Hasselblad with Gorillapod?

What is this?

D
What is this?

  • 3
  • 9
  • 128
On the edge of town.

A
On the edge of town.

  • 7
  • 6
  • 197
Peaceful

D
Peaceful

  • 2
  • 12
  • 363
Cycling with wife #2

D
Cycling with wife #2

  • 1
  • 3
  • 132

Forum statistics

Threads
198,300
Messages
2,772,506
Members
99,592
Latest member
lordsamdoom
Recent bookmarks
0

mprice

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2004
Messages
16
Location
Portland, Or
Format
4x5 Format
Anybody ever use a Gorillapod with their Hasselblad? If so, what model?

I'm looking for something portable and flexible to use with mine, these seem like the perfect thing but wanted to get a few more opinions before getting one.

Thanks for the info...
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,289
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Unless it is one hugh Gorillapod, I would not think that it is strong enough to hold the weight of a Hasselblad. If one large enough exists, why use it instead of a tripod?

Steve
 
OP
OP

mprice

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2004
Messages
16
Location
Portland, Or
Format
4x5 Format
The two larger sizes both are rated for the weight of a Hasselblad, just not sure how stable they'd be. As far as why not just a tripod? I'm hoping to have something that I can attach to about anything and fit in my bike bag...could be that I need to get a small tripod, just looking for something with a few more options.
 

Barry S

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
1,350
Location
DC Metro
Format
Large Format
I looked at the larger Gorillapods and wasn't impressed with the stability for anything but a small camera. Honestly, a small tripod would be the best solution, but I sometimes use a Manfrotto Magic Arm with a Superclamp.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...Bogen_Imaging_143RC_143RC_Magic_Arm_with.html

You can clamp the Superclamp to just about anything, and put the magic Arm in any position, but there are limits to what you can if you want to keep the rig stable.
 

Q.G.

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
5,535
Location
Netherlands
Format
Medium Format
Using another Manfrotto arm, with superclamps at both ends, one gripping the first arm (with camera on top), will help stabilize the set up.
 

bdial

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
7,452
Location
North East U.S.
Format
Multi Format
I have one of the little original P&S Gorillapods, and I tried putting the Hasselblad on it just for fun once. The legs did ok, but the camera was much to heavy for the head to hold it upright unless it was balanced very carefully. But the camera is way out of that 'pod's range. I think one of the larger ones rated for the Hasselblad's weight would do fine, depending on what you're looking to accomplish.
 
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
5,462
Location
.
Format
Digital
For the sake of sense and sensibility, invest in a proper tripod for the Hasselblad and leave the Gorillapod to the SLRs.

My small Gorillapod is ideal for wrapping my Canon G9 around one of my Manfrotto CF tripod legs to get an almost same-viewpoint image in tandem with my EOS 1N. It doesn't hold the G9 stable in the vertical position though. Because of the G9's weight, I also carry a small Ultrapod, first brought into service 28 years ago and is an ever-reliable stand-in when the Gorillapod just won't do. More uses: the Gorillapod is often called in to use hold upright my Sekonic L758D for cordless flash/ambient exposures at ground level.
 

Dr David Hall

Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2004
Messages
129
Format
35mm RF
I would really like to hear the final solution on this!. I own a Gorilla pod but would not risk MY Hasselblad on it due to risk of camera damage. I do not think the Gorilla pod can be damaged by a camera of any kind. If someone gets it to work, then I may try. Thanks for the creative thought about this equipment.
 
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
5,462
Location
.
Format
Digital
The Gorillapod is unlikely to be damaged by a camera, but the reverse is true if you overload it; the risk is there, and published by the manufacturers of that tripod. I have seen digital SLRs on the bigger Gorillapod, but never a medium format camera (that really is cringe worthy!). The solution is a small extendable tabletop tripod from Velbon, Slik or Manfrotto with an appropriate weight-rated ballhead, but I'd still angle for a bigger, ground-to-nose tripod, which is what I travelled with for years on my bicycle touring journeys (it was a black Slik table-top tripod that also featured legs that could be splayed to ground level, the centre-column reversed and even had retractable spikes on the feet. I imagine somewhere this tripod is still around (not in my case, though; it was sold off around 1988) ... something similar to the less well featured but still very suitable Slik Sprint Mini II GM.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,289
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
For the sake of sense and sensibility, invest in a proper tripod for the Hasselblad and leave the Gorillapod to the SLRs.

I would agree with you except the Hasselblads are SLRs [except the SWC, Flexbody, Arcbody and Xpan]. I think you meant 35mm SLRs when you wrote SLRs. :wink:

Steve
 

Andy K

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Messages
9,420
Location
Sunny Southe
Format
Multi Format
I use my Gorillapod with my Bronica SQAi, plus speed winder, plus metered prism, with no problems.
 

Attachments

  • GB1.jpg
    GB1.jpg
    46 KB · Views: 184
  • GB2.jpg
    GB2.jpg
    55.7 KB · Views: 170
  • GB3.jpg
    GB3.jpg
    52.5 KB · Views: 169

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,289
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I use my Gorillapod with my Bronica SQAi, plus speed winder, plus metered prism, with no problems.

You are a greater risk taker than am I. :surprised:

Steve
 

Andy K

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Messages
9,420
Location
Sunny Southe
Format
Multi Format
Not really Steve. The Gorillapod Focus can hold up to 5kg (11lbs). The Bronica is nowhere near that heavy.
 

jamie

Member
Joined
May 22, 2006
Messages
49
Format
Medium Format
I don't really see the risk in trying it as long as you keep the strap around your neck and you're ready to catch it in case it falls.
 

John Koehrer

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
8,275
Location
Aurora, Il
Format
Multi Format
And if you fall, hope the Gpod will hold you. :smile:
 

dacookieman

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2008
Messages
7
Format
35mm
Make sure u have it strapped on your neck just in case.

A friend of mine tried it in the field, and his rolleiflex ended up in 3 pieces, when one of the pods legs gave way and the whole setup took a tumble.

Tis was a sad day for him.
 

viridari

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
347
Location
Raleigh, NC
Format
Hybrid
Anybody ever use a Gorillapod with their Hasselblad? If so, what model?

I'm looking for something portable and flexible to use with mine, these seem like the perfect thing but wanted to get a few more opinions before getting one.

Thanks for the info...

I don't have a 'blad but I would never dream of putting a camera on mine. I bought one of the big stout models to use for hanging flashes up in odd places (strobist style) and I've been very disappointed. I wouldn't risk a $1,000+ camera to one of these flimsy novelties.
 

Andy K

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Messages
9,420
Location
Sunny Southe
Format
Multi Format
I don't have a 'blad but I would never dream of putting a camera on mine. I bought one of the big stout models to use for hanging flashes up in odd places (strobist style) and I've been very disappointed. I wouldn't risk a $1,000+ camera to one of these flimsy novelties.

Flimsy novelties? Have you tried the top of the range, aluminium, Gorillapd Focus? Even my old Gorillapod SLR Zoom could handle my SQAi with ease. Maybe you had a defective unit.
 
OP
OP

mprice

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2004
Messages
16
Location
Portland, Or
Format
4x5 Format
Thanks everybody for the input, the thought of the camera hitting the ground and ending up in pieces (like the Rollei mentioned above) is a scary one for sure...guess I'll take my camera over to the store and try putting it on one of the larger ones and see how it sits. In the end it sounds like I might just be better off with small tabletop tripod instead. Thanks again for the help.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom