The choice when buying a tripod is not an easy task. There is so much on offer in the market that one can go crazy looking for it and deciding. But as you well know, we love to lend a hand so that I will try to make it as easy as possible.
With this article I will give you an idea of the different types of tripod that exist and their differences to find the most suitable to your needs. Because once again, I have to tell you that there is not the best tripod in the world, but the best camera tripod for you, the one that will fit your needs.
Table of Contents
WHAT IS A TRIPOD?
Let’s start with the basic to know what a tripod and determine if you need to. A tripod has the function to stabilize the camera and to avoid that the image comes out the scene (or trepidada which is the same). After reading this you may think: Oh, okay, if my camera stabilizer, then I don’t need it. Well, yes and no. If you only shoot with fast speeds, or more or less rapid, the stabilizer will be useful, however, will not be enough for long exposures. What are they? Let’s see some examples:
- Capturing the movement
- Photograph the silk effect of the water
- Night landscapes
- Stars
- Lightpainting (Inspired by this gallery of examples)
- Light trails of cars
These are some examples of long exposure photography, but there is more. And there are also other situations or types of photography for which the tripod is also necessary or of great help:
- Improve the sharpness, sometimes our pulse is not as strong as we would like, and if you need a sharpness impeccable (for whatever reason) a tripod can be a good ally.
- Self-portraits
- Panoramic
- Time lapses
- Macro photography
- With a telephoto lens
- Bracketing
- Photography of architecture
- Animations
- Videos
If you’re going to see on one or several of these situations, then you need a tripod . As you will see, it is not essential to do photography, however, opens up a whole world of possibilities.
PARTS OF A TRIPOD
Once you already know your uses or profits, I’m going to present to you the parts of which it consists, in this way, when you have down below what you want depending on what type of photos, you’ll understand what I speak to you ;).
Ball head
The ball head is the part that allows you to move the camera in different directions without having to move the tripod as a whole. There are different types. If you buy a tripod head is interchangeable, you’ll be able to have different heads and change it according to the type of photography you are going to do without the need of having several tripods.
This is advisable when you are going to give uses very different, for example, do yourself panoramic action photography with a telephoto lens. If not, it probably will be worth it with one ball sets, which are more economic. Now let’s look at the types of kneecap that exist, the more down you will see an image of each one:
- Ball head (or rocker).They are simple, fast to use and allow for flexibility of movement. Ideal for use with telephoto lenses for moving subjects.
- Head of three axes. Allows for vertical and horizontal movement and is suitable for photography of landscapes, in the studio, macro, or architecture.
- Ball joystick. It is a type of ball, but with a trigger that allows you to move in all directions. Perhaps it is the most comfortable and ergonomic, it allows a great freedom of movements, which is ideal for those who need a change of frame very rapidly as in sports photography. The drawback is that they are not the most accurate and tend to lose stability. If you’re going to give you much use for long-exposure photograph, it may not be the best option.
- Spherical panorama. It is a spherical joint special that allows you to make panoramic photographs and 360°.
- Head zipper. It allows for the possibility to perform movements millimeter. Therefore they are ideal, for example, for macro photography, or with large telephoto lenses because they hold up better to heavy equipment. On the contrary, is that they tend to be very heavy, they are not for you to carry everywhere ;), they are not exactly the cheapest. They are for a very specific.
- Head 2D. Control the vertical and horizontal movement by means of a handle with the intention of gaining greater fluency in the recording of videos.
Ball 2D 
Patella zipper 
Patella joystick 
Spherical panoramic 
Head on three axes Ball head
LEGS
They are supporting the weight of the tripod. There are people who can open independently, which are the most suitable for uneven terrain; and that extend at the same time, more suitable for studio photography, for example.
The legs usually have between three and five sections. You can open and close with locking tabs fast or with a clamping system rotating.
The diameter of the legs to support a team of weight-average is between 28 and 38 mm
With regard to the feet, where the end of their legs, they can be made of plastic or rubber, more recommended for interior use. Or metal tip, in order to fix in terrain very slippery, as can be ice. Also there are some that can be changed to better adapt to different surfaces, although they tend to be high-end.
SHOE PLATE
It is the element that holds the camera and prevents it does not fall over.
You can find that are screwed directly or with a quick coupling. That is to say, the shoe is screwed to the camera and when you want to place it on the tripod, the acoplas to the system quickly. It is quite more convenient because you can leave the shoe is set on the camera and not have to be made each time. This system quick coupling can be of plastic or a stronger material. The drawback of plastic is that you can break.
