iStabilizer Monopod

• Pros Extends up to three feet. Easy to adjust. Smartphone mount included. Works with most compact cameras and camcorders.
• Cons Need to use timer or remote when fully extended.
• Bottom Line The iStabilizer Monopod is a simple and easy, but its included smartphone mount sets it apart, extending the reach of your mobile device for self portraits, solo video shoots, and capturing scenes over obstacles or crowds.

By Eugene Kim

The iStabilizer Monopod ($34.95 direct) is a simple handheld monopod that extends the reach of cameras beyond arm's length, but where most similar options end at small cameras and camcorders, the iStabilizer Monopod includes a special spring-loaded mount for use with a variety of smartphones. That added feature, plus the usefulness of monopods for self-photography or simply extending the reach of a camera,?makes the iStabilizer version a solid addition to any photographer's accessory arsenal.?

It's tough to get creative when you're designing a monopod, which is basically a single metal rod, but the telescoping metal iStabilizer does distinguish itself in a few key ways. There are no knobs and locks to engage when extending and collapsing the rod. Instead, simply twisting individual segments counterclockwise allows for adjustments, and a simple twist clockwise locks it back into place. There are four segments that, when fully extended, reach a length of 3 feet. At the base is a soft padding, wrist strap, and threaded hole for attaching to a standard tripod.

At the opposite end is a translucent piece that can twist and pivot, with a small knob for locking in desired positions. The piece has a standard ?-inch threaded camera mount, but the iStabilizer Monopod comes with a smartphone mount already attached. It's the same mount found on the iStabilizer Dolly, which helps enable smooth tracking and panning shots, and uses a spring loaded vice to grip onto devices. The mount opens up to 2.75-inches wide, which is just wide enough to fit a large phone like a Samsung Galaxy S III. You can remove that mount and attach a standard point-and-shoot camera or camcorder that weighs less than 12.3 ounces. There's also a small protrusion at the end with a small mirror, which works well for self portraits.

The iStabilizer Monopod works exactly as advertised, making it easy to capture self portraits, shoot videos of yourself, and capture shots over large crowds. Triggering pictures at a distance, however, can be problematic unless you use a timer. To be fair though, this is a problem with any monopod. ?A wireless remote like the Satechi Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote would be a great companion, allowing you to access your iPhone's camera shutter from afar. Not everyone will need the iStabilizer Monopod, but for those who do take a lot of self pictures and videos , especially with a smartphone, it's worth a look.

By Eugene Kim Junior Analyst, Consumer Electronics

Before joining the consumer electronics team at PCMag, Eugene worked at local news station NY1 doing everything from camera work to writing scripts. He grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and graduated from the University...

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