How to select and use a tripod

By Anna Gay on January 14, 2018 | No Comments

How to Choose a Tripod

One of my favorite pieces of equipment is my tripod. I have incredibly unstable hands, and if I am shooting anything slower than 1/60th, I will end up with a blurry photo, no matter how hard I try to be still!

I wanted to write a post about tripods for anyone who shares my problem, and in doing some research for this post, I came to a conclusion: there is a lot of (often very confusing) information out there about tripods.

So in this post, I’m going to condense all of the information down to a few important factors that will help you select a tripod.

Why Use a Tripod?

There are hundreds of reasons why a tripod can be extremely useful, but here are some examples of why and when to use a tripod:

• To prevent camera shake and blur in your photos – having a tripod will ensure that your photos will be sharp, and will give you the option to shoot at a low ISO to minimize noise in your photos.
• As a support system for heavy camera/lens set ups – if you are on a long shoot, and you have a heavy set-up, you may find it helpful to put your camera on a tripod. Again, this will prevent camera shake when your arms get tired from carrying your camera.
• In night photography and long exposures – with either of these types of photography, a tripod is a necessity.
• Macro photography – when shooting macro, having exact focus is extremely important. Having your camera on a tripod will help you frame up your shot, and keep the focus exactly where you need it when you press the shutter release.

Choosing a Tripod

At this point, things tend to get a bit overwhelming when purchasing a tripod. Don’t worry, though. Just keep these 4 criteria in mind as you are making your selection:

So, if you’re shooting macro photos of flowers in your kitchen, you’ll be able to get by with a basic, inexpensive tripod. However, if you’re a landscape photographer and often find yourself on location, you’ll need something more sturdy. Let’s break it down a little further:

• Height: Determine how high — and how low to the ground, you will need your tripod to reach in order to achieve the type of look you’re going for. Also, consider your own height – if you’re tall, you’ll need a tripod that will extend high enough for you to comfortably use without having to hunch over. Many tripods also come with a center leg that will allow you to increase the height.
• Weight: If you’re going to be doing a lot of walking with your tripod, you may want to consider a lightweight material such as carbon fiber, or aluminum. Keep in mind, though, that carbon fiber tripods tend to be on the pricier side. Aluminum is much less expensive and only slightly heavier.
• Stability: Depending on the weight of your camera, and the type of terrain on which you’ll be using your tripod, stability is an important factor. The locks on the tripod legs come in either a flip lock, or a twist lock. Personally, I prefer the twist lock, as I have found that sometimes the flip locks do not lock-in all the way, and my camera slowly sinks, which can make a long exposure blurry due to the movement. Also, the feet of your tripod are important. I do a lot of shooting outdoors, so the feet on my tripod are rubber with a metal spike to secure it to the ground.
• Mobility: Being able to move your camera to varying angles on your tripod can be vitally important, especially in portrait photography. The tripod head is what allows you to move your camera around. Two of the most common types of heads are: Pan Tilt and Ball. The pan tilt head has handles that will allow you to move your camera to either portrait or landscape (vertical/horizontal). This is the most common type of tripod head, and is found on most of the lower-end tripods. The ball head allows a bit more flexibility, and is generally more expensive. These heads usually do not have handles, but do have a control to loosen the head as you move your camera into the desired position.

Tripods: Putting It All Together

Just like any type of photography equipment, as long as you take into consideration how you will be using this particular piece of equipment, you will find it much easier to select a great tripod.

If you don’t currently use a tripod, you may want to consider a low price, basic tripod, just to see how you like using it. Then, if you find that it becomes an essential piece of equipment for you, consider investing in a higher-quality tripod. Here’s a short list of popular tripods from Amazon:

Do you have any questions or comments about choosing a tripod? Leave us a comment below – we would love to hear from you! And PLEASE SHARE our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!

Anna Gay

Portrait Photographer

Anna Gay is a portrait photographer based in Athens, GA and the author of the dPS ebook The Art of Self-Portraiture. She also designs actions and textures for Photoshop. When she is not shooting or writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, and their two cats, Elphie and Fat Cat.

A tripod is one of the most important and often overlooked pieces of photographic equipment. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of it.

