Links: Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Product Page / Show Official Info /

If you've ever seen a Joby Gorillapod flexible tripod, you know it's unlike any other flexible tripod - except for its siblings. Now called the Gorillapod Original, it has spawned increasingly larger models including the Gorillapod SLR, Gorillapod SLR-Zoom, and the Gorillapod Focus, a professional tripod for heavy professional digital cameras with massive zoom lenses, video cameras, and professional tripod heads.

Before I began evaluating the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom, I decided to avoid reading what other people had written about Joby's Gorillapod series.

Putting my imagination to use as to where to attach the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom, I challenged it to hold on to a smooth lamp pole with a big heavy flash attached. It slipped down a couple of inches until I tightened the legs a bit more -- that made it rock solid.

My final test was to take one of my old telephoto lenses, one manufactured with a metal barrel, not the ABS plastic-polycarbonate blends common these days. First I attached the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom to the balcony railing and took care to make sure it was properly secured. I then screwed a small ball joint head onto the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom and made certain that it was also properly secured. Only then did I attach my digital SLR with the heavy telephoto lens to it, after which I adjusted the ball joint head to point the camera in the right direction.

I have to say that I was suitably impressed by the tenacious grip demonstrated by the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom and would happily recommend it to someone who wants a compact, versatile, flexible, lightweight tripod that is much stronger than it looks. I already own two other mini tripods and think they're fine for compact digital point and shoot cameras when set up on a level tabletop, but that's about all. By comparison, the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom is the 800 pound gorilla of legend and I definitely want this gorilla in my camera bag or photo vest pocket.

Just think how happy that serious photographer in your life will be when they find one of these among their Christmas presents.