Contents:
Whether you are an ace photographer or a newbie to cameras, a tripod is an essential piece of gear that can improve your image quality to a great extent. And for those who love to take pictures of landscapes and architectures, a tripod is a must-have accessory. Using a tripod while taking pictures guarantee that your pictures will come out sharper because of the stability it provides.
And the best thing is that a tripod allows you to take great pictures even in low light conditions because you have the freedom to set a long exposure and faster shutter speed without the risk of shaking or moving. But when it comes to choosing a tripod for your camera, it is important to consider a few factors such as its weight, the weight it can support, its maximum height, tripod head, tripod legs and feet and centerpost, etc.
The most important thing to consider while choosing a tripod is how much weight it can support. While some tripods can support only a few pounds and are designed for lightweight point and shoot models, others can support heavy cameras along with lenses without any risk of collapsing. It is best to choose a tripod that can support at least 1.
When you set up the camera on the tripod the viewfinder should be at your eye level. Most quality tripods are made using aluminium which makes them lightweight and durable.
Some high-end tripods are also made using carbon-fiber material which is rust proof, stable and extremely durable. Tripods legs are either tubular or non-tubular in shape. Most tripods legs have a threaded twist-lock system to make them more secure and safe.
Depending on the height of the tripod, the legs might have 3 to 5 sections. Tripods with multiple sections are higher, but have less stability. Some high-end tripods come with different types of feet that can be replaced to make it stable on different types of surfaces such as ice, rocks, wood, marble, etc. A tripod head is the most important part of the tripod system that holds the camera securely and controls its movement. It has to be bought separately. There are 3 main types of tripod heads —. This is one of the most versatile tripods available on the market that comes from a reputed brand and has great functionality.
This tripod has more than two dozen leg joints with rubberized rings and foot grip that allows you to bend, tilt and rotate the tripod to degrees and achieve any angle. The sturdy legs can support up to 3kgs weight and is suitable for DSLRs with zoom lenses, video cameras and camcorders. The quick-release clip and stainless steel tripod screw allows you to set and detach the cameras quickly. The tripod is made from quality aluminium, medical-grade ABS plastic, German TPE and stainless steel which make it durable and lightweight. Check Latest Price On Amazon.
This is the best portable tripod in the list that is lightweight and provides great stability to the camera. This 3 section tripod has full length of 20mm and is made from aluminium alloy which makes it lightweight yet durable. The tripod comes with a pistol grip style ball head that allows quick camera set up and positioning. The ball head can be rotated degrees to cover all perspectives. The strong canopy, anti-spin central column, anti-shock ring, non-slip legs and angled rubber feet provides stability to the tripod on all types of surfaces and makes it more secure.
This is yet another lightweight and portable tripod kit that offers good support, stability and security to your camera and comes at a reasonable price. This tripod is made using quality aluminium and plastic joints which makes it lightweight and durable, weighing just 1. This is a professional grade tripod from Digitek that provides amazing stability and flexibility.
The tripod is made using quality aluminium and comes with rubberized legs which makes it lightweight, stable and durable. The quick release function of the ball head allows easy set up and detaching of the camera from the tripod. Maximum height of the legs — 4.
This tripod is made from quality aluminium with plastic anti-slip shoes which makes it lightweight, durable and stable. The dimensions of the tripod are This is a standard quality tripod from Simplex that does a decent job of providing stability and support to your camera. The multi-section legs and geared center column of the tripod are made suing quality aluminium which makes it lightweight and durable.
The legs come with independent leg adjustments for better stability and extra wide stance. The leg tips are radial. The quick release mounting platform ensures fast set up and detachment of the camera from the tripod. The tripod can take maximum load of up to grams or 3kgs. The weight of the tripod is 1. This is yet another basic tripod from Simplex that is extremely lightweight and has a sleek and compact design.
This tripod is made using quality aluminium with oval section which makes it durable, lightweight and stable. It features a 2-pin platform with 3-way pan head and bubble level which helps to keep the camera aligned. Folded length of the tripod is millimeters, maximum operating height is millimeters and load capacity is 3 kgs.
The weight of the tripod is just 1 kg. The legs come with quick flip level lock which makes it easy to adjust the height of the tripod as required. The folded length of the tripod is M, maximum operating height is MM, maximum load capacity is 5 kgs and weight of the tripod is 1. This is a sleek and stylish mini tripod from a reputed brand that can support compact system cameras weighting up to 1 kg. This tripod comes with a comfortable hand grip that can be used to capture smooth and shake-free videos as well.
