JustTap™ Magnetic Phone Tripod Review
Our take
The proliferation of affordable, often poorly constructed, photography accessories is a familiar frustration for those of us dedicated to the craft. Sime's review of the JustTap™ Magnetic Phone Tripod on Digital Photography School highlights a welcome departure from this trend, acknowledging the surprisingly thoughtful design and execution of a product aiming for a specific, increasingly vital niche. It’s easy to dismiss these smaller, supplemental tools, especially when larger, more established brands dominate the conversation, but as we’ve seen with Insta360’s dedicated five-year development process for their new Luna gimbal cameras [It Took Insta360 About Five Years to Make its New Luna Gimbal Cameras], meticulous engineering and a clear vision can elevate even seemingly simple accessories. The JustTap™ appears to be demonstrating precisely that – a considered approach to a problem many mobile photographers face: stabilizing their shots quickly and efficiently in diverse environments. The market for mobile photography continues its relentless ascent, and accessories that seamlessly integrate into that workflow are poised for significant growth.
The key to JustTap™’s appeal likely lies in its magnetic mounting system, a clever solution that eliminates the fumbling often associated with traditional tripod mounts. This simplicity speaks to a broader shift in photography toward accessibility and immediacy. While professional photographers with dedicated equipment remain a vital segment, the vast majority of image creation today happens on smartphones. Understanding this shift, and providing tools that cater to this audience without sacrificing quality, is crucial. Relatedly, the recent acquisition of Mark Roberts Motion Control (MRMC) by MultiDyne [MultiDyne Acquires MRMC, the Motion-Control Company Nikon Offloaded] underscores the ongoing evolution of camera support technology across the board, from high-end motion control systems to compact smartphone accessories. Both represent a dedication to precision and control, albeit at vastly different scales. The JustTap™ review suggests this same dedication to quality can be found in more accessible tools, offering a compelling option for mobile creatives.
Beyond the magnetic functionality, the review likely assesses the tripod’s build quality, stability, and portability – all critical factors for an accessory intended for on-the-go use. A well-designed phone tripod shouldn't just hold a device securely; it should also be compact and easy to transport, fitting seamlessly into a photographer's everyday carry. The fact that Digital Photography School, a respected resource for photographers of all levels, chose to dedicate a review to this product signals a recognition of its potential value. Furthermore, the growing interest in exploring camera markets around the world, as evidenced by a recent tour of a massive camera market in Pakistan [YouTuber Tours Enormous Camera Market in Pakistan], indicates a vibrant and constantly evolving ecosystem of photographic tools and accessories, with innovative solutions continually emerging from unexpected places.
Ultimately, the JustTap™ Magnetic Phone Tripod represents a small but significant trend: the rise of thoughtfully designed accessories catering specifically to the mobile photography market. It’s a reminder that quality and innovation aren't limited to high-end equipment, and that even seemingly minor tools can significantly enhance the creative process. As smartphone cameras continue to improve, the demand for reliable and versatile accessories will only increase. The real question now is: will other manufacturers follow suit, embracing magnetic mounting and prioritizing quality over sheer cost-cutting, or will the market continue to be flooded with subpar alternatives?
The post JustTap™ Magnetic Phone Tripod Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.
We have a lot of less expensive tripods, bipods and monopods come across our desk here at dPS, and I’ve got to admit that the thought of them can make me shudder! Many of them are really very badly made, not a lot of thought goes into them other than low cost, larger profit margin units that don’t inspire a whole lot of confidence in use.
And while It’s easy to say “oh, but they’re only for phones!” THOSE PHONES can cost a couple of grand, not cheap and even if they are less expensive, it’s still annoying to have to replace one when it smashes to the ground and explodes into a glassy mess.
Well I’m pretty pleased to say, the JustTap
Magnetic Phone Tripod wasn’t one of them!
KraftGeek reached out to me in my capacity as a writer (of sorts) over at DRN, a tech review website that my mate Kev owns, and asked if I’d like to check out their JustTap tripod – I initially shuddered as per my notes above, but then thought to myself, it’s been a while – I’ll take a look, this could be handy for our friends over on dPS – and here we are!
The JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod is a compact MagSafe compatible tripod that extends all the way up to 167cm (It says 168 on the website, but my tape said 167cm, though there’s a couple of mm between the top of the tripod and where your top camera lenses are, depending on how you’re using them) regardless, it’s quite tall! (I’m 192cm)
And it will get your iPhone lens down to about 37cm off the ground. I was very surprised that it was quite compact and yet very usably tall (for a person of my height, usually with these type of tripods I’m double over trying to frame my shot). Folded it’s a little bit bigger than my Tamron 150-500mm, but a lot lighter!
There is one caveat to the tripod being that tall though, in a stiff breeze your iPhone is going to act like a sail and, well… we know how that can end! It’s very easy to combat though – A water bottle with a strap like this strap it to the bottom of the KraftGeek to weigh it down, or use a shopping bag filled with sand from a nearby playground – you’ll work something out, channel your inner MacGuyver!
Taking the JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod out of the box, the first thing that struck me (not literally!) was how solid it felt. It has a reassuring weight to it and doesn’t come across as something that’s going to fall apart after a couple of uses. In fact, I’ve already taken it on several outings, and it’s held up perfectly – time will tell.
One thing to be aware of is that the magnetic mount is exceptionally strong. That’s great for keeping your phone securely attached, but if you try to pull your phone off at the wrong angle, you could potentially put unnecessary stress on the tripod itself. It comes with a one-year warranty, although I’m not sure accidental damage of that nature would be covered.
Speaking of magnets, it also comes with a stick-on metal ring that you can attach to the back of your device if you don’t have something that is magsafe compatible, I will also add that, despite it not being made for it, the JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod works great as a lightstand for Mag-compatible lights like my little Amaran Ace 25x!
It weighs in at less than half a kilogram (15.8oz in old money) and is easy to stow in most camera bags, duffel bags, picnic bags etc – as a tripod that you can whip out and grab a self-portrait on your hike, or an event with friend, it’s very convenient. Setup time from closed to open and ready to go is honestly about 8 seconds! Here’s a video from the KraftGeek website (You can also find this tripod there)
I attach my iPhone to the top, pull the tripod out to the length I want it and then tap the base on the floor and the legs literally spring into action! You can see the button that you tap on the ground, below.
The tripod also includes a small Bluetooth remote that attaches magnetically to one of the legs. Thanks again, magnets! It’s USB-C rechargeable and refreshingly simple to use. Pair it with your phone, open your camera app, and whatever mode you’re in, whether that’s taking photos or recording video, a press of the remote’s single button will trigger the shutter or start and stop recording.
I also tested it with the Moment Camera app, and it worked flawlessly there too.
Bluetooth typically works up to around 15 meters away, so this remote is great for those group shots or family portraits, it pops off and pops right back in when you’re done.
After some solid use, I’m pretty impressed with this diminutive magnetically prepped tripod, it’s not “wildlife photographer” stable at full height, but you’re not using it for that! This is a fun, walk-about, capture yourself. with friends device that, for the money, does a great job.
The post JustTap™ Magnetic Phone Tripod Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.
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