Why do you need a tripod

A tripod supports and stabilizes your camera. Without one, it’s almost impossible to do things like:

• Take pictures with a shutter speed longer than a fraction of a second without all being a fuzzy mess.
• Easily take self-portraits and group photos that include you.
• Keep your camera locked in the same position so you can take HDR photos or composite images (where you combine multiple photos into a single image).
• Use a long telephoto lens for long periods of time without massive back pain, shoulder pain and emotional pain.
• Make timelapse videos.

Get the right tripod for your needs

There are hundreds of different tripods that cost from $ 20 to over $ 1000. It is important to buy a tripod that fits your needs.

Tripods are available in two main materials: aluminum and carbon fiber. Aluminum is cheaper but heavier, while carbon fiber is lighter and more expensive. Many manufacturers make identical tripods in both materials.

There are two parts to any tripod: the legs of the tripod and the tripod head. The legs support the camera, while the head is where you attach the camera. Different heads allow you to position the camera in different ways. Cheap tripods can combine both, but most importantly, you will be able to buy the same tripod with a couple of different interchangeable heads.

There are loads of different styles of tripod heads, but the most important ones are:

• Ball Head: A bullet head is the cheapest and most common tripod head for photography. They are very flexible and allow you to position your camera in just about any way you want.
• Pan and Tilt Heads: A pan and tilt head locks your camera on two independently controlled axes. You can rotate the camera from one side to the other without affecting its tilt, or tilt the camera up and down without accidentally rotating it. This makes small adjustments and taking panoramic pictures easier. They are also better for video than ball heads.
• Gimbal Heads: A gimbal head supports heavy camera configurations while allowing you to move quickly as if you were holding it by hand. They are primarily aimed at wildlife and sports photographers, rather than people who want to lock their camera in a stable position.

Which tripod configuration you should get depends on your exact needs. If you just need something to hold your camera for family portraits, the cheapest thing you can buy with three legs will work. Just hold your camera steady for a split second.

On the other hand, if you want the tripod to keep your camera steady for a 30-second exposure – or a six-hour timelapse – then you have to invest in something much more stable. With tripods, you get what you pay for.

Personally, I use an aluminum Vanguard Alta Pro with a kneecap. At $ 169, it is affordable while being stable enough to support a heavy camera set up for long exposures and timelapses. The only drawback is that it’s a bit big and heavy to travel.

How to set up your tripod so that it is as stable as possible

Each tripod comes with nested segmented feet that extend so that you can reduce your tripod to travel while being able to get a reasonable height when you need it. The problem is that the more you extend your tripod, the less stable it becomes. This means that you should never extend your tripod more than necessary to get the shot you want. It is best to bend or kneel and have a stable camera at the waist rather than make it unstable at eye level.

When you extend your tripod, start with the thickest leg sections as they are the most stable. These are normally the upper sections. After, work through the two or three sections of thinner legs using as little as possible.

Think about which surface you put your tripod on, too. If it is loose like sand, snow or gravel, then there is a good chance the tripod can move. If you can, put it on something more firm; otherwise, push and rock your tripod so that anything that may move, such as pebbles, has already been done before you start taking pictures. There is nothing worse than your tripod moving for an hour in a timelapse.

If your tripod has a center column, you should only extend it as a last resort when you absolutely need the extra height. This is the least stable section of a tripod.

Many tripods come with a hook under their center column. This is so that you can hang your camera bag – or better still, a plastic bag filled with stones – from the tripod to keep it in position and prevent the wind from affecting it. If your camera tripod has one, always use this hook if you are taking a long exposure or a timelapse.

Using a Spiritual or Digital Level for Flat Horizons

It is almost impossible to position a camera so that it is completely level without a bubble level (or digital equivalent). This is not as important for photography when you have a little more flexibility for setting uneven horizons in the post but it is essential for video work.

Many tripod heads have an integrated bubble level. Chances are your camera also has a digital level that you can use. If you do not have either, pick up something like this little $ 7 bubble level and use it to get your device perfectly level.

Stop moving the camera while you take pictures

When you take a picture, there is a lot of movement in the camera. You do not notice it because you are moving a lot more. With your camera on a stable tripod, however, this small movement can affect your images, especially long exposures.

Do not press the shutter button to take a picture. Either get a remote camera or use the second timer that is built into each DSLR. This means that you can not introduce movement by slamming your shot.

