Tripods

Mobile Journalism Reporting Tools Guide

Mobile Tripod

Review by: Jennifer Elston

This mobile tripod doesn't bend and flex, but gives your video stability and focus.

Compatible with any smart phone

First of all, any tripod is leaps and bounds better than holding the phone steady. Your hands are not steady enough, no matter how calm or relaxed your muscles are. If you are using the mobile phone to live stream an event, you absolutely need a tripod so the characters (and not the background) are the only things that need to be refreshed. Clarity is much better and your audience doesn't feel seasick.

Brando's Mobile Tripod is a fairly good mobile tripod. You can separate the legs as you like and you can adjust the pivoting head, but it is pretty limited compared to the Gorilla Pod (which can be wrapped around fences, limbs, etc...). The portion that holds the phone has foam and adjusts to many different phones, which is very good - not everyone has an iPhone. I would recommend this device if you are looking for a small, cheap tripod (it is only $10.00, compared to $29.95 for the Gorillapod). If only the legs were longer or moldable, because the price sure is right.

Gorilla Mobile

Review by: Andrew Dumas

Our favorite mobile tripod, Joby's Gorilla Pod, can adapt to almost any environment and surface.

Compatible with iPhone 3G (but really with everything else, because of the adhesive clips it comes with)

The Gorilla Mobile is a tripod made to work with iPhones. More specifically, it's made to work with the 3G, which caused a bit of an issue for the team. The tripod came with a case that acts as a mount. However, the case definitely does not fit the 4G. The solution to this problem comes in the form of an adhesive clip that can be attached to the back of the case. We were hesitant to use this because, well, we don't know how easily that clip will come off, an sense we only have a limited supply of these clips, it seems a waste to use it on a case before we know the best way to use the actual tripod. That being said, the packaged case for the 3G slipped on the phone without hassle, and clipped on quite securely to the actual tripod.

From there, this thing really started shining. The problem with any tripod is its limited versatility. They are more stable, but lack the ability to fit into tight spaces, balance on small surfaces, or be completely portable in any way. Jennifer used a different tripod for the same outing, and was unable to get it to work in the same places that I employed the Gorillapod.

It's probably safe to say I loved the thing. I hung it on hand rails, balanced it on top of trash cans, ran the legs through holes to secure it to walls. I pretty much tried to run it through the gambit of possible locations to which I could affix the thing. And to a degree, it worked every time. The only shortcoming is that, while the legs have to be necessarily flexible, sometimes this can cause some slippage if you don't get the legs curled just right. This was minor, though, and easily avoidable when I figured the problem out. You just have to think in terms of applying the most amount of resistance to whatever surface you're putting it on.

Another negative, and one that could be classified to all the tripods I've yet seen for the iPhone, is that it's just not tall. It stands about 4-6 inches off the ground, depending on the tilt of the camera and the surface you're putting it on. Because of the shortness of the hardware, it forces you to keep it some distance from your subject, meaning interviews are a no go unless you've got the right equipment to compensate for that.

In all, I was impressed with this stout little tool. It let me get my phone stabilized in some really interesting places, and I was continually having fun with it. Plus, it just looks cool. Once it's on your phone, it's reminiscent of Doc Ock from Spider Man. If you're going out in the field, this thing is light, it's portable, it's versatile, and it makes sense to carry it with you at all times.

Zacuto Zgrip iPhone Jr.

Review by: Amanda Heisey

The Zgrip is lightweight and allows for a great deal of stability.

I love this tool from Zacuto because it's hand held. I tend to have an issue with setting up tripods; they're ungainly and take time to stabilize and balance. This handy piece of equipment allows you to simply hook your iPhone into the device and hold your camera without worrying about your shaky hands. There's a mount at the top for a mic adapter or external light and another on the bottom of the grip that can be screwed into a bigger tripod if you need to get stationary shots.

I feel like this is a fabulous way to easily gain some stability without sticking a tripod in one place or sticking something like the MonsterPod onto something. This way you can achieve pans and control zoom because the device is always by your hand. This would really be perfect for documentary filmmaking, in journalism we don't tend to pan very much. It is a little more expensive than the other tripods out there, but if you're looking for something that will come in handy in most situations, this is it. It's durable and well made, so it is built to last. The Zgrip is especially good for events where there is a lot of movement and you might need to move quickly, like sporting events or breaking news.

Purchasing the Zgrip depends on how serious you are about using your mobile phone in the field, and how serious you are about your content. Because of its price it is a tool you really have to want.

Monsterpod

Review by: Amanda Heisey

The Monsterpod claims to have a rubberized honey adhesive.

The Monsterpod is the strangest piece of equipment I've ever used or seen. It's a tripod that sticks pretty much wherever you need it to. It stays on branches, rocks, brick, glass, you name it, and it sticks there. Just be careful. If you leave it for longer than 10 minutes it starts to either slide down the wall, or fall off the surface where you stuck it. The circular tripod has an orange Silly Putty like material on the bottom. Simply screw your camera onto the tripod mount and you're set. You can use your mobile device as your camera; you just need to attach something to your phone that allows you to screw it into the Monster Pod.

It works in any situation. The problem is, it's very flat, so you might have to be creative with where you stick it to get the shot you want. It's small enough to fit in your backpack or pocket. It's also a really light tool. If dirt gets stuck to it, all you need to do is wash it off with water. Also, remember to put the cap back on it when you're done so you don't get orange goop on any of your belongings. It's not a bad piece of equipment, just different. Make sure you have a way to screw your mobile device into it, and make sure you can figure out a place to stick it or you might be in trouble. There are other tripods out there that offer you a more traditional approach to tripods, but it definitely has its place.

Bottle Cap Tripod

Review by: Amanda Heisey

The bottle cap tripod fits bottles 28.5 to 30.5 mm in diameter.

Along with the Monster Pod, this is another very strange invention for mobile journalists. You take a bottle of water or pop, and place this tripod over the cap. There's a cold foot on top, so be sure you have a way to screw your device into it. It's a cheap way to keep your video steady. It actually works like the Zgrip in a way, and is sort of a cheap alternative to the expensive Zgrip. The Bottle Cap Tripod is a little unstable, but it's better than nothing. It's kind of cheap, so you might want to invest in something sturdier if you're serious about using a tripod. Using this tripod is better than nothing, but it's not great. Also, I don't know how many people would take you seriously with your camera mounted to the top of a Coke bottle. Without the bottle, it's the smallest tripod you'd carry around. That's a perk, overall it's kind of just a silly novelty tool. It's not expensive, so you can have it in your arsenal just in case you want a slight improvement over holding the phone.

Manfrotto Modosteady

Review by: Mobile Journalism Team

The Manfrotto Modosteady allows you to steady handheld shots, whether on a table, in your hand or braced against your shoulder.

Review in progress...