I need a Tripod.... Suggestions?

[peety3]

I did want to ask if anyone has used one of those gorilla pods? I plan on doing a lot of traveling in the future and I don't really feel like carrying a big tripod around. Anyone have much luck with them? They claim to be able to hold the 70-200 lens which is the heaviest lens I have (f/2.8 IS). I would think it'd be good to have in a pinch if you're out in the woods and and need to anchor your camera on a tree branch or something like that.
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I've had awesome success with a gorillapod (the beefiest model) holding a remote flash on a sailboat all day long. If the gorillapod load is well-balanced and you don't ask it for height (i.e. it's almost as low as it can go) or you're just looking for a small edge beyond handholdability), I'd be OK with it. If you were going to hang the camera on a branch, I'd hang it under the branch (if it's atop the branch and it starts to go, it'll pick up speed as it falls and perhaps have enough momentum to flex free) and find a way to safety it, either through a detachable neck strap, a safety cable, or perhaps just running the neck strap over the branch and clipping it back to itself.


Here's a sample of the gorillapod holding a flash just out of view on the boat:





The gorillapod was wrapped around a nearly-horizontal pipe (the 'bimini' or sunshade that's in portions of the image) and held the flash horizontal (i.e. it had a lot of 'twisting' forces) for hours. Canon 580EX II flash hung, 580EX II as trigger, 1D Mark III with 16-35/2.8 (that needs to go in the shop) at f/4, 1/2500 at ISO 100; ambient at -2/3EC.

[Alan KE]

and here is an compelling example using a 5DMK2 and the gorillapod focus gp8 on a balcony.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/redpilotmedia/3708770676/


Alan

[Sean Setters]

There are different versions of the Gorillapod that vary in max load and price. That particular version is almost $100, I think. It had better be sturdy for that kind of money.