Oben Granite Series SPGH-100 Tripod Gimbal Head for Smartphones

Solid, versatile tripod head for smartphones

I was pleasantly surprised by how substantial the Oben SPGH-100 feels for something designed to hold a smartphone. The all-metal construction gives it a solid, professional-quality feel that is much closer to a real camera rig than a typical phone mount. Everything feels well-machined, the adjustment points lock securely, and I feel confident mounting my phone and accessories to it. Once my phone is mounted, I have much more control than I would with a basic smartphone holder. The four adjustment points make it quick and easy to position the phone exactly where I want it. I can pan, tilt, rotate, and switch from horizontal to vertical shooting without having to remove or remount the phone. The adjustable handle is especially helpful when I want to make smoother, more natural pan or tilt movements. I also really like all the 1/4"-20 accessory mounts. Being able to add a small light, microphone, wireless receiver, or another accessory makes this much more useful than just a way to hold a phone. It feels like a compact camera rig, which is pretty impressive considering the phone is still the main camera. I paired the SPGH-100 with the Oben Granite Series MTTAC-13 Mini Tripod, and the two work really well together. The tripod gives me a compact and stable base when I want to set the phone down and it is light enough to even use handheld. What I like most is how much control this gives me when shooting with a phone. I can make small adjustments without grabbing the phone itself, and the pan handle makes camera movement feel much smoother and more natural. It is definitely more substantial than a typical smartphone mount, but that is exactly what I like about it. The build quality is excellent, it feels like professional equipment, and it gives me plenty of options for shooting both video and photos with a smartphone. [I have received this product in exchange for my honest review.]