Here is the proof. To me, I dropped mine and it broke me, what you see is what white was an attempt to settle on my part with a putty, which, of course, it didn’t work (one session I think I lasted ). Luckily, every experience is a learning experience and I got one that had the coupling system more resilient.
TYPES OF TRIPOD
In this section I will give you a summary of the types of tripod that you can find.
- Low range. They are usually aluminum or plastic and do not have parts separable. For example this tripod.
- Mid-range (light). Here we find tripods seeking the balance between stability and lightness. Designed for travel or easy transport. According to the price, you will find them with ball head that can be separated or to the previous type, which form an indivisible whole. This could be a good example of tripod mid-range.
- Mid-range high. Are more robust and allow a larger load capacity. Designed for working with telephoto lenses. This, for example, can support up to 9kg
- Minitrípodes or pocket: designed to carry and be able to put the camera on a table, a rock or the ground, for example. Don’t support too much weight, although you can use them with a DSLR camera. This, for example, supports up to almost 3 kg
- Minitrípodes flexible: basically the same as the previous one, but whose legs you can bend or tangle on a branch. Here I told you about mine, with which I am very satisfied. You can use it with DSLR, compact, mobile, or GoPro.
- Monopod: half-way between the hands and the tripod, you have the monopod which offers more stability than shooting at pulse but more freedom of movement than the tripod. Ideal for sports photography and wildlife, such as this model.
WHAT DETERMINES THE STABILITY OF A TRIPOD?
Some elements influencing the stability of a tripod, let’s see what they are for when choosing one, you can look good and know what you need.
- Weight: the weight is a determining factor in the stability. The heavier a tripod most difficult to transport and is also more stable. If it’s not what you are going to draw for a study, it is clear that you should be heavy. If it is to get out you need to make, if you prefer something light because you’ll always carry and travel long roads, maybe you want something lighter. But if you want stability above all, your back will have to sacrifice a little. Please, don’t andes with halftone. Just stop a moment to reflect which of the two benefits you are more interested in: comfort or stability.
- Sections: having more than three sections affects the stability of a tripod. On the other hand, if it is to travel, and the stability is not the biggest of your worries, you should keep in mind that the greater the number of sections, more open and be more compact to put in your suitcase.
- Diameter of legs: if the diameter is very thin, it will affect the stability, especially with heavy equipment. Around 30mm is a good diameter, as I told you above.
- Middle column: the more you stretch the central column, the more stability by subtracting. So that it is convenient to a tripod that fits your height when you stretch, because if you have to resort to the central column to not have to bend, you will lose stability.
- Materials: the quality and hardness of the materials is also very important, as well as its finish.
- Tops of feet: if you intend to put it in the water and/or use them on surfaces very slippery, it is convenient for you to change the rubber ends of the legs by nails for you have a good grip to the ground. Although the rubber bumpers will work for most situations.
MATERIALS
As you can imagine, or may have been able to verify, the tripods can be made of different materials:
- Aluminum: lightweight and economical, but more unstable. Offers resistance to corrosion and tend to have better price-quality ratio. Not suitable for working temperatures below 0ºC. You can get the skin attached!
- Carbon fiber: are the most expensive, but they are also much more lightweight than aluminium and is very stable. Dampen the vibrations and work just as well in extreme conditions of cold or heat. To compensate for the lightness of weight, using the hook to provide more stability and lower center of gravity. While in the rest of the materials the legs can have different forms, the carbon fiber tend to be tubular (tube-shaped) and with a system of clamping rotary instead of closing fast.
- Basalt: its use is less widespread (for now). It shares the characteristics of the carbon fiber, however, is harder and lighter.
- Stainless steel: they are very heavy, they are more intended for the video equipment that for a regular use.
OTHER ASPECTS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A TRIPOD
- Load capacity: first, and most important, in what you have to look at is the load capacity. Ideally, hold a little more of the weight of your equipment. But not much more than what you have thought to add because you will take an unnecessary expense. Although this is a lesser evil. It is the worst idea to buy a tripod that will hold less weight than your computer, as you run the risk of damaging the tripod and end up damaging the computer.
- Bubble level: required to align the camera with the horizon. There is to find a general level or three-level that is used for leveling more accurately in different planes.
- Center column: not useful for landscapes, night, panoramic, architecture, sport and wildlife. Adds versatility while remaining stable. Allows you to gain in height when you need it and is helpful in macro.
- The size folded: if you’re going to travel with him or walk with him great distances, can also be of interest to you keep in mind how tall once folded. This will depend on the height of the tripod open, and on the number of sections.
- Feet: the part that rests on the ground, which is rubber helps that it does not slide over smooth surfaces, with nails that get a good grip on slippery surfaces (such as ice).
