XShot Perfect Tool for Budget Travel
Lightweight and Low Cost Photography Tool Great for Traveling
Sep 27, 2008
Ever been on a trip, taking photos and gotten frustrated at trying to get yourself into the picture? If you’re traveling with friends or in a group, you can ask one of them to take the photo, but then someone gets left out. Traveling alone, you have to trust a complete stranger with your camera. Both options can be frustrating.
Fret no more as Budget Travel at Suite101 has discovered the perfect solution. It’s called the XShot.
What is the XShot?
The short answer is it’s an extender rod that allows the user to take photos of their surroundings with themselves in the actual shot.
It folds up compact, but extends to a little over 3 feet with a quick pull on the stick. The camera gets attached to the end and then it’s just a matter of setting the timer on the camera, turning the camera to face you and waiting for it to take the photo. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
In Suite101 Budget Travel tests, it was found the XShot also worked in taking shots over a crowd, such as during a parade or concert, when used with the camera's self-timer function.
What are the Dimensions of the XShot?
Completely folded, the XShot stick is about 9 inches in length and about 5 ounces in weight. This makes it small enough to fit into most over-the-shoulder bags and even some purses.
At full extension, the rod is 37 inches, or a little over 3 feet in length. This is more than enough room between the camera and the subjects to include up to four or five people in a shot (or more if you don’t mind squishing together). No more “person left out” group travel shots.
What are the Limitations of the XShot?
The major limitation is that the design of the XShot doesn’t allow for much weight on the end when fully extended. This means that it can only be used with digital compact cameras. SLR digital cameras and camcorders heavier than 1.25lbs will not be properly supported.
The camera must also have a space on the bottom for the XShot to screw into, as that is how the camera is secured to the stick. In the future, maybe some kind of vice-grip adapter could be developed for use with cellphones and smaller digi-camcorders.
It would also be great to see a model that could support the heavier SLR cameras/camcorders.
Other than that, it does take a few practice shots to get used to how to point the camera at yourself to frame the shots, but it’s a quick learning curve.
How to Order an XShot
There is a complete listing of stores that currently carry the product worldwide on the XShot’s website, but it can also be ordered online. The online pricing is $29.95 plus shipping.
The Final Verdict
For the budget traveler, the XShot is a great way to get in the shot as a cheap souvenir of a trip. It’s size and weight make it very portable, even for backpackers, and its ease of use means even children can enjoy using it. Highly recommended for personal use and as a gift.
[Full disclosure: This writer at Suite101 Budget Travel did receive a free XShot from fellow blogger and friend BenSparks, but this is not a sponsored review from the company itself, which the writer has not been in contact with.]
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