Questions & Answers:
1. What is the concept behind selfie sticks?
In essence, selfie sticks are the same monopods but without legs. They are commonly used for taking non-wobbly pictures from the distance of an arm’s length with either a click of a button or a Bluetooth remote controller. The name ‘selfie sticks’ stuck to them as a result of the neglect of the names like ‘Narcisstick’, which sounded much worse than the ‘selfie stick’. Initially developed by Wayne Fromm back in 2005, this device gained popularity almost a decade later in 2014. Media started issuing articles praising the innovative device, and selfie sticks had gone viral. And although this invention has since been criticized for bringing out the narcissistic nature of people, it continues to be a handy tool that has advanced in the number of its features. Consequently, people from young to old started using it for taking pictures at weddings and creating short videos of traveling adventures. Nowadays selfie sticks are compatible with smartphones, cameras, and GoPros alike, which means that their audience includes every single person.
2. What features should I be looking out for when deciding upon purchasing a selfie stick?
With a quick Internet search, you’ll find that there are hundreds of selfie sticks available from sellers across the globe. Such an overwhelming amount of devices means that there are distinctive features that differentiate one selfie stick from another. What are the ones we recommend looking out for?
– Build quality
Perhaps one of the most crucial features the buyer has to make notes of is the materials the selfie stick is made from. They have to be sturdy and durable, as there is no point in purchasing a flimsy selfie stick that is going to break within a month or two. The good quality selfie sticks, as a rule, have a comfortable handle grip, are lightweight, and are built from qualitative materials.
– Folded and extended length
Since the concept of selfie sticks implies that they are portable, you should get one that is going to easily fit in your backpack. While the vast majority of selfie sticks reach about 8 inches in length when folded, there is a small percentage of those that collapse to a shorter length that can be carried in your pocket. They are usually more expensive, but the price is justified. The other feature the user has to pay attention to is the length of the device when it is extended to the maximum. The middle ground lies within the range of 30 and 40 inches, but the decision is yours – you might be absolutely fine with a shorter stick.
– Mount compatibility
99% of selfie sticks have a built-in mount that is designed to hold your smartphone, camera, or GoPro. The difference between them is their quality and adjustability. You will find these clamps to be made from rubber most of the time due to the material being non-slippery. Some of them are rotatable, while others are not. This feature helps to get a variety of angles when taking selfies. Regardless of which one you will choose, make sure you familiarize yourself with the tool’s instructions and find out for yourself whether a particular mount is compatible with your device.
– Connectivity and camera control
Acting as a remote control, a selfie stick features a button located on the handle to capture the picture with a simple click. For this to work in real life, the stick has to be connected to your device. There are two ways of doing it – either through a small cable with a 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth. The former is more common in cheaper models, while the latter is usually met in more high-end models. The cable allows you to simply insert it into your device and start enjoying taking selfies right away. This, however, comes at a price of not having the sound recorded if that is needed. The Bluetooth option, in contrast, does not require you to manually connect the two, but rather do it automatically. The downside of this feature lies in the fact that its battery life is not always high, which means that you have to charge it more often.
– Additional accessories
If feeling fancy, you can look for selfie sticks that feature wrist bands, mirrors, belt clips, or flip-lock extensions. Some of their handles even have an option to zoom in and out. When shopping for a selfie stick for a specific occasion, look out for those that are designed specifically for skiing, for instance, or for ziplining, as they will have all the necessary features you would appreciate having.
3. How do I know whether my phone/camera is compatible with a particular selfie stick?
Although most of the selfie sticks are designed to be compatible with every smartphone available on the market, it is not surprising that in reality not all of them do. Manufacturers tend to state this information for potential buyers, so make sure to check that out before committing to a selfie stick. Note that you might still need to take your case off of your smartphone if it’s bulky and does not seem to be fitting. This is considered to be a small inconvenience most will be able to bear.
4. How reliable is the built-in battery?
The batteries that the selfie sticks have are usually the 65 mAh Lithium Polymer or Lithium Iron ones with ISO certification. They last up to 3 months and allow the user to do photoshoots or film videos for around 24 hours or so. That said, the same battery can differ on the two otherwise similar selfie sticks, which has to be taken into consideration. All in all, a built-in battery is considered to be reliable.
5. Will my selfie stick be allowed everywhere I go?
Although in theory there is no harm from selfie sticks, there are places in the world that don’t allow them. A few of those places are theme parks and concerts – places where there is a large number of people gathered together. This is done to ensure the security and privacy of everyone placed in one area. For this reason, it makes sense to check the regulations of a social gathering place before you take your selfie stick with you. Let’s face it, there is no chance you will be glad to have your precious photo tool taken away from you just because of some rules. Better be safe than sorry.
If you already have a Selfie Stick or you just bought one, leave a comment in the comment section below and share your experience with it.
