Dave Williams Explains the Platypod vs the Tripod - Is It Even a Contest?

Text and Photos by Dave Williams

The Platypod versus the tripod – is it even a contest? Well for me, no. I love my Platypod and I love my tripod, and each has their place and their purpose. Let me tell you what I mean:

There are places where my tripod can go but my Platypod can’t – it’s more suited to giving me some height when I shoot landscapes, for instance. Similarly, there are places my Platypod can go but my tripod can’t, like fitting in tight spaces. The tightest space of all where the Platypod comes in handy is my camera bag. I often find myself prioritizing lenses, water and food, and clothing in my bag and sometimes these things are more important than a tripod, particularly when it comes to traveling with limited weight or with limited space. In such cases my tripod often loses to these more important things and accordingly when I come to actually packing the gear into the bag it can oftentimes be replaced with a Platypod. Thing is, though, the Platypod was never intended to replace the tripod, rather it was designed to solve a problem and go places the tripod can’t.

I asked Larry, the Platypod chief, just to double check. Here’s what he said:

“Platypod was never intended to replace tripods. In fact, I use tripods myself for studio work. However, when it comes to lower angle, tight spaces, macro, travel and interior architectural work, Platypod has a unique place in the camera kit of any photography professional or enthusiast.”

 What this means for me is that my Platypod goes with me everywhere. Every time I need stability I can count on my Platypod because unlike a tripod, I always have my Platypod.

The time I hiked to a waterfall in the ice with minimal gear, I used my Platypod:

The time I trekked up to a bridge at Neuschwanstein Castle, I used my Platypod:

The time I climbed a mountain (in a rainforest) in Brazil, I used my Platypod:

The time I shot Chicago in the winter, I used my Platypod:

The time I shot inside the Palais Garnier, I used my Platypod:

Each of these occasions were perfect for the Platypod, and each of them for different reasons. Sometimes It saved weight, sometimes it saved space, sometimes I could afford to carry a Platypod but not a tripod, and sometimes it was just the right tool for the job. Whatever the reason, I consider my Platypod to be one of my best investments in photography and I wouldn’t go anywhere without it.