Which digital camera tripod is the right for you?

Buying a digital camera tripod – what to consider?

A digital camera tripod is one of the most important accessories for the enthusiastic photographer. One reason few beginner photographers and also many amateurs photographers do not use a tripod is the size and weight when carrying the tripod along.

When you choose a tripod, the weight of your camera equipment will be of importance as a heavier camera will need a sturdy tripod likely to be heavier. You should check the tripod specification which gives the maximum camera weight the tripod can handle.

Luckily the new carbon fiber tripods are now available. These are lighter but still sturdy tripods. Unfortunately the carbon fiber tripods are more expensive. Traditional tripods are made of aluminum. These are the cheaper alternative, but weight more. It is your decision and how much money you want to spend on the tripod.

Types of digital camera tripod

Most digital camera tripod consist of two parts, the tripod with its legs, and the attachment on top – the tripod head. The head is where you attach your camera. The head is flexible so you can adjust the camera and shot in every possible angle.

The cheapest types of tripods do not have the possibility to change the tripod head. Most of these tripods are pan and tilt type. You can get them for less than $ 50. More advanced professional tripods have changeable tripod heads for different use.

Tripods come in different heights from a few centimeters and up to eyelevel of a standing adult. The height you need for the tripod depends on how you plan to use it. If you shoot landscape most of the time a higher one is more convenient as you can stay comfortable in front of the tripod. Shooting macro of flowers requires a tripod that can be adjusted to a very low height, just above the ground. Also consider the minimum length of the tripod when collapsed.

A tripods legs are extendable and consisting of 3 or 4 sections. There are two common types of lock mechanisms when extending the legs. The first type is a snapping mechanism and the other a turning type of lock and unlock mechanism. You should try both to find which one you prefer. The most important with the tripod itself at the end is the stability and weight.

The tripod head

There are two types of tripod heads – the ball head and the pan and tilt head.

The ball head has only one lock screw. This allows a fast adjustments and the camera can be positioned in any position very quick

The disadvantage with the ball heads is they can be difficult to use if you have a camera with a heavy (and long) telephoto lens attached. If you want to pan the camera to the left with a ball head you have to loosen the knob, with the risk you also by mistake will tilt the camera up or down as well.

Another possible disadvantage with the ball head is if you fail to tighten the ball head lock well enough, you might experience the camera will move slightly out of position. But of course if you buy a quality ball head, this is not a problem.

A pan and tilt head have three separate locking handles or knobs, one for each of the axis. You can position the camera in three directions very precisely.

Differently from the ball head, in this case you only loosen the handle you actually need to adjust.

If you only want to pan the camera to the right, you open this handle without the risk of tilting the camera up or down. It takes a little longer to adjust, but as soon you have the camera in the right position the pan head is very precise and stable.

Other types of tripods

Monopod
is simply a pole, adjustable for height, with a camera fitting on the end. If you think a regular tripod is too heavy to carry, a monopod is a good alternative as they provide far more stability compared to a hand held camera. Using a telephoto lens over a longer time can be a physical challenge. In this case the Monopod will be a great support.

Table type tripods
are much smaller and are my preferred tripod when traveling on short trips. It extends to just 50 centimeters high, and only 20 centimeters when collapsed. This is of course not a very stable option, but does the work most of the time.

Summary – the most important to consider before buying a digital camera tripod

Tripod and tripod head weight
Tripod max height
Min length when tripod is collapsed
Stability when loaded - like in windy conditions etc.
Maximum weight the tripod can hold
Type of locking mechanism for the legs
Mid column swing out - for low on the ground photos

For more in-depth information on the variety of tripods have a look at the web sites of the most reputed manufactures.

Manfrotto is maybe the most famous of them with a broad range of quality tripods. In the lower price range the tripods from Benro are good value for the money and worth considering. In the higher price range are the tripods from Gitzo. Velbon and Giottos are two other brands to consider.

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