Customer Ratings & Reviews

Being a content creator, I’m always on the look out for great accessories to add to my gear bag. So, when I had the opportunity to try out the Joby Compact Action Camera, I jumped at the chance to give this one a shot. In the box, you’ll find the tripod and phone adapter in a nylon case, along with a user guide on how to use all the knobs. This was a very different tripod to others I have in my arsenal, mainly the camera mount plate being a bit proprietary in design. You remove it by pushing a button on the front, then pull the mount back to release. On the bottom, you’ll find the coin slot screw to mount your camera of choice. The mount has a built in level, which makes it easy to setup your camera regardless of environment, and the telescoping legs allow you to reach a pretty good height of a little over 5 feet. The handle has a tightening knob, which allows you to tilt the camera forward of back, and there is a knob on the left hand side which allows you to set it for photography or videography. In reading the manual, this allows you to keep a steady horizontal for panoramic style photography, keeping the camera for tilting sideways. In real world use, the tripod does exactly as it’s designed to do. It allows for easy control for action style shooting, with a comfortable textured handle, easy to use knobs, and includes a phone mount for use with your smartphone, along with attaching a microphone. The only thing I don’t like is the proprietary mount solution used, which I found to be an inconvenience when switching between cameras during shots. If you can overlook this, I’d say it’s a good purchase decision overall.

This has been my first JOBY product and I'm thoroughly impressed. The compact action smart kit is a great tool for me to have while at home and on the go. The carrying bag is perfect to throw into the car or take with me on a nature hike. The tripod fits into the bag easily and is super easy to operate. My main usage for this JOBY tripod has been to utilize it for making videos on social media. The phone mount has been one of the best I've used as it is easy to adjust and maneuver for my iPhone 13 Pro w/ a case. The pistol grip makes it easy to move and adjust the view to my liking with a simple and functional movement. The really nice feature I didn't know I needed was the included level on the mount. This helps me to ensure I'm getting a straight and even shot when my phone is mounted into the holder. The clips on the tripod legs are sturdy and strong. The legs are great for moving up and down to find the exactly height or placement for my filming needs. Weighs in at about 3 pounds and can extend up to almost 5 feet for tripod placement. The ball head is smooth and moves effortlessly to find the right place to lock your camera placement.

The Joby Compact Action tripod is a great addition to my travel kit. It conveniently comes with a slightly padded carrying pouch with shoulder strap. I can’t wait to take it on my next trip coming up in a few weeks and take better videos and pictures at night or when zooming in at 30x. It does weigh just over 2.5 lbs, but it offers solidly built aluminum hardware and many useful features and adjustments. The camera plate locks into place and slides out so you can attach to the bottom of your DSLR or to the cell phone mounting clamp that’s also included. I really like the fact that you can rotate the phone mount to shoot in both landscape or vertical modes. Moreover, if you are into vlogging, you can also attach a light and a mic to both sides of the clamp “cold shoe” mount points. The pistol grip is ergonomically designed and is very handy for rotating during videos or panning from side to side in a panoramic landscape photo. There is even a video/photo mode that controls how the ball-head joint functions. All in all this is a travel friendly tripod that offers some nearly professional level features for any amateur or hobby photographer.

I already had a Joby gorillapod for my DSLR so I’m familiar with the brand and flexibility of their products. I was happy to see the same strike plate was compatible so there was no need for me to swap or unscrew for the cell phone attachment which was a nice bonus. The stand itself is extremely compact when folded but can extend so that I can shoot at eye level which was very impressive. It is also very light at perhaps 4lbs and has a lot added travel case that looks will be perfect for travel. There’s a pistol grip with a wheel mechanism that tightens and loosens for adjustment very quickly and easily. I only wish the side to side movement was a bit easier for panning when shooting video. The phone attachment is also a nice touch now with high quality smartphones that you want to be steady and secure while taking pictures. Overall this is a very nice compact action tripod.

Great tripod. Pros: Sturdy legs. Not flimsy like other cheaper ones Trigger adjuster/handle. Super convenient. Super easy to use and adjust. Easy to setup. Can use both Cell and or standard camera or action camera. Nice soft sturdy carrying case. Cons: A little heavy but it is because it nice sturdy in nature. So just a little ding on this tripod. So I use lighting and cameras every day since the pandemic and because of all my video calls this thing is great to hold up my camera higher than my screen when I sit behind my desk. I also used it with wife's DSLR camera. No problems. Great item. I would recommend it.

