Yesterday I spent way too much time shopping online for a new tripod. Not for me; rather, one of our family’s dearest friends, who happens to be new to the world of hobby photography, mentioned that he was looking to purchase a tripod.
Since I am a huge advocate of camera tripods, I convinced a bunch of other friends to help chip in to purchase our hard-working-always-there-when-you-need-him-but-never-requests-or-accepts-payment-for-help-provided pal an invaluable photo tool for Christmas.
There’s no arguing that a tripod is a worthwhile investment that will last for decades provided you care for it properly. However, well-made tripods don’t come cheap. Most professional grade tripods cost upwards of $400 and can top out at nearly $2,800. Fortunately, there are a number of different models available in an array of price points. The trick to finding the perfect tripod is to first consider how often you will be using it. By jotting down a quick list of the types of images you take, will allow you to compare tripod features according to how they will enhance your photo goals.
Once you have identified the aforementioned points, then consider the following:
Material: Tripods are made from various materials of varying price points. An aluminum tripod is going to cost much more than one manufactured from traditional metal or wood. However, it will likely stand up to abuse more than one made of a less durable material.
Portability: Weight and minimum collapsed height are very important factors to consider when shopping for a tripod. If you plan to carry your tripod for long distances, then you’ll want to shell out a bit more to purchase one that is highly portable.
Legs: When shopping for a tripod, it’s extremely important to look at its legs, especially the leg locks. Flip-locks are more desirable to have since they are easier to use than locking rings, but the convenience will often drive up a tripod’s price.
Height: Before forking over a ton of cash for a tripod, check its maximum height. Make sure the tripod extends far enough, so that it provides comfortable viewing with your camera at eye level.
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