Choosing a camera tripod

 

Your three legged friend

 

There comes a time when a photographer comes to realise that holding the camera by hand is often just not going to cut it! It's then that the search for a tripod starts. Over the years I have accrued several tripods. The one I use most often is probably over 20 years old and has definitely seen better days. It's currently patched up with jubilee clips and cable ties and should really be replaced. However it's as sturdy as it ever was and operates perfectly well.
Choosing a tripod generally comes down to 3 things.
 
  1. Weight,
  2. Stability
  3. Budget.
It's often a case of pick any 2! In that, if you want something lightweight and stable, it's going to cost. Or cheap and lightweight, it's possibly not going to be so stable etc. The type of photography you are interested in will affect the specifications your going to be interested in. A landscape photographer who is hiking to locations, is going to be looking for something more lightweight. Where as for someone working mainly in a studio weight is not going to be an issue. Wildlife photographers using long lenses are going to put stability higher on the list and macro photographers will probably be looking for a versatile tripod that can be adjusted to get low to the ground etc. However don't worry if you are still searching for your niche as most tripods are going to be capable of covering most eventualities.
 
When it comes to buying a tripod, I personally feel its important to "test drive" it rather than just buying one on line. Only then can you get a true feel for its weight, stability when extended, build quality, how the locks feel etc. There are a lot of things to take into account for example carbon fibre ones tend to be lightweight and strong but as you can imagine generally have a higher price tag. However its well worth investing extra time, effort (and possibly money) choosing a tripod, as a good one can give you excellent service for a very long time (I have ones that are even older than the 20 year one and are still fine!).
 

Getting Ahead

 
The other thing to decide is the type of head you want to have on it and this tends to be a personal preference. There are 2 main types. 
 

A Ball Head

 
For general photography a ball head is possibly quicker for framing as you can move in all 3 axis at the same time before locking into position. Some have a separate horizontal panning facility and others work on a pistol grip principle where you squeeze to adjust and release to lock into position. One drawback comes with larger and heavier lenses and cameras which can be too much for all but heavy duty versions to handle.
 

A Three Axis Type

 
With this type each axis is normally locked independently. Although possibly slightly slower in use, it offers the opportunity to set one axis at a time without worrying about moving any of the others. This can be useful in panoramic and video use where pans and tilts can be performed easily by just adjusting the one axis.
 
 

A few hints on using a tripod.

 
  1. Try to raise the centre column as little as you can get away with, as the higher it is the more unstable the camera can become.
  2. A hook attached to the bottom of the centre column is useful to hang your camera bag or other weighty object on. The extra weight can add to the stability.
  3. If you have to work inside with a tripod, old thick socks over the tripods feet can help protect carpets and floors from dirt and scuff marks.
  4. Similarly if you have to set up a tripod in water or messy conditions, bin bags wrapped around the legs can help keep them dry and clean.



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