Buy Photo Camera Tripod: The Definitive Guide 2022

The choice when buying a tripod for photo camera It is not an easy task. There is so much supply in the market that one can go crazy searching and deciding. But as you well know, we love giving you a hand so I will try to make it as easy as possible for you.

With this article I intend to give you an idea of ​​the different types of tripods that exist and their differences so that you can find the one that best suits your needs. Because once again, I have to tell you that there is no best tripod in the world, but the best tripod for you, the one that suits your needs.

For more information on photography accessories All in all, don’t miss this mega guide. And if what you are looking for is a gift, here are many more gift ideas for photographers.

What is a camera tripod for?

Let’s start with the basics, knowing what a tripod is for and determining if you need it 😉 . A tripod has the function of stabilizing the camera and preventing the image from being shaken (or shaken, which is the same thing). After reading this you may think: Ah, ok, if my camera has a stabilizer, then I don’t need it. Well, yes and no. If you only shoot with fast speeds, or more or less fast, the stabilizer will serve you, however, it will not be enough to long exposures. Which are? Let’s look at some examples:

These are some examples of long exposure photography, but there are more. And there are also other situations or types of photography for which the tripod is also necessary or very helpful:

If you are going to find yourself in one or more of these situations, then you need a tripod 😉 . As you will see, it is not essential to take pictures, however, it opens up a whole world of possibilities.

parts of a tripod

Once we know its uses or utilities, I am going to introduce you to the parts of which it is composed, in this way, when I tell you below which one suits you according to what type of photos, you will understand what I am talking about ;).

parts of a tripod

Ball joint

The ball joint or head is the part that allows you to move the camera in different directions without having to move the entire tripod. There are different types. If you buy a tripod with interchangeable headyou will have the possibility of having different heads and changing it according to the type of photography you are going to do without having to have several tripods.

This is advisable when you are going to give it very diverse uses, for example, you do the same panoramas as action photography with telephoto lenses. If not, it will probably be worth it with one with a fixed ball joint, which are cheaper. Now let’s see the types of patella that exist, below you will see an image of each one:

1. ball head (or rocker). They are simple, quick to use and allow flexibility of movement. Ideal for use with telephoto lenses for moving subjects.
2. Three-axis head. It allows vertical and horizontal movement and is indicated for photography of landscapes, studio, macro or architecture.
3. Joystick ball joint. It is a type of ball head, but with a trigger that allows it to move in all directions. Perhaps it is the most comfortable and ergonomic, it allows great freedom of movement, making it ideal for those who need change the frame very quickly as in sports photography. The drawback is that they are not the most accurate and tend to lose stability. If you are going to use it a lot for long exposure photography, it may not be the best option.
4. Panoramic patella. It is a special ball joint that allows panoramas and 360º photographs.
5. Zip tie. It allows the possibility of making millimeter movements. For this reason they are ideal, for example, for macro photography or with large telephoto lenses because they better withstand heavy equipment. On the other hand, they are usually very heavy, they are not to be carried everywhere ;), they are not exactly the cheapest either. They are for a very specific purpose.
6. 2D head. They control the vertical and horizontal movement through a mango with the intention of obtaining greater fluency in the video recording.

Paws

They are the ones that support the weight of the tripod. There are those that can be opened independently, which are the most suitable for uneven terrain; and those that extend at the same time, more suitable for studio photography, for example.

The legs usually have between three and five sections. They can be opened and closed with quick release tabs or with a rotating clamping system.

The most suitable diameter of the legs to support a medium weight equipment is between 28 and 38 mm.

Regarding the feet, where the legs end, they can be made of plastic or rubber, more recommended for interiors. Or metal spikes, to fix on very slippery terrain, such as ice. There are also those that can be changed to better adapt to different surfaces, although they are usually high-end.

Shoe

It is the element that holds the camera and prevents it from falling.

You can find that they are screwed directly or with a quick coupling system. In other words, the shoe is screwed onto the camera and when you want to place it on the tripod, you attach it to the quick system. It is a much more comfortable system because you can leave the shoe on the camera and not have to screw it in every time. This quick coupling system can be made of plastic or a more resistant material. The downside of plastic ones is that they can break.

