The lowdown on choosing a tripod

In many of our blog tutorials we recommend using a tripod to get the best results, but it occurred to us that with so many on the market choosing the right one for the job is a challenge. This week we’re going to give you our top tips on buying the best tripod for your needs, and working on the ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ theory, we’re going to focus on quality.

Think about the type of photography you do most often and how a tripod would improve that. Are you a macro photographer? A people photographer? Do you chase sunsets half way up mountains or on windswept beaches? Perhaps you’re a real all-rounder who enjoys all genres of photography? In essence, all photographers who are serious about getting the best results need a tripod. The question is which one?

Because you’re generally not going to be carrying tonnes of gear over hill and dale weight isn’t really an issue for macro photography, so it’s a good idea to invest in a sturdy tripod for maximum stability. Look for a model that has independent legs – that’s legs that can be positioned anywhere – and no centre column so that you can use the tripod at any height. The ability to shoot low to the ground is often essential in macro photography.

Choosing a model for landscape photography is often a trade-off between stability and weight. You obviously want a solid and stable base for your images in a situation where low light, low ISO and slower shutter speeds make getting your shots a challenge, but do you want to lug a few kilos of tripod up the side of a large hill?

The choice is between carbon fibre or aluminium – with aluminium being cheaper, slightly more stable but heavier, and carbon being more expensive but lighter for a long haul over rough ground. Our recommendation is for a carbon fibre tripod, but with the addition of a sandbag to give it some added stability. Simply take an empty sandbag with you and fill it with mud, rocks or sand when you arrive at your destination, hook it to the underside of your tripod head and it will remain solid in most situations.

Go for a good quality aluminium tripod for your portrait work because you’re rarely going to be carrying it very far. The most important thing for this kind of photography is a really good quality three-way pan and tilt head. You want something that works smoothly with large lenses and allows for quick adjustments between portrait and landscape mode.

As you can see, choosing a tripod need not be too taxing. Make the right decision and you’ll soon be taking the kind of high-quality images that will look great printed to canvas and hung with pride on your walls.