Review: JOBY Griptight PRO 3 Gorillapod

Once upon a time, in land far, far away, where taking spectacular photographs was only meant for people with specialist cameras… well, we’re not in that land. Today, we live amongst budding photographers. Where once only a select few specialized in photography, having a unique talent, our smartphones have practically given that ability to everyone. It’s simplified the world of photography from foreign terms like ‘depth of field’ and ‘shutter speed’ to simple buttons that do everything for you in an instant. A world filled with photographers whose only limitation is their imagination.

With the arrival of digital photography, came limitless photos. And we’re taking full advantage of that. In a time where pretty much anything is worth photographing, whether it’s a candid moment, a holiday snap, your lunch, a casual social media post or you’re a hardcore vlogger or YouTuber, we all want to take better photos. And anything that helps give us an edge is highly welcome.

If you’re looking to take your photography to another level, a tripod is paramount. This three-legged companion is an essential for keeping your smartphone stable while shooting video, for night shots, group selfies or shooting from a whole new perspective – from ground level to hanging off a tree. The Griptight PRO 3 Gorillapod is a flexible tripod kit with levelling phone mount and GorillaPod specifically made for smartphones – With so much choice, let’s see how it rises to the challenge of the competition and if its got the silver lining.

What to Expect

There are two primary aspects to address – the tripod and the phone clamp. Both as important as the other. Tripods have four main criteria that need addressing: Portability – how lightweight it is and how easy is it to carry around. Sturdiness – can it support your smartphone with ease. Durability – can it withstand the demand of constant use and still perform every time. Versatility –  is it compatible and strong enough to manage more than a smartphone? If we’re able to get strong result in all 4 areas, then it’s clearly an excellent contender.

From Jungle to Box

Once out the box, it’s apparent why they named it the Griptight PRO 3 Gorillapod. It exudes the power and strength of a Silverback from the highlands of Central Africa. The ‘original flexible tripod’ feels more like Joby just found a way to add brute power to this inanimate tripod – giving it life. The ball joints of the tripod legs are exceedingly sturdy and flexible, resembling the knuckles of a Gorillas hand, with the ability to grip with the same dexterity. Being a nature and animal lover, having watched probably every documentary there is about animals, there isn’t an animal out there with the strength of a gorilla – but the gentle nature it displays when handling small fruit or a young one is almost surreal.

Accepting the Challenge

With measurements of 36.8 x 8.5 x 5.5cm and weighing 320 grams, it’s certainly not in the heavy-weight category. Lightweight but it’s firm and sturdy. Built with solid glass-filled nylon and high-grade ABS plastic, there’s nothing lightweight about this tripod. It feels solid – pure muscle and power. The ball joints are almost resistant, they’re that firm. It’s built to last. There’s no doubt of that. The incredible grip strength and flexibility allows you move each joint independently – there’s ten on each of the three legs – so you’re free to shape the tripod in anyway you see fit, ready to set up in three modes: grip, wrap or stand. With a similar structure to our hands, Gorillas display incredible dexterity with just three joints in each finger. Imagine 10. Now that allows you to set-up virtually anywhere, so whether you opt to wrap it around a tree, or stand it in the sand, you’re definitely in good hands. So with its versatility and durability, exploring the jungle out there with your smartphone should effortless.

The GripTight­ PRO 3 Mount, which supports phone width of 56-90mm, is cleverly designed to secure your phone quickly with its easy-to-use yet secure pinch-to-lock clamp, with durable rubber on the arms. It grips your phone tightly so no chance of it slipping. The back rest for the phone is lacking the durable rubber –which I think would add to the grip in my opinion, but not a game changer. A strong firm grip, like a Gorilla’s handshake (not quite sure you’d be around to tell the rest of the story if that were ever to happen!) The clamp rotates a full 360 degrees with 8 pre-set stop positions – giving you freedom to angle your phone in the best possible way. The built-in mini metal ball head on the bottom part of the mount allows you to easily level your shots with a quick adjustment. With two cold shoes 1/4″ mount holes on the body, you can easily attach a flash or mic directly or using optional GorillaPod Arms, giving you the option of any additional needs you may have.

The Silver Lining

More like the Silverback. After using the Griptight PRO 3 Gorillapod for a couple of weeks, its been an over-performer. In a league of its own when it comes to tripods – built with pure Gorilla-ness in every way. Strong, sturdy, versatile, durable and limitless. The best part is knowing my phone is safe from falling and slipping just when it matters. Knowing you’re in safe hands is the peace of mind we all need – especially when dealing with our phones.

If you’re looking to give your photography some legs and step up your game, the Griptight PRO 3 Gorillapod is probably the best – second to only other Joby tripods, depending on your specific needs, so whether you’re a novice or professional, you couldn’t ask for anymore. If you thought the lion the king of the jungle, move over… the Gorilla rules hands down. Available online for US$99.95. For more information, check out the Joby website at www.joby.com