SteadePod, one of the latest gadgets that purport to bring a measure of tripod stability to photographers reluctant to lug around a proper three-legged support, consists of a tape-measure sized plastic case (that screws into the tripod socket) concealing about 6 feet of woven, metal wire.

It's a simple idea: you retract the line and stomp on a plastic grip fastened to the end of the wire, such that the line becomes taut when the camera is held at the desired height. The tension in the line provides greater stability than a pair of unbraced arms could otherwise provide.

If it sounds like something you could easily improvise with a length of string tied to, say, a lag bolt, you're not alone. In fact, SteadePod represents the commercializing of an old photographers' trick, as, Boake Paugh, Owner of Cameron Products (the firm that manufacturers SteadePod, distributed in Canada by Gentec International) cheerfully told me at PMA 2010 in Anaheim, CA where the gadget premiered.

You could fudge one, but who wants to mess with a line and a lag bolt when SteadePod is so affordably priced ($29.99)? SteadePod's retractable line (it ratchets out, retracts smoothly with spring tension, and locks into place with a three-position slider) is much easier to control than a ball of string. It won't tangle, and most important, because the metal tripod screw locks safely away, it's much less likely to score the camera body and lenses should it escape its confines in your camera bag.

At approximately 8cm x 6cm, it takes up little room in the kit bag. Also, users may elect to keep it attached, because the case has been designed with a flat bottom so you can place camera on a flat surface.

SteadePod also works well with camcorders, although a monopod provides similar shooting discipline, but greater relief on the wrists. (But it's fair to point out that, although a monopod is smaller and lighter than a tripod, it's much larger and heftier than SteadePod.)
The big question is, how well does SteadePod work? My tests indicate that much depends on your own technique, and the precise shooting circumstances. For example, I found little or no advantage using the SteadePod on a Pentax K7 (with built-in stabilization) while sitting in a comfortable, elbows-braced-on-the-knees position. Similarly, if you are possessed of solid photographic technique and can lean against a solid surface (like a wall), SteadePod likely won't be worth the bother.

SteadePod does become beneficial in the middle of a large space, or anywhere the arms cannot be braced. It's hard to pin a precise value on this, but I would estimate the improvement to be somewhere around a full stop.

Three photos reproduced here, each of which was taken with unbraced arms, represent a hierarchy, and reflect the average of several shots taken within each shooting parameter. Each photo was snapped by a Pentax K7 set at ISO 200, fitted with a 50mm prime lens stopped down to f/5.6, with the subject (a Gentec flyer announcing the Steadecam) about 15 inches away under low (artificial) lighting. 

 This photo, the worst of the three posted here, is what you'd expect shooting text handheld at 1/6 sec. exposure with a 50mm focal length lens from a distance of 15 inches.

Switching on Pentax's built-in stabilization improves things in this shot. Although the lighting was unchanged, EXIF data reveals the exposure to have shortened to 1/8 sec.

This shot, taken with SteadePod and with Pentax's stabilization switched off, is much sharper than either shot taken without SteadePod. I also snapped a batch with both SteadePod and Pentax's stabilization engaged, with no discernable improvement over the SteadePod-only batch. 

In order of sharpness and freedom from camera shake, two photos were taken without SteadePod, one with, and the other without Pentax's image stabilization engaged.

The best shot was taken with Steadpod without stabilization. Stabilization with SteadePod did not improve matters further in my experience. A curious anomaly: turning off stabilization caused the K7 to lengthen the exposure from 1/8 sec. to 1/6 sec. in each case, even though subject illumination was consistent.

At under $30, SteadePod warrants an obvious recommendation if you tend to shoot long exposures handheld, and are reluctant to carry a tripod. This is no replacement for a proper tripod, which provides far greater stability under all conditions, and unlike SteadePod, can assist the photographer to compose a shot. But SteadePod delivers easily perceivable benefits in a lightweight package that anyone can afford.

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