I ordered this tripod because I’ve used Andobil products before and have been very satisfied with their overall quality and functionality. This multi-pod is no exception. It is highly functional with materials and build-quality consistent with what I’ve come to expect from Andobil.
So, Andobil is a small company founded in 2018 in China. Yeah, China generally has a bad reputation, but don’t let that deter you. In the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Andobil on a few previous projects as a semi-active observer/user. Something of note about Andobil is that THEY LISTEN TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. In fact, they encourage and consistently ask for feedback and support. And they are serious about considering and implementing the feedback they receive. I’ve come to understand the scope and measure of integrity, determination, and pride the folks at Andobil persistently invest into every product they make. From their website: “we insist on curiosity and innovation, integrating creative thinking and innovative technology into products, and constantly challenge ourselves to create the ultimate value for our customers. Additionally, we combine minimalism and aesthetics to design stylish, durable and user-friendly digital stands for customers.”
That being said, are the products perfect? Not necessarily. But in my experience, Andobil doesn’t seek to create perfect products. They create products that will function for the widest possible customer base using the best materials and craftsmanship their team can deliver at price-points most folks can afford. The new MagiStick multi-pod is exactly that. Not perfect, but fits at least 95% of everyone’s needs.
The unit is light and easy to carry. The supplied soft-shell zip-up carrying bag (with adjustable strap) makes transport easy and effortless. The unit isn’t large when compacted to it’s smallest size and fits easily into the bag. Very convenient.
Out of the box the MagiStick is an instant mono-pod. The mount has an impressive range of movement, rotating 360-degrees on the Y-axis, the perpendicular base rotating another 360-degrees on the X-axis. If that wasn’t enough, the base’s attachment to the neck has an adjustable thumb screw allowing an additional 180-degrees pitch adjustment from straight back to straight forward. Seriously, you’d be hard-pressed to find angles this multi-pod can’t handle – perfect for time-lapse photos or videos.
I also noticed that I didn’t run into any sharp or protruding manufacturing edges. The entire unit felt like Andobil’s team went over every inch, every nook and cranny, and delivered a product that felt above-average quality on my hands. Honestly, the pod just feels good to carry around. The outer parts of the legs were designed with a texture for easy carrying outside of the tote bag.
I setup the tripod legs to check stability and sturdiness. Although the unit feels very light and even borderline breakable at first, once I extended the extra long neck of the pod for height, it becomes clear this tripod isn’t all plastic-fantastic. Andobil put research and time into finding very light-weight materials that also achieved consistent strength and durability. It’s quite easy to setup (I didn’t even need the instructions – the design is rather self-explanatory). Kudos to Andobil for making a dummy-proof product, yet again!
The clamp is strong enough to hold a heavy Samsung S20+ and phone case. I tried multiple older phones and the clamps held each and every one securely. And changing out multiple devices was a breeze thanks to their innovative clamp design. Just press the spring-loaded tabs behind the mount and position your phone. Then press the button on the back of the mount to release the clamps which instantly tighten to grip your phone. If that wasn’t easy enough, they supply an attachable magnetic ring which can be adhered to the back of your phone with their included templates. Very fast and easy. (I don’t own an SLR or DSLR camera or Go-Pro devices, so I could not test the stability of the multi-pod under top-heavy circumstances.)
A bonus for the mount is it’s 1/4″ mounting screw on the plinth. It’s a universal thread size for even professional SLR and DSLR cameras, so mounting possibilities are nearly endless. That truly makes the MagiStick a highly versatile multi-pod.
The neck extends just 63.5-inches or just over 5-feet (over 161 centimeters, over 1.5 meters). The neck can extend to any range within that max height and hold in place at anything in between. Impressive when those eye-level group photos need to be taken on-the-fly. Superb for taking any kind of shot you can imagine. Again, the three legs neatly fold in to create the perfect mono-pod.
Tucked away into one of the legs is an easy-to-reach Bluetooth fob that connects to your phone or device, acting as a wireless shutter button. It’s easy to take selfies or group photos with simplicity and speed. And because the fob is so small, it is discreet and easy to hide (and has a distance of up to 49-feet away!) Nice! And because the fob rests neatly in one of the legs, button facing out, snapping selfies has never been easier. Just extend the neck, adjust the angle of the mount, and begin firing away.
Lastly, the mount has two open threaded screws to attach two extra devices to it’s sides. Andobil shows they have an external light and external microphone that can attach to the mount. Although I don’t have those devices at the moment, the images I’ve seen with them attached to the mount looks promising and is definitely something I’ll be investing in.
With all that being said, the MagiStick does have a few rough spots to take into account. First, the legs don’t extend independently, so the pod has to be on a flat level surface to maintain balance. On the plus side, the bottom of each leg has a soft rubber pad to keep the pod in place while extended.
The mount swivels (on the Y-axis), but doesn’t rest completely level (see the added pics). This may not be a problem in most situations, when taking more serious group photos or scenic shots, the result will be an image that’s slightly skewed to one side. (We’re talking maybe 2- or 3-degrees. It’s easy to adjust this in a photo editing app, post-session, but that eats a lot of time.)
Additionally, the legs are sturdy enough for most light usage, but they are still made of a plastic material (their bracing made of the same material) and it feels like a matter of time before the legs break. Andobil hasn’t listed a maximum weight capacity. It’s sturdy enough for any phone or SLR-style camera or GoPro, but I wouldn’t go mounting a RED or Arri to it.
My MagiStick came with a small plastic bag with instructions inside along with the magnetic ring for my phone. When I removed the ring, it was apaprent the plastic bag had been tossed about inside of the box and it caused the ring to bend when I got it. After trying to adhere it to my phone, the ring just wouldn’t stay on. I tried to correct the bend, but nothing I did helped.
In addition, the magnetic ring prevented my wireless charger from functioning. (I have a Samsung wireless charger for my Samsung S20+, and the charger kept losing signal. So my phone wouldn’t charge with the magnetic ring attached.) This could have been from the fact that the ring was bent when I received it. Also, I use Incipio DualPro cases for my phones. They aren’t typically thicker than other comparable cases. My phone charges just fine with the case on. But the added thickness of the magnetic ring may have been just enough to take it outside the minimum charging limits. That’s something to consider if you plan to use the magnetic ring. To be completely fair, though, I haven’t needed the magnetic ring at all. The clamps on the mount are very strong. They’ve held my phone in place without the ring and I’ve not had any issues with my phones falling out.
Lastly, (and this is not a flaw per-se) the clamps on the mount are centrally fixed. If your phone has buttons on the edges, take this into consideration before you let the clamps affix to your device. Their force is strong enough to press those buttons down and can cause all kinds of unintended fun things to happen.
Bottom line, the MagiStick multi-pod isn’t perfect, but it IS highly functional, and will meet most people’s needs. It can be a serious photographer’s instant go-to multi-pod for quick pic moments, but wouldn’t recommend it for professional photography. The functionality and ease-of-use make it a VERY attractive option for web-cam videographers, semi-pro and amateur photography enthusiasts, or even the average person who wants to snag that perfect family photo during holidays or vacationing. The MagiStick will definitely meet all those needs and then some. I gave it 5-stars because the MagiStick delivers exactly what it was created to do: Change the way people capture moments and share their lives.
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