Those approaching the world of photography quickly discover the importance of a tripod for their camera. Find out how to choose it, when to use it and the models to have to immediately improve your shots.
We have found our ideal camera, we have achieved the lens that best suited our camera, we already have the perfect transport bag to take our camera everywhere … do we need a tripod for your camera?
There are many and different reasons to incorporate a tripod into our photographic equipment. While it is true that it is always good to have one on hand that is light, ergonomic and cheap as the AmazonBasics we have selected … is it really necessary?
Why we need a tripod for our camera?
The first thing to keep in mind is the type of photography that we like or want to make. From there, the need (or not) of a tripod or monopod to accompany us will depend to a great extent.
We will have enough reasons to complement our photographic equipment with a good tripod if…
- If you take long-distance photographs using telephoto lenses in your reflex or evil camera.
- If you use bridge camera objectives with a high number of increases.
- You make long exposure night photography.
- You want to capture images in 360 degrees.
- And if you simply do not have an image stabilizer in your camera or lens.
The 7 best camera tripods in the market right now
Whether you are a photography novice or a holiday lover, you will soon discover that the tripod is an accessory you can hardly do without during your photo sessions.
You will learn (or perhaps you already know it!) that a good photographic easel is essential for many types of shots, from family photos during Christmas lunch to macro photography.
In this post, we have collected and analyzed the best tripods for reflex, bridge and mirrorless cameras. Find out what’s right for you!
AmazonBasics Lightweight Tripod with Bag
This economic and functional tripod finished in aluminum is perfect to take it everywhere. It supports up to 3 kg of weight and can rise up to 60-inches in height thanks to its central column. In addition, it has a carrying handle on its body that allows us to move it comfortably.
It has an integrated level on the legs to check if they are well leveled, in addition to another bubble level at the top of the camera support.
Its legs extend from 0.5 meters to 1.2 meters, in three steps (yes, in a threaded mode, not a clamp). The tops of the legs are easily adapted to the ground by means of metal tips with gum stops. In addition, it presents a hook at the end of its central column to be able to add weight if necessary and gain stability.
It has a ball-and-socket type ball joint, of good quality and quite stable, in addition to a quick shoe. It comes with an included case for easy transportation.
For price and performance, this tripod is a perfect purchase option to get started with this type of photographic accessory or as a support to carry flashes or accessories. Of course, it is not a light tripod, since it weighs 1.4 kg.
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Fotopro Tripod for Camera and Phone
This robust and practical tripod is ideal to take it with you without a major problem. One of the features we want to highlight is its weight since it is very light: 570 grams.
With a maximum load weight of 2 kgs, it adapts to almost all devices on the market, including mobile phones or video cameras. Includes a Bluetooth remote control, another point in favor to make our photos more comfortable.
Constructed of aluminum alloy, this tripod rises from 39 to 120 cms, arriving fully folded at a height of 155 cms. through four sections with clamp closure. Its legs come finished with non-slip rubber.
It has a spirit level to balance our equipment comfortably, and its universal head allows to incorporate virtually all devices on the market in a panoramic head.
As we have said, this tripod includes a phone adapter, another for GoPro, Bluetooth remote control and a carrying bag.
For benefits (light and stable) and quality-price, it is a perfect tripod to start and enjoy photography without problems.
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K&F Concept tripod for Camera
This solid tripod of magnesium and aluminum alloy supports a load capacity of up to 10 kg and allows us to reach a height of 41.5 to 156 cm. In addition, we can easily adapt our tripod to take pictures in macro.
As for its head, the ball and shoe are metallic, a point in their favor, adjustable with screws, which provides great stability and robustness.
We will be able to close the four sections of our tripod legs comfortably using a clamp mechanism. His rubber feet finished in nails will allow a perfect fixation to the ground, and incorporate a hook in the lower part of the central column to provide weight and greater stability if necessary.
Its carrying bag allows us to carry it on the shoulder or in the hand easily and simply.