When you take a picture with a digital SLR camera, the inside of the mirror snaps very quickly. This can also add a little shake. To stop it, you can activate mirror lock mode (if your camera supports it). The simplest option though, is just to shoot using live view; the mirror is still locked up then.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, if your lens has image stabilization you should turn it off when using a tripod. Image stabilization works by having elements inside the lens that can move a few millimeters. It works great if you hold your camera in your hands, but if you have locked it on a tripod, the small amounts of motion of the stabilizer system can actually make each photo slightly different.

A tripod is a crucial element for many types of photography. There is a reason why landscape photographers are ready to lug them for miles to get the shot.

Other than a camera-lens combination, there are many other pieces of photography equipment that seem to be absolute necessary; however, savvy professionals will tell you that the next item of gear you should always have with you and available for immediate use is a tripod.

You’re suddenly confronted with a low-light situation, requiring a slower shutter speed or smaller aperture; the light of a flash would be disruptive; or you can’t position your body at the best angle for the shot you must have. These are only a few of the reasons you should never leave for a photo assignment or even a personal shoot without a tripod.

Tripods are manufactured in a myriad of types and sizes to match the kind of images photographers shoot, but if you don’t yet own a tripod, you may find a tabletop unit as your best first choice. Tabletop tripods are light and compact, and take very little space in a camera bag or luggage; some are so small that you can even carry one in your back pocket.

If you like to shoot still lifes or enjoy macro photography, a tabletop tripod is a necessity; however, they can also be very helpful for landscape and nature photography when you want that low-angle view or the only positions for a great composition is a rock or other natural surfaces. Some nature photographers use a tabletop tripod with a spotting scope to search for wildlife or other subject matter, and have their DSLR and super telephoto or super telephoto zoom lens on a standard or heavy-duty tripod.

Tabletop tripods can also be configured into a handy shoulder rig, with two legs against your chest and the third leg across your shoulder. Extending the tripod then provides you with a variety of framing options. The same concept will work with a wall, post or other vertical surface, providing excellent stability for a different angle or when a long exposure is needed. Shooting in a crowd without a view of the subject or object? Simply extend a tabletop tripod fully and easily hold it above the crowd for an unobstructed view. If your aspiration is professional product or food photography, then becoming an accomplished tabletop tripod user is a definite requirement.

Tabletop tripods have their downsides too. Obviously, they won’t extend to the height of eye level when standing and they won’t securely support a DSLR with a large telephoto lens, but there are almost no situations where you would use such a combination. Even a DSLR with a small lens and a flash head is apt be too heavy and unsteady, but the solution is using separate tabletop tripods for each flash.

With the advancement in the image quality of smartphones and smartphone photography becoming a unique art form, a tabletop tripod is a very useful tool. There are several smartphone holders and adapters available that will allow you to attach your camera phone securely to a tabletop tripod for selfies, group shots and other personal uses. The combination will also work very well for street photography, utilizing the tripod as a shoulder rig or simply carried in your hands.

Of course, the marketplace is filled with many tabletop tripods, but one you should seriously consider is the Sirui 3T-35 Series Ultra Compact Tripod from Argraph. Considering its compact size, it is quite a workhorse. The Sirui 3T-35 folds to just 9.5 inches (22.9 cm), but its 2-section center column will extend 13.5 inches (34.4 cm). Built with forged aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, it’s ready for virtually every kind of use and environment. Its excellent build-quality allows the Sirui 3T-35 to hold securely and comfortably digital and even video cameras weighing as much as 8.8 lbs. (4 kg). You’ll like the versatility and the operational quality of this tripod’s ball head, which includes an Arca-compatible quick release plate. For even more stability and the lowest shooting angle possible, you can remove the center column and attach the ball head directly to the legs.

The Sirui 3T-35 Series Ultra Compact Tripod is available in red or black and the kit includes a custom soft case and a set of tools. Buy it from an US authorized dealer and it’s covered by Sirui’s 6-year US warranty.

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If photography is more than just a hobby for you, getting a tripod or monopod should be on top of your to-do list. In many ways, the tripod help make creating high quality photos easier.

