Self photographer: TOP 5 selfie sticks

In the era of rapid development of mobile photography, various accessories are becoming more and more relevant, which help to take pictures on a smartphone camera even better. One of such useful devices is a monopod from the low-cost manufacturer of everything in the world Defender.

The main advantage of the Defender SM-02 is that, being several times cheaper than most analogues, the monopod provides virtually all the same advantages and does not limit the user in any way. For example, it is connected using a standard audio output, and its maximum length in the unfolded state is 98 centimeters, which allows you to cover a detailed frame.

Plus, the Defender SM-02 case is made of stainless steel. Even though the metal is quite thin, and the design does not look as solid as, for example, Xiaomi Mi Wired Monopod Selfie Stick , it's still better than an unreliable plastic base, which can be damaged if accidentally dropped. The only thing you can find fault with is a loosely attached rubber gasket to soften the clamp.

The picture is complemented by a strong retainer with a margin of more than 9 centimeters wide, which allows you to securely fix a smartphone like any known to mankind.

Remax P5 is a simple, inexpensive and unpretentious monopod for smartphones, which can become your indispensable assistant and companion in all journeys.

It is made in the usual form factor of a telescopic tube, to the head of which a smartphone or an action camera is attached. The holder is only 17 centimeters long when folded, it expands to 72 centimeters. In order to cover a large company in the frame, this length may not be enough, but for several people or a full-length selfie is perfect.

The body and base are made of fairly durable plastic, thanks to which the sections do not hang out even at maximum length. The joints of the parts are tightly fitted to each other without any visible gaps, and the rubberized handle fits comfortably in the hand and does not slip when shooting. In general, it is difficult to find fault with the quality of the assembly and materials, even despite the fact that it is plastic, not metal.

An inconspicuous but convenient addition is a small mirror attached to the headboard of the monopod. In the case of shooting on the main, not the front camera, the mirror replaces the screen for image output, allowing you to make clear and accented shots. Such a trifle helps a lot in the case of smartphones with not the most powerful front-facing camera.

The Remax P5 connects to a smartphone using a standard 3.5mm audio jack. It works with any Android and iOS-based gadgets. The only exceptions are the latest iPhone models (for example Apple iPhone X 64 GB ), in which a universal USB-C output is used instead of an audio jack.

If many selfie sticks are purely utilitarian devices that resemble either telescopic fishing rods or retractable batons for self-defense, the metal Xiaomi Mi Wired Monopod Selfie Stick is more like a stylish minimalistic Apple or Braun technique.

The rubberized handle of the monopod fits comfortably in the hand and does not slip when shooting, and the smartphone mount folds and fits neatly to the base. Because of this, when assembled, the stick takes up a minimum of space and easily fits in a bag. And thanks to the metal base, the Xiaomi Mi Wired Monopod Selfie Stick will not crumble into pieces after several falls.

The width of the smartphone lock is adjustable in a fairly wide range, so that the mount will hold equally securely as a minimalistic baby Apple iPhone SE 16 GB , and "large-caliber" Samsung Galaxy Note9 128 GB from $183.00 up to $258.00 . To select the most suitable shooting angle, the monopod mount can be tilted in the desired direction within 270 degrees. The connection to the smartphone is carried out using a standard audio output.

As for the length, 6 extendable sections allow you to pull the Xiaomi Mi Wired Monopod Selfie Stick by only 70 centimeters. If you compare it with other selfie sticks, it seems that its length is not too long, but in most cases, if there are not too many people in the frame, then this is enough.

The InterStep MP-110B is an inexpensive everyday monopod with an excellent length margin and wireless connection.

The main difference between the InterStep MP-110B from many of its brethren is the presence of Bluetooth instead of a standard connection using an audio jack. It is compatible with Android and iOS smartphones, the main thing is that the width of the smartphone case does not exceed 8 cm, otherwise it will not fit into the sliding mount.

The monopod is powered by a 45 mAh battery built into the handle, which is charged using a standard Micro USB port. According to the passport, this reserve is enough for 500 button clicks, in fact, most users have enough charge for a week of active use. After turning on Bluetooth on both devices, synchronization takes 10 seconds.

The second feature of the monopod is a solid margin of length. If most of the monopods are extended to a distance of 70 – 90 centimeters, 7 extendable sections of the InterStep MP-110B show a result of 110 centimeters. This allows you to cover the widest frame when taking a selfie.

Last but not least, the body and the sliding base are made of metal that does not bend and does not "play" at the maximum length. Thanks to this, not only a smartphone or an action camera can be used together with a monopod.

For ease of use, the metal handle is covered with a thick layer of rubber so that the monopod does not slip in your hands. Rubber on the handle was not regretted, which, theoretically, can be recorded as a plus. But in fact, this creates certain inconveniences, since the dense rubber coating of the button constantly strives to move up and it periodically has to be corrected.

The monopod The Handler from GoPro is not an ordinary monopod. It is waterproof and is not afraid of diving to a depth of 10 metres, which makes it an excellent companion for active filming while surfing, snorkeling, wakeboarding or going to the water park.

However, the "water resistance" itself would not make much sense if it were not for a few important points. Thanks to a special float mounted in the base of the case, it will not be possible to drown your GoPro. Firstly, the monopod will float back to the surface, and secondly, the orange float will stand out noticeably against the background of the water. Plus, the float performs the function of an image stabilizer during filming underwater.

The handle of The Handler is made of soft-touch neoprene and fits equally comfortably in the hand both on land and in water. And thanks to the universal clip in the headboard, it is compatible with any GoPro camera. For reliable fastening, there is a special octahedral key in the kit, which can also be used as a bottle opener for beer and drinks.

The length of the monopod is not adjustable and is only 15 centimeters, which significantly limits the possibilities of capturing the frame. However, this is more of a feature, not a bug — after all, The Handler is designed for outdoor activities. And there are other options for taking selfies with a large company against the background of attractions. For example, HARPER RSB-203 and KJstar Z07-5 , which extend to a length of about a metre and work with any smartphones.

Even in such a simple class of devices as monopods, there are real stars. One of them is Momax Selfie Hero 100, which boasts a high-quality design, catchy memorable appearance, a number of skills beyond the control of simpler selfie sticks.

The first feature of Momax Selfie Hero 100 is a hole for installing a stick on a tripod, with its help, a selfie stick can be turned into a monopod with legs. This allows you to shoot scenes at a long exposure without the risk of distorting the photo with a shaking hand. The tripod is included in the package, which justifies the high price of the Selfie Hero 100.

The second feature is a full—fledged remote control that works in conjunction with the Momax Cam application (there are versions for Android and iOS) and significantly expands the possibilities for working with the smartphone camera. The remote control can release the camera shutter, switch to camera mode and start video shooting, zoom in and out, and switch between the front and rear cameras. The remote control is securely attached to the base of the monopod with a special holder, and in which case it can be removed and hidden in a bag.

In total, Momax Selfie Hero 100 has 6 extendable sections that allow you to increase the length of the selfie stick from a compact 18 cm to 90 cm. Such a comfortable length allows you to cover the maximum of the landscape behind, and none of your friends will fall out of the frame.

At the top of the last section there is a mount with a holder for a smartphone or an action camera.

As you can see, Momax Selfie Hero 100 deserves a solid top five in all respects. The only thing that can be brought to the disadvantages of this monopod is its price, which is significantly higher than competitors. But it is to some extent justified by the tripod supplied in the kit.