Looking for a tripod? Choose two of the three options

Friday 29 September 2023, 16:32 by Nando Harmsen | 3,864 views | 7 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Are you looking for a tripod? That can be a challenge. It needs to be sturdy, lightweight and preferably cheap too. All these requirements seem impossible to combine. When you start looking, choose two of the three options.

There is a lot to say about tripods. What should you look for when buying one, how should you set up a tripod, and how important is proper operation? Do not underestimate this, because you are entrusting your expensive equipment to this three-legged support.

Using a cheap, lightweight tripod with large, heavy equipment is comparable to what you see in this photo. So to speak.
For a lot of photography, a tripod is essential. In most cases, a slower shutter speed plays the leading role. In other words, those moments when you cannot keep the camera still for long enough without support.

To give a few examples: night photography and long exposures with neutral density filters. Landscapes at times of day when there is not much light left, and when you want to make multiple exposures for focus stacking or exposure bracketing.

Long exposures require a good, sturdy tripod.
A tripod is also useful when using long focal lengths. When the lens is so heavy that fatigue starts to play a role while holding it. Naturally, a tripod can also be useful for macro photography or panoramic photography.

When you have to choose a tripod in the shop, there are many things to consider. In fact, it comes down to the following three points: stability, weight and price. To make things easy for you, or perhaps not, I offer you the following statement.

Stable. Lightweight. Cheap. Choose the two that matter most.

Whether this makes choosing a tripod any easier remains to be seen. It can, however, make you think. Perhaps it will make you realise that the ideal tripod does not exist, regardless of what some manufacturers would have you believe.

Good use depends on many factors. Remember that stable, lightweight and cheap do not go together.

Share: WhatsApp Facebook

About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

Be sensible, buy a good tripod
by Nando Harmsen
A reason to choose two tripods
by Nando Harmsen
Review: Sirui L324F with KS-G3 geared tripod head
by Nando Harmsen
The extra costs of buying a new camera
by Nando Harmsen
Don't buy pointless camera gear
by Nando Harmsen
Why I Never Use a Tripod
by Elvira Smit

Show every article in Basics

home

7 comments

Donald Willemsen wrote on Tuesday 3 October 2023 at 11:41 | reply
Nando, if you are looking for a stable tripod, it seems to me that you are best off with a tripod without a center column, so that you place the tripod head directly on the tripod where the three legs come together.
Do you want a lightweight tripod, then you go for carbon.
Then you still need a good tripod head. If it is about being able to make very precise adjustments with the tripod head, you soon end up with a geared head. Just like with a carbon tripod, there are different price ranges for geared heads. The load capacity of both the tripod and the tripod head is also important.
The problem will always be the budget. But apart from that, you do want to have something good. I have had enough bad purchases in the past, for example ball heads that still sag after setting them (with my current ball head I no longer have that problem).
Due to physical circumstances, I want to focus more on working with a tripod and monopod to do macro, landscape and panoramic photography.
Then I think I would be best off with a geared head as far as the tripod head is concerned. I have seen in courses you give that you also use a geared head on your tripod.
Can you advise me in which price range and which brand I should look for? Taking the load capacity of the head into account.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 10 October 2023 at 09:56 | reply
Your arguments about a center column are very personal. There are situations in which using a center column does not pose a significant problem. The weight of the equipment, focal length, and quality of the tripod all play a role.
I don't use a geared head, I use a ball head.
I can't give advice like this without knowing what kind of budget you have and how heavy your heaviest setup is.
Translated from Dutch.

Paul wrote on Tuesday 3 October 2023 at 12:52 | reply
Hi Nando,
I have the idea that there was more to write about this......
I myself have two tripods,one very thick and heavy one, with a rotating and reversible center column, and a working height (you forgot that in your piece) of about 1m80. I use these when I don't have to lug them around too much, or when I don't go on holiday with my own transport.
In addition, a much smaller carbon tripod, with less height, but still able to keep the more than 3 kilos of my D500 + Sigma 150-600 under control. That last tripod also gives me the possibility of unscrewing one leg, and converting it into a monopod, so that thing comes along on trips.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 10 October 2023 at 09:59 | reply
Indeed, much more could be written about it. For articles, you have to limit yourself, since you can never tell everything within a text of reasonable length.
Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that you can never find all three of the things mentioned in a tripod.
Translated from Dutch.

Paul eos wrote on Wednesday 4 October 2023 at 09:49 | reply
Hi Donald, I don't agree that you're better off with a tripod without a center column.
I am lucky to have a sturdy tripod with a center column that can also be positioned horizontally. For macro photography in nature, such a tripod is certainly recommended to be able to position yourself properly, unless you pick or move something, but that's not done for me.
Translated from Dutch.

Donald Willemsen wrote on Wednesday 4 October 2023 at 10:50 | reply
Hello Paul, I understand your point of view. I also have a tripod with a single center column that I can also place upside down in the tripod. That is also useful for macro photography in itself. What I meant is that when you raise the center column to a high position with the camera/lens combination on it, the stability of the tripod decreases. The risk of it tipping over/being blown over increases. That is the reason for me to say that a tripod without a center column is still preferable.
For macro photography close to the ground, I use my Sirui P-325FS carbon monopod, from which I can remove the bottom part with the 3 feet, as well as the head at the top. I click those 2 parts together and then have a small Table tripod on which I place my macro rail.
So you work with a tilted center column and I work with the method described above. There is something to be said for both and everyone makes their own choice. Your way of working is fine by me too. For higher situations in macro photography I of course use a tripod.
Just like you, I also leave flowers and plants where they are in nature. For me too, the rule applies: respect nature.
Paul, good that you provided some pushback. That way you can learn something from each other once in a while.
Translated from Dutch.

Paul eos wrote on Wednesday 4 October 2023 at 15:48 | reply
Thank you Donald for your constructive answer.
Translated from Dutch.

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.

Become a better photographer every week

A practical photography tip in your inbox every week.
39,191 photography enthusiasts already receive the tips! More about the weekly mail. Or keep up to date via Facebook. Sign-up secured with Google reCaptcha.

Elja Trum

Photofacts; everything to do with photography!

Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about Photofacts

Photofacts is made possible in part by