This three-legged support equipment prevents you from taking shaky shots. It allows you to play with the depth of field and lighting, while also giving you the chance to experiment with a variety of techniques. Basically, though, a tripod’s main function is to hold the camera in place, thereby preventing you from taking blurry shots.

photo by Garry Knight

Using a tripod doesn’t necessarily spell success. You need to know how to choose a good one. You need to have an idea of what to look for in a tripod, especially since there are a lot of choices in the market.

Choosing a Tripod

One of the things you need to consider is the material of the tripod. There are basically three choices to choose from:

• The most practical one – as it is inexpensive – is aluminum. This is usually the option of first time users.
• Basalt fiber is made out of different minerals and is quite similar to fiberglass and carbon fiber. The first basalt fiber tripod manufacturer, Gitzo, used volcanic rock in making the product. This is why it’s deemed durable, but definitely more affordable than carbon fiber.
• Many photographers prefer tripods made of carbon fiber. They’re not only durable, they’re also portable, easy to use and take care of. Carbon fiber tripods work well even in cold weather conditions. However, they’re pricier than the two other types.

If you’re just starting out, you might want to try the aluminum tripod. But if you want an investment that can offer you returns many times over, go for the big time; go for the carbon fiber tripod.

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Portability

Traveling is a thing that a lot of photographers do. If you move a lot or go from one location to another, tripod weight should be an important factor for you. Most of the tripods we see in the market weigh from a little over 2 lbs to around 6 lbs. Choose the one that you feel most comfortable with, especially if you travel a lot.

A great alternative to a full-sized tripod is to go with a mini tripod. They are extremely portable, relatively inexpensive, and can be placed and positioned in ways a full-sized tripod might not be able to.

If you have the budget, however, you can go for two kinds of weights, just to make sure that you have choices when you need one.

Height

How high your tripod can go is also important. You need to choose the one that suits your needs. There are three heights a tripod can go:

• Maximum – This is the height when you fully deploy the legs and center column of the tripod.
• Minimum – This is the height when you fold all of the tripod’s legs. This is used for macro photography.
• Closed Length – This is the height your tripod takes when you collapse it.

When considering the height, take note of the sections of the tripod. The more sections it has, the better for you. Some tripods have five legs and this is good for vibration.

Weight Capacity

If you plan to shoot with DSLR cameras complete with a big telephoto lenses and filter, you’ll need a tripod that complements its weight. Manufacturers normally include weight information in the product package or on their website. Check out this information so you’ll have an idea of the weight capacity of your tripod.

For a mirrorless or entry-level DSLR camera, go for a simple tripod that’s weighs just a little over your camera’s actual weight. Remember the heavier your tripod the more sturdy it will be, but you may not always want to bring it with you if it’s too heavy too cary around.

Stability

A shaky tripod is not going to be of help to you. It’s going to cause you a lot of problems. So when scouting for one, check out the stability level of the tripod. Does it remain stable even when the winds are strong? Does it resist ground vibration? Or does it shake easily? Knowing the answers to these is important if you want a stable and reliable tripod.

Features and Uses

What are you going to use the tripod for? Do you need it mainly for photography? Or do you plan to do video documentaries from time-to-time? If you are partial to macro shots, portrait photography and panning the camera, you’ll want a tripod that could handle these shooting needs.

Monopods

While a tripod stands on three legs, a monopod stands on only one. You might want to consider going for a monopod for a variety of reasons. It’s a good choice if you want something lighter (than a tripod); something that you can use when you need longer shutter speed. A monopod is also your best option if you want to shoot a moving subject; and you want the outcome to be sharp even with the movement.

Photographers who do not want bulky or heavy items when traveling use a monopod because it’s easier to handle and set up. It’s perfect for shooting outdoor scenes as you can easily move it around. A lot of photographers who shoot sports and wildlife scenes often prefer to carry a monopod.

A monopod is also best for shooting in crowded places (such as fashion shows, award nights, galas and premiers). You need to consider your camera weight, though. If you use a highly advanced DSLR with telephoto lenses, it may be too heavy for the monopod.

When looking for a good monopod, all the factors you need to consider when searching for a tripod should be applied. Over-all, however, it should be efficiency, function and durability that you should prioritize.

Go for Both

If you are the type of person who values his investments, your best option would be to get one of each: a tripod and a monopod. There will be instances when you’ll need just a tripod and there’ll be times when using a monopod will do. There may even be assignments or projects where you’ll need to alternate and use both for a variety of shots.

