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Chairpod is a tripod that doubles as a chair, and it’s brilliant. Or not

by 45 Comments

We’ve seen some funny photography-related products before. The latest one we’ve stubmbled upon has been introduced by Japanese tripod manufacturer Velbon. Is it a tripod? Is it a chair? Well, it’s actually both. If you want to stabilize both your camera and your butt, Velbon is soon to launch Chairpod, a tripod that doubles as a folding chair.

According to DC Watch, the Chairpod HY 127 was originally introduced at CP+ 2017. It can be described as a crossover between a chair, a tripod, and a monopod. When you unfold the chair, you can extend one of its legs up to your eye level and attach your camera onto the integrated tripod mount. If you want to use it standing up, when you fold the chair and extend the rod, you get a kind of a monopod.

Here are the Chairpod’s specs:

  • Center rod extension + extension rod: 1,280 mm (50”)
  • Center rod extension: 1,170 mm (46”)
  • Center rod storage: 660 mm (26”)
  • Center bar slide: 595 mm (23”)
  • Seat height: 480 mm (19”)
  • Contraction: 735 mm (29”)
  • Weight: 1,460 g
  • Recommended loading: 2 kg
  • Maximum user weight: 80 kg

As DC Watch reports, the product will be released in Japan in late January and it will be available “only at major retailers and direct sales sites.” The price is set to be around 19,850 Yen, which is close to $180. There’s no word yet on whether it will be launched in the US and Europe.

The announcement of this product has caused different reactions amongst photographers. One group calls it “ridiculous” and claims it was made for “lazy photographers.” But those who have a hard time standing for long periods are actually eager to buy this product.

Personally, I think this is one of those products that are both ridiculous and brilliant at the same time. On the one hand, I don’t think you can stabilize the camera perfectly if you’re sitting on your tripod. This is why Chairpod probably wouldn’t be too useful for long exposures. But on the other hand, it can indeed be convenient for those who can’t stand for a long time. And I don’t think you’re “lazy” if you sit down. After all, sitting is a part of the job for many of us.

All in all, I believe Chairpod could be useful for some photographers no matter how quirky it looks. And if you pair it with this hands-free umbrella or this photography tent, I guess the full comfort is guaranteed. : )

What do you think? Would a chair-tripod be useful to you, or it’s just ridiculous?

[via DPReview, DC Watch (English); image credits: DC Watch]

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  • I think it could definitely be useful in some situations but as pointed out, not for truly long exposures as moving around or fidgeting in any way would destabilize the “tripod” and cause blur.

  • David RJ Brown

    Or buy a cheap camping tripod stool, a monopod and a pack of zip ties. When the insanity has passed, you will still have a useful monopod and zip ties. The camping stool will offer the prospect of marginal comfort under rare circumstances but will in fact gather dust until it goes to a charity shop. The patent for my chaise longue/video dolly is pending.

  • This is genius, I want one

  • armatus rebellio

    Yet another photography doohickey to separate the uninformed from their money.
    Rigidity, what is it?
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Beam_mode_1.gif

  • What happens when you stand up with the camera attached? The physics don’t seem to work.

  • NOT!

  • Absolutely not.

  • The biggest bullshit I’ve seen for a while 😀 What is the sense of this? Sitting and waiting for something to happen in front of the camera? 😀

    • Solar Eclipse? 😉 I want more chair padding though. lol

    • or motorsoprt. some people choose a place and stay there a long time.

    • Event photographers like me that sit in the same spot for hours at a time?

    • Umm… yes? Exactly that? Nature photographers? Sports? Events? Lots of people sit and wait for their shot.

    • Yeah, sitting there without moving your ass to avoid shaking your cam. A camera that you can’t move for a new perspective like on a normal tripod or monopod. Total waste of money in my opinion.

  • Mr Garrison will be suing 😂

  • For some, for whom standing for long periods is difficult, it might be worth considering. It would be more practical if the monopod stalk could articulate close to the seat.

  • you sit you move camera moves.. real smart… FAIL

  • Photo fishing “__

  • Nope.

  • I would think it’s potential usefulness would be governed by the situation and the needs of the individual photographer.

  • Just imagine all the camera shake as you move in the seat…

  • It may be useful in some situation.

  • When you stand up, u smash your camera

  • The idea of a tripod is to keep the camera still, if you fart on this it’s gunna move something chronic. Defeats the object in my book.

  • Sounds like it would be great for race course photographers like marathons.

  • I love it, but how much camera shake would it produce if you can’t sit still?

  • (´༎ຶོρ༎ຶོ`)

    • Look great, just don’t ever stand and your camera will never fall down.

  • Interesting concept but these tripod chairs are not comfortable.

  • What’s wrong with just sitting on a chair with a monopod in front of you? Do you NEED to have a monopod attached to the chair for inconvenient portability?

  • Looks wobbly

  • It looks a tad flimsy to me – I wouldn’t trust it with a D4/70-200 combo, that’s for sure. I shoot a fair amount of performance and event work, often from one position given venue/audience constraints. A bar stool and tripod or monopod work well for me. Along with some fine craft beer.

  • You’re limited to live view, you can’t lean forward to look through the eyepiece.

  • I don’t think it’s brilliant… The principle of a tripod is that you leave it alone and don’t touch it during the exposure… Seating on it will make it move… even if you try to stay quiet you must breath, your corpse moves at each heartbeat… And by the way, the floor is not always flat !

  • Useless, you fart camera moves…brilliant idea, oh yes!

  • Maybe if you’re in a hide taking wildlife……but naff all else….hahaha

  • Ha. My fat ass will take one. The Parksinon’s doesn’t really lend itself well to the shaking (of course) so I’d imagine this would be better. Oh… did I not conform to all you negative people’s bitch-fest? lmao.

  • Hm you’re going to be hunched over the whole time

  • reminds me of this toy 🤪

  • prelvu

    As useful as selfie stick.

  • Ideal for Intentional camera movement photography.

  • Dave Robinson

    Just No!!

  • Thomas Bell

    I think it is a great idea and would love to have one! Unfortunately I am not of the eastern Asian race and the limited 175 lb weight limit won’t hold this fat American. I also wonder what breathing and such will do to camera stability.

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