I've been browsing around Staples and I found a funny little accessory called the XShot. You know when you are out and you can't find anyone to take a picture of you and the background. You put the camera in your hand, stretch your hands out as far as you can and take your own picture right? Well the X-Shot can help you take better pictures for about $30
First off, I have not used this device. I've seen it a couple times at Staples and thought it was a funny little device that I would never use. After watching the CNN video on their website it verified my first imprressions.
The XShot is a telescopic stick that can stretch from 9 inches (closed) to 37 inches when fully extended. It's made out of light weight metals and plastics and it can hold a camera up to 570 g or 1.25 pounds. The XShot weighs 5 ounces on its own. You don't need any coins or screw drivers to attach your camera to the XShot, because there is a quick spin knob that you can use to easily tighten your camera into place. There's also a hinge at the end of the XShot where you can adjust the cameras tilt. It also comes with a lanyard that you can wrap around your wrist to prevent you from dropping it.
Usually when you travel, you take pictures of yourself when you want to capture what is behind you. But if you just use your arms, your face often covers up most of the picture. If you want to have two people in the picture the person on the right has to take the picture (because their hand will be where the button is), and you'll probably take up the entire frame. Finally, the pictures are hard to centre and you will usually have to take multiple pictures to get it just right. Often when taking self portraits your face or something else will get cut off. The XShot deals with most of these problems. The great thing about this gadget is that you can take a picture further away from yourself so you can capture more of your background. Secondly, you can easily take fit more people into your picture since it is 37 inches away, and either person can hold the stick. I believe the last problem with taking pictures is hit or miss. The more you use your camera the more accurate you can get when taking pictures. When using the XShot it will be the same problem, you just need to keep using it so you know where to aim.
How exactly do you use this device? Well my best guess is that you would mount your camera onto it, guess at the appropriate angles, set the timer, press the button, hold the Xshot infront of you, smile, and wait. Now for me, it seems like there's a lot of problems there. First of all, you would probably look like the biggest dork in the world to pull this out and stick it infront of you. I'm sure the occasional person will want one, but, not me. Second, when you mount the camera on how will you know what angle or tilt to set the camera at? I suspect that there will be a lot of trial and error. If you fully extend the XShot, you will have even less control since there are so many things to consider such as the distance, the angle of your arm, the tilt in your wrist, and the angle of the tilt on the XShot. Finally, you have to use a timer. Now most cameras do have a timer, but some cameras have only a 10 second timer. That would be a long time for some people to hold a camera in the correct position to take the picture. I wish there was something they could where you control when the picture is taken, and even take multiple pictures if you need to (maybel they can attach a button on the handle that can move something on the other end that can press the button of the camera - of course something fully adjustable to deal with cameras of different sizes). Also note that the further the camera is a way from you the heavier it will weigh so there will be more movement and possibly shake.
So all in all, it is a neat but very dorky idea. I personally would not get this gadget for $30.
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