Regardless of whether you choose a three-legged stand or the one-legged alternative, ensuring support for your camera is important if you want to take great photos. Buying a tripod or a monopod should be an investment you must not take for granted.

About the Author: Michael Gabriel

Michael Gabriel L. Sumastre is an experienced writer who loves to take pictures of the countryside as well as aerial photographs. He maintains his professional writing portfolio at TheFinestWriter, and you can visit his photography portfolio at Sumastre Photography. Michael was hired by Booking.com to photograph 10 of the most beautiful beaches in Palawan, Philippines.

This tripod buying guide will help you to choose the best tripod – or tripods – for you, and help you discover how tripods help you explore the multiple styles of photography and expand your creative and technical possibilities.

Key Considerations when buying a tripod:

• Size: Tripods range in size from mini tripods that fit in your pocket, travel tripods that are perfect for a camera backpack and professional studio tripods capable of securely supporting the heaviest professional cameras. Make sure you buy the right size tripod for your needs. If you will be traveling with your tripod consider this: Never buy a bigger tripod than you are willing to carry… But always buy the sturdiest one you are willing to carry. If you plan to use your tripod in a studio or at home, a larger more solid tripod may be your preferred choice.
• Weight: The weight of a tripod is one of most important aspects to consider if you will be carrying your tripod. In addition to size, weight is influenced bywhat material the tripod is made of. Carbon Fiber is the lightest and strongest material for tripod legs and so is often preferred by outdoor and traveling photographers. Aluminum tripods are strong and lightweight and while a bit heavier are more affordable than carbon fiber.
• Stability: To function well a tripod must be free from movement and shake. A quality tripod has secure connections at all joints and is made of rigid materials that do not flex or bend. Quality in both design and materials is key.
• Camera/Device Type, Size & Weight: For the best results match your tripod to type of device as well as the size of equipment you will use it with. Consider also that video camera tripods are specialized and need extra weight capacity and stability.
• Type of Tripod Head: It is uncommon to just use tripod legs alone. Consider the type of tripod head that will best suit your needs, type of photography and equipment. You can choose a kit that combines a specific type of tripod head paired to an appropriate set of tripod legs. The most common types of tripod heads are Ball Heads, 3-Way Heads, 2-Way Heads, Geared Heads and Fluid Video Heads. See our Buying Guide to Tripod Heads for a more in-depth look into selecting the right tripod head for you.
• Additional Features: Tripods may have many different features that add value to certain types of photography. Center columns can add height to tripods and in some tripods among the Manfrotto 055 series or 190 range may also be used horizontally. The type of leg locks may differ on tripod models. Some people prefer QPL Travel lever locks while others prefer the lighter weight twist style M-Lock. Another very useful option to consider is a removable leg that quickly converts into a monopod as found in the Befree 2N1.

Why Do I Need to Buy a Tripod?

A tripod is not just for when the light gets low, requiring you to use a lower shutter speed. There are many reasons, both practical and creative for placing your camera on a tripod. You may be a wildlife photographer that is supporting a very heavy lens, you may be in the studio taking time to frame the perfect portrait or a landscape photographer waiting for that one ideal moment of light. Tripods allow for creative possibilities such as when you want to open your aperture, add a strong neutral density photographic filter or get a hard to reach angle or perspective. Other very common types of photography requiring a tripod include capturing multiple images to create time lapses or for long exposure shots such as in astro-photography.

As you can see, tripods are creativity tools that allow you easier control over light, not just support for dim light environments. Without a tripod, many of the photographs from the past would simply not exist. Many of the photographs we praise from masters, such as Ansel Adams, would not have been possible without a tripod.

The first question to ask yourself is why you need to consider camera tripods in the first place. The most common uses are for low-light photography where you need a slower shutter speed, night time photography of stars or the moon, to take self-portraits with a timer, and to hold heavy gear. There are other uses but these are the most common. If you can’t think of a good reason why your photography would benefit from the stability of DSLR tripods, save your money and come back in three months.

Be clear, the benefit of a tripod is a sharper, clearer photo, perhaps with better composition. Of course, that’s only true if you face some of the challenges mentioned above, which make a sharp photo more difficult. So you have to consider your needs and constraints.

