes with a three hundred and sixty-degree planning dial that is clear and very easy to read, even when you have a bulky camera body mounted to it. This allows you to accurately rotate your camera around the axis of the tripod while being able to take note of the degree change if needed. Although the usefulness of this will heavily depend on the niche that you are working in and will probably not be used by most of our readers if can be a great feature in niches that need it.

As we mentioned in the section above, the legs on the Zomei q555 can be locked into three different main positions. This is another area where Zomei has managed to maximum ease of use while also nailing the actual functionality. The locking system on the angle adjustments are gear for the tripods price point and once locked in place, they hold their position well even when supporting the upper load capacity limits of the tripod.

Some entry-level tripods have difficult systems that are not only hard to adjust but also leave you wondering if the actual angle lock is in place or not. This can be a total nightmare as the last thing that you want is to be worrying about the lock failing after mounting your camera rig. Thankfully though, as you can probably expect from this stage of the review, Zomei has done a great job and the locks are clear to see when activated giving you confidence that the tripod will hold its position.

Although spirit levels are very common on entry-level tripods these days, they are often positioned in random locations around the tripod head that can make it a total nightmare to read. Thankfully, Zomei has actually taken a little time to design the q555 to ensure that the bubble level on the head is easy to see even when using a large camera body. This allows you to easily glance down and check that your rig is level before capturing that photograph without having to waste time trying to see the bubble level.

Build Quality And Design

Another thing that has helped the Zomei tripod range become so popular amongst the community in such a short period of time is the solid build quality that their tripods have for their price point. Zomei use a small, compact design to ensure that their tripods are also ideal for use as a travel tripod as well as a general-purpose tripod too.

The q555 is made from a lightweight aluminum alloy that ensures that the tripod is as light as possible while also being as tough and robust as it can be too. Although carbon fiber tripods are usually better for professional-level photographers, if you are just starting your career or a hobbyist photographer or videographer then the lower price tag of aluminum tripods is perfect. We have our own article going over the advantages of carbon fiber and aluminum tripods but the main thing to remember is that carbon fiber tripods are usually at least double the price of the aluminum variant even if they are both casts of the same tripod design.

Another solid feature of the Zomei q555 is the fact that its legs can be inverted and then folded back 180 degrees to make it even more compact and come in at just under eighteen inches. This makes it extremely easy to pack and store for transit. Coming in at under three pounds of payload weight, the Zomei q555 is extremely easy to add to your airline luggage allowance without having to add much weight to your kit.

Our Verdict

That brings our ultimate Zomei q555 review to an end and as we mentioned back at the start of the review, we feel that the q555 is definatley one of, if not the best entry-level tripod on the market right now. It offers some excellent performance and functionality relative to its price point in the market and also provides you with some excellent image stabilization without having to break the bank.

One of the best things about the Zomei q555 for a potential buyer is the fact that it has so many excellent, independent reviews that have been posted by the community that you can read. They offer some excellent insight into how good the Zomei q555 actually performs from a large number of photographers and videographers who use it as their go-to tripod of choice when working.

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The Best Gorillapod For Canon M50 Cameras! https://gimbalgarage.com/gorillapod-for-canon-m50/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gorillapod-for-canon-m50 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 13:44:11 +0000 https://gimbalgarage.com/?p=2693 At the time of writing, the Canon m50 is one of the most popular vlogging cameras around and its core customer base just keeps on growing and growing at an almost exponential rate. This is largely due to the excellent launch that the m50 had due to many vloggers simply upgrading from their Canon G7X or Sony RX100 to the m50 due to it offering the ability to switch out your camera lenses as well as a number of other benefits.

Now, as you would expect from such a popular camera with a large community of vloggers behind it, we often see people reaching out and asking for advice on what the best Gorillapod for Canon m50 cameras on the market is. This is not surprising as the Gorillapod is pretty much considered to be an essential vlogging camera accessory and is one of the first things vloggers purchase for a new camera. Due to wanting to try and help as many of our readers as possible, we have decided to focus on this for today’s article and go over our thoughts on the various suitable Gorillapod that can mount your m50.

Now, there are four main options from the current Joby Gorillapod range that are suitable for your Canon m50. In our opinion, one is close to useless, two can be ideal depending on your setup, and one is overkill depending on your future plans. Our of these four, we feel that the GorillaPod 3K is probably the best option as it offers great functionality, solid image stabilization, and a decent load capacity all for a low price.

Since its release onto the market, the GorillaPod 3K has gone from strength to strength and built a massive customer base for itself. Due to being such a good product, the tripod has managed to earn itself a great reputation amongst vloggers that just keeps on getting better and better. This is why we feel the GorillaPod 3K is your best option and should seriously be considered for your m50.

Now, as usual, we want to present our readers with a few options so as usual, we have our comparison table below going over the four different Gorillapods comparing some of their key features. Below that, we have a short break down for each of the featured tripods going into the situations where each option is ideal to try and offer specific advice to get you your best option. After that we will be taking a more in-depth look at our primary recommendation, the GorillaPod 3K to go into why we feel it is your best option.

