Choosing a tripod? Here’s some tips!

I’ve been shopping around looking for a tripod to add to my growing list of equipment. Photographers simply swear by having a tripod. The photos taken with a tripod are just so much sharper and crisp compared to hand holding your camera. Landscape, still life, night or low light photography all requires a tripod to get sharp images.

There are just too many tripods available in the market. Which tripod is the most suitable for you? Here are some tips:

1. Price - This is the most important factor for me personally. Finding a tripod within your budget will narrow down the choices. Don’t buy anything that you can’t afford or you will break your bank account.
2. Material - There are 2 good choices, Aluminum and Carbon Fiber. Aluminum tripods are generally more affordable. However, they are also considerable heavier than the Carbon Fiber tripods . Carbon Fiber tripods cost almost double of the aluminum alternatives.
3. Weight - Will you be traveling alot or bringing the tripod for photo shoots in many locations? If you answer yes to any of those, you may want to consider Carbon Fibre tripods. They weigh from under 0.7 kg (1.6 lbs) to 2 kg (4.4 lbs) . If you’ll only be needing the tripod in your studio, aluminum will do the job just fine and save you a bunch for other accessories. Aluminum generally weighs from 2.3 kg (5 lbs) onwards.

1. Height - Depending on your height, you may want to choose a tripod that can extend to a comfortable height so that you won’t need to bend down or hunch over to look through the viewfinder
2. Maximum Load - Depending on your camera and lenses, you may need to find tripods that can support the combined weight on your equipment. Make sure the tripod can hold your equipment steady without tilting over. If the tripod is unable to withstand wind or light knocks, it’s a good indicator that it may not be able to hold the load.
3. Ball Head - Most good tripods will require a separate ball head. A ball head allows you to quickly adjust your camera in any direction with a quick turn of a knob. Ball heads are a worthy investment and I recommend them over the 3-way pan head which are meant for Video Cameras. Some ball heads also come with a quick release plate. Very handy for removing and attaching your camera to the tripod very quickly!
4. Special needs - I’ve been getting into food photography lately and being able to extend the center column horizontally allows me to take pictures from directly above the food. I got this tip from Lara Ferroni, fantastic food photographer.
5. (Optional) Remote or Cable Release - As long as you’re getting a tripod, why not spend a little more on a cable release? Pressing the shutter release button will often shake your camera a little. For tack sharp images, get a remote or a cable release and reduce any shaking or vibration. If you’re on a tight budget, you can also use the timed capture mode to snap photos. Any modern digital cameras will have this function.

Take a trip to the nearest photography shop and have a look at some of the choices. Before settling on a tripod, perhaps you can rent or borrow a tripod from a friend and give it a go. You will learn more while playing with an actual tripod and it can help in making the final decision.

If you feel like spending a little more and getting a carbon fiber tripod, Gitzo is a brand you can’t go wrong with. This is the best if you’re planning on carrying it on trips and locations.

If you have a budget and don’t mind a slightly heavier tripod, I like Manfrotto (Also known as Bogen). They have a good range of tripod and quite affordable too. Sturdy and tough, they sure feel like they can take some bumps and knocks.

In fact, I’ve gotten myself a 190X Pro B recently and I’ve been loving it. It weighs about 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs) and can be a little heavy but it’s within my budget and I don’t mind lugging a bit of gear (I don’t have that much anyways :P). To supplement my tripod, I got a ball head to go with it. The Manfrotto 486RC2 ball head. The total set-up cost me about USD $200 which is pretty decent.

There are other brands like Slik and Benro. These brands are pretty decent too and they may have something closer to your budget! As you as you can decide on the tips above, you should be able to find a tripod to meet your needs!