Features
The type of gadgets that the selfie stick was originally designed for.
—
For phones. It would be more correct to call such models “for smartphones”, since they are most often used with smartphones. Anyway, modern mobile phones are not equipped with special devices for mounting on a tripod / monopod and can have different screen sizes and, accordingly, body sizes. Therefore, in monopods of this purpose, the role of fastening is played by a universal clamp with sliding jaws; By changing the distance between the jaws, you can adjust the latch to different case sizes.
—
For action cameras. To mount action cameras in selfie tripods, special devices are used — a clip of a special design, a thread, or both. For more information about such mounts, see "Installing an action camera"; here we note that all of them are highly reliable.
—
For phones and action cameras. Combined models that allow the attachment of both gadgets described above. Usually, the monopod itself has a mount for an action camera (clip, thread, and sometimes both), and to work with a smartphone, an adapter is supplied that is installed on such a mount.
Maximum length
The longest length that the monopod can be extended to.
Longer length allows you to place the camera further away from the user and fit more space into the frame. It can also be useful when shooting in hard-to-reach places where you can’t just reach with your hand. Also, with the same minimum length, a larger maximum length means a wider range of distances available for a given tripod. On the other hand, the working size of the structure significantly affects its weight and price.
If we talk about specific numbers, then the shortest modern selfie sticks are up
to 50 cm long. A value of
51 – 75 cm is considered average,
76 – 100 cm is more than average, and in the longest models they can expand to
1 m or more.
Rod diameter
Tripod rod diameter. It is believed that with the same length and the same body materials (see below), a thicker tripod can withstand serious loads better and is generally more reliable (although it will weigh more). At the same time, it should be taken into account that the actual reliability also depends on other design features, and only those models that differ significantly from each other in this size can be unambiguously compared with each other in diameter.
Action camera mount
Mounting method of the action camera provided in the appropriate tripod (see above).
—
Clamp. Installation in a special clip for an action camera. It is worth noting that such a device differs markedly from the traditional lock for smartphones, which uses movable sponges. The clamp of this type has two slots into which special “ears” are inserted, placed on the box or body of the action camera. The "ears" have special holes into which a screw is threaded, fixing them in the slots. Thanks to this design, the mount is very reliable — which is important, given the specifics of the use of action cameras.
—
Carving. A lock based on a threaded stud that is screwed into a hole on the camera body. This option is not inferior to the clamp described above in terms of reliability, however, for its use, action cameras must have an appropriate socket for a hairpin; it is not available in all models, and if it is available, it will not hurt to clarify compatibility. On the other hand, most often selfie sticks use a standard 1/4" tripod thread, on which you can install not only action cameras, but also traditional cameras (even SLRs in some models).
— Thread and clamp. Models that combine the two types of fastening described above at once. This combination usually looks like this: either the action camera itself or a platform with a stud for mounting the camera on the thread can be instal
...led in the clamp. This is the most versatile option and is compatible with almost any action camera. On the other hand, such equipment increases the cost of the structure and somewhat reduces its reliability when used with a thread, and a variety of mounts is very rarely required — after all, usually a monopod is bought for a specific camera with a well-defined type of mount. Therefore, this option is less common than one type of attachment.
