The Beginner's Guide to Tripods
-
Loading... - Fabrice Ngomou
- 10 Aug 2022
- 73 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
The trusty tripod has remained relatively unchanged as cameras and lenses become increasingly more advanced and complicated. Sure, manufacturers use increasingly more sophisticated materials, such as carbon fiber, but the fundamental character of the tripod has stood the test of time. A tripod has three legs and is a worthy addition to any photographer’s kit. There’s not much else to say, is there?
Not so fast. While the idea of the tripod is simple enough – it stabilizes your camera so you can capture sharper images – a photographer looking to purchase their first tripod can quickly become overwhelmed. There are many options, and if you don’t ask yourself a few important questions to help you narrow down your choices, you’ll be lost in a sea of three-legged support systems with no support system of your own to guide you.
In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of what a tripod is, what it does, how to use it, and perhaps most importantly, how to ensure you pick the right one for your needs.
What is a Tripod?
This section is short and sweet. A tripod is a simple piece of gear with three legs and a head. You attach your camera to the tripod head with a plate, which could be a basic universal plate or custom-built for your specific camera, and the tripod legs keep your camera stable.
For many entry-level and even some mid-to-high-end tripods, they come with the legs and a tripod head in a kit. The head is often – although not always – removable. As your budget increases, it’s often the case that you must purchase tripod legs and a head separately, further complicating your purchasing decision and expanding your options.
Some tripods also include a center column. This column can extend up from the legs to make your tripod head sit higher. In some cases, center columns can even come out to the side of the tripod, allowing you to have your camera get very low to the ground. If your center column doesn’t slide out to the side, the bottom of the column will limit you from getting very low since the column will hit the ground.
At the bottom of your tripod’s legs are its feet. From the bottom, it’s feet, legs, and then head. You could consider a center column a torso if it helps the corporeal metaphor. Tripod feet aren’t exciting, but they’re not to be overlooked. Some tripods have changeable feet, allowing you to use rubber feet, spikes (for sand), or claws (for rocks and ice). Good feet can make a tripod more stable on different surfaces.
To summarize quickly, all tripods consist of legs and a head. The adjustable legs extend and collapse to change the height of your tripod and ensure that it’s level on uneven terrain. Additional height can sometimes be achieved using a center column that sits between your tripod head and the legs. Your camera attaches to the tripod on a tripod head. You adjust the tripod head to adjust your camera’s orientation and angle.
Why Do You Need a Tripod?
The primary reason to use a tripod is to shoot sharp images at slower shutter speeds. This is beneficial when shooting in low light or when you want to capture long-exposure images.
Image stabilization systems, in cameras and lenses alike, have come a long way. However, they aren’t good enough to let you shoot a steady handheld shot at slow shutter speeds, like one second or longer. You can increase your ISO to shoot at a faster shutter speed. However, to achieve the best image quality, you must shoot at low ISO. Read More...
