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How to choose a tripod: basic selection criteria

Every photographer and videographer knows that your best friend is not four-legged, but three-legged. With a tripod, you'll minimize shake and achieve a stable and smooth image. But how do you choose the perfect tripod for your needs?

How to choose a tripod for your DSLR? And which tripod is right for taking videos? Choosing a tripod deserves a moment of your time, because it's the only way to get a tripod that will support you and your equipment. In the following article, we'll summarise everything you need to know to choose one.

The most important questions for choosing a tripod

Before we get into the parameters, let's first ask a few questions that will guide you towards choosing the right tripod. Because even the most expensive tripod won't do such a good job if it doesn't meet your needs.

How tall a tripod do you need? Size matters. For comfortable handling of your camera or camcorder, choose a tripod that's appropriate for your height. The ideal height of a tripod corresponds to the height of the person who will be using it, because while lowering it is relatively easy, raising it just won't do.

Where will you use the tripod most often? A different tripod is suited for the field, another for the studio. For frequent carrying, you'll appreciate the lighter models; on the other hand, less weight often comes with less stability. That's why tripods for shooting video tend to be more massive than tripods for photography.

What are you planning to shoot and what kind of equipment are you looking for? Are you shooting product photography, landscapes or maybe the night sky? Along with a lens, a tripod is an absolute must-have in your kit. In addition to the height and design, you'll need to look at the right type of head, suitable load capacity, and other parameters, which we'll break down in a moment.

Basic tripod parameters

The range of tripods is quite wide, so let's take a look at their basic parameters to get a better idea.

Tripod height and dimensions when folded

To work comfortably, you shouldn't slouch when using a tripod. So choose one with your height in mind. In addition to the maximum height, it's also useful to know the minimum height so you know how much variability the tripod offers you.

If you often carry your tripod around, we also recommend paying attention to the dimensions when folded so you don't have to buy extra luggage to carry it. The legs of folding tripods are made up of several segments. The more segments, the more stackable the tripod will be when folded, on the other hand, this is redeemed by less stability.

Tripod material

A quality tripod has to be able to withstand something, so avoid plastic. Aluminum alloys and carbon fiber composites (called carbon) are the most common materials you'll see today. Aluminium is heavier and cheaper, carbon is lighter but also significantly more expensive. Another option is titanium tripods, which are also very strong and lightweight.

Tripod weight

The weight of a tripod depends not only on the dimensions but also on the materials used. While aluminium ones are quite bulky on the back, carbon ones tend to be lighter. As we indicated in the introduction, more weight is not always a disadvantage, if you need a tripod that can withstand wind gusts, less weight will be detrimental.

Tripod design

The most common tripods are so-called tripods, i.e. tripods with three legs and a central extendable column (which can sometimes be flipped 180°, allowing you to shoot as close to the ground as possible - an ideal feature for macro shoots). They offer great stability and can be found in a range of heights. Thanks to their good stability, you can also use them when taking shots at night.

In addition to classic tripods, you can also find mini tripods on the market, which are, as the name suggests, significantly smaller. Mini tripods can be folded into really compact dimensions, but they are also small when unfolded. They find their use mainly when travelling with lighter cameras or when shooting smaller products.

The third type is the so-called monopods. There is not much to say about stability, given that they have only one leg. You won't take night sky photos on them, but they help in lower light conditions and are much more operative than a tripod. They can effectively dampen vibrations and lighten your hands when using heavy equipment. Their other advantage is in the space and weight saved, and also in the much greater mobility of the photographer/camcorder. Thus, they find their use when photographing sports or animals.

TIP: If you need both a tripod and a monopod, you can choose from models that can easily be converted from a classic tripod to a lightweight monopod.

Tripod load capacity

Last but not least, think about whether you'll be using the tripod for a mirrorless camera with a lightweight lens, or whether you need it to carry a heavier DSLR with a proper telephoto lens. The value given on the tripod indicates the maximum load, you'll get ideal conditions if you get to no more than half that.

For more stability, it's a good idea to add extra weight to the tripod, often using a hook under the tripod head to hang your photo backpack with the rest of your gear.

Tripod head

An important part of the tripod is the head, which holds the camera itself. There are several types of heads that differ in the way they allow you to move your camera or camcorder. You can either get the head straight in a set with the tripod legs, or you can choose to get the legs separately and the head separately.

- Ball Head: Ball heads are small in size and light in weight. They can be used to quickly change horizontal and vertical positions at the same time. On the other hand, the impossibility of adjusting the vertical and horizontal axes separately does not allow a completely accurate composition. You can use it when shooting people, animals or sports.

- Three-wayhead: Three-way heads, or 3D heads, allow separate axis settings so you can play with perfect composition. The downside is more time-consuming setup. They are especially suitable for landscape, architecture or product photography.

- Video Head: Video heads are designed for smooth video shooting. The movement is in both axes simultaneously and allows for smooth tracking of the subject being filmed. The smoothest movement is provided by so-called fluid heads with a liquid damper.

Tripod price

Now back to reality. Choosing a tripod also depends a lot on your budget. So even if you are clear in theory what you can do without on a tripod, you may have to make some compromises. So think carefully about what's important to you and what's not so important. Definitely don't try to save on materials and workmanship.

Detailed demonstration of the amazing new Relight FX feature in DaVinci Resolve 18.5:

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