Are you wondering what a GorillaPod is? You might have heard about tripods and monopods. Well, Joby’s GorillaPod is similar in function but unique in its own way. In this article, we will be doing Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom review. It has three legs like a regular tripod but these legs are flexible. The flexible legs of a GorillaPod will help you in taking photos that otherwise would not be possible. It lets you fix your camera on uneven or unconventional positions. The rubberized joints in the legs enable it to be twisted in all directions. The 360-degrees rotation of each of its three legs allows you to position the camera at any angle.

Why Gorillapod?

Why would you need a GorillaPod? Suppose you intend to take a portrait photo of yourself by placing the camera on the branch of a tree. Normal tripods cannot help you but a GorillaPod can. The legs are so flexible that you can bend it around the branch of a tree. GorillaPods are great for indoor use as well. You can fix it to the grills of a window. You can use it like a normal table-top tripod also.

One of the models we tried, Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom, is compact and easy to use when compared to tripods. The biggest advantage of a  GorillaPod is that it is not bulky. It weighs just 241gm. The early models of GorillaPod were designed for small digital cameras and were unable to handle heavy Digital SLR cameras. Now you can also find GorillaPod models for Digital SLR cameras. Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom is one of the models built specifically to handle DSLRs. It can handle a weight up to 3kg (6.5 lbs).

In case you are skeptical about whether the GorillaPod can handle all the twists, turns and heavyweights, let’s put your worries to rest. The injection molded plastics used in the joints of a Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom are rigorously tested to ensure that they can withstand the rigors of life it would be subjected to.

Does the GorillaPod SLR Zoom provide sufficient grip? The answer is an emphatic yes. The foot grips have a rubberized ring on each leg for additional stability.

Will it be able to handle telephoto lenses? We tested with a Canon EOS 500D and a Canon EF 70-200 F/4.0 L IS USM lens without the lens collar plate. And it turned out that the weight was too unevenly distributed for the GorillaPod SLR-Zoom to handle. Later, when we fitted the lens collar plate, the GorillaPod SLR-Zoom was able to hold the camera without any issues. We also carried out tests using the same camera with its kit lens, the Canon EF-S 18-55 IS USM lens. The GorillaPod SLR-Zoom was able to hold the camera perfectly still; we shot some excellent snaps without any visible camera shake at slow shutter speeds. When you begin using the GorillaPod, you may fear that the camera may fall. However, after trying it out for 2-3 times, you will stop worrying. Pretty soon the GorillaPod will become an important part of your gear.

You can either purchase the GorillaPod SLR Zoom with the Joby Ball head or without it. This ball head is specially designed for this model of GorillaPod SLR Zoom. It is extremely flexible, stable and easy to use. There is a spirit-level attached to the Joby Ball head to help you adjust your camera’s orientation. The manufacturers have also included a 3/8” adapter screw that can be attached to the GorillaPod for connecting the camera, or other tripod heads if you need to.

The GorillaPod SLR Zoom model costs 50 Euros. If you plan to buy the pan head also, then it will set you back for 80 Euros.

As said, this is a multi-purpose tripod fit for both outdoor and indoor use. We are sure you will never regret after buying one. Hence, get two of them and gift one to your photographer buddy if he doesn’t own one already.