This tripod exceeded my expectations in terms of size when fully extended. It is lightweight yet surprisingly sturdy, making it a great option for those who need a reliable stand without added bulk. The height adjustment is smooth, and it provides excellent stability when set up correctly. Despite its solid construction, it remains easy to carry around, which is a plus for frequent use. One of the standout aspects is its versatility. I have used it with both my smartphone and camera, and it performs well in both cases. The swivel function is easy to control, allowing for smooth adjustments while shooting. The build quality feels solid, and it holds devices securely in place. The only real drawback is the carrying case. While it is a nice addition, getting the tripod in and out can be frustrating. It takes some effort to fit it back in properly, which can be inconvenient when packing up quickly. Other than that minor issue, this tripod is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable and functional stand.

The joby compact action tripod is essential for influencers. Its feels super sturdy and commercial grade material. It’s not too heavy and I really like the carrying case. Even though it is full size its not too big to fit on top of a table but big enough to be setup on the floor. The pistol grip takes a little getting use to. Very dynamic for photo and movie modes and I use my cellphone a lot. I don’t have a big camera to mount but I do have a gimble and this mounts it all. Over all this is a great addition to the package.

Joby’s action tripod shares a lot of similarities with Manfrotto’s action tripod. This should not be surprising since both have the same parent company. Both are trading off of reputations which have been built up over years. Only Joby comes up a little short in this comparison. Joby made its name for it’s Gorilla line of micro tripods. These were meant to attach to nearly anything and still be super portable. They executed with consistent high quality. The quality aspect has continued with Joby’s Action tripod. The legs are sturdy, the latches are quick and strong. There’s even a level on the tripod head to help assure you’re shots will be level. This sets up in under 30 seconds to whatever high is needed within its range. The pivoting head design is clever. This tripod also comes with a cell phone mount which is a step above the Manfroto version I’d been using. The phone mount itself will rotate instead of requiring the tripod head to rotate for horizontal vs. vertical shots. I also found it held my phone a little more securely. It expands easily to accommodate “plus” sized phones from Samsung. It will not accommodate a mini tablet however. The camera mount is the only negative I’ve found. Attaching tightly to a camera’s ¼” socket requires a quarter or similar sized flat edge. Unlike most recent tripods I’ve used, there’s now folding grip to help you hand tighten the bolt. Even the Manfroto, which uses a proprietary screw head, still gives you enough grip to hand tighten the screw allowing for a strong tripod attachment. While the rest of the tripod sets up easily, you will have to take extra time to attach the mount each time unless you leave it permanently attached to your shooting device (camera or cell phone holder). The screw design shaves 0.1” from the size of the attachment, but at the cost of significant functional dilution. I shoot with multiple devices on a regular basis. I use both a cell phone and a mirrorless camera when I’m on vacation or at family gatherings where I’d likely use a tripod. In those citations, the advantage of being able to quickly change heads out weighs any small decrease in weight or potential reliability gains which result from a slimmer camera attachment. It’s hard to recommend something which doesn’t really do what you want it to.

Great starter tripod. Not the heaviest or sturdiest but I've gotten some great shots with it. I recommend for anyone that does a run and gun style and workflow.

Simply a must have. My current tripod is about the same size, but it's much heavier. This tripod is great for throwing over my shoulder, on anywhere. It shrinks down in size, when not in use. Compact is the right word as it's named. It's strong, and can hold some pretty heavy cameras. Affordable and great value, just buy it.

As Described. Great for beginner or even an amateur.

The tripod meets my needs. It is lightweight, easy to set up, easy to take down, and came with a convenient carrying/storage bag.

This tripod was purchased to hold a consumer-grade video camera (not DSLR) and it does exactly what it promises. Sturdy, easy to use, and works well if you need to have the legs set ar different lengths.

I took this on a trip to the UK and its compact size & unique head adjustment made it possible for me to capture photos of a puffin on the Cliffs of Moher that wouldn't have been possible without it. I'm a big fan!

This is the best tripod I have purchased. I would recommend.

This tripod kit is a great option for anyone looking for a stable and versatile camera support. It's lightweight and easy to set up, making it perfect for on-the-go shooting. I'm very happy with its performance

this item is perfect for my granddaughter, she loves it

Ease of use, with great build quality. The joystick style tripod is very easy to set up and use. The thumb screw based tightening mechanism is also very intuitive.

I use this with my insta360 3d camera. It works great. Easy to adjust, very sturdy.

Love it! Works great for adjusting camera during streaming times.