To take into account that it is a rather heavy tripod, of 1.36 kgs. but of exceptional quality. Perfect to take another step in the purchase of a higher quality tripod.
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Neewer Carbon Fiber Monopod
This practical and comfortable monopod is perfect when we are photographing the same scene for a long time in one place, such as a football match, a sporting event or bird photography in the middle of nature, for example.
They give us more stability and support to our cameras and lenses and offer us greater freedom of movement regarding the use of a tripod.
One of the characteristics that make this monopod ideal is its extreme lightness. Finished in carbon fiber, weighs only 340 grams.
It supports a load capacity of up to 10 kg, and can be raised up to 163 cm in 5 sections. It also includes a reversible screw ¼ and 3/8 inch, so we can mount on it practically all existing cameras in the market.
The handle and strap of the monopod are padded and non-slip. It includes a transport bag, perfect to carry it comfortably.
This monopod is highly recommended in terms of value for money, ideal to have it always at hand in the trunk of the car.
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Ravelli APGL5 Professional
If you are a photography enthusiast or even a professional, surely you have already heard of Ravelli. It is an all-Italian brand now acclaimed by all amateur photographers and professionals due to the high quality of its products.
This professional Ravelli APGL5 tripod will meet everyone’s taste, from the most embarrassing neophyte to the most enterprising professional. Its pistol grip makes it a jewel of the technique, while at the same time falling in a really convenient price range.
Its conformation, therefore, offers super stable support for your photographic equipment, preserving it in any condition. It is made of pressure-treated aluminum alloy, which makes it capable of supporting a maximum weight of 7.7 kg. You will hardly find an equally robust product that is both economical and so easy to use.
The central column can be adjusted in height and its legs can be covered. In this way, you will be able to have fun experimenting with different types of shots, even those more from the bottom that lately are very fashionable among the amateurs.
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Manfrotto PIXI Mini
Small, light (190 grams) and practical. Ideal for compact cameras, 360 degrees, Bridge and Evil. Supports up to 1 kg. of loading.
This mini tripod reaches a maximum height of 13.5 cm. Made of stainless steel, solid construction and finished with rubber feet that give the tripod stability and prevent slips.
It has a 1/4 thread finish, which allows us to also use it with a multitude of digital devices, such as small video cameras (GoPro type).
Its ball locking mechanism is simple and intuitive because by simply pressing the button, the ball joint is released and moves freely.
Due to its size, versatility and price, this small tripod is a perfect companion for adventures.
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Manfrotto Compact 5-Section Tripod Kit
A lightweight product, portable and easy to carry anywhere: a must in all circumstances!
It is not just an intuitive and easy to use tripod, but also an ergonomic one. Thanks to its Compact Action, it is compatible with any device up to a maximum weight of 1.5 kg. Even compact cameras will easily find space on it. You can easily position your faithful camera by adjusting it with the special wheel. Even the release plate is fast and practical, with a round shape that makes it even easier.
Finally, assembling and disassembling your tripod will be easy and fast, and it won’t take you any more to waste time, which you could instead dedicate to your passions.
Thanks to the mode selector, going from photo to video will be even easier. In this way, you will never lose the best shot, and you can freely give life to any moment of your inspiration, in any situation.
Its structure is in fact very stable, even easily on any surface. This makes your photos always sharp and detailed and helps you always find the perfect angle.
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Features to consider before buying a good camera tripod
What are the essential features to consider when choosing a tripod for the camera? Let’s see them together.
Stability
Stability is without a doubt the primary quality to look for in a tripod: if it is missing, not only the instrument is unusable, but it also risks ruining your photographic equipment.
What does stability depend on?
The stability of a tripod is directly proportional to its weight and its height. Moreover, by extending the central column of the stand, the stability decreases a lot.
Other aspects that influence this feature are the number of telescopic sections in which the legs are divided (greater sections, less stability) and the possible presence of feet designed to hook onto the ground.
Another factor to be taken into consideration with respect to stability is the possible presence of a hook at the end of the central column; here weights can be anchored to increase it.
