Customer Reviews

Flexpod Flexible Tripod

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

If you want a gorrillapod...get a gorillapod. don't go cheap and get this, it's absolutely horrible. got one, opened it, went to adjust the legs right out of the package and it broke. no camera, no stress, just broke.

not worth it

This is an acceptable product. I own a Gorillapod and the two products look almost identical. The Sunpak tripod legs are not quite as stiff. I am going to use it mostly for supporting an auxiliary flash outdoors in the woods for macro work. I would not try putting a heavy camera on it. It is much less expensive though so actually a good deal for the proper usage.

I was looking for a tabletop tripod for my DSLR but everything out there was just too flimsy. I needed something small, lightweight, and sturdy so I could carry it in my camera bag. So far I'm pleased with what this weird looking thing can do.

Pros:
1. Very light but strong enough to hold up my DSLR. (struggles with a heavier lens, but can be positioned to compensate for weight)
2. Stable when set up properly. (Easily positioned)
3. Easily attached to random objects to take pictures.
4. Price
5. Works as a standard tabletop tripod for any travel night shots.
6. Stays still for long exposures.

Cons:
1. Non-adjustable height.
2. Head rotation ability is not great if you want to take a vertical picture.


Overall, I suggest this for someone who is traveling and doesn't want to take a tripod (even the travel size ones). This is easily set up on any table and can easily fit in your camera bag or backpack. A tripod is a necessity for night exposures so this is a great investment if you're looking for something that won't break the bank. On the otherhand, if not traveling, then I suggest buying a proper tripod.

Though this product looks exactly the same as the more expensive gorillapod made by Joby, it is clearly inferior. This was evident as soon as I received it in the mail. The unit feels very light and seems to be made from a lower grade or thinner plastic. The joints are very weak and do not stay in place very well unless the camera's weight is perfectly balanced by all three legs. I found myself readjusting the positioning constantly. The Joby's joints are much stiffer.

Having owned the original gorillapod I was looking for a cheap replacement when my Joby broke after 2 years of use. I thought I'd save some money by ordering this "flexpod" instead. HUGE mistake. It broke after one day. I'm not really sure what happened, I heard something snap while I was positioning my camera in portrait mode. Now the ball joint that connects to the three legs is no longer stiff enough to support the weight of my camera (a Lumix DMC-TZ5). Orientating my camera into landscape mode, it simply succumbs to gravity and then proceeds to fall over on its side. Luckily the tripod broke towards the end of my day so most of the shots that I needed it for had already been taken. Had it been any earlier in the day I would have been even more upset with myself for buying this piece of junk.

I'll save you the trouble of trying to rationalize this purchase. Currently its running around eight dollars including shipping. The original Gorillapod by Joby costs around eight dollars more, so twice as much. I bought this thinking, well if it's crap then I'm out eight bucks no big deal. Except for the fact that if it turns out to be crap then I'm also out whatever amount I spend to replace it. I'll likely want to get the REAL gorillapod and now I've spent twenty-four dollars in total (8+16=24).

If you're a stubborn person (or a gambler) you may choose to purchase the same crap product again hoping not to get a lemon this time. But guess what? You have now just spent the equivalent amount of money had you purchased the Joby in the first place (8+8=16). The only difference is that you now you have two crap tripods (one of them broken, and the other a ticking kodak moment ruining time bomb) instead of one fully functional tripod.

Imagine the following scenario which actually happened to me this past weekend. You're out in the middle of nowhere hours away from civilization, on a remote beach waiting to get a perfect shot of that glorious sunset you've been waiting for all day. Your tripod suddenly fails. How much would you pay to preserve the priceless memory of that moment? How much would you pay for a working tripod right then? If the answer is "more than eight dollars" give yourself a pat on the back and move on. If your answer is "less than eight dollars" then my followup question to you is: Why are you even bothering to purchase a tripod? Since you obviously don't care about taking decent photos.

Bottom line: You get what you pay for. Do yourself a favor, spend the extra money on a quality product and skip this piece of junk.

Bought it for my solo trip to Europe. Broke on the first day, during my layover, BIG FAIL. Don't waste your money. I should have listened to those other unfavorable reviews.

Total piece of junk. There's not enough tension in the tripod for it to hold anywhere for any length of time. I actually wound up taping it to the handle of my golfkart but then the screwmount separated from the hinge ball it connected to.
There may be a good flexible tripod out there, but this sure isn't it.

I found my flexible tripod to fail in holding up my video and small cameras. The legs work great, but the part above the legs just falls over. I can see that my video camera might be a little heavier, but my camera is very small and I had high expectations that fall short.

The one of the legs of my particular Flexpod Flexible Tripod came off as soon as I started flexing it. I emailed my complaint and request for replacement but to no avail.

After a few months the legs became loose and it was hard to get the camera in place. Eventually one of the legs broke off. Dont waste your money.

I bought this for a Sony Bloggie, seeing how it's a compact video camera. The screw is too short to hold the camera. It was a complete waste of money.