Steady On: Why you should consider using a tripod

Investing in a tripod can greatly improve the quality of your photographs, especially when shooting in low-light situations. Whether you're a professional photographer or just enjoy capturing moments with your camera, a tripod can be a valuable tool to have in your photography arsenal.

Here’s why you should consider using a tripod:

Increased Stability for Sharp Images: A tripod provides a stable base for your camera, significantly reducing camera shake, especially in low-light conditions or when using slow shutter speeds. This stability is crucial for capturing crisp, clear images, particularly in situations like long exposures, night photography, or when using telephoto lenses.

 Florence Duomo photographed using a 5-second exposure - difficult to do without a tripod.

Improved Composition and Framing Precision: With a camera mounted on a tripod, you have more time and control to thoughtfully compose your shots. You can make fine adjustments to the framing, ensuring that everything is perfectly aligned and in focus. This is particularly beneficial for landscape, architectural, and portrait photography, where composition is key.

Fine tuning your composition is easier with your camera locked on a tripod.

Enables Creative Techniques: Tripods are invaluable for various creative photography techniques. These include HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging, focus stacking, panoramic shots, and time-lapse photography. These techniques often require the camera to be in a fixed position to maintain consistency across multiple shots.

Convenience and Flexibility in Various Conditions: Using a tripod can be a huge convenience, especially in challenging shooting conditions. For instance, in macro photography where precise focusing is required, or in wildlife photography where you might have to wait patiently for the perfect shot. A tripod also allows photographers to be in their own photos, using a timer or remote shutter release.

Tripods come in many shapes and sizes, from small desktop versions to heavy duty studio stands.

Here are the key features to consider when choosing one:

Weight Capacity:

Ensure the tripod can support the weight of your camera and the heaviest lens you plan to use. Overloading a tripod can lead to instability and you don’t want to risk your camera toppling over..

Tripod Weight:

Consider the weight of the tripod itself. A heavier tripod might offer more stability, but a lighter one is easier to carry, especially for travel or hiking. Tripods are commonly made from aluminium or carbon fibre. Carbon fibre is lighter and absorbs vibrations better but is more expensive. Aluminium is heavier but more affordable.

Height:

Check both the maximum and minimum height of the tripod. Ensure it suits your photography style and physical needs. A taller tripod is useful, but it should also collapse to a convenient size for transport.

Stability:

Look for a tripod sturdy enough to withstand various conditions, like wind. Stability often correlates with the quality of the build and material.

Leg Lock Type:

Tripods have different leg lock types, like twist locks or flip locks. Consider which is quicker and easier for you to adjust.

Feet:

Ensure the tripod feet are suitable for where you'll use it. Some have rubber or plastic feet for indoor use, while others have spikes for outdoor stability.  Some have a combination rubber foot with a spike which can be extended when needed.

Head Type:

The main two options are ball and socket head or a pan and tilt head. Ball heads are versatile and very quick to set whereas pan-tilt heads offer more precise control.

Quick Release System:

Look for a tripod with a quick-release plate for easy mounting and dismounting of your camera. If the quick release plate is an Arca Swiss type then it will be compatible with some other manufacturers heads too.

Folded Size:

Consider the folded size for ease of transportation. Smaller fold size is particularly important for travel photography.

Centre Column:

Many tripods have a centre column for additional height, but check it’s stability when fully extended as it might not be solid enough.

Additional Features:

Some tripods have extra features like the ability to convert a leg into a monopod, or built-in bubble levels for alignment.

In our many years as professional photographers we’ve come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as the perfect tripod - it really depends on what you are shooting.   A really solid, heavy tripod is great in the studio, but not ideal for trekking up mountains to shoot landscapes.  Ideally you’ll need different tripods for different situations (I think we had ten at the last count!)

Start with one that covers your main needs, and then add to your kit as you need to.

A tripod makes the process of photographing the Northern Lights much easier with a 30 second exposure.

Remember, a tripod is more than just a tool to hold a camera steady. It's an essential piece of equipment that can enhance the quality of your photographs, expand your creative possibilities, and provide greater control over your photographic process.