Weight
Weight is the second main feature in the choice of a photographic easel. If it is true that greater weight corresponds to greater stability, it must be borne in mind that a tripod of many kilos is difficult to carry with it.
Unless your intention is to use it only for your study (in which case the heavy weight is not a problem), looking for a satisfactory compromise between weight and stability is fundamental.
Dimensions
Before buying a tripod, it is good to consider all its dimensions both from open and closed, in order to know its bulk in case of transport.
The ideal height of the open tripod is proportionate to your height, about 20 cm less to be precise: in an ideal situation, the camera should be up to your eye.
Don’t underestimate the minimum height: in some cases, like for macro photography, the perfect framing is very close to the ground.
Materials
The most common material for making tripods is aluminum, which gives good stability at the expense of lightness. We find the same characteristics in magnesium and titanium trestles.
Carbon fiber tripods are much lighter and easier to carry during excursions and trips, but, while guaranteeing excellent damping of the vibrations, they lose a bit in stability and resistance and are generally very expensive.
Finally, there are photographic easels in wood and plastic, much less widespread. The first ones have a good quality, but they cost a lot; the latter, on the other hand, are quite unstable and generally suitable only for mirrorless or compact machines.
Flow
Knowing how many kilograms the tripod can hold is fundamental: choose a tripod that will easily support the weight of your camera with the heaviest lens and any accessories.
Keep in mind that this data is often inaccurate: to be sure that the tripod does not break, causing all your photographic equipment to collapse, you know that half of the data declared by the manufacturers tends to be considered realistic.
Photo Head
The head is the element of the tripod that connects your camera to the body of the tripod and allows you to orient the camera thanks to a set of mechanical elements.
The head performs three types of movement (rotation with respect to the plane, front-to-back inclination, right-angled inclination) which make it possible to orient the camera 360 degrees.
Most tripods come with an integrated head, which can be detached from the base and possibly replaced.
There are many types of tripod heads on the market, but the most common can be reduced to two categories:
- ball heads: the movements are made by a single joint, hinged on a central spherical joint;
- 3-axis heads: composed of three different mechanisms, one for each movement.
With the first ones, it is possible to change the frame more quickly, but they are slightly inaccurate for some types of photographs, as for the shots in which the leveling is fundamental.
How to use?
The first thing to do, when using a tripod, is not about the tripod! It is much more comfortable to start by composing the shot and looking for the perfect angle.
Only then can you mount the tripod; nothing prevents you from reversing this order, it is true, but you would find yourself doing double the effort, turning with the tripod in your hand and finding yourself adjusting it again once you have identified its final position.
At this point, your legs and mount the camera.
Adjust the height first with the legs, and use the center bar only in cases where it is still not sufficient.
When to use?
The tripod is an indispensable helper in many situations where the camera and your arms alone are not enough.
Its main quality, in fact, is to dampen the micro-vibrations of the hands that hold the camera: hence a good tripod is essential whenever you need to take a picture with a long exposure.
A generic rule, but quite effective, to know when to use a tripod to shoot concerns the relationship with the focal length used.
Let’s take an example: if you are using a 200 mm focal length, you should use a shutter speed faster than 1/200 of a second to be sure not to generate micro-jumps by shooting freehand.
In particular, the photo easel is essential for:
- Long exposures: the tripod allows you to avoid blur and micro-blur.
- Macro photography and landscape photography: the use of a tripod improves the sharpness of the shot.
- Self-portraits and shots in which the photographer is present in the first person.
- Night photography: when it is necessary to use long shutter speeds.
- Light Painting: to achieve this effect it is necessary, again, to lengthen the shutter speed.
Where to buy a camera tripod?
The tripod is one of the most popular accessories for the camera and photography in general, so it is not difficult to find it in electronics stores.
Online shopping, however, gives, as always, the possibility of exponentially expanding the possibilities of choice and finding really convenient offers.
Amazon, in particular, born with electronics, has in its catalog hundreds of stands for photography for all needs, almost always for sale at a discounted price and with free shipping for Amazon Prime customers.