Tripod Buying Guide
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This section is short and sweet. A tripod is a simple piece of gear with three legs and a head. You attach your camera to the tripod head with a plate, which could be a basic universal plate or custom-built for your specific camera, and the tripod legs keep your camera stable.
Beyond long exposure photography, using a tripod even at faster shutter speeds when you could handhold your camera guarantees more consistent results. Plus, a tripod is a must-have accessory if you want to capture multiple exposures for HDR photography or exposure bracketing, or multiple shots to stitch together a panorama.
The style of tripod head you have determines how you adjust it. For most beginners, the options are somewhat limited in scope but not utility. A common choice, especially in less expensive kits, is a pan/tilt head. It includes separate tension knobs that free up movement for side-to-side and up-and-down adjustments.
For instance, do you need a tripod for landscape photography to use in rough conditions (e.g., shooting in the wind and rain) Do you need a tripod for studio product work Do you need a tripod for group-portrait selfies Or do you need a tripod for the occasional travel photography shot
For example, my Sony A7R III body weighs 23.2 oz (657 g), while my heaviest lens, the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, weighs 52.16 oz (1480 g). So my heaviest camera setup would be 75.36 oz (2137 g), and any tripod I buy should have a payload of at least that amount.
All tripods have a minimum and maximum height, which is expressed in their product specifications. The minimum height is the lowest the tripod will position a camera, while the maximum height is the highest the tripod will position a camera.
Now, not all photographers need an ultra-tall tripod (which tend to be heavier and/or cost extra). And not all photographers need an ultra-low tripod, which is good for getting down into position for landscape and macro work but is generally useless for routine portrait photography.
Yes, this partly involves the payload or weight capacity mentioned above, which will give you a good idea of whether the tripod can support your camera and lens combination. But there are other features that can affect tripod stability.
For instance, some tripods come with retractable or removable spikes in the tripod feet. These provide extra stability by sticking into the dirt or soft ground and are essential if you plan to shoot outside on rough terrain.
Other tripods come with a retractable hook at the center, which lets you hang weight to stabilize your setup in windy conditions. Attaching a heavy sandbag to the hook is often the optimal option, but you can also get creative in a pinch (e.g., you can hang a heavy water bottle or even your camera bag).
Now, the easiest way to reduce weight while maintaining optimal stability is by purchasing a carbon fiber tripod. Most tripods are made of aluminum, which is cheaper but very heavy, and carbon fiber is the pricier but lighter alternative.
Also, if you plan to travel by plane, consider the folded length of your tripod. Some tripods are designed to be portable, and they can easily fit in a suitcase; other tripods tend to be long and unwieldy, even when folded completely, and these models are not ideal for frequent flyers.
Oh, and look at the tripod-locking mechanism, too. Most tripods use a twist-lock mechanism, which can cause confusion over the direction you need to twist to lock or unlock the legs, while other tripods have a simple flip-lock mechanism that is much easier to work with:
Of course, like tripod legs, tripod heads can be light or heavy, strong or weak. Carefully evaluate prospective tripod heads according to your needs, and be ready to pay big bucks for the sturdiest, most rugged heads.
That really depends on your interests. A ball head is the most common type of tripod head, and it allows for 360-degree rotation. While a ball head offers incredible flexibility, many ball heads, especially cheap or low-quality ones, will slip over time and become less stable. Thus it may be worth buying a high-end ball head or looking at another type of head to use on your tripod. Other options include pan-and-tilt heads and pistol-grip tripod heads (the latter are technically ball heads but with a clever twist).
Some tripods can be easily converted into a monopod by simply removing one leg and attaching it to the center column. If you shoot sports or simply like the idea of working with a more flexible support system, this can be a handy feature.
These days, many cameras feature an electronic bubble level, but it always helps to have a physical bubble level to ensure your camera is straight. Some tripods include bubble levels built into the center column or head:
The thing that infuriated me the most with my temporary $45 Yunteng tripod was the quick release clip which mounts the camera on to the tripod head. I longed for my well oiled Manfrotto head with its trusty quick release clip.
