Shoot Review — 169 Inc. DuoPod

Monopod addition gives shooters an extra leg to stand on.

The DV shooter faces a kind of occupational hazard when it comes tocamera support. Owing to the camcorder's extreme light weight, there isa temptation to go au natural with no visible means of support.Yielding to such handheld temptation may not always be the wisestchoice, however. Firm and deliberate control of the camera is essentialto conveying a high level of competence and professionalism to youraudience.

Over the course of two decades with National Geographic, my20-year-old Sachtler head and tripod became almost a part of my body.Indeed, a deep notch still exists in my right shoulder from thecombined weight of my Arri SR2 and tripod digging into it year afteryear. Of course I was carrying well over 35lbs. including the battery,sliding plate rails, and matte box, so the need for support of somekind was also a practical matter, not just an aesthetic one.

My customary modus operandi as a documentary shooter often requiredthat the camera remain attached to the tripod, the two componentstraveling as one when moving through and shooting a location. Indeed,operating the combined camera and tripod unit allowed for stable,well-composed images in even the most hectic or congested locales. Ilearned quickly that a solid platform under hand contributed greatly tothe impact of my close-ups.

The DuoPod Pro from 16×9 is a rugged yet simple and lightweightsupport system that utilizes a footplate “arm” to stabilizea two- or three-section monopod. The arrangement offers advantages forthe fast-moving shooter, allowing particularly easy setups at weddingsand other events where moving through a crowd with a full-blown tripodsystem is impractical. Beyond these run-and-gun applications, I can seethe DuoPod working very well for hikers and other outdoor enthusiastswho normally carry their DV cameras on forays and are looking for asolid camera support. For this reason, the DuoPod (waterproof up to thefirst leg joint) would be a nice addition to the equipment complementof any DV shooter/hiker/outdoorsman.

I worked for a few days with the DuoPod Pro model in the wilds ofSouthern California. I liked the feel and flavor of the unit, whichinspired a rare bit of confidence as I set up my PD100A in and aroundthe large boulders on the back trails of Griffith Park. The blackaluminized alloy construction is rugged and smooth-acting with largepositive locking knobs and a dampened column to facilitate raising andlowering the camera. The entire package (not counting the fluid head)weighs about 5lbs., collapses to 25in., and extends to over 5ft.

The English-made DuoPod also comes with interchangeable feet thatpermit easy setup on rough or smooth surfaces. My eval model also camewith the optional 100mm ball adapter so I was able to test the DuoPodwith my faithful old Sachtler head.

According to the manufacturer, the DuoPod Pro can support cameras upto 25lbs. While 16×9 does offer a lower-cost version, I found thelighter-weight DuoPod DV substantially less rugged — especiallyin the critical head area. Serious documentary shooters, despite theirbest efforts, tend to be tough on their gear and will likely want theconsiderable advantage of the Pro model, despite its slightly higherprice tag. The three-section DuoPod Pro lists for $535 with a Bogen 501fluid head; the three-section DuoPod DV with a Uni-Loc pan head listsfor $345.

Company: 16×9 Inc.; Burbank, Calif.
www.16×9inc.com

Product: DuoPod

Assets: Footplate “arm” stabilizes two- orthree-section monopod; interchangeable feet; Pro version supports25lbs., and ships with a Bogen 501 fluid head.

Caveats: The cheaper DV version is markedly less rugged thanthe Pro.

Demographic: Shooters in “run-and-gun” situationsand those who need to travel light.

Price: $205 to $535

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