How portable do you want it to be? What kind of photography do you want to use it for. How much can you afford? These answers help you sort between all the available specifications to find the right tripod for you.

The most common options are carbon fiber and aluminum. The former costs about twice as much, is much lighter and stronger, and offers faster vibration stabilization. If you can afford carbon fiber, you should opt for that option, unless weight and portability are incredibly unimportant to you and saving money is a priority.

Typically, you want a tripod that can telescope to within six inches of your height. The attachment and camera make up the last six inches so you can shoot comfortably. However, if you plan on doing a lot of macro or ground-level photography, you want a tripod that allows you the remove the centerpost easily so you can stabilize the camera much lower to the ground.

Telescoping legs are the order of the day, and your primary choice is between three and four segments. Typically, fewer segments (and fewer joints) make for a stabler, lighter, more durable tripod that is easier to use and will last longer. Just be sure you find a tripod that has easy-to-use locks that still provide a strong, secure hold.

The feet that come with most tripods include rubber feet for indoors that can screw back to expose metal spikes for outdoors. These are fine for most people, although more expensive options allow you to change the feet.

Centerpost and Head

The centerpost is the telescoping element that lets you customize the height of most tripods. However, this advantage comes at the cost of decreased portability, increased weight, and potentially more problematic vibrations.

The head is the most important piece of the tripod for a lot of people. You have to decide if you want a level bubble, a good quick release mount, and how much control over panning and the angle you want. Better tripods also actually come without a head, expecting you to buy several interchangeable options.

With all of these aspects of camera tripods, you should think about what you want to do with your tripod and the go experiment with some options in the store to get a feel for what you like. Rely on review to determine how portable they are, and then compare your preferences with your budget to find the right option for you. Be sure to plan ahead so that you don’t need to replace your tripod in six months when your kit grows heavier or your needs change.

Other than a camera-lens combination, there are many other pieces of photography equipment that seem to be absolute necessary; however, savvy professionals will tell you that the next item of gear you should always have with you and available for immediate use is a tripod.

You’re suddenly confronted with a low-light situation, requiring a slower shutter speed or smaller aperture; the light of a flash would be disruptive; or you can’t position your body at the best angle for the shot you must have. These are only a few of the reasons you should never leave for a photo assignment or even a personal shoot without a tripod.

Tripods are manufactured in a myriad of types and sizes to match the kind of images photographers shoot, but if you don’t yet own a tripod, you may find a tabletop unit as your best first choice. Tabletop tripods are light and compact, and take very little space in a camera bag or luggage; some are so small that you can even carry one in your back pocket.

If you like to shoot still lifes or enjoy macro photography, a tabletop tripod is a necessity; however, they can also be very helpful for landscape and nature photography when you want that low-angle view or the only positions for a great composition is a rock or other natural surfaces. Some nature photographers use a tabletop tripod with a spotting scope to search for wildlife or other subject matter, and have their DSLR and super telephoto or super telephoto zoom lens on a standard or heavy-duty tripod.

Tabletop tripods can also be configured into a handy shoulder rig, with two legs against your chest and the third leg across your shoulder. Extending the tripod then provides you with a variety of framing options. The same concept will work with a wall, post or other vertical surface, providing excellent stability for a different angle or when a long exposure is needed. Shooting in a crowd without a view of the subject or object? Simply extend a tabletop tripod fully and easily hold it above the crowd for an unobstructed view. If your aspiration is professional product or food photography, then becoming an accomplished tabletop tripod user is a definite requirement.

Tabletop tripods have their downsides too. Obviously, they won’t extend to the height of eye level when standing and they won’t securely support a DSLR with a large telephoto lens, but there are almost no situations where you would use such a combination. Even a DSLR with a small lens and a flash head is apt be too heavy and unsteady, but the solution is using separate tabletop tripods for each flash.

With the advancement in the image quality of smartphones and smartphone photography becoming a unique art form, a tabletop tripod is a very useful tool. There are several smartphone holders and adapters available that will allow you to attach your camera phone securely to a tabletop tripod for selfies, group shots and other personal uses. The combination will also work very well for street photography, utilizing the tripod as a shoulder rig or simply carried in your hands.

