Podo Review: The Camera You'll Want to Take Everywhere

Jamie Ditaranto is a traveler in a love triangle with writing and photography. Follow the drama on Twitter @jamieditaranto and Instagram @jamieditaranto.

Ditaranto joined SmarterTravel in 2015. She loves ecotourism, cities with history, and discovering local hangouts. Though she likes all the continents equally, she holds a special place in her heart for rainy little islands.

Her work has also appeared online at USA Today, Huffington Post, Business Insider, and other publications. You can check out her photography on her website.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "My instant camera comes in handy for giving instant gifts to new friends."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Befriending penguins in Antarctica."

Travel Motto: "You have to get the hard places out of the way first."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "On short flights, the window. For long flights, the aisle."

Email Jamie at editor@smartertravel.com.

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Let’s be honest, it’s hard to be creative with a selfie. Whether you’re using your arm or a selfie-stick, everyone pretty much ends up with the same angle and a picture that is 50 percent arm or metal pole. Which is why I was extremely excited to try out the revolutionary Podo, a stick-and-shoot camera that is up for anything, leaving metal poles and awkward arms out of your shots.

The incredibly small and incredibly sticky design of this 8MP camera makes it perfect for traveling. Simply find a good spot to stick the camera, connect Podo to your phone via the Bluetooth app, adjust it to get just the right angle, shoot, and share. You’ll be able to preview the photo right in the app on your phone, so you know you’re getting the best shot, and then the photo will download onto your device. To keep the sticky-pad on the back usable, just clean with a damp cloth and keep it covered when not in use.

However, what I think makes Podo really special isn’t its extreme stickiness (Warning: a freshly cleaned sticky-pad could peel paint off walls.) or how easy it is to download photos straight to your phone, but how adjustable it is. Even after sticking it to a surface, you can change the angle of the camera to get whatever shot you’re looking for. With Podo, there are so many possibilities; you can take the photo from above, below, or any angle you want to make your shot truly one-of-a-kind.

Podo Review

Price and Where to Buy Podo: $59 on the Podo Indiegogo Page.

How Podo Rates:

Usefulness: 9/10 It’s incredibly useful for capturing yourself during your travels, without having to use a selfie stick. As long as the camera is within 30 feet of your phone, it will work. You can download the photos straight to your phone or upload them to your computer via USB. Video is available, but it can only record up to 15 seconds at a time.
Value: 7/10 The quality is slightly better than the camera built into your phone, but not by much. The price is a bit high, but the product is well-made and really works. Even with copy-cat products that have come on the market, Podo is still the best option.
Portability: 10/10 This camera is small enough to carry in your pocket, making it easily accessible when you’re out and about.
Cool Factor: 10/10 Finally, there is a camera that lets everyone get into the shot without the awkward metal pole ruining it. There’s nothing cooler than getting awesome and unique travel photos .

Final Verdict:

When it comes to making and sharing your travel memories, Podo is a great camera to have in your arsenal. Not only is it easy to use, it’s also pretty fun, especially for group and family travel.

Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews, or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

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