Comparison Table

Product
GorillaPod 500
Gorillapod 1K
Best Option!
GorillaPod 3K
GorillaPod 5K
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 500: A Compact, Flexible Tripod for Sub-Compact Cameras, Point & Shoot, 360 Cameras and Other Devices up to 500 grams
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit. Professional Tripod 5K Stand and Ballhead 5K for DSLR Cameras or Mirrorless Camera with Lens up to 5K (11lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
1.6 x 1.6 x 8.1 Inches
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
2.6 x 2.6 x 15 Inches
Weight
0.17 Pounds
0.43 Pounds
0.86 Pounds
1.01 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
1.10 Pounds
2.2 Pounds
6.6 Pounds
11 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Click To Read
Click To Read
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$26.00
$27.16
$49.19
$99.97
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Product
GorillaPod 500
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 500: A Compact, Flexible Tripod for Sub-Compact Cameras, Point & Shoot, 360 Cameras and Other Devices up to 500 grams
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
1.6 x 1.6 x 8.1 Inches
Weight
0.17 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
1.10 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$26.00
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Product
Gorillapod 1K
Image
Joby JB01503 GorillaPod 1K Kit. Compact Tripod 1K Stand and Ballhead 1K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 1k (2.2lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2 x 2 x 9.8 Inches
Weight
0.43 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
2.2 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$27.16
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Best Option!
Product
GorillaPod 3K
Image
Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K Stand and Ballhead 3K for Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 3K (6.6lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2.4 x 2.6 x 12 Inches
Weight
0.86 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
6.6 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$49.19
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon
Product
GorillaPod 5K
Image
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit. Professional Tripod 5K Stand and Ballhead 5K for DSLR Cameras or Mirrorless Camera with Lens up to 5K (11lbs). Black/Charcoal.
Prime Delivary
Dimentions
2.6 x 2.6 x 15 Inches
Weight
1.01 Pounds
Maximum Load Capacity
11 Pounds
Independent Reviews
Click To Read
Our Rating
Price
$99.97
Buy Now
Buy on Amazon

Last update on 2022-08-11 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Now, you have to keep in mind that your own camera setup payload weight is going to come into play when looking for the a Gorillapod for your Canon m50. The m50 camera body itself comes in at around 0.85 pounds without any other camera accessories mounted to it. Then many people will be using a decent vlogging lens (our article on the best vlogging lens for the Canon m50) like the Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 that comes in at 0.49 pounds. Then most vloggers will also be using a microphone like the Rode Video Micro that comes in at around 0.1 pounds. This means that you are looking at having a payload weight of around 1.44 pounds that could be potentially higher if you use other camera accessories too.

As you can see from our comparison table above, the entry-level GorillaPod 500 can only support the camera payloads of up to 1.10 Pounds meaning it will not be able to support the vast majority of Canon m50 vlogging rigs. If you use a very lightweight pancake lens then you may be able to get away with it but in our opinion, the image quality will suffer due to the lens option.

Next up we have what we consider to be the first viable option for a Canon m50, the GorillaPod 1k that is able to support a maximum load capacity of around 2.2 pounds of camera payload weight. As we usually recommend that you only ever use around eighty percent of the listed load capacity, it still offers 1.76 pounds of load capacity and can take a regular vlogging setup for your m50.

Although the GorillaPod 1k does have an excellent reputation with vloggers most people who use it run with lighter cameras like the RX100 or G7X. In our opinion, the GorillaPod 1k is too restrictive for the Canon m50 and rally limits the number of camera accessories you can use with it as well as offers zero future-proofing.

Next up, we have our primary recommendation, the GorillaPod 3K that can support a massive maximum load capacity of 6.6 Pounds! In addition to this, the GorillaPod 3K really is not that much more expensive than the GorillaPod 1k considering you get so much more bang for your buck.

You can also mount heavier lenses or microphones to your m50 when needed too or mount additional camera accessories while still use the same Gorillapod. On top of this, if you plan to upgrade to a heavier DSLR camera like the Canon 80d in the future then the GorillaPod 3K has you covered and this is why it is our primary recommendation.

The final option is the GorillaPod 5K that offers a massive 11 Pounds of maximum load capacity and in our opinion, this is way too much for even the heaviest of vlogging rigs and not worth the additional price. We know that some people do use the GorillaPod 5K for vlogging with lighter cameras like the Canon m50 but in our opinion, you should just be going with the GorillaPod 3K and saving the extra money.

Performance And Functionality

One of the main reasons that the whole Gorillapod range has been so successful within the small camera and vlogging communities is that their functionality is outstanding for their price tag. The Joby Gorillapod tripods are extremely flexible yet still stable enough to provide you with the image stabilization that you need for recording. Their flexibility also makes them extremely versatile meaning that they are ideal for vloggers who may be traveling around in random locations yet still require a tripod.

