XSories Kong U-Shot at a glance:
- Monopod for stills and video
- Designed to be held at arm’s length to position cameras in hard-to-reach places
- Telescopic, extending from 67cm-155cm
- Rated payload of 3.5kg
- Price: £33
- Website: www.xsories.eu
The recently released XSories Kong U-Shot is a telescopic monopod that’s designed for poking your camera into hard-to-reach places and achieving strange angles. It’s not designed to be used like a conventional monopod, although it can be – it’s meant to be held at arm’s length. Primarily for video, if used with a remote shutter release or a camera with Wi-Fi there’s no reason why the Kong U-Shot can’t be used for still photos too. It enables the photographer to get low to the ground or high up, and follow a subject as it moves, giving stable video footage or an interesting series of images. I also found that, using an adapter, I could mount a flash on it and get an assistant to follow a subject while shooting fast-moving subjects with high-speed sync.
With a weight of just 630g, the Kong U-Shot isn’t particularly heavy, although when a camera is mounted to it and held at arm’s length for a long period you’ll understandably begin to feel it. The Kong U-Shot has a payload rating of 3.5kg, so is capable of holding most DSLRs. However, the heavier the load, the harder it is to handle when extended – and it’s not worth risking expensive kit. Its telescopic motion can also be used to add movement as the pole is extended and results in fluid video .
XSories Kong U-Shot – Key features
Telescopic
The Kong U-Shot can be extended in a single motion from 67cm to its maximum 155cm.
Rubber foot
A rubber foot is to be found at the bottom, which, when removed, reveals another camera thread, allowing a camera to be attached at either end.
Tripod head mount
A 1/4in tripod thread is featured on the top and bottom to allow users to mount a ball head or similar.
XSories Kong U-Shot – Verdict
With a decent build quality and a comfortable grip, the Kong U-Shot is a useful bit of kit. In terms of features it delivers everything it promises. It works as a standard monopod, but has increased versatility for video shooters with the ability to achieve unusual angles and introduce motion into shots.
SCORE: 4 out of 5
Also in the range:
XSories Mega U-Shot
Price: £60
Essentially, the XSories Mega U-Shot is just a selfie stick, but it’s designed to be used with an action camera attached for extreme photography and videography.
XSories Weye Feye Controller
Price: £120
XSories’ most renowned product is the Weye Feye Controller, which gives remote shooting to DSLR cameras that don’t feature their own built-in Wi-Fi module.
XSories U-Float
Price: £22
Attaching to the camera, the XSories U-Float grips will allow your action or tough camera
to float, should you ever drop it in water.