This is a highly flexible and versatile tripod that comes with wrappable legs having more than 2 dozen leg joints which allow you to take pictures from any angle and any direction. This is a decent quality mini tripod with impressive features that is available at a reasonable price. This mini tripod is made using quality stainless steel and plastic material and come with adjustable-height metal legs 4.
The legs of the tripod are extremely flexible and come with multiple joints which can be bending at any angle and wrapped around branches. This tripod comes from a reputed band and has high level of functionality. The tripod is extremely flexible thanks to the multiple leg joints so it can be bend, tilted and rotated in any direction. This tripod system comes with a ball head that allows smooth rotation of the camera. Some of the small ones could even fit in airline luggage.
To keep a check on the weight, they are generally made of plastic or carbon fiber. They are useful as they obliterate camera shake to an absolute zero. Needless to say, with just one leg they stand lighter and easier to carry and handle as compared to the standard tripod. Interestingly, monopods can come in handy in places like a studio where they allow a good deal of freedom to the cameraman to move around in contrast to the three-legged structure. Studio Tripod Studio tripods are heavy duty tripods meant for professional use and handling a large front camera. They are generally big and heavy as compared to the others and not recommended for traveling with.
You ought to buy a studio tripod if either you wish to use it for a static use i.
Otherwise, a travel tripod will suffice to satisfy all your outdoor and indoor needs. Specialized Tripod Specialized tripods are special function tripods to provide you with better options in terms of placement of the tripods to take photographs from various angles or at different places. These are generally used for custom uses or highly customized and specific applications. Some of the types are Suction Cup Tripods and Flexible legs tripods.
To give an example, you could wrap a flexible leg tripod around a tree stem or a rock at the beach to take a photo. Now that we have gathered a fair idea of the tripod type choices that we have, we need to give consideration to the various aspects that decide what makes a tripod fit for your use. As a prospective buyer of a tripod, you must weigh the following elements in order to arrive at the one that you will be bringing home.
Here is a list of a few specifications that the buyer should keep in mind while looking to buy a tripod. Collapsing size refers to the size of the tripod when it is closed. This is an important factor as it decides which of the aforementioned categories your tripod falls into.
With this information, you can easily choose one which fits your requirements. The weight of the tripod that you will be using should be to your convenience, and that I feel, is the only driving factor while considering the weight. For example, if you would be traveling a lot, it is prudent to choose a lighter one.
If you are to be using it in your studio, you might go for a heavier model with better features. Tripods made of carbon fiber are lighter as compared to those of aluminum, though the former are considerably expensive as compared to the latter. The fundamental function of the tripod is to enable you to place the camera at a variety of heights to position it perfectly. Therefore, extension height is one of the prime considerations for a tripod.
Your own height can be the guide to decide the maximum height of your tripod. If it falls too short, the cameraman will have to bend down making him uneasy. Moreover, every extra centimeter can come in handy when shooting on uneven terrain or over obstacles.
The tripod must be able to support the weight of the camera equipment. You must be careful to choose that, it can support a weight that is fairly larger approximately 1. This is to keep a margin of safety. While you shoot you place your hands over the camera and exert some extra force that the tripod has to support.
This should be taken into account. Moreover, you might add some extra equipment such as a battery grip or use a heavier camera in the future and a slightly higher rating will take care of that. A tripod head does not come with the tripod and has to be bought separately. The head secures the camera to the tripod and controls its movement. The tripod heads come in different forms, pan-tilt, ball-head, gimbal head, to name the predominantly available types.
The pan-tilt head has a single control or a dual one depending on allowing movement in one direction horizontal , or both directions horizontal and vertical. The ball-head is better than pan-tilt as it is flexible and has a better operation with better security for the camera. The gimbal head is a special head to be used for heavier lenses. Keep in mind that the material is important for deciding the strength and the eventual weight of the tripod.
Tripods are generally made of aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium, though wood might also be used in larger tripods. Pocket tripods are made up of plastic too in addition to the other materials that have been mentioned. Aluminum and Titanium tripods are, needless to mention, heavier and cheaper as compared to the carbon fiber tripods. It should be noted that when it comes to sturdiness, aluminum beats carbon fiber. Aluminum will take a shock and a depression will be the result but there are possibilities that a carbon fiber tripod will snap at the same shock.
A quick release system is available for securing the camera to the head. The best-known system is Arka Swiss quick release system which is used as an informal standard among manufacturers of the quick release system. This system is an improvement over the previously used threaded system which was highly inconvenient and cumbersome to use. Buying one with this system would help you in smooth operation. So far we have had a look at the essentials to be mindful of when buying a tripod. Now, we discuss some of the best products available that you could buy and why you should buy them.
Manfrotto Compact Advanced Tripod is an aluminum body and yet light enough for you to haul it on your back and carry with you to your next camping trip.