If you’re a photographer and haven’t yet heard of Photojojo, allow me to introduce them. Their online store features some of the coolest photography accessories on the planet (telephoto iPhone lens anyone?).
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Recently they were kind enough to send their fancy new Twig Pod to us for review. It’s billed as a lightweight, collapsible monopod that, quite frankly, I was fairly certain we’d love. And we do.
The Skinny
First, the features according to Photojojo:
- Collapsible + lightweight (weighs less than half a pound!)
- Bungee tension line runs down center, allowing for rods to collapse into 4 parts
- Pointed foot for propping into the ground
- Ideal for compact cameras; fits standard tripod thread (does not work with DSLRs)
- Made from heat treated aluminum -strengthened for quality & durability
- 25″ extended; 8″ collapsed
- Carrying pouch included
In Detail
On our recent trip to Acadia National Park, we brought along the Twig Pod to put it through its paces. It’s extremely lightweight meaning it’s a no-brainer to toss into carry-on luggage or a traditional backpack.
The design is an ingeniously simple, straightforward affair. Pull the Twig Pod from its carrying case and, like most modern tent poles, it practically assembles itself courtesy of the interior tension line. The tapered ends of the individual metal rods fit snugly and securely into one another ensuring that the unit won’t “fall apart” with your camera still attached.
For minimalist (and/or solo) travelers, it’s an ideal solution that will allow you to take steadier shots overall. This is particularly useful for low-light and timed shots, long exposures and better self portraits.
If there’s a minor downside to the “staked” design of the Twig Pod, it’s that it requires a piece of soft land (e.g. dirt, gravel or the like). In most instances, this won’t be an issue. After a full week of walking around the city and hiking in the woods, this was never a problem for us.
Also, although their description states that it “does not work with DSLRs”, we were pleasantly surprised that it plays quite nicely with not only our point-and-shoot, but our Panasonic DMC-GF1 DSLR as well. To be fair, we use a compact, pancake lens. For users with telephoto lenses (see here), the Twig Pod likely isn’t a good choice for balancing the weight of larger glass.
The Bottom Line
In short, we love the Twig Pod. We appreciate its compact, lightweight design, rugged construction, and sheer, simple ingenuity. Highly recommended.
Pricing & Availability
Available now directly from Photojojo.com for $28.