(Credit: René Ramos; Adobe Stock/NicoElNino)
In the market for a tripod? You probably have a good idea of what to look for if you're an old hat at photography, but beginners might find the task more difficult. After all, there are hundreds of models available from dozens of brands to choose from, most of which use different types of legs, heads, and attachment systems. If you're confused about which tripod is best for you, read on for our top recommendations and buying advice.
Why Should You Use a Tripod?
You might be looking for a tripod simply because you just got a camera and, let's face it, this is one of those accessories that immediately comes to mind as “necessary.” Primarily, tripods are handy for keeping your camera steady for pictures and video recordings. Landscape scenes and others that require longer exposures and small apertures are classic examples, but tripods are also invaluable in the studio for product and macro photography. In fact, any discipline that requires you to slow down and take time to carefully compose an image benefits from the use of a tripod.
Many newer cameras and lenses include built-in stabilization, however, so it's reasonable to wonder if you need one at all. You can usually get decently sharp handheld photos with half-second exposure times from a mirrorless body that has a stabilized sensor, but a tripod is still worthwhile for situations in which plumb angles and straight horizon lines are crucial.
How Much Should You Spend on a Tripod?
You can spend anywhere from around $15 to $1,750 for a tripod, though we don't think it's wise to aim for either extreme. You might face shoddy engineering and design inconveniences on the low end, while high-end models likely won't give you anything more than bragging rights. We recommend you budget somewhere between $150 and $300 for a quality general-use tripod. Prepare to spend $500 or more if you want premium features, such as carbon fiber construction, support for heavy-duty lenses, or a compact, travel-friendly design.
Cheap tripods have their place, however. Don't count out that $15 Amazon Basics model if you just want to use your camera for Zoom meetings or your annual family holiday photo. There's simply no reason to overspend if that's all you need. But if you want to do more than just set up an occasional shot, consider upmarket options.
Shopping the used market is another good way to save money. You might not get a tripod with a trendy design, but it's a fine way to get a premium brand option for a lower-than-luxury price. Adorama, B&H Photo, Gear Focus, and KEH are all reputable destinations where you can score a pre-owned or open-box tripod for less than retail.
What Type of Tripod Should You Get?
Although you might picture the quintessential tripod as one that's about as tall as a person, there's actually a fair bit of diversity in shape and size.
For most people, the multi-section, height-adjustable models are best. With these tripods, you typically buy the legs and tripod head separately (we discuss both parts in more detail a bit later), but kits are available.
If you like the idea of a traditional tripod, but don't want to carry around something bulky, a travel tripod might work for you. These are smaller overall and often employ clever folding designs that help them take up less space in your backpack or suitcase. Such models often have bespoke heads that match their slim design, and close down to under 20 inches so you can find a place for them inside your camera bag.
Recommended Non-Traditional Tripods
Going even smaller, tabletop tripods are truly tiny and are meant to sit on top of a table or counter. You can, of course, get something that's just a smaller version of a regular tripod, but others take different approaches. Entries in the instantly recognizable Joby Gorillapod lineup, for instance, have flexible legs that you can wrap around anything from a tree limb to a fence post to a lamp.
The Platypod is another animal-inspired camera support system, but it's not really a tripod. It's just a flat plate with a camera mount on its top and a set of four short, adjustable legs. Photographers who work outdoors in nature and struggle to find level ground for low-angle work should find it useful, but it's definitely a specialty item.
Other tripods appeal specifically to vloggers. Nikon, Panasonic, and Sony all sell tabletop tripods that fold into pistol grips, complete with on-handle controls for handheld recordings.
Recommended Tabletop Tripods for Vlogging
You might also want to check out monopods. If you know your Greek roots, it's easy to figure out that a monopod is a camera support with one leg, rather than three. Monopods are a good match for disciplines like sports and wildlife photography because they provide support for heavy telephoto lenses without restricting your freedom of movement. Video monopods, a subset, add a small set of feet for additional stability.
What Brand of Tripod Is Best?
Typically, we test individual products to provide recommendations, but we're straying from that a bit here. Instead, we're leaning on our years of experience with different brands to call out some we generally find to offer quality products.
Manfrotto is likely the most popular tripod maker, and, like many photographers, my first real tripod was a Manfrotto model. The Italy-based company sells a full range of models, as well as luxury-grade gear under its Gitzo imprint. You can't go wrong with either brand.
Recommended Tripod Kits
But you might find better value elsewhere. I've always liked the bold look and quality craftsmanship of brands like 3 Legged Thing and Benro's MeFoto line when I've tried them out at trade shows. Other well-regarded value options are available from SmallRig, Sirui, and Vanguard.
If you are willing to spend a bit more money on something that's not from Manfrotto, a few recent, trendy tripods stand out. I reviewed the Peak Design Travel Tripod a few years ago and loved how its trapezoidal legs folded tightly together. HEIPI followed suit with a similar, cylinder-leg travel tripod. Baseplate specialist Really Right Stuff also now offers a high-end tripod in its lineup. Finally, Benro hit Kickstarter gold with its Theta self-leveling tripod; I haven't tested it, but it's worth a gander if you enjoy a bit of over-engineering.
Is Aluminum or Carbon Fiber Better for a Tripod?
Most tripods use low-cost aluminum or pricier carbon fiber in their build. The latter material is lighter, handles vibrations better, and doesn't get as frigid to the touch in cold weather, so it's more desirable. You might come across wood tripods as well, though it's an increasingly less common choice due to advancements in vibration reduction with carbon fiber.
