Joby Gorillapod Original (Red)

Get a grip

Next to plenty of batteries and memory cards, perhaps the most important piece of photo equipment you can have is a tripod. After all, whether your snapping shots in low-light conditions, want extra-fluid video, or want to take a self portrait, the added stability offered by mounting your digital camera or camcorder to a tripod can make all the difference between pristine clarity and a muddy blur. That said, however, standard rigid tripods don't quite keep up with your imaginative sense of photographic adventure. In other words, the average tripod only does its job when you have a fairly wide, level shooting surface to begin with. And since you spend most of your time, you know, on the river, or rock climbing, or in crowded markets, or anywhere else that something exciting might actually happen, you need something beyond "average." You need the Gorillapod Original from Joby. Sure, it has three legs and attaches to your camera or camcorder, but that's about where the similarities between the Gorillapod and a standard tripod end. You see, the Gorillapod's legs and stem are made up of over two dozen flexible joints that can be bent, twisted, and wound into just about any shape, allowing you to secure your camera to almost any surface. Plus, each joint and leg's rubberized grip coating adds a further level of stability. And connecting your camera is simple: just connect the quick-release clip to your camera or camcorder's tripod mount using the 1/4" stainless steel screw, click your camera into the Gorillapod, and you're set. Ideal for diverse and changing conditions, the Gorillapod Original is designed for use with compact digital cameras and mini camcorders weighing up to 11.5 ounces.