What makes a good tripod?
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The main thing to look for is getting one sturdy enough so it doesn't wobble if there's a bit of wind.
Some can collapse down pretty small so are easier to fit in a bag. Lightweight also helps if you are carrying them around.
You'll need to consider what the maximum and minimum usable height is (Different sizes and some are more adjustable than others.)
Some have a centre column which can pull out and swing around for better positioning of the camera getting it down to near ground level.
There are two parts to a tripod; the legs and the head (the swivily bit you attatch the camera to).
The legs and head are often sold seperatly and you will need both parts.
Some can collapse down pretty small so are easier to fit in a bag. Lightweight also helps if you are carrying them around.
You'll need to consider what the maximum and minimum usable height is (Different sizes and some are more adjustable than others.)
Some have a centre column which can pull out and swing around for better positioning of the camera getting it down to near ground level.
There are two parts to a tripod; the legs and the head (the swivily bit you attatch the camera to).
The legs and head are often sold seperatly and you will need both parts.
PSILVERMAN
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Buy the best one you can possibly afford. Buy once and it'll last a lifetime. Cheap tripods do not last and like anything you get what you pay for.
philthejuggler
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I think the true answer to that question is - it depends!
Different tripod legs and heads are useful for different purposes - I currently have three sets of legs - each with different heads.
Definitely buy a good quality one that you like the undoing-the-leg action on. As for heads - again personal preference - three-way-heads are slow but easy to make subtle adjustments whereas balls heads (and the ball-based joystick heads) are quicker, but less easy to make tiny adjustments. If you have cash to burn the top quality Manfrotto hydrostatic heads are gorgeous!
Phil
Different tripod legs and heads are useful for different purposes - I currently have three sets of legs - each with different heads.
Definitely buy a good quality one that you like the undoing-the-leg action on. As for heads - again personal preference - three-way-heads are slow but easy to make subtle adjustments whereas balls heads (and the ball-based joystick heads) are quicker, but less easy to make tiny adjustments. If you have cash to burn the top quality Manfrotto hydrostatic heads are gorgeous!
Phil
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There's an old cliche when it comes to tripods but it's got a lot of truth in it: "You can have two of the following but not all three - stable, light, cheap".
Generally speaking, extended centre columns greatly reduce stability (and are best left as low as they will go). As with most things, choosing a tripod is an exercise in compromise.
There are loads of 'tripod threads' here and a quick search should provide a lot of information, opinion and difference of personal choice.
Generally speaking, extended centre columns greatly reduce stability (and are best left as low as they will go). As with most things, choosing a tripod is an exercise in compromise.
There are loads of 'tripod threads' here and a quick search should provide a lot of information, opinion and difference of personal choice.
mrjames
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god, you can go insane looking for a tripod
in my eyes what makes a good tripod is ratio's: ratio of folded size to unfolded size, weight to stability, price to value
a good tripod (and head) just gets out the way and allows you to take pictures, the best tripod would be a levitating camera.
I have 5 tripods and i'm in the market for a new one. I have a manfrotto 190 which I really don't like as the leg locks are terrible and it's fairly stable but really suseptible to resonance, I use a giottos vitruvian as my main tripod, a great tripod because it folds so small it can go in a satchel, nice ball head too, but the central column and the smallest leg section are very unstable so really it's only belly button high for maximum stability. I also use a velbon dv7000 in the studio, which is very heavy and a little bulky, but incredibly stable even when head high- i'm selling it through to fund some gitzo legs (much £££)
I have 2 other no name tripods I have so much regret for, awful things.
You can tell a good tripod by putting the biggest lens you have on to the head and using 10x live view to see how much the images shakes if you tap the leg with your finger nail- if it's a resonant tripod the image will do like a 'micro' shake for many seconds, a good tripod will shake but then instantly stop.
Also by taking a picture at 1/2 second shutter speed (no slower, and no faster- exactly 1/2 second) and then just looking at the image
it's actually crazy how much difference a good tripod will make- they're right when they say you should spend more on a tripod than a lens, because i've seen first hand that a proper tripod, and proper technique can increase sharpness more than any L lens, and help you get the most out of your lenses.
In my ideal world I will have a gitzo as my heavyweight tripod and then the giottos as a travel tripod, but I might have a long look at the benro folding tripods (the travel angels)
in my eyes what makes a good tripod is ratio's: ratio of folded size to unfolded size, weight to stability, price to value
a good tripod (and head) just gets out the way and allows you to take pictures, the best tripod would be a levitating camera.
I have 5 tripods and i'm in the market for a new one. I have a manfrotto 190 which I really don't like as the leg locks are terrible and it's fairly stable but really suseptible to resonance, I use a giottos vitruvian as my main tripod, a great tripod because it folds so small it can go in a satchel, nice ball head too, but the central column and the smallest leg section are very unstable so really it's only belly button high for maximum stability. I also use a velbon dv7000 in the studio, which is very heavy and a little bulky, but incredibly stable even when head high- i'm selling it through to fund some gitzo legs (much £££)
I have 2 other no name tripods I have so much regret for, awful things.
