The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Tripod

Whether you're a pro or just starting, a good tripod can take our photos to the next level. Tripods help hone your composition skills and eliminate camera shake for more precise, crisper images. They're also brilliant for shooting time-lapses, landscapes and long exposures. To the untrained eye, tripods all look the same. So, how do you choose the right one? To help, we've put together the following tripod buying guide.

Each tripod has several components, but most share the same basic form:

Legs: Your tripod's legs are the three sticks that hold it together. Without them, it would just be called a "pod".

Leg Locks: Once you've raised or lowered your tripod, you need to tighten the leg locks. Most tripods use a clip or twist system to lock the legs.

Feet: The end of every tripod leg is called its foot. They're typically made of rubber, although some tripods let you swap out the rubber feet for other types. This mainly includes spikes or claws for gripping on rocks.

Center Column: Many tripods have a built-in center column. This allows you to raise the tripod head even higher. Many professional tripods feature an adaptor that lets you mount the center column horizontally.

Tripod Head: The head lets you position your camera and frame your composition. Most tripods come as a "kit" with a head, but some higher-end models come just with legs, so you can add your own head.

This is just the beginning though. Depending upon your needs, you can add various components and accessories to most tripods. Whether you're into panoramas, wildlife, astrophotography, or nearly any other genre of photography, you'll find extra gear to fit your needs.

(minus) viewfinder height - (minus) tripod head height = correct tripod height

1. Measure the height of your eye level.

2. Subtract the height of your viewfinder or LCD screen.

3. Subtract the level of your tripod head. Your answer is the maximum tripod height needed.

One thing to consider about your tripod is weight. When hiking or travelling a lighter tripod is much more portable, but this comes at the expense of stability, size and maximum load capacity.

Generally, heavier tripods will be able to hold larger cameras and lenses, be more stable during long exposures, and come in larger sizes. Unfortunately, this often makes them impractical for taking on holidays or hiking trips.

Want to learn more about tripods? Read our full tripod buying guide below.

Tripod models can vary quite a bit. When you’re flipping through the manual, look out for these terms.

Max payload or load capacity

Every tripod has a maximum weight limit. If you mount a camera heavier than the max payload on the tripod, you risk breaking the tripod – and damaging your camera and lens. When buying a tripod, consider how much your camera weighs with the heaviest lens and flash attached, and choose the one that can handle that weight.

Closed length or collapsed size

Knowing the length of your tripod when it’s unfolded versus closed is essential for travelling and storage. Some tripods can collapse to the size of a small umbrella, while others extend upwards of a few metres.

Max height or size

On the flip side, this is the length of the tripod when the leg and centre post is raised as high as they can. When you mount your camera on a tripod, you should position the viewfinder at eye level, so buy a tripod as tall as you. If you’re looking at a tripod with a fixed head, the tip of the head should line up with your jaw.

Quick-release plate

This plate is a small accessory that screws into the bottom of your camera to make it easier to mount and dismount your camera from your tripod. It saves you from constantly screwing and unscrewing the tripod, so it’s great when you’re on location.

Leg sections

Tripod legs feature several sections that determine how long it will take you to set up for a shot. Tripods with fewer leg sections are usually more stable, but those with more have a smaller closed length – making them ideal for travel.

Leg locks

The separate leg sections are fitted with a locking mechanism. There are two types of locks: flip locks and twist-leg locks. Although flip locks are quick and easy to use, twist-legs are more reliable, despite the lengthy set-up time.

Materials

The majority of tripods are made with either aluminium or carbon fibre. Carbon fibre tripods are lightweight, durable and don’t rust, making them more expensive. More affordable tripods tend to be made from aluminium, heavier than carbon fibre.

The tripod head holds your camera and lens, and it sits on top of the centre column. There are a bunch of tripod heads to choose from, and nine times out of ten, it comes down to personal preference. In other words, the best tripod head is the one that suits you.

The tripod head holds your camera and lens on top of the centre column. While there are a bunch of tripod heads to choose from, nine times out of ten, it comes down to personal preference. In other words, the best tripod head is the one that suits you.

More affordable tripods tend to have non-replaceable heads, while more premium tripods have multiple attachments, allowing you to pick and choose your tripod head depending on your needs. 

