I use my phone with a tripod a fair amount for shooting video and photos. I’m still pretty amazed by how solid the cameras are on modern phones. The spring-loaded tripod mount I have been using for the last six months, pictured below, never felt that secure.
The rubber feet have started to break away, and I never felt confident using it. It was less than $10, so I got what I paid for. Sure, it works, but I want a little more confidence that my phone is being held securely.
I decided to order the latest version of the Glif, a more expensive tripod mount for phones. It’s around $30 with shipping, and it is well designed.
It uses a spring, like the other mount, but it also uses a locking mechanism (the gray lever) to secure the phone in place even more. Plus, it has three different tripod mounting areas, supporting both vertical and horizontal orientations, as well as attaching other accessories. It’s a nice centerpiece for a little frankenphone rig.
While the Glif is made of plastic, it feels sturdy and durable. The holes are made of metal, so I doubt the threads will strip away with normal use. The mouth of the Glif opens up pretty wide, wide enough to fit larger phones. But it’s a bit too narrow for a small tablet, like an iPad Mini.
My phone felt secure, and it didn’t move at all when shaking it around while enclosed in the Glif.
My two gripes are:
- I wish that the packaging didn’t contain styrofoam. If it was all paper, the sleeve and encasement could be recycled.
- Studio Neat, the manufacturers of the Glif, sell accessories like a hand grip and a wrist lanyard. They look great, but they contain leather, so I won’t be buying them. It’s a bummer because the use of leather is completely unnecessary to the function of the products.
I’m happy with the Glif. It was worth the upgrade for the peace of mind. It’s a great example of a simple and effective product.
Brett Chalupa's Journal 