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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Quick Pod DSLR, March 17, 2008
I just received the Quick Pod DSLR Kit. After 15 minutes of testing, I'm returning it! It is not for a Digital Single Reflex (DSLR) Camera unless you support the camera with helium baloons. BTW, my camera weight is under the 2 lb. limit noted in the tiny print for the Quick Pod.
My first problem was the camera would not stay in the position that I selected. It flopped down like a dead fish. A second camera head is now included in the DSLR kit that "locks" the camera into position. You must remove a screw to replace it. This was better, but the it is necessary to loosen the wingnut a lot to adjust it to the desired position.
The real problem is trying to extend the Quick Pod. I extend the first section of the pod and it felt O.K. I extended the second section of the pod and it became a little more difficult to hold. There was a slight deflection in the pod (like a fish was pulling on my line)and it became harder to hold the camera still. The weight of the camera is very noticeable at this point. It is also very hard to hold the camera with that amount of weight. I extended the the third section and there was a lot of deflection. I had the feeling that the pod was going to break and my camera would make a crashing touchdown on to the ground.
So, I cannot recommend this for a real Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) Camera. I was very disappointed that it has cheap molded (ABS) plastic parts and thin metal slotted tubes for the extention sections.
If you have a light-weight camera, then it may work for you. If you have DSLR camera, find someone to take your photo and forget about the Quick Pod. BTW, I had to give it a 1-star rating. I think this is too high.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An alternative to the Quikpod Pro for heavier cameras or longer reach, August 26, 2009
I hate asking people to take my picture when I am off playing tourist. For most people, "composition" means framing someone smack dab in the middle of the screen. Not exactly the essence of creativity. And all too often they don't hold the camera straight and steady. Oh, the horror!
The Quikpod Pro is an excellent accessory for lightweight point 'n shoot cameras, especially the newer generation with wide-angle lenses. It extends 18.5" Hold it at arm's length and you can get you and a lot of scenery in the picture. And it is a lot easier to carry the Quickpod Pro around than a tripod. I wanted something heftier, though, and decided to give the Quickpod DSLR a try.
Its very big brother, the Quikpod DSLR claims to be able to handle DSLRs and other cameras weighing up to 8 pounds. It collapses to just about the extended length of the Quickpod Pro, about 18", and extends to a mind-blowing 53".
I tried it with a 3+ pound DSLR and the Quickpod DSLR held it at full extension without bending or bowing. However, that weight at the end of a 4.5 foot handheld boom is difficult to manage. Quikpod includes a gel pad that you can use to hold the unit against your abdomen or chest for more control. It comes in handy.
With a lighter weight camera, however, the Quikpod DSLR shines. Take off the zoom lens from your Nikon or Canon and use it with a fixed length lens. Or use it with point 'n shoot that has a rotatable display for some really wow shots, like several feet about your head in a crowd. (The bummer, of course, is that you'll have to use the self-timer unless you have one of the few point 'n shoots that has a remote control.)
You can get high and low viewpoint shots.
The Quikpod DSLR is well engineered and well=made. The sections are held firmly by fiction clips and the camera mount is detachable. The part that attaches to the camera has a non-skid surface which keeps the camera in place, provided that the camera bottom is actually even. I tried it on one Canon Powershot where the designers had engineered a tiny ridge into the bottom for some unknown reason. Not a wise idea when using this unit, though fabricating a shim wouldn't be difficult.
Adding greatly to the versatility of the unit is a replaceable bottom cap. You can screw in one cap that allows attaching a lanyard or use one specifically intended to convert the Quickpod DLR into a monopod. That is a very slick concept and the unit works quite well as a monopod.
There's also a tiny mirror thingie on the head, ostensibly to allow you to more or less frame your image. That part doesn't work all that well, but it is much better than nothing. Be careful, though: the mirrored surface scratches and abrades easily.
In addition the gel reset mentioned above, the kit includes a carrying case, a metal end cap, lanyard and a belt clip that I haven't figured out how to use yet.
The unit is expensive, perhaps more expensive than it might be. But the options for holding a fairly heavily camera far from your body without using a tripod are limited. So it's the Quikpod DSLR or what? Both the Quikpod DSLR and the Quikpod Pro deserve space in your kit. You can always choose which one to take with you on a specific outing based on what you think you'll need, but rest assured: you'll be glad to have one of these units with you any time.
Jerry
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good if you will really use it, April 5, 2009
I may still find an opportunity to use this device, but it hasn't happened yet. I suggest before you lay out $[...] or so for this, think about how often you'll really use it. I did attach my Nikon DSLR to it, and it does support the weight (using the gear-clamp head, not the friction one). So if you know you'll use it, it works. If not, just another unnecessary expense.
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