So what's a digipod when it's at home?

Well essentially it's a very small and basic camera stand, similar to a tripod. It has 3 'legs' and a screw thread fitting to attach the camera, but it's made from plastic and height is not adjustable. When folded down the digipod reminds me of a kids maths compass in appearance and when opened it looks a bit like the 'tripods' in War of the Worlds and stands at 7.5cm high.

How do I use it?

There is one large main leg and two smaller ones which have to be spread out to their optimum width to insure stability. There is a small flat plate on the top where you attach the camera via a screw thread and this is easily done by using the plastic grip underneath, which is attached to the base of the metal thread. The angle of the plate can be adjusted in a vertical movement, but not horizontally (so can't pan with it) and there is a screw to tighten the hinged legs and keep them in position. Essenitally that's all their is to using it - open it up, attach the camera and start shooting! It is by no means a complicated bit of equipment.

What can it hold?

This 'digi-pod' is clearly designed for use with compact cameras. For experimentation purposes I decided to find out how large a camera it can comfortably hold - it copes with a panasonic TZ8 easily (214g) and a Nikon P7000 (357g) at any plate angle. This is because although the plastic is cheap and flimsy, the overall height is very low, position of the plate means the camera weight isn't off balance and weight is spread evenly throughout the whole structure.

What can I use it for?

In all honesty due to the very basic nature of this product, it's practical applications are very limited - it can hold a camera a few inches off the ground so you can use the camera on timer, take a self portrait etc. but that's about it.

Positives:
- lightweight
- very compact
- surprisingly sturdy
- capable of holding a decent weight camera

Negatives:
- legs do not extend so height isn't really adjustable
- no horizontal movement of plate
- lack of many practical applications due to the above two points

Price:

Depending on where you purchase this from it can be had from between £2 and £7.

Overall I wouldn't really recommend this product - like another reviewer said it might be a good present for a child who's got an interest in their camera, but I certainly wouldn't be buying this for any more than a couple of pounds. If you want a small tripod for your compact camera then there are plenty more on the market that are still cheap, but allow alot more flexibility.