By Ryan Klos, Calumet Photographic

When I first saw the original Gorillapod, I thought, "Cool, I can mount my point-and-shoot onto anything." When I saw the Gorillapod SLR and then SLR-Zoom, I thought, "Yeah right, put my $2,000 camera and lens setup on that?" I have a feeling I wasn't the only skeptic. It looked more like something that should be stomping through city streets, smashing buildings and shooting laser beams from its eye in a 1950s monster movie. But after I had the chance to get to know them, Gorillapods proved much more friendly and trustworthy.

Gorillapods manufacturer, Joby, has made quite a stir with their unique, flexible, grab-onto-anything tripods and have even grabbed a 2007 Innovative Digital Product award by Digital Imaging Marketing Association. Not only is Joby coming up with innovative products, they're also a proponent for a greener tomorrow. One percent of their sales are donated to the preservation of the planet, and they also give you the option to purchase their product with or without packaging (from their website). Imagine the environmental impact if every company was so environmentally conscious.

The Products
The Gorillapod line consists of the Original Gorillapod (for point-and-shoot and compact digital cameras), Gorillapod SLR (for lightweight SLR cameras and camcorders) and Gorillapod SLR-Zoom (for SLR cameras with a hefty zoom lens attached). Each model has round rubber shoes at the bottom of its three legs and a rubber ring around each bulbous joint, several of which make up the legs. The rubber is key. Friction and gravity have everything to do with placing a camera and Gorillapod.

The small and medium versions, Original and SLR, include a slim quick-release plate that slides into a locking head. The plate is so slim that leaving it attached to the camera is easier than repeatedly taking if off and putting it on. And don't worry about taking up extra room, it's thin enough to easily slip into most camera cases without any trouble while still attached.

The Gorillapod SLR-Zoom does not have a quick-release plate. Instead, the base screws directly into your camera or tripod mounting ring on large zoom lenses. Attaching the camera directly to the base provides more stability, especially since there are no pivot joints directly beneath the camera, just legs. This means the camera's weight is more centrally, and consistently, distributed on the Gorillapod.

Testing: Original Gorillapod
Max Weight: 9.7 oz
I tested the Original Gorillapod with a Canon SD1000 and it performed like a champ. The quick-release plate easily screwed into the bottom of my point-and-shoot and snapped into the slot nice and snug. For grins, I attached the Original Gorillapod to a door knob. Not entirely inconceivable. You never know where you'll be or what's around, right? It worked great. Its small size allowed for the legs to grab around the knob and hug it tight. The rubber on the legs and the ability to conform to almost any surface kept the camera and Gorillapod firmly in place—no slipping or wobbling, either.

In all other applications it worked just as well. As this photo demonstrates, friction and gravity are your friends with any of the Gorillapods. Knowing its strength allows for maximum creativity when looking for places to mount your point-and-shoot on the Original Gorillapod.

The legs are easily molded around all types of objects. Apparently I was on a mission to see how it worked on round items, and in each case I was confidant that my camera would be fine. The Original Gorillapod is small enough to stick in your back pocket or keep in the glove box of your car. Its small size makes it easy to setup in tight spots—such as door knobs—and wrap around or hang off anything. Your own creativity is the only limiting factor. For most point-and-shoots, the Original Gorillapod is more than enough.

Testing: Gorillapod SLR
Max Weight: 1.75 lbs
I originally tested the Gorillapod SLR with my Canon EOS 30D (with battery grip) and 28-70mm lens. It proved to be too much so I removed my battery grip and attached an 85mm. Much better. The Gorillapod SLR handled this just fine in the upright-not-having-much-fun position, but on more challenging angles the weight of my camera and lens were too much. The Gorillapod's neck joint couldn't handle the weight. That said, the Gorillapod is a think outside the box kind of device to begin with, so I got creative with my setup. By twisting one leg to pivot its would-be knee on the shelving I was setting up on, I was able to support the weight of the camera on the foot of the pod. Once I got used to the physics and possibilities of the Gorillapod, figuring out creative ways to support the camera was easy and fun.

And, of course, the round test. The larger size of the SLR compared to the Original allows for a stabilizing leg, as you can see in the photo. The SLR model may need a little extra support in the neck, which can easily be had by arranging the legs to support the body. Or, remove the neck from the equation and go with the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom.

Testing: Gorillapod SLR-Zoom
Max Weight: 6.6 lbs
This one will be getting the most use from me when using my 30D. This time there was no problem with the extra weight of the battery grip and 28-70mm lens. As there is no quick-release plate to use, I screwed the base of the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom into my camera and tightened it from the bottom with a screwdriver. Everything felt much more stable than the same camera setup on the Gorillapod SLR (which isn't surprising considering I overloaded it). The legs on the SLR-Zoom are thicker and a little bit longer than the SLR, the feet are also larger and the joints felt tighter as well. I was more trusting from the get-go to put my camera's full weight to the test. In most straight-on applications—horizontal shooting, that is—everything worked fine. I found the strength and stability of the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom good enough to gain my trust in attempting to attach it to anything. And because the legs on this model tend to be more rigid, there were more ways to use opposing forces and flagging techniques to stabilize the setup.

Vertical shooting offered a few challenges because the weight of the camera and lens on the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom. I found that setting up in the vertical position required more time to ensure stability—maybe had something to do with feeling good about mounting an expensive camera setup in a precarious position, too. But even after the extra time spent setting up I noticed some slippage before everything caught and settled. Once it caught, it wasn't going anywhere. (I should mention that I was attempting the vertical setup on a stair handrail. Perhaps another vertical placement would have been easier.) Despite the small slippage before catching, if you plan for it, or are creative enough to work with it in a precarious setup, you'll be fine. The issue was never that I thought the Gorillapod would let go, it was more of an issue of making it stay exactly where I wanted it without slightly shifting.

Recommendation
The innovative Gorillapods are useful tools to have in unfamiliar settings. All three models are very lightweight which means you'd hardly notice them in your gear bag. For me, the Original and SLR-Zoom will get the most use. Until I get a camcorder. Then I can see myself using the SLR model for capturing video. The SLR model may handle the Canon Rebel XTi and similarly lightweight SLRs, but for added peace of mind, the SLR-Zoom may be the way to go. Likewise, if you're shooting with a heavier point-and-shoot like a Canon G7 or Olympus SP-550UZ, I'd opt for the SLR model.

The solid construction of all three Gorillapods impressed me, as did their durability and light weight. The quick-release plates locked into the heads of the Original and SLR models tighter than some tripod heads I've used and sufficiently eliminated any shifting. The bulbous leg joints on all three models were tight and, as the above photos show, capable of bending in all different directions to grab onto just about anything.

Not once did I fear that my cameras would fall off any of the Gorillapods, nor did I fear the Gorillapod itself would let go of my chosen object. Without that possibility, the only possibilities you're left with are the million and one ways to attach them to whatever challenges your fancy. Gorillapods would be excellent for traveling, especially if you'll be in an unpredictable environment.