The compact and versatile Steady tool has a dozen tools built in, including fine-edge and serrated blades, four screwdrivers, wire cutters, a bottle opener and needlenose pliers. But the best part has got to be the addition of a tripod mount, which works with either camera screw mounts or with smartphones, via a suction cup attachment. To use it as a tripod, simply pop open the front legs, open up the tripod “blade” and attach your camera.

The overall tool measures about 4″ long when closed, and weighs 5.8 ounces, making it a somewhat largish thing to keep in your pocket, but a totally awesome thing to keep in your backpack or book bag. And I can’t imagine going on an outdoor trip without this in my travel kit.

If you’re in the market for a multi-functional tool, and you like to take photos, you’ll definitely want to check out the Steady. It lists for $64(USD) but you can find it over on Amazon for as little as $44 (USD).

The Leica Lens Holder M screws into the tripod mount. So you can have one lens on the camera itself and another one in reserve. The placement of the second lens also makes it useful as a handle:

Leica even suggests that “the setup could even be used as a miniature tripod.” That’s one expensive – and fragile – tripod.

You can order the Leica Lens Holder M from Amazon for $200 (USD). And get a tripod if you still don’t have one before you’re tempted to use your lens as a substitute.

[via PetaPixel]

This particular multitool has a knife and 12 other implements that are tucked away until you need them. What exactly those 12 tools are isn’t noted. I would bet that you would find a couple screwdrivers, scissors, and a bunch of other things that can come in useful when you are outdoors. The coolest feature of the new tool is the camera tripod attachment. It has a couple legs on the front to prop it up, and a normal threaded tip attachment that can screw into your camera’s standard tripod mount.

This would be perfect for taking group shots or self-shots. The only real drawback I can see to this thing is that I’d bet that the little table tripod will only hold the smaller cameras out there. The Gerber tripod multitool will sell for about $65 (USD) when it’s released sometime next year.

[via GearJunkie]

But that doesn’t have to be the case anymore with Quirky’s Pose Camera Case.

Pose is more than just a case, as it’s also a camera stand with an attachment mount on the inside. It’s compatible with most digital cameras, so to take your own picture, just slide it in the slot and set the timer and you’re done.

You can also wrap the case around a curved surface or object, like a bike handle or pipe or tree branch, if that’s the only thing you can find around you to hold it up.

When you’re done, just slide your camera off, reverse the case to its other side, and stow your camera away. Quick, easy, and more hassle-free compared to lugging around a tripod all day.

The Pose case is available for pre-sale from Quirky for $23.99 (USD). If they get enough pre-order commitments, they’ll be producing these soon.

[via Oh Gizmo]

The Lethal Pro is made of a combination of a lightweight alloy and carbon fiber, which makes it strong yet feathery light – it weighs 8oz. but has a maximum load of 22 lbs. Its six legs are quite handy – what! – not only for propping up your gadgets at various heights and angles. Just like Joby’s products, the Lethal Pro can cling onto a variety of surfaces and materials with ease.

The other feature that extends the Lethal Pro’s use is its highly adjustable receptacle, allowing it to hold thousands of products, from cameras to tablets. Here’s an instructional video for the stand:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can order the Lethal Pro from Zoll’s online store; the frosted finish model sells for $130 (USD), or for more shiny you can get the mirrored finish model for $140.

[via Werd]

The Quik Pod, if you are not familiar, is a monopod that you can connect your dSLR to, and then you can hold the thing out away from you to take a better pic without needing help. The big downside that I see is that there is no way on most cameras to see the LCD so you can line up the shot.

The arm is very strong (as is evidenced by this video of one being run over by a truck), so it should be able to support your dSLR without any issues. Retracted, the Quik Pod is 18-inches long and extended it is up to 53-inches. The top mount it universal and should fit any camera. Quik Pod retails for $49.95 (USD) and you can order one here.

Designed by Thomas Gerhardt and Dan Provost, this pint-sized piece of rubberized plastic mounts onto any tripod or camera mount with a standard 1/4″-20 thread. And for those times when you’re not in photo-taking mode, the compact contraption turns into a nifty stand so you can view images or videos on your iPhone. When not in use, it converts into an antenna guard, so you can keep it on your iPhone at all times.

Proving that the Internet truly is revolutionizing product development, the $20 device started out as a Kickstarter project, with its makers sights set on generating $10,000 to get their project funded. Amazingly, they’ve raised over $137,000 to date, and will start shipping the Glif in about 2 or 3 weeks. You can pre-order one here.

