Small, large, one-legged, three-legged, aluminium or made of carbon: tripods are available in a wide range of variations. Anyone investing in a new tripod should first analyse their own requirements and habits, since different conditions are attached to nature, landscape, travel, event, architecture and studio photography, for example.
Find the tripod top suit your requirements
With just a few tips and tricks to follow, purchasing a tripod to suit your requirements and keep your purse happy will no longer be a challenge. You should consider carefully:
- Where you’ll be using the tripod. Outdoor photographers have completely different requirements than those who want to photograph in enclosed spaces. The price also depends on the material used; carbon models are often more expensive than those made of aluminium.
- How heavy is the equipment (camera and lens) used? The tripod should be selected according to the weight, and always allow for extra in its weight capacity.
- How high should the tripod be? On the one hand, the working height depends on the body size of the photographer, but also on the purpose of the tripod. For ground-level macro shooting both mini-tripods and tripods with a swivelling centre column are suitable.
How can you be sure of stability?
The most important feature of any tripod is its stability. In order not to wreck your equipment, the area of application should also be taken into account: nature or travel photographers who have to carry their tripod over long distances or carry it in their hand luggage, should choose one which is light enough but also stable enough to avoid it being blown away by the first gust of wind.As a rule of thumb, carbon versions are lighter than aluminium, but still provide the necessary stability when used correctly. Heavy-duty aluminium tripods with a high-load capacity, such as the ROLLEI 22509, are particularly suitable for photographers who do not need this flexibility, mainly photograph in a studio or do not have to travel long distances with their equipment.
Of course, the ground surface plays a major role in stability. When the surface is smooth, there is a risk that the tripod will slide, so in this situation, tripod legs which have rubber caps will help.
If you are often traveling in rough, rocky or muddy terrain, use spikes. The pointed tripods drill into the ground to offer the necessary support. Many manufacturers supply tripods with spike ends with rubber caps, which can then be mounted on a correspondingly sensitive floor, such as parquet or stone.
And in case you do not want to do without the tripod on the beach, you can use footed plates to keep your tripod’s feet stable.
One leg or three – both can be useful
The design of the tripod also plays a role in stability. Three-pronged tripods are suitable for a wide range of applications in photography.
- They offer maximum stability and are especially essential for long-exposure without shake. An optional centre column provides additional stability as long as it isn’t extended. In its extended state, you can get a higher working height, but the stability suffers as a result.
- Monopods do not stand by themselves, but still have their advantages. Particularly in event and sports photography, where maximum flexibility is required due to the fast-pace, monopods can be a preferred choice.
- They are lighter than most tripods and can be carried comfortably over longer distances, while at the same time providing shake-free shots.
Many manufacturers also offer the possibility to unscrew one leg of a three-pronged version to convert it to a monopod. With this in mind, tripods like the Rollei CT-5A ensure maximum flexibility.
It’s not the height that counts
The height of the tripod is another important factor, for which photographers have to weigh up on a case-by-case basis how they intend to use the tripod. In general, the maximum working height should correlate with the body size of the photographer.This doesn’t mean, however, that someone who is 1.8m tall needs an equally large tripod, as you still need room for the camera. A 1.6m tall tripod is quite possibly high enough for a tall photographer to look through the viewfinder comfortably without having to bend.
- Mini tripods may have a comparatively low working height, however this is ideal for micro- and macro-recordings.
- Micro- and macro-photographers may sometimes benefit more from mini tripods than from travel stations that are light but cannot carry heavy DSLR cameras.
- If you prefer a classic three-pronged and do not want to limit yourself to a mini tripod, you don’t have to do without micro- and macro-recordings.
Tripods such as the Rollei Rock Solid Carbon Beta have a swivelling centre column, which allows for both landscape and ground-level micro- and macro-recordings.
Images: Adobe Stock, private