Common uses for the Gorillapod range from holding it with your Canon m50 mounted to it for those regular hand-held vlogging shots, wrapping the legs of your Gorillapod around objects such as trees or street lights and even more difficult terrain if you need a static location to mount your m50, and regular tripod usages such as supporting your m50 while sitting on a table or other flat surface.

The rubberized foot grips on the base of the Gorillapods legs are anti-slip ensuring that your m50 is kept safe and supported on wet or slippy surfaces too. If you are a travel vlogger or working in a niche where you are unlikely to always have ideal conditions to vlog in, this can really help to keep your camera safe during use.

As we mentioned earlier, the GorillaPod 3K offers a maximum load capacity of 6.6 pounds of total camera payload weight meaning that it can easily support the vast majority of Canon m50 rigs you could ever dream up. On the flip side of this, the small size and lightweight of the tripod also means that you can easily pack it in your luggage for traveling around without having to risk going over your luggage allowance.

Another solid feature of the Gorillapod range is that they are so easy to balance due to their legs being so flexible and easy to adjust to get your m50 level prior to use. Even if you are brand new to using a tripod you can quickly and easily balance the rig within seconds without running into any issues. Additionally, the GorillaPod 3K also has a bubble level on its head to make the whole process even easier to ensure that your m50 is as level as possible during use.

When you take all of this into account as well as the face that the GorillaPod 3K is currently only around the $40 mark depending on retailer, it really is not suprising that it has proven to be such a hit with the community. On top of this, so many people who own the GorillaPod 3K have chosen to post their own independent reviews of the tripod that offer some great insight into its performance and how easy the system actually is to use.

User Interface And Control System

Now, as the Gorillapod tripod range emphasizes being as easy to use for their users, there is no real control system or user interface that some other tripods can have. That said though, we would not class this as a weakness for the Gorillapod range as it is by designed to keep their products as user-friendly and easy to use as possible. Joby knows that large portions of their customer base will be first-time tripod users so they have ensured that even someone with zero prior experience in using a tripod will be able to work a Gorillapod and get some solid image stabilization for their m50.

The only real adjustable part of the GorillaPod 3K it the ball lock to adjust the angle of the head of the tripod and it is extremely easy to use and straight forward to understand. The nut itself is very easy to rotate as needed while also offering a firm and secure hold once tightened to help keep your Canon m50 as safe as possible while mounted.

One common issue that some people may have with other tripods is that they can sometimes be a pain to balance due to their rigid legs. As we mentioned in the section above though, the fully adjustable leg sections on a Gorillapod avoid this problem and ensure that you can quickly and easily balance the tripod on pretty much any surface that you can think of. The fitted bubble level allows you to quickly and easily check that your rig is level prior to actually recording too and most compeating tripods at this price point in the market don’t even offer a bubble level to try and keep costs as low as possible.

Build Quality And Design

Over the last decade or so, Joby has managed to build up a reputation for their Gorillapod range of offering some of the lightest possible tripods that are as tough and robust as they come. We are pleased to say that the GorillaPod 3K is no different and that the medical-grade Japanese ABS plastic merged with German TPE ensuring that you have a sturdy camera accessory in a Gorillapod.

As so many people use the Canon m50 and Gorillapod for tasks such as travel vlogging, the 2.4 x 2.6 x 12-inch dimensions of the GorillaPod 3K, as well as its low weight of only 0.86 pounds, makes it easy to pack and store when not in use. If you are out and about in a new location sightseeing, strapping a small and light Gorillapod to your backpack is much easier than using a traditional tripod.

We are pleased to see that Joby has stuck to their original core values with these next-generation Gorillapod that include the GorillaPod 3K. Considering the small size, lightweight, and flexibility of the tripod, it really is impressive that it is able to support a maximum load capacity of 6.6 pounds with ease.

Our Verdict

That brings our article going over what we feel is the best Gorillapod for Canon m50 cameras to a close. As we have mentioned earlier in the article, some of our readers who use the Canon m50 may be able to get away with using the GorillaPod 1k provided that their total camera setup has a payload of under 1.76 pounds. That said though, we would highly recommend that our readers try to find the additional $20 or so and go with the GorillaPod 3K instead as it is more suitable for a camera like the Canon m50.

The GorillaPod 3K can support pretty much any m50 setup that you could ever dream up with ease and in our opinion can make a great addition to your camera accessories and provide you with some solid image stabilization. If you are still on the fence about the GorillaPod 3K and yet to make your mind up then we would recommend that you spend a little time reading some of these third-party reviews of the tripod as they offer some excellent independent insight into its performance.

Image Licensing

Shared under Creative Commons – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Morgan – 324/365 – March 24, 2009 – https://flic.kr/p/69SVss

hey tiffany! – Gorillapod slr zoom – https://flic.kr/p/65C21a

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