What to consider when buying a tripod?

Weight and Load Capacity

• Payload rating:  Ensure the tripod can support at least 1.5 to 2 times the total weight of your heaviest camera and lens combination.

• Portability vs. stability:  Heavier tripods resist wind and movement better, while lighter travel options are easier to carry on hikes. Each photographer has their sweet spot between these two.   

• To test stability, put the tripod to full height, lock the legs, head and any other moving parts. Place your hand on the top where the camera will attach, press down, then move your hand from side to side, front to back. The less the tripod moves, the more stable it will be.   

 

Materials

• Carbon fibre:  Lighter, stronger, and absorbs vibrations well,  the new normal.  

• Aluminum: Strong and affordable, but heavier to lug around and colder to touch in low temperatures. Very few professional grade tripods are made of Aluminum now.   

 

Height and Leg Design

• Eye-level height:  Choose a maximum height that matches your stature so you do not have to strain or bend over to look through the viewfinder. 

• Leg locks:  Pick between twist locks (compact and durable) or flip/lever locks (faster and easier to check visually).   

• Centre columns can be be an option, but note that when expended they introduce more instability.   

 

Tripod Heads

• Ball heads:  Fast to adjust and compact, ideal for general photography.

• Pan-tilt or fluid heads:  Best for smooth video tracking and precise multi-axis adjustments  

• Geared heads: Best for large format cameras and regular cameras with an L-bracket attached. An L-bracket attaches to the bottom of the camera and is two quick release plates at 90 degrees to each other, allowing the camera to be mounted horizontal and vertical.   

           
Final Note: modern digital cameras with stabilisation can compensate for movement several more stops hand held than without. This means that with a 24mm lens you can often hand hold to ¼ of a second, but check on the camera back to make sure the photo is sharp, if not, make again until it is. Working this way is not as predictable as using a tripod.

  

All photography is compromise, there is no perfect. Choose well.