Photography

Review: Getting to grips with the Joby Action Grip and Pole

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The Joby Action Grip is a floating handle for your actioncam (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip doesn't have to be used in the water (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip is ideal for use when swimming or diving (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip can be purchased on its own, or bundled with the Action Pole (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole allow you to shoot from different angles (Photo: Jennifer Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole lets you shoot selfies as you pull tricks ... or not in this case (Photo: Jennifer Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip is a floating handle for your actioncam (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip will stop your actioncam from sinking (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip will sell for US$25 (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole will sell for US$35 (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip can be screwed onto the 46 cm (18 in) Action Pole for added reach(Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Action Grip and Pole are made by Joby, of Gorillapod fame (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip features a GoPro mount (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip comes with an adapter for a standard tripod mount (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip comes with an adapter for a standard tripod mount (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
A GoPro Hero4 Silver mounted to the Joby Action Grip (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole feature the same black and red styling as Joby's other Action products (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The red base on the Joby Action Grip means it's easy to spot when floating in water (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole are available now (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole bundle will sell for US$35 (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The Joby Action Grip and Pole bundle will sell for US$35 (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The extension pole in the Joby Action Grip and Pole set measures 46 cm (18 in) (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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Action cameras don't have to be mounted to the chest of a sky-diver, the back of a dog, or the helmet of someone mowing the lawn to shoot interesting footage. The new Joby Action Grip and Pole are action-oriented accessories designed to help users shoot from different perspectives while retaining hand-held control over their camera. Gizmag recently spent a bit of time with the kit ahead of its release.

The Action Grip and Pole is a new set-up from Joby, of Gorillapod fame, which is built around a floating hand-grip. On its own, the grip allows users to film selfie, point-of-view, or follow cam footage without fear of watching their expensive actioncam sink to the bottom of the ocean. But when combined with the Action Pole, it also allows for filming from different perspectives and angles.

The grip itself is a lightweight plastic affair which shares its black and red styling with Joby's other Action Mounts and Gorillapods. A chunky ribbed grip makes it easy to hold, and a tether at the bottom means you're not going to lose it, even if you accidentally let go.

On top is a standard GoPro mount and thumbscrew, but an included adapter also allows for the mounting of other actioncams, whether a Sony, Contour or something else, via a standard tripod mount.

The Joby Action Grip will stop your actioncam from sinking (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

In our time with the Action Grip, we found it comfortable to hold and using a grip like this is always going to be preferable to trying to hold a little GoPro in your hands, whether on land or in water. In the water its light-weight nature was a bonus, its buoyancy meant our camera didn't sink, and the red base made the floating camera easy to spot as it bobbed around in a reservoir among rowers and wind-surfers. Not needing a Floaty Backdoor on our GoPro Hero4 Silver also had the added bonus that we could still see the screen while using it.

Joby says the 90 g (3.2 oz) Action Grip should be able to keep most actioncams afloat. However, while it kept our GoPro bobbing happily, we don't know what other cameras it will prevent from sinking. While this handle buoyancy is nothing new in itself, as the likes of the GoPole Bobber and the GoPro Handler also offer this, an interesting feature of the new grip is that it forms part of a system and can be used in conjunction with the Joby Action Pole.

The Joby Action Grip and Pole feature the same black and red styling as Joby's other Action products (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

By unscrewing the base and connected tether of the Action Grip, the 20 cm (8.1 in) long grip can then be attached to the modular 46 cm (18 in) aluminum extension tube, with the base/tether then screwed into the bottom of that. This is intended to give users more freedom of movement with their action camera, and allows shooting in a wider variety of angles. The extra length also makes it easier to get your full body into the shot. And if you want a really wide shot, multiple poles can be attached together, and feature a standard painter's pole threading.

While we found using the Action Grip on its own very natural, the added unwieldiness of the longer and 200 g (7 oz) pole did make it more difficult for us to control. However, this probably says more about our inherent wobblyness on a scooter than it does about the pole itself. We dare say more confident-footed users wouldn't have a problem manipulating the pole while pulling tricks on their skateboard, and that they'd find it easier to capture interesting footage from the additional angles it allows.

The Joby Action Grip and Pole allow you to shoot from different angles (Photo: Jennifer Crisp/Gizmag.com)

There are plenty of accessories out there vying for a place on your action camera, but the Joby Action Grip and Pole feel like they will make an impact in the crowded market. It offers the same functionality as other water-safe floating grips, but with the added bonus of being able to shoot from different perspectives when attached to the pole section.

The Joby Action Grip and Pole are available now. The Action Grip will retail for US$25 on its own, or $35 bundled with the extension pole in the Action Grip and Pole set.

Product pages: Joby Action Grip, Action Grip and Pole

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