QuikPod Handheld Convertible Tripod
by Fromm Works Inc
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List Price: Our Price: $21.89 You Save: $8.06 (27%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of QuikPod Handheld Convertible Tripod
Customer Review: Quik Pod Tips
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had the Quik Pod for about 6 months and it really does work as advertised. Here are a few tips to help you use it more effectively:
* Leave the tripod legs attached all the time: This lets you extend your reach even more by folding the tripod legs inward and holding them instead of the handle when taking a shot. You can also quickly fold them out and set the Quik Pod on a table or the ground to take even longer shots of yourself (or simply to steady the camera so you can use a slower shutter speed, no flash, and/or lower ISO setting for more natural low-light shots).
* Make sure your camera is in the right focusing mode: Many cameras will immediately set the focus when you press the shutter button, even when the self-timer is on. This can lead to out-of-focus shots with the Quik Pod, since you must press the shutter button before extending the camera away from you. If your camera does this, try changing to "continuous focus" mode (which will often be set if you choose the camera's "Sports" scene mode) -- this will cause your camera to focus continually right up to the moment the shutter fires.
* More on focusing: You can also help keep your photos in focus without using continuous focus mode by setting a smaller aperture (higher "f-stop" number) using the camera's manual or "aperture priority" mode. Smaller apertures give you greater depth of field, which means that more of the picture will be in focus. I've taken quite a few shots with large apertures where the camera mistakenly focused on something in the background, so that my face was out of focus. Using smaller apertures helps prevent this problem and they also keep more of what's behind you in focus (which is desirable if there is something scenic in the background). Of course, if your camera has the new face detection feature that tries to recognize and focus on the faces it "sees", then this will be less of a problem for you.
* Use it as a tripod more often: If you retract the Quik Pod to its shortest length and use it as a tabletop tripod, it is very sturdy and will allow you to shoot great photos in low light by turning off your flash and letting the camera use a slower shutter speed. This eliminates any "shake" that might be caused by your hands when trying to shoot handheld without a flash, which can cause blurry photos. Of course, this is less of a problem if your camera has an image stabilizer feature, but a tripod makes low light shots even better regardless of your camera's features.
* Hold it low to capture a toddler's point of view: The world can look very different to someone 30 inches tall. Take some shots holding your Quik Pod down and away from you to capture the "land of giants" view that a small child sees without having to squat or kneel down. You can even let the camera be upside down when you take such photos -- just flip them on the computer after you download them from your camera.
Enjoy your Quik Pod!
Customer Review: Cool, but not really useful
Summary: 4 Stars
This is really neat, but not terribly useful.
I loved it at first but after a while I lost interest and unless you have a camera that can take pictures via remote you have to use the self timer. Though the self timer is easy enough for me to do, my mom, dad or wife seem to be a bit more intimidated by this step. So for casual users who are comfortable with the self timer and who do not mind leaving a big stick stuck to their camera or who do not mind carrying this thing around with them for spontaneous use, then this is a great little tool.
For all the rest of the world this is a novelty. I though it was a great solution in search of a problem. I am afraid it will always be in search of that problem because it is just not that hard to hold a camera at arms length and take a picture.
I have to admit though that it is handy on vacations or places where you will be taking a lot of pictures of yourself.
also it does not work on big cameras, even big point and shot cameras. I have a few different cameras, a small sony, a bigger panasonic and a canon DSLR. The sony works well, the panasonic is a bit shaky and the canon is just way too heavy to work at all. In fact I am afraid it might break and drop the DSLR so I don't even try this.
with all that in mind I like it but cannot recommend it to anyone except as a novelty, a stocking stuffer, or for those on vacation who want to be in their own pictures but make it look like someone else snapped the shot.
Customer Review: Ease of Use
Summary: 4 Stars
This hand held tripod is great if you want to take unusual pictures from vantage points not taken before. I have stuck it inside a cage at a zoo and gotten incredible shots that I wouldn't have gotten. Take ground level pictures of my cats with bending over. My wife and I hate to ask others to take our picture and no longer have to ask as much with the QuickPod. It's very easy to use and works very well for small "happy snap" cameras.Customer Review: Works like I envisioned!
Summary: 4 Stars
Love this - just adds a little distance over us trying to take our picture by holding the camera at arms' length. Since the camera has auto-focus, what we do is - have one of us stand with the quickpod in one hand and the other person is behind the camera pushing the timer button, but making sure that the camera focused on the correct image. Then that person runs around in front and joins the other in the pic! Love it!Customer Review: Take my picture!
Summary: 4 Stars
This item was fun to use when you take pictures of you and someone together. The tripod that comes with it was to cheaply built and won't hold my little hand held Olympus camera. But then, I already have a portable tri-pod that works great, so I didn't care that the one that comes with this didn't work. It's too bad that it took over a month for the product to get to me. Wish I would have had it for Christmas.