Joby Mini Tripods: GPod Mini Magnetic & MPod Mini Stand
Joby makes a line of flexible tripods and i recently had a chance to test two Joby mini tripods. One specifically designed for mobile phones the other for more traditional point and shoot cameras or GoPro style personal cameras.
Joby MPod Mini Stand
Now that mobile phone take photos just as good if not better than most point and shoot cameras you never have to miss a shot when you’re out on adventure, but you can only take so many selfies and you don’t want to have to leave people out. Enter the MPod Mini Stand by Joby.
The MPod Mini Stand is a portable tripod for your mobile device. The MPod Mini has flexible legs that allow you to bend, shape, and even wrap them around things to accommodate taking photos on uneven surfaces or in unusual circumstances. This portable mobile phone tripod features a jaw-like system with elastic bands the expand to hold larger phones and easily pull closed to accommodate smaller devices. Just download a self-timer app for your device and you’re ready to take photos on the go without leaving anyone out.
At about 4 ½ inches long and 1 ¼ inches around the MPod Mini is easy to throw in a pocket, a pack or purse. I found that it even fit in the a hydration belt so I could take it out on runs without much hassle. I also really appreciated the rubberized interior of the jaws so I didn’t worry that my iPhone would slide out of the jaws if it was angled or even tipped sideways to capture a shot.
After struggling with rocks, twigs, and even my shoes to balance my iPhone to capture a photo, I’m grateful to have the MPod Mini Stand and grab it anytime I’m heading out for a run, hike, bike ride or just an evening with friends.
Joby GPod Mini Magnetic
While I always have my iPhone on my to snap photos, I do also regularly carry my point and shoot camera to capture better photos or video especially when I’m on an outdoor adventure.
The Joby GPod Mini easily and securely screws into the tripod attachment on any camera. It also has bendable and movable legs that allow you to set it up on any surface and still take a level photo. I found myself not just using it as a tripod but also as handle to hold on to while shooting, especially video. While I didn’t test it with a GoPro or personal video camera, I can see it being perfect for this application to really get unique perspectives and stable images/video.
A really cool feature of the GPod Mini Magnetic is right in the name – the feet are magnetic. While I didn’t find many occasions in the outdoors to utilize the magnetic feet, I can definitely see where it could come in handy if there wasn’t anything to stand the camera on or wrap it around. The magnet is plenty strong to hold my not-the-lightest-ever point and shoot, but I probably wouldn’t be inclined to throw a more expensive, larger DSLR on it.
The GPod Mini Magnetic is really compact at under 4 inches long and just over an inch around and quite lightweight at 1.5 ounces.
Overview
On both mini tripods, in addition to the bendable legs, I really appreciated the rubberized feet and “belts” on each knob of the legs so that it didn’t slide on any surface I set it up on or wrapped it around. I also was impressed with how well the legs held the shape and how secure they were even when they didn’t completely wrap around something. I’ve used both on handlebars, tree branches, boat railings, and standing on rocks, sand, and dirt trails with great success in all situations.
Overall, if you’re on-the-go and looking for an super portable, easy to use tripod to capture photos or video no matter where you are or who you’re with I highly recommend both the GPod Mini Magnetic and the MPod Mini Stand. They retail for $14.95 each and you can find more info at joby.com.