You can tell a good tripod by putting the biggest lens you have on to the head and using 10x live view to see how much the images shakes if you tap the leg with your finger nail- if it's a resonant tripod the image will do like a 'micro' shake for many seconds, a good tripod will shake but then instantly stop.
Also by taking a picture at 1/2 second shutter speed (no slower, and no faster- exactly 1/2 second) and then just looking at the image
it's actually crazy how much difference a good tripod will make- they're right when they say you should spend more on a tripod than a lens, because i've seen first hand that a proper tripod, and proper technique can increase sharpness more than any L lens, and help you get the most out of your lenses.
In my ideal world I will have a gitzo as my heavyweight tripod and then the giottos as a travel tripod, but I might have a long look at the benro folding tripods (the travel angels)
Dave in Wales
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One word....'Stability'......Oh, and don't forget what it's standing on, that has to be stable to, carpet is a no-no.
My Manfrotto has a hook that I hang lead weights from.
My Manfrotto has a hook that I hang lead weights from.
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shaylou
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This may seem like silly advise but I promise it's not.
One of the most important parts in choosing a tripod is choosing one that you will use. I have seen people buy their first tripod and never use them because they are to big or heavy to carry around.
One of the most important parts in choosing a tripod is choosing one that you will use. I have seen people buy their first tripod and never use them because they are to big or heavy to carry around.
mrjames
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that being said, i'm talking about noticable, but pretty minor differences in sharpness, the kind of thing that only really comes up as in a big big print, so as everyone says 'the travel tripod you have with you' is better than the rock solid tripod back at home'
just to be on the safe side i'd always take 2 or 3 pictures in case one was slightly blurred from the wind
you can spend £890 on a gitzo than will be steady as a rock, guaranteed- but it won't make your photos any better, so don't go crazy expensive, but then a £20 tripod will likely give you bad shots, you'll end up being ****ed off at it and you'll throw it away, so don't go super cheap either, most of the tripods you'll find at jessops will be cheap, annoying, regretful tripods that are the sole reason that most amateur photographers hate tripods
the travel angel is a good buy- stable, light, folds small and in the future if you want to get a larger tripod for heavier lenses the travel angel will still be good as a small tripod
but whatever you do, if you set your heart on it just find a way to get it, when I bought my vitruvian I really wanted the travel angel, but didn't want to spend the money- but now i've decided that I do want the carbon fibre travel angel still, so unless I sell the vitruvian i'll have lost the money I paid for it! In short, but what you really want or you'll never be happy
just to be on the safe side i'd always take 2 or 3 pictures in case one was slightly blurred from the wind
you can spend £890 on a gitzo than will be steady as a rock, guaranteed- but it won't make your photos any better, so don't go crazy expensive, but then a £20 tripod will likely give you bad shots, you'll end up being ****ed off at it and you'll throw it away, so don't go super cheap either, most of the tripods you'll find at jessops will be cheap, annoying, regretful tripods that are the sole reason that most amateur photographers hate tripods
the travel angel is a good buy- stable, light, folds small and in the future if you want to get a larger tripod for heavier lenses the travel angel will still be good as a small tripod
but whatever you do, if you set your heart on it just find a way to get it, when I bought my vitruvian I really wanted the travel angel, but didn't want to spend the money- but now i've decided that I do want the carbon fibre travel angel still, so unless I sell the vitruvian i'll have lost the money I paid for it! In short, but what you really want or you'll never be happy
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I've acquired a number of tripods over the years, from people who wanted to find a good home. Most I never use. Legs too awkward, wind-up mechanism sticks, too heavy to carry, the list goes on.
I don't do much photography that really needs a tripod, but I was in The Flash Centre idly looking at the range they offer, and the carbon fibre as certainly attractive, apart from the price. For stability, go for one you can hang your camera bag on to weight it down.
I don't do much photography that really needs a tripod, but I was in The Flash Centre idly looking at the range they offer, and the carbon fibre as certainly attractive, apart from the price. For stability, go for one you can hang your camera bag on to weight it down.
FourRingCircus
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I have a Slik easi-glide which was originally designed for video use and as such, it's not desperately lightweight, but it's not too heavy for walking about with. Being a 20+ year old video tripod it can easily cope with a 5+kg load from my lens/camera. It has a fluid pan/tilt head, quick release plate, good adjustment and does everything I need it to. However, I'm looking at a Wimberley head now and I'm unsure if it will fit on my tripod. Is there a standard fitting on tripods across the board for the way heads are mounted?
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Terrywoodenpic
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Tripods are always a compromise.
But wooden tripods are some of the very best.
They tend to be light for the stability and strength they offer.