If you can afford it, we recommend spending a bit more money to get a carbon fiber model. You might upgrade your camera every few years or so, but a good set of tripod legs can last decades, assuming you take care of them. And thankfully, there's not a ton of maintenance to do with a tripod. Simply make sure you keep it clean (some soap and water is all you need even after a day of trudging through the mud) and try to prevent sand from getting inside (apply tripod grease to the joints to smooth things out if you accidentally do).
How to Pick Tripod Legs
Construction material isn't the only aspect to consider when choosing a set of tripod legs. You also need to make sure that they match up with your height. Essentially, you need to find a set that lets you comfortably put your eye up to the camera viewfinder without bending down.
You can determine this by checking the maximum height spec in product listings. For full-size tripods, you often see maximum heights between 60 and 75 inches, with outliers going up to 100 inches. Closed down, these big tripods are anywhere from around 20 inches to 40 inches tall. Travel tripods start out around 40 inches maximum, and some feature fold-over legs that collapse to lengths of just 15 inches. The latter are decidedly more backpack-friendly.
The number of sections in the legs also matters. Tripod legs typically telescope out in three or four stages and require you to lock each in place. The lock mechanism is usually a knob that you loosen and tighten with a twist, though some are simple clips. I prefer clips because they're quick to open and close, but that's a matter of preference.
The next thing to consider is minimum height. Most tripods include an adjustable center column that adds height beyond the legs at their maximum extension, with some loss of stability. That same center column might prevent your tripod from going really low to the ground, but others let you remove it or otherwise move it out of the way to get down to nearly ground level. The column is a useful feature, even if it gets in the way, as it typically includes a hook to hang a sandbag or other weight to keep your camera steady when you work in breezy conditions or on unstable ground.
Recommended Tripod Legs
Maximum support weight isn't too much of a concern for most consumer cameras, but it's still a spec worth checking. Any tripod worth buying can handle a full-frame camera and 24-70mm F2.8 zoom lens without worry. Make sure to also check the weight of the tripod itself, especially if you're looking to use it for travel.
If you use long telephoto lenses, choose a tripod system that can handle more weight; heavier-duty ball heads are less prone to drift when using a heavy lens. (Anecdotally, when I reviewed the Sony FE 400mm F2.8, I found that the 20-pound-rated Peak Design Travel Tripod tough to lock down in place, so I used a Gitzo Traveler set of legs and a 100-pound-rated PhotoClam Pro-46NS ball head instead.)
Outdoor photographers should look for a set of legs that come with spiked metal feet, or at least include them as an accessory. If you're working indoors, it's better to go with rubber feet because they are less likely to damage floors. As for other items to look for, a small toolkit is often bundled, but usually you don't need anything more than a L-style hex wrench.
What Type of Tripod Head Do You Need?
The top of the tripod, where your camera sits, is called the head. This is the part you spend the most time fiddling with to set up your frame, so it's important to pick one that works well. Some common features to look for include support for some type of quick release plate and an integrated bubble level. Avoid any models that lack these two things.
We expect most folks to choose either a ball or a three-way pan-tilt head. Ball heads use a single ball-and-socket joint to set a position and usually have a knob that lets you tighten or loosen the drag. Alternatively, three-way pan-tilt heads support independent adjustment for the x, y, and z axes. Both have their merits; a ball head wins on convenience and freedom of movement, while the pan-tilt head is better for precision work.
Geared heads are a subset of the pan-tilt type. Instead of setting tension with a knob and adjusting movement by applying force, this type relies on knobs to set pan, tilt, and yaw. These variants cost more but are useful for real estate and other architectural disciplines.
For big telephoto lenses, a gimbal head is a good idea. This type can balance a telephoto lens and supports vertical tilt and pan adjustments. Similar in concept to a powered gimbal for video work, a gimbal head works best when the weight of its payload is directly above the pivot point. This type of setup makes it easy for wildlife and sports photogs to track moving subjects with much less physical exertion compared with a handheld kit.
A fluid head is a good choice for video, vlogging, and cinema applications. They support smooth, careful pans and tilts, the type of camera moves common in motion pictures. Adjustable drag controls let you switch between slow moves or whip pans, while a long arm improves ergonomics.
Should You Get an Arca-Swiss or Quick Release Plate?
Pro tripod heads include a quick release plate. This is a detachable piece of metal that screws into a thread at the bottom of your camera. It's so much more convenient than having to use a set screw to lock down a camera on ultra-cheap models.
The camera industry has largely settled around the Arca-Swiss standard for quick release plates. This type has symmetrical dovetail cuts on each side and isn't tied to a specific manufacturer, so there are plenty of options available. That said, Manfrotto's proprietary RC2 plates are also popular.
We encourage you to go with an Arca-Swiss plate, if only for the sake of versatility. L-brackets and baseplates, like the Really Right Stuff one I use with my Sony a7R IV, are a real boon. They sit on your camera at all times and mount to any Arca-Swiss head without additional accessories. Some lenses, like the Tamron 150-500mm zoom, ship with a compatible tripod foot, too.
Have More Questions?
By now, you should have a pretty good handle on what to look for in a tripod as well as which brands are worth exploring. If you have any additional questions or are looking for advice on a specific model, feel free to put a comment down below and we'll do our best to respond.
In the meantime, check out some of our other photography guides. We've put together pieces on fireworks photography, as well as tips for smartphone photogs, beginners, and shutterbugs.
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