You told us: We're surprised at how many of you own mobile tripods

Movement is a huge challenge for many smartphone cameras, but many devices today tout effective image stabilization tech. Be it software-based electronic stabilization or hardware-based OIS, it’s become easier to get that blur-free night shot or that recorded video with minimal judder.

Still, there are times when a smartphone tripod will be handy. But we wondered whether Android Authority readers actually owned one of these gadgets. So we posted a poll to ask you, and here’s how you voted.

Do you own a mobile tripod for your smartphone?

Results

Just over 1,000 votes were cast in this poll, and it turns out that the results were split almost evenly down the middle. In saying so, those who voted “no” won out with 51.15% of the vote.

More photography coverage: These photography tips will help you take your snaps to the next level

Interestingly, none of the reader comments on our poll article reflected this position. Nevertheless, we can see why many people wouldn’t have a mobile tripod, as today’s night modes and Super Steady video modes mean you don’t need a tripod for many situations.

Meanwhile, 48.85% of respondents said they indeed had a tripod for their smartphone. Comments point to uses such as night shots, group pictures, selfies, time lapses, and images of the sun (!). Still, this figure is definitely higher than I expected. There’s no doubt that our enthusiast audience is more likely to own a mobile tripod, but it’s still a pretty interesting result.

Comments

• Paul: Yes, but my wife got it for me though Walmart’s Spark Reviewer program
• Albin: I have a mount and little folder in a amall beltpack (with Moto Mod snap-on battery) and in a backpack a larger Gorlillapod that mounts either a regular camera or the phone. Oddly, I’ve found just attaching the mounting bracket alone provides a better landscape grip than ordinary handholding (though I’ve been tempted by the Adonits with bluetooth shutter).
• duckofdeath: Yes. Used it to take photos of the sun with my S22U. The 100x zoom is good enough to produce clearly visible sunspots. Remember to use a solar filter if you want to try something like that.
• Joe Black: I do have one or two cheap ones, I managed to break a few of them as they have plastic parts holding a screw. But I used them probably only for night shots.
• Michael Schaap: Yes. Not so much for night shots and other long exposures, but to take better group pictures with myself in it. I rarely have it with me, though, when I need it… 
• mattc: Yes, I tend to use it for night time photography, time lapses and the occasional selfies.