B0055 Camera Platform Blue & Black

This is my second Pod - I had the yellow one (with the tripod mount centered) and got this one (with the tripod mount off center) when I got a new camera that has the tripod mount near its edge. It couldn't be simpler: it's just a bean-bag so you can plop your camera on most any surface to take night photos and use the self timer. And it's small enough to stick in your pocket or fanny pack when you go out shooting.I recommend setting your self timer for 2 seconds to take night shots, that way you won't shake the camera when you press the shutter.Note this is a small model suitable for a small point-and-shoot camera; Pod has some larger models for SLR's and the like. The yellow one is also suitable for a Flip or similar small video camera.The only drawback is that you can't shoot verticals with it, as the camera will always be upright. But none of the small "tripods" I saw could do that either ... and this one is more portable and durable than most.

The beans are actually little plastic pellets, probably a manufacturing byproduct.The bag isn't full enough to start with.The beads don't hold the shape and it's too light to hold a camera very well.The material isn't flexible enough.I'm taking out the plastic pellets and putting in fish gravel.Also the bottom of the bag that it sits on is glossy and smooth.This makes it slide that much easier. A cloth, rubber or canvas bottom wod be much better.

I purchased this knowing its limitations - it will only support point-n-shoot cameras, and is fairly light weight. Even knowing that, I had some specific applications that would be ideal for the Pod.When I got my Pod I was giving it the once over and noticed a strip of Velcro on the bottom. It looked very much like a convenient hand strap or securing strap of some kind, so I undid the Velcro. Much to my surprise, the bag opened and blue pellets went spilling everywhere.Because the Velcro-secured split is in the middle of the bag, there was no good way to put the bag contents back in. As I added more, they would just spill out. The tragic tale of Sisyphus came to mind.Eventually I did get the beans back in the bag with minimum loss. I'll probably still be picking blue pellets out of my carpet for weeks.Blue Pod could easily solve this problem by making the following changes. If there MUST be a way to empty the contents, then the Velcro enclosure should be at one end of the bag so that it can be refilled top to bottom, and not from the middle. The enclosure should be more secure to prevent accidental opening. Finally, it should be redesigned so that it doesn't look like like a hand strap or something similar that you would WANT to open.

I bought this to use with my Nikon D300 and 16-85 zoom lens. I thought the offset especially would be useful as the lens would get more support. Possibly my fault for either misreading or not reading the dimensions but it's way too small to handle them. It would probably be fine for a regular point-and-shoot or maybe a smaller SLR style, but not for a pro-sized SLR and lens.That said, I have another one of these Pods that I do use with my P&S and it's great! There are so many places you can't bring a tripod or don't want to be so noticeable (I used mine a lot in churches in Italy)and these are a great substitute. Even better in some respects -- you can hold it up against a column for example. So just make sure you buy the right one for your camera!

I have two pods, the red one for my larger camera and the blue one for my pocket "point & shoot." I think they very effective. I am a professional musician with a strong interest in photography. I have a camera with me everywhere I go and do not like to carry the Domke bag full of gear plus a large tripod. They also make a great platform to support my Zoom H4 recorder!These are the best compromise between weight and steadiness that I've experienced. The museums that don't like tripods or monopods don't seem to bat an eye at The Pod- which is another benefit. I shoot many photos in "portrait" rather than "landscape" so I do regret they don't easily facilitate that configuration, hence, the four-star and not five.If you are a gearhead, you might not like them, but for a parsimonious solution to steady night shots, self-portraits, group portraits that you'd like to be in, buy one or two, they are a lot of fun!

If you want a quick fix to getting low and propping your cam for that on-the-fly shot; this product is for you. I suggest getting the cube, sold separately, to prop the lens of the camera on for certain angled shots. Great packing and prompt delivery. I'll be ordering the cube attachment this week.

This works good with point and shoot cameras. Don't open up the Velcro pocket or you will be inundated with little blue beads. I just put them in a plastic bag and put them back in the Pod. I guarantee if anyone picks this up thy will open the Velcro pocket.

for the price, totally worth it. Just, whatever you do, DON'T OPEN THE VELCRO ON THE BLUE SIDE. This opens up the inside of the body and exposes all the beads. However they managed to jam so many into it, I had to empty out a quarter of them just to be able to close it back up. I was thinking the velcro some kind of storage pocket or something, but it isn't. You've been warned.