[via iPhone Savior]

For this stand, the smallest Gorillapod for cellphones and cameras was used. The Gorillapod is sturdy enough to hold the iPad in a variety of directions. It even works in bed. Since the Gorillapod can be folded up very tightly, it makes it easy to carry one of these around wherever you go.

I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before, but using a Gorillapod as an iPad stand is a great idea, and a use for a gadget you’re probably not using all the time. If you’ve already got one, you’re all set. And if you don’t, a Gorillapod costs $30 and you’ll not only get a nifty tripod for your camera, you’ll get one of these.

[via Wired]

While details are scarce, and some commenters think the rig is fake, I think it’s real, especially from the Manfrotto pocket tripod mount, which is a legitimate photographers accessory, featured previously here on Technabob.

Now, I think the iPhone 4 captures pretty nice photos all on its own, but the idea of a manually adjustable lens could make for some much more professional and artistic photography than the iPhone’s tiny standard camera lens can muster on its own.

Do any of you guys with a background in optics think this could even work without distorting the images tremendously?

Just unscrew DigiDude’s head, screw your camera onto his dismembered body, and you’ll be holding your camera still with style and attitude. DigiDude has three bendable legs which help him to stay steady on any surface.

The little dudes come in five characters: G-bling-Money-Son, iChomp, Pinky Scorsese, Snot Buster, and BoltBot – each one with a unique personality and style. iChomp is my personal favorite, thanks to his disproportionately tiny lizard hands.

They hang neatly on your keychain or backpack so you have a nice way to stabilize your camera wherever you go. DigiDudes are available now over at the aptly named community-generated product site Quirky.com for $19.99 (USD). There are only 250 available in the initial pre-order batch, so you’d better move quick if you want one.

The Zgrip iPhone PRO from Zacuto is a serious stabilizing mount for your 3GS, letting you shoot professional-quality video instead of accidentally getting your fingertips in the shot – or worse yet, dropping your JesusPhone on the ground while you’re trying to get the perfect shot.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Simply snap your iPhone 3GS into the form-fitting grips, and start shooting. The mount can be adjusted to just about any angle you want, and provides a rock-solid mount for capturing your first Spielberg moment.

So what’s not to like? The big problem is that the ZGrip PRO sells for a whopping $295 (USD), making it just $4 bucks less than a 32GB iPhone 3GS. Yeouch. I suppose if you want to get serious about shooting video on your 3GS, it’s worth a look. But for most of us, the price tag is a non-starter. On the plus side, Zacuto is working on a simpler consumer model that loses some of the adjustability, but should cut the price significantly. Stay tuned.

I guess I’ll have to stick with the shakycam for now.

[via DigitalDrops via TFTS]

These wireless paintball turrets are just what the doctor ordered when it comes to taking out your aggressions from afar. The EMT Wireless Paintball Sentry Turret comes with everything you need to send paintball pellets flying while you sit safely in your living room (or behind a bunker). While it’s designed primarily for use by scenario-based paintball enthusiasts, I don’t see any reason you couldn’t put one in your cubicle at work.

The $1959 setup includes the paintball turret, a substantial tripod base, CO2 tanks, a color CCD camera with video transmitter and a wireless remote with a nice little 3.5-inch monitor (or a 7.5-inch upgrade pictured above) so you can aim at your unsuspecting victims. The controller’s joysticks pan and tilt the turret, and can fire up to 400 paintballs with the push of a button. The whole rig runs on rechargeable batteries and CO2, so you can use it anywhere (although there is a slight up-charge for weatherproofing).

Upgrades include a high resolution camera ($299), virtual big-screen goggles ($429), a 1000-ball hopper ($189) and other custom quoted options such as a night-vision scope, extended range transmitter and more.

[Two grand too rich for your blood? Be sure to check out the wired version of the turret, which costs a measly $1399.]

The Manfrotto 797 Modo Pocket camera mount is so tiny, that when folded up it fits easily on your keychain. The mini stand has a hinged design that lets you adjust the angle of your camera, as well as the ability to deal with angled surfaces. It’s got four tiny rubber feet to help stabilize your camera too.

Unfortunately, I haven’t found a place you can order these outside of France, but you might be able to get one shipped to you by Digit-Photo if you happen to Parlez-Vous Français. You also might want to check with B&H Photo, since they carry the Manfrotto line.

The RetroCam connects to any PC via USB and mini cables (for audio). The camera captures 640 x 480 video and still image through its real glass lens, and there’s also a concealed microphone for grabbing audio. A little blue LED automatically lights up whenever the camera is active, so you know when you’re being recorded. It even comes with a matching tripod stand to complete the look.

You can find the RetroCam at UK gadget shop BoysStuff for £24.99 (about $45 USD).