Of course, the marketplace is filled with many tabletop tripods, but one you should seriously consider is the Sirui 3T-35 Series Ultra Compact Tripod from Argraph. Considering its compact size, it is quite a workhorse. The Sirui 3T-35 folds to just 9.5 inches (22.9 cm), but its 2-section center column will extend 13.5 inches (34.4 cm). Built with forged aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, it’s ready for virtually every kind of use and environment. Its excellent build-quality allows the Sirui 3T-35 to hold securely and comfortably digital and even video cameras weighing as much as 8.8 lbs. (4 kg). You’ll like the versatility and the operational quality of this tripod’s ball head, which includes an Arca-compatible quick release plate. For even more stability and the lowest shooting angle possible, you can remove the center column and attach the ball head directly to the legs.

The Sirui 3T-35 Series Ultra Compact Tripod is available in red or black and the kit includes a custom soft case and a set of tools. Buy it from an US authorized dealer and it’s covered by Sirui’s 6-year US warranty.

Looking for the best canvas prints? Check this out.

There are many situations where it’s hardly imaginable to take photos without a tripod. But there are several types of them, and you may find it hard to choose the one that best suits your needs. Or you’ve already bought it only to realize it isn’t really ideal for you. This is why photographer Joe Edelman breaks down the types of tripods and their uses, which should make it easier for you to make the decision. He also shares some useful tricks for using them, which will further help you get the best out of your photos.

Joe mentions a couple of situations when using a tripod is essential: shooting in low light or at night, shooting landscape, or the series of frames to stitch in a panorama or an HDR image. Timelapse, astrophotography and video shooting are hard to imagine without a tripod. And if you want to avoid selfie sticks, you’ll also need a tripod for better self-portraits.

While there are many types and brands of tripods, there are 5 basic groups we can divide them into.

5 basic groups of tripods

1.Pocket tripods: they’re very small and lightweight, easy to carry and support a smartphone or a compact camera. They’re mainly used for self-portraits and group shots, and you can easily carry them around when you’re traveling.

2. Table top tripods: they enable you to put them on a flat surface, and they’re also light, small and easy to pack. They’re also used for self-portraits and group shots, but they can also come in handy for macro, nature and travel photography. They’re excellent for low camera angles, and they also support small cameras like the pocket tripods.

3. Travel tripods: when extended, they usually go up to your eye level. When collapsed, they’re easy to carry and can fit in most carry-on luggage (if they’re up to 22 in long when collapsed). They support a film or digital SLR camera with a kit lens or a modest zoom lens, but you shouldn’t use them with long zoom lenses as they can tip over. They’re useful on travels, but also for nature and sports photography and amateur video work.

4. Medium duty tripods: this is kind of a crossover between lightweight travel tripods and studio tripods. They reach the eye level or higher and you can modify them with separate heads. They’re heavier and sturdier than the travel tripods, so they can support longer zoom lenses and even medium format cameras.

5. Studio tripods: they are big, sturdy and designed for specific needs. You’ll almost always use them with a specialized heads. They’re designed to handle medium and large format cameras, and used for studio, still life and advertising photography.

Despite the different groups of tripods, Joe explains that there are eight features that are common to all of them. The better you understand them, the easier you’ll choose the best tripod for you.

8 common features of tripods

1.Collapsed size: how long the tripod is when everything is folded up. This is important if you’re traveling and/or need to pack a tripod in a bag, case or suitcase

2. Maximum height extension: how long the tripod will be when everything is fully extended

3. Load capacity: maximum weight a tripod had can handle. This is why you need to know how much your camera weighs with its heaviest lens and accessories such as the speedlight. If you load more weight onto the tripod, risk breaking it, or collapsing and causing damage.

4. Weight: how much the tripod itself weighs.

5. Head type: there are three types of tripod heads – pan-tilt heads, ball heads and gimbal heads. No matter which type you use, make sure it has quick release so you can quickly remove the camera from a tripod if you want to take some handheld shots.

6. Feet: depending on the model, tripods can have rubber non-slip pads or spikes. The rubber pads are mainly used for indoor and some outdoor shooting, while the spikes best for outdoor shooting. Depending on the tripod brand and model, you may be able to add wheels or even ball bearing feet.

7. Leg locks: leg locks are most commonly either twist types or lever locks. With twist types, you twist the leg to pull it out, and then twist it in reverse to lock it. On lever locks you open a lever to pull a leg out, and close it to lock the leg.

