How to choose a tripod: the complete guide
A Photo How To Choose / / December 19, 2019
On the creation of this guide Gavin Hardcastle, a photographer from Canada, decided after a sad event. He has sat on a short flight from Bangkok to Cambodia and the stewardess handed him a towel, when I remembered about the tripod. A tripod, a great carbon tripod with a ball head, remained in the airport storage chamber, where it is necessary to put things before going through customs control. Midnight photographer held in Bangkok in search of his hotel, and here is the result. Expecting board the flight, he forgot about the most valuable piece of equipment. Gavin realized that never again see your favorite tripod.
Therefore, in Cambodia, the author had to look for a new one. Of course, the country is developing, but Siem Reap remains a black hole when it comes to choosing a tripod. All that could find - plastic tripod for cameras with a long handle, which strives to poke in the eye during shooting.
The next four days Gavin spent trying to manage his anger. It seemed that the past is back, and now he is forced to work with his first tripod bought without relying on experience. Acquired tripod required five times more time to adjust than lost. And if not for the effect of relaxing an autorickshaw, the photographer would not have survived, broke a plastic tripod on his knee and tossed under the bus wheels.
Not surprisingly, the novice photographers do not like to use a tripod to shoot.
A good tripod is completely different matter
If buying a tripod, you chase for cheapness, then you definitely happen two things:
- You've been deadheading to the setting position of the camera, that at the time when you are ready to shoot, lose interest in life.
- You will realize that those $ 45 you spent on the purchase, you can invest in the purchase of a normal tripod, which is now still have to buy.
Naturally, it is difficult for beginners to shell out $ 400 for a tripod, but the masters of my heart bleeds when they see how novice photographers suffer, setting up their tripods. It is worth such a "teapot" to work with a normal tripod, he sees a ray of light in the darkness. And he comes to the conclusion that a cheap tripod - a filler for landfill.
You may think that just use a tripod to keep the camera, then you have plenty of time to find a focus for the frame. Sometimes it is, sometimes not. The scenery changes quickly, especially if you're shooting nature. Weather and fauna will not wait for you to adjust the tripod.
What to look for when buying a tripod and accessories to it?
How quickly laid out the tripod legs
I can not stand the threaded fasteners tripod legs, you need to loosen and tighten. Prefer-latch locks that quickly open and allow you to quickly change the length of the tripod legs. Securing the telescopic structure in expanded form made by one flick of the thumb. So if your tripod four feet section with thread-lock, you will be installing a tripod to photograph when I move on to another location shooting.
How fast is adjustable ball head
Once installed and tripod is fixed, it's time to choose a position for the camera. I prefer those that use one screw to lock the camera. This means that by turning the lever twice, I can mount the camera in the desired position.
It is also important to buy the head, which allows you to quickly switch from landscape to portrait shooting shooting. Many of the cheaper models have handles head-clamps that need to relax, to rotate the camera, and then consolidate. A terrible feeling when you take with the camera, trying to find the right position and lock your camera position changes from a light breeze movement.
Easy fastening device on a tripod
White-hot in a cheap tripod brings me tripod platform using which the camera is mounted on the head.
Attaching the camera to a tripod should be easy and quick. When you buy a tripod, ask a consultant at the store to demonstrate the installation process camera and try to do it yourself a few times until you are sure that the model you fits.
How heavy can be tripod
It's just a personal choice that depends on your needs and ability to carry heavy loads. You always have to find a compromise between portability and stability. Heavy tripods will laugh in the face of the wind, while superlogkie tripods carbon fiber will give a tangible vibration. But you can hang the bag with stones on the hook for the load to increase stability.
How big should a tripod
Here again it all depends on your plans. Having learned from bitter experience losses at the airport, I prefer to buy a tripod which can be folded into the bag for the camera. Of course, a small tripod does not fit all, but if you're not going to shoot in extreme weather conditions, do not chase the size and massiveness, the ...
How much is spent on a tripod
It is important to decide what you are willing. If you, like me, not very carefully treated with a tripod, do not spread in the store all you can afford. I mocked tripod filming in the oceans, rivers, deserts and mountains. If you're lucky (and I will not forget it in the storage room), the tripod will last me about two years. It makes no sense to pay a lot of money if I can buy a suitable tripod with a good ball head within $ 400.
Do I need to buy a level
This is an optional condition but good to be on a level on the tripod and head. If you have a camera with digital level, the bubble level on the tripod is rarely needed. But if you have all the equipment without the levels, buy one and set the flash connector.
And why do we need a tripod?
Do you want to take pictures with great depth sharpness and the highest possible quality image, get used to the idea that the tripod will be a part of your anatomy. For images with a long exposure tripod required. But if you shoot weddings, events, portraits, the tripod may interfere with the movement.
What brands give preference?
I can not advise some particular manufacturer, but make sure to try the maximum possible number of tripods and heads from different brands. Reading reviews helps to choose, but to find the ideal combination of tripod and head, it is necessary to hold them in their hands. Look in specialized photo stores, where there is a large variety of amateur and professional tripods.
In defense of the cheap tripods
To be honest with respect to the tripod for $ 45, which I bought in Cambodia, it should be said that the money it cost. It's not broken, it was easy. And it was made to shoot the video, and not for static operation.
He is now stored in my studio to demonstrate the differences between the tripod for $ 45 and 400.
And what a tripod features are important to you? Share advice and experiences with our readers.