Choosing the right tripod can prevent hours of frustration – to the extent where the wrong tripod may simply be left at home gathering dust.
What do I want to use the tripod for?
Thinking carefully about what you need a tripod for will greatly help define the most suitable tripod for your initial purpose. As your needs develop and your experience grows you may well choose a second tripod for other photography, or select different types of heads for particular shots.
Am I going to use it for travel?
Is it for portraiture?
Do I enjoy macro close-ups of insects or flowers and other small outdoor subjects, and how geographically remote are these subjects?
Do I need to get very close to the surface of a table for studio macro photography?
Will I use the tripod for still photography or for video? Some tripods do both, but if there is a bulk-weight difference between your still and video equipment, the tripod must of course support the heavier of the two without being overkill for the lighter. A second lightweight tripod may even be the answer.
Once you have your list of requirements, you’ll then discover there are wide variations in size, style, weight and features. Generally, in choosing a tripod, you’ll want something that’s as easy as possible to carry and fast to erect and collapse. It should be smooth in operation. Above everything, a tripod must be a stable and solid support for a still or video camera, or your binoculars or fieldscope when watching wildlife.
Tripod strength and stability
Match the strength of the legs to the weight of the camera and lenses you plan to use. A small compact camera typically weighs only 170g. But a professional camera with 300mm lens may weigh 8kg or more. So before finalising your choice, check what your tripod must support. However the trade-off in stability is, of course, weight. If you are planning to carry the tripod you will need to be confident that it is not so difficult that it will deter you from taking it in the first place!
