Tripod: Don’t leave home without it…or shouldn’t you?

Generic tripod from China

“Hey Nic! I’ve got two questions for you: what do I look for in a tripod and, when I get one, should I always bring it?” I’ve been asked these two questions as of late (by some of my friends) so for today’s entry, I’ll try and answer the first question. As for bringing the tripod or not, it’s really up to the user.

Selecting a Tripod

Let me tackle this first because you can’t bring something you don’t have. At best, choosing the right tripod is a compromise. At times, it is a conundrum. No matter how much research you do or no matter how many meters of legwork you did to check out every tripod on every camera store near you, you’re not quite sure if you have made the right choice. Even if you bought one and have been using it for quite some time, there is this tendency to buy another one. Why? Because you’re not sure you made the right choice.

There are lots – and I mean lots – of tripods out there. From name brands to generic models, there is a slew of choices for today’s hobbyist. But how do you choose which is right? Then again, is there such a thing as the right brand or the right model? The answer for both questions is no. So, stop second guessing if the purchase you want to make is right. So what do you look for in tripod? Allow me to share my thoughts (based on personal experience hunting for the right tripod):

Brand – Let’s get this off the plate. Most people are brand concious and people choose the most known brands. Safe way to go and I would recommend going for branded models if you have the money (Yes, most brand models are expensive). But if you’re a cheapskate like I am, generic brands will do just fine. See photo on this post? That’s a generic tripod. Made in China. Cost me less than $12 but it is as sturdy as my branded tripod (a Velbon). What do I like about my generic tripod? It doesn’t attract attention and is lighter than my Velbon but is as sturdy (personally proven and tested). You got the money to burn? If yes, go ahead and get a fancy model from name brands like Giotto, Manfrotto, Slyk and Velbon.

Stability – Obviously, the tripod you pick should be stable. The tripod should be stable enough so that it doesn’t wobble when a sudden gust of wind hits it or you accidentally nip the assembly on the side while you’re rushing to complete your shoot. When testing for stability, extend the tripod at its full height then apply pressure on top. Don’t be a sissy – apply real pressure (but don’t break it). If you see the legs bend, forget about it. If not, give it one point. Now, mount your camera (with lens+ flash) on it then give it a nice bump on the side. If the assembly tips over after a small bump, forget about it. Note: when you do the bump thing, make sure you or somebody is in front/side to catch the camera in case it falls.

Construction – Tripods are constructed with lots of different material. Some tripods are made of composite plastic, some are  made from light aluminum while some are made from carbon fiber. There are some who will say that plastic tripods are a no-no and I’ll agree to this argument – if the camera to be mounted is a DSLR. But if the camera you’re mounting is a small P&S, a plastic tripod would do nicely because the load on the tripod will not be as heavy as a DSLR with all the bells and whistles. Plastic tripods have a place in the photography world. These are for weekend photographers who just like to have one so that they can do self-portraits with their camera while on vacation or on a weekend picnic with the family. I have one (well, I have two but the other one does not count because it was a gift) and I have many uses for it (including mounting my slave flashes). On the other hand, I’ve see people mount palm-sized P&S cameras on huge tripods. Personally, I think it’s silly but hey, to each is own.

Compared to aluminum tripods, carbon fiber tripods have the best weight to stability ratio. If you shoot most of the time in either cold (freezing conditions) or in humid conditions where your hands sweat a lot, carbon fibre tripods would be easier to hold. Unfortunately, carbon fiber tripods are expensive but are really durable. So if you can afford one, go ahead – you won’t regret the investment that you will be making.

Center Column Travel - Basically, tripods have two center-column types: smooth and geared. The geared type has a crank on one side and it basically allows you to raise or lower the center column by turning the gear. For the smooth type, you just hold the center column to raise (pull up) or lower (push down) the column. Does one have the advantage over the other? Frankly, I think none but the geared version does let you raise or lower the center column with one hand.

Legs – There are two types of tripod legs: tubular or grooved (some term it as channeled). Tubular models are almost always heavier, almost always sturdier and almost always have the longest lifespan. So, I recommend you go for models with tubular legs. Although, my plastic tripods have grooved legs but they work just fine. All boils down on the application intended. Don’t choose a tripod that has legs with more than four sections as the more sections the legs have, the less stable the tripod is. The sections of the legs are adjusted with locks and there are two kinds of locks: screw twist locks and clamp-lever locks. Tripods screw twist locks on the leg sections offer good strength and stability, but it takes more time to setup or breakdown. Screw twist locks are also subject to over-tightening. Clamp-lever locks are generally easy to setup and to breakdown. It also offers the most trouble-free operation and is arguably more durable. Which is better? Personal decision of yours since there are a number of pros and cons for each type.

Height -There are three things to consider on tripod height: 1) the maximum height, 2) the minimum height and 3) the folder height. Ideally, the tripod you choose should have a maximum height that is either at exact eye level or near-eye level. You – and your back – will definitely regret if you you are constantly bending or or lowering your upper body to shoot. At minimum height, the tripod should allow you to shoot at near ground level. Some models even allow you to shoot at ground level i.e. less than a foot off the ground. As a personal rule of thumb when choosing a tripod, the minimum shooting height I look for should be less than or equal to 36 inches. Folded height is this: the size/height of the tripod that allows you to stow, to pack or to carry the tripod easily.

Boot – Tripod boots come in two varieties: indoor and outdoor. Tripods for indoor use have rubber boots at the end of each leg while tripods for outdoor use have spiked boots. Some tripod models combine indoor and outdoor boot: for outdoor use, simply unscrew the rubber boot to expose the spikes.

Head – There are two types of tripod heads: fixed and ball head. Most, if not all, inexpensive tripods have fixed heads while semi-professional to professional tripods have ball heads. Some models  (like my generic tripod) have the ball heads fixed on the center column while other models have removable ball heads, in which you need to purchase the ball head separately. Some will say that fixed heads are for “cheap amateurs”. I beg to disagree as this type definitely has its uses. For one, you can use the fixed head tripods for your slave strobes. Which is better? Again, it depends on the application.

If you’re just a weekend shooter, ball head types might be overkill. On the other hand, if you are into wildlife or outdoors photography, then the ball head type is definitel for you. For strobists, ball head types can offer a “creative range”  in terms of angling your strobe. By the way, the head of a tripod is the part where you’ll actually mount/attach your camera. When inspecting the heads, check out the quick release plate (the part of the head that you will screw on the camera). It should be tight enough on the head when clamped yet easy enough to remove from the head when you need to.

Final Words

What to buy? ‘Can’t tell you because it depends on two things: your intended application and your personal preference (e.g. price, brand, etc.). Just choose a tripod that is sturdy, easy to use, light enough to carry around and is durable. However, durability is subjective. Even a carbon fibre tripod will not last it’s intended lifetime you don’t take care of it and you don’t use it properly. One last thing, a tripod won’t help your photography one bit if you just keep it inside your garage most of the time.

Happy shooting.