A reason to choose two tripods

Friday 24 October 2025, 22:55 by Nando Harmsen | 2,340 views | 5 comments

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

A tripod can be an essential tool for your photography. Long shutter speeds, stability and convenience, a tripod serves several purposes. It can be useful to have two.

For some, a tripod is a pain to use. That is more to do with the way it is set up than anything else. If you do it properly, it is a pleasure to use. It increases your options and convenience.

My Gitzo GT3542LS, large, relatively heavy, but very robust.
Do you choose a large, heavy and robust tripod? Or would you be better off with a compact, lightweight but sturdy tripod? The choice is not always easy.

In fact, there is no single tripod that is ideal for every situation. Sometimes a large and heavy tripod is the best choice, while at other times a lightweight and compact model is better. The conclusion is simple. Make sure you have two.

For situations where stability and sturdiness are most important, choose the large, heavy one. This could be on the beach in the surf, or in strong winds. Or when you are using heavy equipment.

My Gitzo GT1550 Traveller tripod. Small, light, and still sturdy enough to use a telephoto zoom lens.
Are you covering a lot of distance, or travelling? Then a large and heavy tripod is not very practical. In that case, a lightweight and compact tripod is the better choice. As long as it is stable, which is important.

You choose the tripod for the use you have in mind. In both cases, you are making compromises. Either you have a heavy tripod that is not ideal for travelling. Or you have a lightweight and compact tripod that sacrifices some stability.

Choose the tripod that is most suitable for what you are going to do.
That is why you should consider having two tripods. You will always have the right one. It may be a considerable investment, but it is certainly worthwhile.

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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.

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5 comments

Paul van Aken wrote on Tuesday 28 October 2025 at 12:11 | reply
Exactly how I approach it. At the time I bought a Giottos tripod, heavy, stable and tall. But a drag to take on holiday. Then I saw an advert for a Rollei(!) lightweight carbon tripod, still stable, less tall, but oh so light and easy to take along.
Every disadvantage has its advantage, Johan once said.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Wednesday 29 October 2025 at 22:52 | reply
Who is Johan?
Translated from Dutch.

Thierry Hoornaert wrote on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at 15:13 | reply
The saying "every disadvantage has its advantage" means that a disadvantageous situation can also have a positive side, often in an unexpected way. The saying is often attributed to Johan Cruijff, although Willem van Hanegem claims that he was the one who came up with it.
Translated from Dutch.

Thierry Hoornaert wrote on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at 15:23 | reply
Wouldn't it be useful to be able to strengthen and/or expand a 'travel' tripod with a few handy and lightweight separate parts?... What about a section with "tips and tricks for resourceful and handy photographers"?
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at 15:38 | reply
Instead of reinforcing a travel tripod with all kinds of separate things, you’re better off simply choosing a good travel tripod right away.
Nothing is more upsetting than watching your expensive camera/lens fall onto the rocks of a little beach and break because you skimped on a good tripod.
Translated from Dutch.

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