About Tripods

A tripod is a tool necessary for any serious photographer. It does not only allow for longer exposure times, it helps to achieve sharper photos at any exposure time. In addition, equally important, only a tripod makes it possible to really compose a picture, to move the camera in any direction until the photographer thinks that the camera is adjusted optimally. There are three important materials of which tripods can be made: wood, metal, and carbon fibre.

Wood reduces vibrations caused by the camera itself or the environment, e.g. cars on a big street. Wooden tripods can also accomodate more weight than comparable metal or carbon fibre tripods. The main strength of metal tripods is their precision and rigidity. Metal doesn't live like wood. On the other hand, metal tripods go with the temperature - your hands can freeze on a metal tripod if the weather is cold. Carbon fibre tripods are a very recent development and very light-weight. On the other hand, they cannot accomodate as much weight as similar wooden or metal tripods. Carbon fibre is also very sensitive to impacts like when hitting a corner. I feel that Berlebach (Germany) make the best wooden tripods, Manfrotto (Italy) the best metal ones, and Gitzo (Italy) the best carbon fibre ones.

The tripod should be able to accomodate your heaviest camera with your heaviest lens mounted. It should be large enough for comfortable work, but small and light-weight enough to carry it. You should also look that there are several angles where the legs click-stop, and that you can fix the legs at any length you want. Built-in spikes are useful if photographing outdoors.

To be able to use your tripod, you also need a tripod head. The head must also be able to accomodate your heaviest equipment. There are levelling heads and ball heads. A levelling head makes it possible to move the camera seperately into each direction (either 2D or 3D) which is great for composition. On the other hand, ball heads are much more light-weight and small, and they are fast.

You should use a cable release when your camera is on a tripod, because only so you can take full advantage of the stability of the tripod. MF cameras normally take standard cable releases (metal pin or air pressure), AF cameras need dedicated electronic cable releases in most cases.