If you buy a different tripod head, make sure it can support the same weight as your tripod legs. You don’t want to overload your tripod.

These are the four types of tripod heads:

Ball heads

Ideal for quick and easy adjustments, a ball head has one control that loosens or tightens the grip. So, if you want to change the composition of your photo, all you need to do is unlock one section. Ball heads are flexible and smooth, but they can be tricky when you just need to make a minor change.

Joystick or pistol grip head 

Similar to a ball head, a joystick head allows you to make all the changes in one movement – but instead of unlocking a screw, you simply squeeze the trigger on the handgrip.

Three-way heads

These tripod heads offer photographers further control over image composition. With pitch, yaw and roll adjustments, you can play around with slight changes to expertly frame your photograph with a three-way head. 

Fluid head

Fluid heads move smoothly through adjustments, dampening the effect of camera movement, making them the best camera tripods for filming video.

As you might have guessed, the feet are at the bottom of the tripod legs. Some tripods have rubber, non-slip feet, which help steady the tripod on most surfaces. We usually recommend tripods with rubber feet for indoor shooting. Other tripods have feet with adjustable metal spikes, which are better for shooting in the great outdoors.

The more advanced tripods for professional photographers allow you to switch out the feet to suit different situations. A standard tripod with rubber feet should do the trick if you’re planning to shoot in icy, slippery or rainy conditions.

There are thousands of tripods on the market, each one falling into one of these four categories:

Mini tripods or tabletop tripods

Small and lightweight, mini camera tripods are best for everyday use and travel, as they can be easily stored in a backpack or handbag. A pocket tripod is perfect if you’re thinking of shooting selfies (for a change!) and group photos at parties or events, especially if you’d rather just bring a lightweight tripod. Most mini tripods have attachments to support smartphones and digital compact cameras, and if you want something truly versatile consider a Joby Gorillapod, which are notable for their flexible legs - these are great for wrapping around objects.

Ted’s Top Pick: Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod with Ball Head

Travel tripods

Beginner photographers tend to go for travel tripods. They’re sturdy enough to handle a mirrorless or DSLR camera with a standard or short telephoto zoom lens, folding down to a small size for storage and transport. And thanks to their straightforward construction, travel tripods are ideal for exploring, capturing the great outdoors, and working on the composition. If your kit is on the heavier side, or you’re shooting in a windy area, keep a close eye on your tripod if it tips.

Ted’s Top Pick: Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Tripod and Benro Slim Travel Tripod

Medium and heavy-duty tripods

These high-end, sturdy tripods offer your camera the best support and protection. They’re heavier and more expensive and were designed first and foremost to be the best tripods for professional photographers, but they work just as well in the studio as outdoors. They’re also better at eliminating those small vibrations, which is excellent news for anyone aiming for critical sharpness. They can be tiring to carry around, so plan your adventures or bring a buddy to help you!

Ted’s Top Pick: Manfrotto MK290XT + 3 Way Head and Manfrotto 190XPRO4 + 804RC2 3 Way Head

Monopods

Monopods have just one leg, meaning you can’t rest your camera on them and step away. Their primary purpose is stabilising your camera so you can sharpen your shot. Monopods can help your photography when using slower shutter speeds and longer lenses, so they’re a favourite among sports and wildlife photographers.

Ted’s Top Pick: Manfrotto MM Element II Monopod

When choosing the best tripod, we recommend buying the sturdiest tripod you can carry. But equally important is selecting a camera tripod that suits your preferred type of photography while also matching the gear you use (plus any equipment you plan on buying in the future). 

For example, if you shoot streams, waterfalls and landscapes in coastal areas, pick a tripod that can withstand the elements while keeping the camera and lens steady in moving water. On the other hand, a lighter model might be enough if you focus on urban photography, where the perfect shot could reveal itself at any moment.

You’re guaranteed to find the right tripod with Ted’s Cameras, whatever your decision.

Like your camera, a tripod is an investment that will improve your photos. Drop by your local Ted's Cameras store if you’re ready to experiment with long exposures, landscapes, and portraits. Our expert team will help you choose the right tripod for your specific needs.