October 30, 2007 1:03 PM PDT

Photo gadget cures Awkward Arm Syndrome

Posted by Leslie Katz

(Credit: XShot)

You're standing at that remote scenic overlook, and you'd love a picture to prove you made it. But you don't have a tripod and there's not another tourist in sight to snap a shot.

So you do what one usually does in such situations--take a photo via arm extension, and end up with a less-than-optimal image that highlights your nose and right forearm way more than the stunning canyon behind you.

Enter the XShot. Proving once again that anything can become a trend, it's a cleverly designed telescopic rod that attaches to any compact digital camera or handheld video camera and allows photographers and videographers to be a part of the image--sans the dreaded Awkward Arm Syndrome™.

(Credit: XShot)

The XShot connects to digicams using a built-in thumb screw and can be adjusted to the desired angle. It reaches more than 3 feet, enough extension to include a number of people in a shot. It's made of stainless steel, closes to 9 inches, weighs about a quarter of a pound, and can fit into a pocket.

The idea for the gadget occurred to XShot co-founder Michael Daoud while he was visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris. "I tried to capture a photo of my wife and I with the Louvre in the background," he says, "but because the camera was only at arm's length and so close to our faces, only a small part of the Louvre Museum was in the picture."

Daoud realized that if he could extend his arm a bit more he could take much better pictures. That's when he came up with the idea of a telescopic accessory that could hold the camera and be extended to take a full picture of the subjects and the background.

The XShot sells for $24.95 at Best Buy, Staples, and other retailers. It's also available online at www.xshotpix.com or by calling 866-974-6899.