8. Common material: the most common material is aluminum, because it’s lightweight and non-expensive. There are also carbon fiber tripods, which are extremely durable and lightweight, but they are more expensive. There are also cheap plastic tripods, which are usually not of very good quality, but they can be good for a start.

10 tips for choosing and using a tripod

1.Buy a tripod that matches your height. This way you won’t have to bend to look into the viewfinder. Generally, the viewfinder should be at your eye-level (unless you’re adjusting it for some creative camera angles)

2. Explore camera angles before setting up the tripod. It’s easier to move the camera around and change lenses if necessary while it’s not on the tripod yet.

3. Only extend the tripod legs when needed. The less you extend the legs, the sturdier the tripod will be. Also, make sure to extend the thickest part of the legs first.

4. Avoid extending central column. Extend the legs first, because this makes the tripod sturdier. Only think of the central column as the last resort.

5. Face a single tripod leg toward the focal point of your composition. Having two legs on the back side will add more stability

6. Add some weight to the tripod using the central hook. This will give you more stability in windy conditions (just remember Mathieu Stern’s mistake), or if your tripod is too lightweight for the gear you placed on it.

7. Don’t move your tripod with your camera attached. Small movements are okay, but if you’re working on location and on uneven terrain, you risk the camera tipping over.

8. Turn off image stabilization (IS) and/or vibration reduction (VR) to avoid the effect of camera shake.

9. Use the mirror lock-up feature of your DSLR. The shake of your camera’s mirror can be obvious if you’re shooting at slow shutter speeds.

10. Use a 2-second timer or a remote shutter release. This will reduce the camera shake caused by you pressing the shutter.

For me personally, this video cam at the right moment. I’ve been trying to choose a new tripod for a while, and I’d never imagine how complicated it is to choose the ideal one. As Joe says, it’s definitely not the most fun piece of gear to spend money on, but it’s an important one. And his video makes it easier for me to figure out what exactly I need. I hope it has helped you, too.

Aug 10, 2020

1 The position of the tripod.

In neutral, the position and angle of the body adjust the position and angle of the tripod, the state and gap as flat as possible on the ground, the ground of the camera, especially near the overpass and construction site can not be fully stable, so it needs to be noted.

2 The tripod should be fully open.

The principle of the tripod is to take advantage of the stability of the triangle, so, when out of stock, the tripod is fully open in the case of testing, simply put, to make the best stability of the tripod, the three legs of the foot fully open, one leg, if not enlarged, even if several centimeters, which also allows the camera to fall.

3 The center axis is vertical.

Ordinary three-legged now most of the center axis, day height is not necessary, but if rising, here, the ground is 90 degrees if you want or depression slope on the road, if the tripod 1 section of the height adjustment, the final center axis, vertical 90 degrees day fully indicates calm, so, if shooting rookie is from this point of view vertical stability to determine whether it is possible.

4 The feet of the tripod.

The tripod is placed in place of free will, but the body and lens, therefore, the foot is placed behind the whole victory front of the bad, but heavy, so lens camera tripod, if these three legs in a straight line, the direction of the lens a leg support table, the camera is more stable, the photographer also scaffolded tripped, firmly unsafe, this many new people do not know is, often wrong.

5 Use the center axis less.

The vertical use of the sun center axis is proposed, but the ordinary center axis is the horizontal position of the camera, in order to improve the horizontal part of the day wall otherwise, in the forest, people’s medium proposal to shoot does not rise three-legged center axis, the stability of the sun tripod is reduced, generally, tripod and camera height fully correspond to, many scenes, not high, but this place is not moving.

6 Increase the amount of mates.

Alpine and seaside shooting, by this wind environment tripod swinging from side to side, directly placed on the camera, the same can use unsafe, so should handle the heavy luggage, with the help of the tripod below, with a part of the sandbag, and bottle of water, but also in their own bottom posture, so that tripod, than stable weighting is noticed size and length, wind does not mention the outside machine.

Part of the use of the long-focus lens, feet placed on the camera, from the shelf of the long-focus lens heavy, in addition, long, hands are screaming feeling, if the shelf on this foot looks likely to be stable, the wind fell on the correct operating method, in front of the lens on the shelf, feet than stable camera.