By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
As more users shift to using smartphones as their primary cameras, some clever companies are designing accessories to fit their needs. Toronto-based Keizus has put their own spin on the articulating tripod segment with a clever and useful device called the Quadropod + clamp.
Unilike anything we've seen before, the Keizus Quadropod has a humanoid shape, while this may seem odd, it is actually better balanced than other popular articulating tripods that have multiple joints.
Four legs can give the Quadropod a greater amount of support and range of use. The Clamp, which is the 'head' and is the part that comes in contact with smartphones is easy to use and quickly grips smartphones horizontally or vertically as the case may be. Quadropod can also be used with smaller point and shoot cameras as well as standalone video cameras and even remote flash units or bulbs.
Aside from being quite compact, the Quadropod + clamp really extends the use of your smartphone as a camera by enabling its use in various situations. Namely, to take videos, self-portraits, time-lapse photography and for clamping on to various items and surfaces.
The fact that the Canadian-invented Quadropod has fewer points of articulation than Joby's GorillaPod means that it is more stable, less shaky and more capable of getting better video and photos.
I've taken the Quadropod + Clamp with me and have used is successfully with a gamut of smartphones and even phablets. The difference between a shaky picture and one taken while on the Quadropod is quite dramatic. Because of this, I never go anywhere without taking the Kaizus Quadropod + Clamp with me and have even convinced a number of people to go check out.
As smartphone cameras become more powerful and people take their photography more seriously, having a dynamic portable tripod or a device like the Quadropod makes a lot of sense. This is specially true for those who like to take self-portraits, time-lapse videos and other types of photography that require stability or clamping capability.
Rating: 4 out of 5