- Hook: if you take pictures often windy, the hook to the bottom of the center column lets you put an additional weight to provide greater stability.
- Handles neoprene: can also be made from other materials, such as rubber. Their role is more thinking of you in the photograph ;), as they are so they don’t freeze your hands when you pick it up when you’re photographing with very low temperatures.
- Diameter of the ball: when you try to use the tripod with heavy equipment, it is important that the ball of the ball joint is adequate. So that it can withstand more weight will be more large, robust and heavy.
- A good relationship between price and functionality: remember, it is not better the tripod more expensive, or the most features offered, but the one that covers your needs at a better price.
- Versatility/specification: no one better than you know your photographic needs. If you are a photographer that experiments with everything and done types of pictures that is very different, you will be interested in a tripod most versatile even if you lose inaccuracy. However, if you are clear that what yours is, for example, macro photography, and that only once in a while you do other types of photos with a tripod, look for one designed for macro photography. And who says macro, says landscape, sports, architecture or whatever it is you remove the sleep
- Patella fixed or interchangeable: the tripods expensive are a great investment, they are an accessory that will probably for a long time, so it is common to find tripods ball interchangeable. This allows us, after a time, to purchase a new ball if the current as we don’t like, and not to have to change all the tripod. The most economical, in contrast, are fixed. Anyway, if you choose well your tripod may not need to change the patella ever.
WHAT TRIPOD I BUY IT?
After all this information, it is possible that you’re wondering what tripod to buy. As we have already said, will depend on your needs.
If your budget does not reach more and do not know if you will reach in a long time but you’re dying to try long-exposure, or take pictures at night. Does not get bogged down. Better to have a tripod that does not have. The most purists will tell you that it is a waste of money, we’ll tell you that beyond the sharpness absolute of a great deal of stability, is the learning. The one that you enjoy them with what you like most and don’t get frustrated because you can’t have the tripod more expensive. There are pretty decent for less than 100 euros.
Now, if you have already clear what it is that gets you out of bed at odd hours; if you know what type of photography is that it makes you tingle; if you have a tripod that no longer serves you; you have been broken that you had, or not giving you what you need, then, our advice is to discuss this article. Once properly analyzed, make a list of benefits that should have to cover these needs and take the time you need to save, or to find the tripod that best suits to your list of benefits. A good tripod is always a good investment.
THE BEST TRIPODS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Then, you have some general recommendations. These are tripod very well appreciated by the users and with a great price-quality ratio. The best tripods that we can recommend:
- Vanguard Alta Pro 263AGH
- Manfrotto Befree Advanced
- Manfrotto Compact Action
- K&F Concept TC2534
- K&F Concept Professional Tripod TM2534T
- Vanguard VEO 2 265AB
- Manfrotto 190 Xpro
- Benro A3573FS6
VANGUARD ALTA PRO 263AGH
Robust and stable, with a ball head and grip sole. Supports up to 6kg. A wonder that you can find for around 150 euros.
MANFROTTO BEFREE ADVANCED
It is difficult to give with an aluminum tripod, compact, economical and at the same time with system of a ball head, but here’s one. Full and for less than 200 euros.
MANFROTTO COMPACT ACTION
A tripod to try, to travel, to computers very light (maximum 1.5 kg) and for small budget.
K&F CONCEPT TC2534
If you are looking for a tripod versatile, this can be your choice. Carbon fiber, holds up to 10kg, tripod and monopod in one. Stable and with a hot shoe quick release.
K&F CONCEPT PROFESSIONAL TRIPOD TM2534T
This tripod is ideal for macro photography and for those who need a 360º turn. Supports up to 10kg. You can find it for around 170 euros.
VANGUARD VEO 2 265AB
This is a recommendation of a tripod for night photography. Non-slip rubber feet, head ball, magnesium and aluminum alloy, the column reversible exclusive, high load capacity (8Kg), 5 sections with opening to 3 different angles (20°, 45°, 80°) and non-slip grip. Got it on Amazon for less than 150 euros.
MANFROTTO 190 XPRO
For the most discerning of photographers. Maximum load of 7kg, but has mechanism of central column to 90⁰, Quick Power Lock (QPL) lock for the legs, adding security and robustness, and a ball head XPRO with rings of polymer that replace the fat and add to the fluidity in the movements. On Amazon it costs about 270 euros.
BENRO A3573FS6
If you like the video and you need to buy a tripod, accounts with this Benro for 340 euros approximately.
I hope that this article has been useful, that will serve as a guide now or at the time of purchasing a tripod. If it seems useful, I’m going to ask you a favor, share on your favorite social networks. You can save headaches to some of your contacts.