They vibrate less than any other. They naturally dampen.
They don't give you frost bite in the cold
how ever they rarely pack down short. ( some do)
Wood is used for the heavy large format tripods. (eg. Gandolfi)
Wood has been used for the finest surveying tripods where stability is vital ( eg. Leica)
Some examples here....
http://www.wooden-tripods.com/index.html
http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=firma&sprache=english
But wooden tripods are some of the very best.
They tend to be light for the stability and strength they offer.
They vibrate less than any other. They naturally dampen.
They don't give you frost bite in the cold
how ever they rarely pack down short. ( some do)
Wood is used for the heavy large format tripods. (eg. Gandolfi)
Wood has been used for the finest surveying tripods where stability is vital ( eg. Leica)
Some examples here....
http://www.wooden-tripods.com/index.html
http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=firma&sprache=english
mrjames
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Is there a standard fitting on tripods across the board for the way heads are mounted?
yes, there are 2- one with a chunky thread (3cm wide) and another about 1/3 the diameter (about 1cm across)
you can get an adaptor to go from thin to chunky, but not the other way round. I have tripod that came with one or the other- my video tripod has the thinner fitting
im looking into getting a tripod for an up coming france fishing trip, but its what to buy like you say you can spend little money on a tripod use it once n hate it or, spend a decent amount and use it once so its justifiying the cost
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They have 1/4 whit and 3/8th whit threads or 1/4 20 thread in the USA. (same thing) You can get thread adapters 1/4 to 3/8 and the other way round but they are quite large disks with a 1/4 female and 3/8 male the other side.
However most tripods come with the 1/4 inch these days amd most heads with 3/8 with a 1/4 thread adapter supplied.
In the 30's and 40's the 1/4 was know as english and the 3/8 continental (even though they were both british threads.)
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weybourne
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Think a tripod will be my next purchase.
can see this becoming a bit of an expensive hobby (addiction almost) and thats me not even started on the expensive lenses yet!
I started off buying a camera to get me started then decided i liked the look of long exposure photos. Filters bought but finding it difficult to get decent shots without a tripod!
Not sure how many times i'll be able to convince the Mrs its a must need piece of kit and that i got it for a bargain price!
can see this becoming a bit of an expensive hobby (addiction almost) and thats me not even started on the expensive lenses yet!
I started off buying a camera to get me started then decided i liked the look of long exposure photos. Filters bought but finding it difficult to get decent shots without a tripod!
Not sure how many times i'll be able to convince the Mrs its a must need piece of kit and that i got it for a bargain price!
DizMatt
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good thread
I use a tripod but only when needed.
I've been told that I should use one nearly all the time!
however, brass tacks. I won't spend too much money on them atm
I have a 30 ish quid velbon which does the job, but I wouldn't leave it alone in a strong wind. It's lasted me a few years, is as light as you need and works a treat. Nothing like a pro piece of kit though.
for this coming 12 months I need something more stable.
£90 for a carbon fibre jobbie (still quite heavy I think) from Jessops. looks good performance vs price.
having said that I bought a £50 aluminium monopod + ball head for my long lens for the recent airshow and DAMN it was helpful!
if you're starting out, then cheap is possible (worked for occasional use), and it will still work but the quality means that I'd not trust it 100%!
I use a tripod but only when needed.
I've been told that I should use one nearly all the time!
however, brass tacks. I won't spend too much money on them atm
I have a 30 ish quid velbon which does the job, but I wouldn't leave it alone in a strong wind. It's lasted me a few years, is as light as you need and works a treat. Nothing like a pro piece of kit though.
for this coming 12 months I need something more stable.
£90 for a carbon fibre jobbie (still quite heavy I think) from Jessops. looks good performance vs price.
having said that I bought a £50 aluminium monopod + ball head for my long lens for the recent airshow and DAMN it was helpful!
if you're starting out, then cheap is possible (worked for occasional use), and it will still work but the quality means that I'd not trust it 100%!
markmullen
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I use two tripods, one is a Manfrotto 055XProB which is fitted with a Manfrotto 438 levelling head, a Novoflex 360 degree panorama plate and a Manfrotto 405 geared head. Together it is a weighty old beast but very solid, I use it when I am close to the car and don't need to walk far.
My travel tripod is a Gitzo carbon fibre mountaineer with a Manfrotto 410 geared head, it is much lighter, very small when folder up and I use it for walking, travelling etc. It won't go as high as the Manfrotto, nor is it quite as sturdy.
I use a tripod for 99% of my landscapes, with that and liveview aligning filters becomes a much easier job.
My travel tripod is a Gitzo carbon fibre mountaineer with a Manfrotto 410 geared head, it is much lighter, very small when folder up and I use it for walking, travelling etc. It won't go as high as the Manfrotto, nor is it quite as sturdy.
I use a tripod for 99% of my landscapes, with that and liveview aligning filters becomes a much easier job.