If you want tack sharp images (see my article on how to get super sharp landscape images) with the best possible image quality, accept that a tripod will become a part of your anatomy. For long exposures, a tripod is essential. If you shoot weddings, portraits, action and events, a tripod may just get in your way.
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As soon as you put anything heavier than a small compact camera, or small, cropped sensor DSLR camera (like the Canon Rebel or the Nikon D3400), this tripod will become unstable, and possibly fall over. Now seriously, what is the point of that
This type of tripod is what I suggest you start out with. This is the Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Aluminum tripod. Price changes weekly for some reason and can fluctuate by as much as $60 so keep an eye on this one.
Also, even if you are not shooting that high, if your tripod has very long legs, you can easily do overhead shots on the floor as pictured above, where the legs can easily get out of the way and not show up in your pictures OR cast shadows on your set.
How high does the tripod extend to (with and without the centre column raised) For Landscape Photography I am usually looking for a tripod that will raise to eye level without raising the centre column. It is also worth remembering that if you frequently work on uneven ground (most landscapes are not usually bowling green flat!) then some extra leeway in the maximum height would be useful.
The minimum height is also an important consideration for working low to the ground. This is one of the reasons why I will use a tripod with a removable centre column.
How small is the tripod when completely collapsed When I am travelling overseas my tripod must fit into my checked case when I am flying to my destination, so a compact design is essential. Tripods with more leg extensions will fold down to a smaller size (with a potential compromise to stability although I have to say that in practice I have never found this to be an issue with my Gitzo tripods).
All my tripods are made of carbon fibre which offers a good trade-off between strength & stability and weight. They are much lighter than their aluminium counterparts (although the latter are usually cheaper to purchase).
Do you need the rotating centre columnSome tripods have a centre column that can be moved from the vertical position to a horizontal orientation (especially useful for macro or still life
Are you able to adjust the angle of the legs A tripod that offers a range of leg angle options allows you to splay the legs out a greater angle for low level work or to set each leg at a different angle when working on uneven ground.
To give an insight into the tripod choices I have made I will describe below the tripods I use and their features that are most important to me. All are Gitzo carbon fibre models.
The tool-free Rapid Column Exchange system is at the heart of the VARI series Carbon Fiber tripods. Quickly switch between a traditional center column, a flat plate for low angle work, or a video bowl mount. The 8-ply carbon fiber legs provide an excellent strength to weight ratio making them ideal for hybrid shooters who need an all-in-one tripod. Kits start at $499.95.
Slik Carbon Fiber (CF) tripods are lightweight, compact, and built for rigidity. Designed to hold professional equipment in any conditions, the legs weigh from 2.2 pounds - 5.2 pounds and hold from 6.6 pounds - 22 pounds. The carbon fiber tripods offer professional quality and flexibility to fit your needs. Legs start at $229.95.
Aluminum (AL) tripods are ultra-sturdy, quality-built, rugged tripods. The AL series utilizes a Rapid Flip Mechanism (RFM) that permits one-handed operation when setting the leg-angles. The center column can be removed or inverted for low angles. Slightly heavier than the CF tripods, the aluminum kits offer affordable alternatives without sacrificing quality. Full kits, with a head, start at $119.95.
The Sprint series are ultra-compact, lightweight tripods designed for travel. With a folded length ranging from 13.2\" - 18.5\" the Sprint series is a traveler's companion. All Sprint series tripods weigh less than 2.5 pounds and offer the Rapid Flip Mechanism. Sprint tripods are ideal for mirrorless and small DSLR cameras. Kits include your choice of head and start at $89.95
Log in or register to post comments COMMENTS i love this tripod Submitted by fortnitemaster69 on October 22, 2021 - 8:18am this tripod comes in handy a lot when recording my fortnite lets plays and facecam 59ce067264
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