Strap Pod
The Strap Pod isn't as steady as a monopod and nowhere near as steady as a heavy tripod or even a relatively light one like the previously-reviewed Tiltall Tripod. But when you want to pack something small, stealthy, quiet, and effective....voila! I've been using one for more than two years for when I shoot in low light and available light -- which I do with some frequency (indoor sports, concerts, theater, etc.). The Strap Pod rolls up nicely, stashes easily in your pack, pocket or on your belt and -- unlike a tripod or a monopod -- it is very easy to deploy, use and remove quickly. Just drop the strap, step into the loop and shoot. No muss, no fuss, no twisting or flicking sections or wielding something that looks like a baton or a spear.
In the case of museums or some public spaces, tripods are simply not allowed (though you can sometimes get away with a monopod by pretending it is a 'walking stick'). But hauling a monopod around is sometimes clumsy, frowned upon, or outright discouraged in certain environs. The Strap Pod is much less intrusive and bulky, so I'm more likely to toss it into my pocket or my camera bag and bring it along. If I go for an impromptu hike in the local woods as dusk approaches, for instance, my experience is that the Strap Pod seems to give me an additional one to two stops. This allows me to shoot without pushing the ISO too far, or shooting at too slow of a shutter speed as to blur any action. (Note: my 85mm prime lens is an f1.4 and my 70-200mm zoom is an f2.8 -- the fastest lenses that allow 'reach' under low or available light ). Even with Virtual Reduction of shake functions in higher end DSLRs (in the lenses for Nikon, in the camera for Canon), having just that much more stability in your shot can open possibilities for a bigger range of useful f-stops. You could accomplish this with a classic, previously-mentioned "chain pod," but if you're in the woods shooting wildlife, the jangling of a chain is hardly stealthy.
Another benefit is that the Strap Pod is removed from a baseplate via a vice action -- not the screwing and unscrewing of a threaded bolt -- so it quickly and cleanly attaches/detaches. I have a camera worth more than the internal threading/tapped hole that accepts something like the chain pod. I'd rather not leave an eye bolt in my camera, because I often need to quickly shift from supported shot to free shot.
For serious support of camera and lens, I use a serious, lightweight, carbon-fiber monopod with a Kirk arca-mount plate, and a Gitzo Mountaineer model carbon fiber tripod with a Kirk ball head mount. I wouldn't count on the Strap Pod to replace monopods or tripods, especially in critical shoots like weddings or commercial photography. That's not the point. The Strap Pod is another tool for photographers to use to gain some helpful stability with their shots and maintain a more optimal ISO, while giving more options for creative control over f stop and shutter speed ranges.
-- Will Jennings
Strap Pod
$30 - universal mount
$40 - quick-release mount
Available from Kirk Photo
Favorite (15)
Chris
Or you can make your own!
http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Tripod/
Ken
$30 seems to be a lot to pay for something you can make yourself out of a 10 cent bolt and a length of nylon webbing.
bbum
A very useful tool, but this is more than 60x the cost it could be.
You can pick up a bolt at a hardware store for less than 50 cents, coupled with a piece of string and a washer produces a string/strap monopod that is smaller, more versatile (you can tie the string to stuff), and 60 times cheaper.
http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/10/10/the-scrap-monopod-the-stringpod/
Joe
You're correct that Nikon only offers stabilization in its lenses, but so does Canon, Pentax, Olympus, and Sony offer in-camera stabilization on their DSLRs.
Broom
I'm with bbum. Sometimes the expensive store-bought can be justified if the DIY version looks too, well, homemade (or kludgey). But it's a freaking strap + bolt! There's simply no justification here.
Momma
Wow, this one is too cool! Seems a tripod is always too cumbersome to bring along (or locate in storage!!!), but this could be easy to throw in with the camera. Thanks for sharing this one!
Momma at http://engineeradebtfreelife.blogspot.com/
jlbraun
It might interest some that this exact same method is used by operators of the M60 machinegun to prevent muzzle rise when firing from the shoulder or hip. Detach the rear sling attachment and step on it, while leaving the front attached.
Haven't personally tried it, but have seen video showing that it works. Given that a camera has much less recoil, it should work here too. :)
And I agree that this accessory is overpriced for what it does. $3 worth of parts at the hardware store will get you the same thing.
Andrew S
Small correction: The image stabilization/vibration reduction is in the lenses for both Canon and Nikon DSLRs. It's in the body for Pentax, Sony, Olympus, KM.
Joel
Just a suggestion, but it took you to the middle of paragraph 3 to actually provide some info on just what a Strap Pod is.
Oryctolagus habilis
Many hiking-style walking sticks actually have removable "knobs" with camera mounting threaded rods underneath so that they can serve as monopods.
Iowill
Lots of complaints about the cost. Yep, it does cost more than a cheap eye bolt and some paracord. No sh#t, Sherlock. The point here is that I don't want to have a freaking eye-bolt sticking out of my camera. You're not paying for the strap...you're paying for the machined arca-mount, which is what this review recommends. If you have a plate attached to your camera body, then you can go quickly between ball head on a tri- or monopod or something like the Strap-pod.
$3 at the hardware store will not by you a quick release ARCA-plate attachment, let alone something to work quietly, quickly, and hold up to repeated use in the field. Cheap hardware, including eyebolts, are often poorly threaded and are NOT designed to screw-in, screw-out, over and over again and again.
Here's a real great way to save a ton of money when capturing a image:
buy a pencil, some paper, and learn to draw really well and really fast.
You'll save a bundle and all of your 'bad shots' can be recycled.....
iowill
For those seeking a less expensive, though more refined and less clunky approach than an eyebolt....you might look into Black Rapid's products. They make a series of camera straps that also relied upon a more well machined bolt attachment to the camera body. Apparently they have also figured out that bulky, obtrusive bits don't play well with camera bodies, or photographer's body flesh. So, they have a new design of screw in bolt (Fastenr 2: http://www.blackrapid.com/connectr.php) that has a rubber gasket and a swivel clip....unobtrusive to the point that if you don't use arca style mounting plates, you could leave one on your camera full time and use it to clip into shoulder straps, or your DIY foot strap/paracord. And they cost $12....so only lebenty-million more than your 5 cent eye bolt, instead of lebenty zillion more like the Kirk Strap Pod. Enjoy.