Hand extender: TOP 5 selfie sticks

The Compact prefix appears in the name of the selfie monopod from UFT for a reason — it is quite difficult to find a more compact solution on the market. The length of the model when folded is only 13.8 cm, which is identical to the same indicator for the Apple iPhone 7 smartphone, and it certainly cannot be recorded in the ranks of giants.

The design of the selfie tripod is the simplest, as is the method of connecting to a smartphone — a wire is used to pair the stick with a mobile gadget, which is inserted into the headphone jack. Therefore, the device will not work with the latest generation of Apple smartphones, since there is simply no mini-jack on their board. Also, the monopod is not always correctly recognized by other phones. However, it is quite easy to fix this mistake — the user will only need to download and install the Selfie Shop Camera application.

Smartphones with a case width from 5.5 to 8.5 cm are placed in a rubberized holder. The selfie stick itself is comfortable to hold in your hand by a soft polyurethane foam handle. Thanks to its light weight (only 82 g), filming can be carried out almost indefinitely, well, or until the energy reserves in the smartphone battery run out. However, it is still risky to use the stick in strong winds, because the thickness of its sliding sections does not inspire confidence regarding the overall reliability of the structure.

One of the complaints that often appear in product reviews is the insufficient length of the wire to connect the stick to the phone. To a greater extent, this nuance is manifested in a pair with smartphones with a large diagonal. Otherwise, the UFT SS8 Compact causes entirely positive impressions, and its extremely democratic cost is especially pleasing.

A selfie stick from the ambitious Xiaomi company connects to a smartphone via a Bluetooth connection. On the one hand, this saves the user from unnecessary wires, and on the other hand, it requires him to periodically charge the device's battery, which has a capacity of 120 mAh.

In the vast majority of cases, the selfie stick is detected by the phone quickly and accurately without the need to install separate applications. That's just the mobile gadget sees it as a keyboard, since the de facto shutter button of the stick duplicates the function of the volume up key. When the camera is turned on, this button gives the command to take a picture.

The dimensions of the model can vary from 25 cm folded to 72 cm unfolded. Changing the length of the monopod is carried out using 6 extendable sections. In the maximally extended position, there is often a backlash at the junctions of the sections, which is why the picture may be spoiled by grease.

The shutter release button on board the selfie stick is highlighted in a pleasant blue colour. The general style of the model turned out to be no less attractive — the ribbed rubberized surface of the handle and the whitish phone clip are not only attractive, but also practical from the point of view of the convenience of grip and the reliability of fixing the smartphone. The mount is designed for mobile gadgets with a screen size from 4 to 5.5".

The "head" of the stick is able to tilt back and forth within 270 °, which opens up new angles of shooting yourself and the surrounding reality. Xiaomi's brainchild is an affordable purchase both for those who cannot imagine their availability without self—portraits, and for other use cases, which are described in detail in the framework of the material "Buy a selfie stick — take great selfies".

The versatility of the Yunteng YT-1288 selfie tripod lies in its compatibility not only with smartphones, but also with action cameras, and even with cameras. The main thing is that the weight of the device installed on the 2D head does not exceed 2 kg.

The highlight of the model is the presence of separate clamps for each extendable section, of which there are 4 in the arsenal of the selfie stick. With the help of clamps made exactly with similar devices for classic tripods, each section can be fixed not only in a fully extended position, but also in any required position. The length adjustment range of Yunteng YT-1288 ranges from 42.5 cm to 1.25 m — unfolding to such large sizes is supported by a few units of direct competitors.

The head of the selfie stick can tilt back and forth, as well as rotate along its own axis by 180 °. The smartphone holder is attached to it via a screw connection, and action cameras and cameras are mounted on a stick using a standard tripod socket. The same socket can be found at the base of the handle of a selfie tripod — it is often used to attach accessories (for example, a folding tripod).

The remote control deserves special praise. There is a small niche in the handle of the selfie stick for its storage, but nothing prevents you from using the remote independently. In appearance, it resembles a small keychain, on the body of which there is a large shutter release key and two smaller buttons — they are responsible for zooming the image.

It will be possible to make claims to the model except for those people who are looking for a miniature companion for taking selfies. Yunteng YT-1288 is not such, but it is equally well suited for both mobile photography and shooting in the action style, providing its owners with ample features to realize their creative potential.

Useful advice. If you plan to take selfies with a company, give preference to sticks with a long length in the unfolded state.

The Meizu selfie stick was released in March 2017, a month after the announcement of an almost similar solution from its main competitor, Xiaomi.

It would be more correct to call the model a classic tripod, since its handle is a transformer — if necessary, it turns into a tripod in one easy movement. But still, to a greater extent, the selfie stick is focused on shooting with your hands, it doesn't matter if it's self-portraits or surroundings.

The selfie tripod is connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth, and a separate key is placed on the body of the model to control the shutter release. By the way, it is removable, i.e. the Bluetooth button can be used in a separate order as a remote control. Given the possibility of turning the stick into a full-fledged tripod, the usefulness of this feature is undeniable.

The telescopic tube made of high-strength anodized aluminium extends by 42.5 cm. Its top is crowned with a smartphone holder that can rotate on all fronts, which allows you to create a picture from a completely atypical angle. The manufacturer promises to be able to make up to 10K frames on a single battery charge, so it is extremely rare to chain a selfie stick to an outlet. In addition, potential owners of the monopod should like the bright colours of its body — in addition to the classic black colour, the colour of the stick can be pink or sky blue.

The family of monopods for selfies also has its own premium segment, a prominent representative of which is the Momax Selfie Pro Bluetooth model. Everything in the design of the stick inspires confidence, and the appearance makes you fall in love with it at first sight, which is not an exaggeration.

The elegant image of the selfie tripod is emphasized by the handle with a wide stylish seam in the middle, covered with eco-leather. A hole is made at the base of the handle to install the stick on the tripod, which is included in the package. With its help, the model can be easily transformed into a classic tripod, allowing you to shoot scenes at a long exposure without the risk of spoiling the image with a wig.

Retractable sections of the selfie stick in the amount of 6 pcs. provide the ability to change the length of the device from a modest 18 cm to an impressive 90 cm. At the top of the last section there is a ball head with a tripod platform on which you can install a smartphone holder, as well as attach an action camera or a camera.

Another reason for pride is a practical remote control with shutter release keys, start recording video, switching between the front and main cameras, as well as zoom buttons. All the functionality of the remote is revealed in a pair with the Momax Cam proprietary application, available for download to owners of Android smartphones and Apple mobile gadgets. The remote control can be carried with you or fixed on the stick handle, for which a special holder is provided in its configuration.

Momax Selfie Pro Bluetooth deserves to receive the highest rating both in terms of build quality and appearance, and in terms of functionality. However, you will have to pay a lot for this whole set of "goodies" — the selfie stick is sold many times more expensive than competitors, which corresponds to its premium characteristics.