THE fragile plastic quick coupling system

Here’s the proof. I dropped mine and it broke, what you see white was an attempt on my part to fix it with a putty that obviously didn’t work for me (I think it lasted one session 🙁 ). Luckily, every experience is a learning experience and I got one that had the most resistant coupling system.

tripod types

In this section I will make a summary of the types of tripod that you can find.

• Low range. They are usually made of aluminum or plastic and do not have separable parts. For example this.
• Medium range (light). Here we find tripods that seek the balance between stability and lightness. Designed for travel or easy transport. Depending on the price, you will find them with a ball joint that can be separated or of the previous type, which form an indivisible whole. This could be a good example of a mid-range tripod.
• Upper mid range. They are more robust and allow a greater load capacity. Designed to work for example with telephoto lenses. This one, for example, can support up to 9kg
• Mini or pocket tripods: designed to always carry with you and be able to put the camera on a table, a rock or the ground, for example. They do not usually support too much weight, although you can use these tripods with an SLR camera and there are some, like this one, for example, that support up to 8 kg.
• Flexible Mini Tripods: basically like the previous one but whose legs you can bend or entangle in a branch. Here I told you about mine, with which I am very satisfied. You can use it with reflex, compact, mobile or GoPro.
• Monopod: halfway between freehand and tripod, you have the monopod that offers more stability than shooting handheld but more freedom of movement than the tripod. Ideal for sports and wildlife photography, like this model.

What determines the stability of a tripod?

Some elements influence the stability of a tripod, let’s see what they are so that when choosing one, you can look closely and know what you need.

• Weight: weight is decisive in stability. The heavier a tripod is, the more difficult it is to transport and the more stable it is. If you are not going to take it out of a studio, it is clear that it is convenient for you to be heavy. If it is to go outside you have to assess, if you prefer something light because you are going to always carry it with you and travel long distances, you may be interested in something lighter. But if you want stability above all else, your back will have to sacrifice a bit. Please don’t go with half measures. Take a moment to reflect on which of the two advantages interests you more: comfort or stability.
• Sections: having more than three sections affects the stability of a tripod. On the other hand, if it is for traveling and stability is not your biggest concern, you should bear in mind that the greater the number of sections, the more it will fold and it will be more compact to put it in your suitcase.
• Legs diameter: if the diameter is too fine, it will affect stability, especially with heavier equipment. Around 30mm is a good diameter, as I told you above.
• Center column: the more you extend the central column, the more stability you will subtract. So a tripod that is at your height when you extend it is convenient, because if you have to resort to the central column to avoid having to bend down, you will lose stability.
• Materials: The quality and hardness of the materials is also very important, as well as their finish.
• Leg stops: If you intend to put it in the water and/or use it on very slippery surfaces, it is convenient that you can change the rubber stops on the legs for nails so that they have a good grip on the ground. Although rubber bumpers will work for most situations.

Materials

As you can imagine or have been able to verify, tripods can be made with different materials:

• Aluminum: light and cheap, but more unstable. It offers resistance to corrosion and tends to have better value for money. Not suitable for working at temperatures below 0ºC. Your skin can get stuck!
• Carbon fiber: they are the most expensive, but they are also much lighter than aluminum and very stable. They dampen vibrations very well and work just as well in extreme cold or hot conditions. To compensate for the light weight, the hook is used to provide more stability and lower the center of gravity. While in other materials the legs can have different shapes, in carbon fiber they are usually tubular (tube-shaped) and with a rotating fastening system instead of a quick release.
• Basalt: its use is less widespread (for now). Shares the characteristics of carbon fiber, however it is harder and lighter.
• Stainless steel: they are very heavy, they are more intended for video equipment than for regular use.

Other aspects to consider when buying a tripod

• Loading capacity: The first, and most important, thing you should look at is the load capacity. Ideally, it should support a little more of the weight of your equipment. But not much more than what you plan to add, because you will make an unnecessary expense. Although this is a lesser evil. It is a worse idea to buy a tripod that supports less weight than your equipment has, because you run the risk of damaging the tripod and ending up damaging the equipment.
• Bubble level: necessary to align the camera with the horizon. There are to find a general level or…