Customer Reviews

Pedco Digital UltraPod II

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This won't replace your full-size tripod by any stretch. But there are times when you don't want to carry anything beyond what you absolutely need. This tiny tabletop/ground tripod will fit in your pocket and is so light you may forget you're carrying it around. It's nice to have because I like to stash my digital camera in my pocket, and this is small enough to take along. No extra bag, no extra fuss.

It was great for taking timer shots from the ground. Inside many of the darkened cathedrals we were visiting, they expressly forbid regular tripods. But I could set up my UltraPod and sit in on the ground or on a pew and take shots up at the ceiling. It has a rotating ball head so that you can angle it up to take shots.

It comes with a velcro strap so you can tie it to a tree or pole - a handy feature if you are out camping in the woods.

Definitely worth a look as a second or third tripod.

I bought one of these to use with my Olympus OM-2 years ago and it still is a great companion to my Canon SD450! I take it with me when I travel, and use the velcro strap configuration to strap it to the extended handle of my loaded Eagle Creek rolly bag for a stable base when no table or flat surface is available. I also use it at school to record my presentations. In a pinch you can stack a couple of chairs and strap it to the up-ended chair leg. It's very stable for it's tiny size.

I chose this tripod for my wife's digital SLR (Nikon D80) after doing some research on the gorillapod which I originally wanted. So to cover my feelings on the gorillapod (GP), it's great for hikers needing to wrap it and shoot, but honestly, how many situations call for that kind of application? Also, many complained that in order to level the GP, it takes "forever" to tweak each little plastic joint. no thanks, no patience for that. lastly, the cost. the GP is $50 plus you need to buy a quick change hub an accessory half of the retailers did not carry for another $40 and most were unsure if we needed. Even the web site did not make that clear. So enter the $20 all-in-one Pedco.

Admittedly I though the legs were made of lightweight aluminum (my only disappointment so far) when in fact they are plastic and they do feel kind of flimsy. still, its ultra thin, light and the included Velcro strap wraps around a post, branch, wire, etc...covering the lack of bendable joints. It's easy to operate, folds in a flash and levels faster than the GP could ever hope to. And for $20 it's an absolutely brilliant must have addition.

My wife LOVES it! So I give it 4 stars after a few happy months of use, it would have gotten 5 stars if the materials it's made of were mentioned of made more clear to me. It's certainly worthy of 5. Enjoy!

I needed a "bigger" mini-tripod for my new camera. Used for travel. This one is sturdy for a camera just over one pound. I have the light gray model "Ultra-Pod II"with blue strap and knobs. You can easily level and tilt the camera to just the right position.
Velcro is great for attaching the tripod to a tree branch or a railing and it doubles as a way to secure it to my camera bag strap. Wide stance, very light weight and easy to use. Doesn't get five stars only because the rubber feet are not adequately glued to the legs.... some good rubber cement took care of that. Not a big deal, but just be aware of it. For the price, it's a great mini-tripod.

The only virtue of the UltraPod is its 4-ounce weight. The "ball head" is grossly under-designed for any camera larger than a P&S. The head does not swivel at its base, making it difficult to position the tightening knob where you want it to be. I was going to take it on a trip to Samoa, but I now think I will pack the 12-ounce weight of my Slik Mini-Pro III, and be happier for it.

I've had the standard Ultrapod II version for over ten years. Other mini tripods and even a couple of full-size tripods have come and gone in my collection, but this one stays. In all these years, I've never had a problem with it. The silver lettering has rubbed off -- that's just cosmetic and I prefer all black anyway -- but I've never had loose vinyl feet like others have complained about. It's stiff enough for any point-and-shoot as well as most of the superzooms and digital SLRs without superlong lenses, with a weight capacity triple that of even the Gorillapod SLR. The Velcro strap is losing a bit of its grip after being peeled open many hundreds of times, but that's easy enough to replace. It's light enough that I almost always keep it with me, although it's not especially compact when folded, about the size of a small folding umbrella. The only difference between the Ultrapod II and the Ultrapod Digital is that the Digital has some parts molded in translucent plastics following the original iMac design fad, and with Velcro Onewrap rather than a Velcro cinch strap.

One addition that I consider invaluable (but is unfortunately very difficult to find) is the quick release head for the Ultra Pod II, for which Pedco itself (via Amazon) appears to be the only source. The quick release for the smaller Ultra Pod I is available from many places but won't fit this tripod. Nobody should have to struggle with screwing a tripod into a camera when a good picture is waiting. Especially since if you need a tripod, it's likely dark so it's hard to see, and you don't want to risk messing up the plastic threads in a camera's tripod mount. Strip those and the camera can never be attached to a tripod again. That quick release head is more secure than the ones on the Joby Gorillapods, which can sag when used to hold a heavier camera vertically. It even has a pan feature, which is used by leaving the locking knob untightened. The locking knob is much easier to use than Joby's sleeker but stiff locking mechanism.

I'd searched Amazon & the internet for a small tripod that could safely & securely handle my medium sized dSLR. After checking tons of products I foundPedco Digital UltraPod II. This unit has nearly all the features I needed: lightweight, well designed and constructed, very sturdy, ball head mount & reasonably priced. It handles my Canon T3i w/ 70-300 lens nicely & very steadily. Macro shoting using shorter lenses can also be done, since the camera base mount allows about 71/2" to the bottom of the tripod feet. Additionally, the velcro strap enables the folded unit to be attached to any stable surface (pole, fence, chair, etc.) where the camera can be oriented to virtually any angle.

The only add-ons I may require are a bubble level & my remote shutter release cable. This is truly a great small tripod for my purposes, at a very good price.

This 'mini' tripod has amazing applications for specialized photo situations.

Order was promptly handled, shipped, and arrived as represented.

I would recommend this to any serious photographer for inclusion in the gadget bag.

Great little tripod. Looks like it might not be sturdy enough for a full SLR, but I've put one on, with a battery grip and a big 70-200mm lens and this thing just holds it steadily.

Great for car rides, sits comfortable on the dash. The little velcro strap is very convenient and useful.

Only con, the little rubber feet come off easily...so glue them on!

This is a really nice accessory for any photographer. It fully supports my "tweener" camera even while fully zoomed. It is extremely lightweight and durable. The strap is a great feature - I have strapped the tripod to railings, benches, tree branches, etc. It is easy to attach to my camera and has complete range of motion. I take it with me every time I grab my camera.