TABLETOP & MINI TRIPODS A tabletop or mini tripod is usually used with compact cameras, since this type of tripod can often be quite portable and even carried in one's pocket. However, this portability often comes at the expense of versatility. A tabletop/mini tripod can only really change your camera's up/down (pitch) and left/right (yaw) orientation; shifting your camera to higher or lower heights is not a possibility. This means that finding the best surface to place the tripod is more important than usual with a tabletop/mini tripod, because you also need this surface to be at a level which gives you the desired vantage height BILDPRO TR-116 ABS Plastic Tripod for Smartphone BILDPRO TR-191 Clamp Table Tripod Video Record For iPhone Android Phone However, photos taken at eye level often appear ordinary, since that's the perspective that we're most used to seeing. Photos taken at above or below this height are therefore often perceived as more interesting. A tabletop/mini tripod can be one way of forcing you to try a different perspective with your photos. ALUMINUM vs. CARBON FIBER TRIPODS The two most common types of tripod material are aluminum or carbon fiber. Aluminum tripods are [...]

How you use your tripod can be just as important as the type of tripod you're using. Below is a list of top tips for achieving the sharpest possible photos with your tripod: Hang a camera bag from the center column for added stability, especially in the wind. However, make sure that this camera bag does not swing appreciably, or this could be counter-productive. Use the center column only after all of the tripod's leg sections have been fully extended, and only when absolutely necessary. The center column wobbles much more easily than the tripod's base. Remove the center column to shave off some weight. Extend your tripod only to the minimum height required for a given photograph. Spread the legs to their widest standard position whenever possible. Shield the tripod's base from the wind whenever possible. Extend only the thickest leg sections necessary in order to reach a given tripod height. Set your tripod up on a sturdy surface, such as rock or concrete versus dirt, sand or grass. For indoor use, tile or hardwood floor is much better than a rug or carpet. Use add-on spikes at the ends of the tripod legs if you have no other choice [...]

PAN-TILT vs. BALL HEADS Although many tripods already come with a tripod head, you might want to consider purchasing something that better suits your shooting style. The two most common types of tripod heads are pan-tilt and ball heads: Pan-Tilt Head Ball Head Pan-Tilt Heads are great because you can independently control each of the camera's two axes of rotation: left-right (yaw) and up/down (pitch). This can be very useful once you've already gone to great care in leveling the tripod, but need to shift the composition slightly. However, for moving subjects this can also be a disadvantage, since you will need to adjust at least two camera settings before you can fully recompose the shot. BL-165 Tripod Pan Head Ball Heads are great because you can quickly point the camera freely in nearly any direction before locking it into position. They are typically also a little more compact than equivalent pan-tilt heads. However, the advantage of free motion can also be a disadvantage, since it may cause your composition to no longer be level when you unlock the camera's position — even if all you wanted to change was its left/right angle. On the other hand, some ball [...]

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Other more minor considerations when choosing a tripod include: Number of Tripod Leg Sections. Each leg of a tripod can typically be extended using anywhere from two to four concentric leg sections. In general, more leg sections reduce stability, but can also reduce the size of the tripod when it's fully contracted and in your camera bag. Having more leg sections can also mean that it takes longer to position or fully extend your tripod. 1580mm Extend Tripod Carbon Fiber Stand Example of a tripod with multiple leg sections extended. Maximum Tripod Height. This is especially important if you're quite tall, since you could end up having to crouch. Make sure that the tripod's max height specification does not include having to extend its center column, because this can make the camera much less steady. On the other hand, you may not wish to take your photos at eye level most of the time, since this can make for an ordinary looking perspective. Further, the higher you extend your tripod (even without the center column), the less stable it will end up being. Outdoor Photography Stand Center column of tripod extends to increase maximum height [...]

TOP CONSIDERATIONS Even though a tripod performs a pretty basic function, choosing the best tripod often involves many competing factors. Finding the best tripod requires identifying the optimal combination of trade-offs for your type of photography. The top considerations are usually its sturdiness, weight and ease of use: Tripod Sturdiness/Stability. This is probably why you purchased a tripod in the first place: to keep your camera steady. Important factors which can influence sturdiness include: (i) the number of tripod leg sections, (ii) the material and thickness of the leg units, and (iii) the length of the legs and whether a center column is needed to reach eye level. Ultimately though, the only way to gauge the sturdiness of a tripod is to try it out. Tap or apply weight to the top to see if it vibrates or sways, and take a few test photos. Tripod Weight. This can determine whether you take the tripod along with you on a hike, or even on a shorter stroll through town. Having a lighter tripod can therefore mean that you'll end up using it a lot more, or will at least make using it more enjoyable since it won't cause a lot of [...]

A camera tripod's function is pretty straightforward: it holds the camera in a precise position. This gives you a sharp picture when it might have otherwise appeared blurred due to camera shake. But how can you tell when you should and shouldn't be using a tripod? When will a hand-held photo become blurred? A common rule of thumb for estimating how fast the exposure needs to be is the one over focal length rule. This states that for a 35 mm camera, the exposure time needs to be at least as fast as one over the focal length in seconds. In other words, when using a 100 mm focal length on a 35 mm camera, the exposure time needs to be at most 1/100 seconds long — otherwise blurring may be hard to avoid. For digital cameras with cropped sensors, one needs to convert to a 35 mm equivalent focal length. The reason this rule depends on focal length is because zooming in on your subject also ends up magnifying camera movement. This is analogous to trying to aim a laser pointer at a position on a distant wall; the further this wall is, the more your laser pointer is likely [...]

Camera tripods can be a nuisance and a godsend to the urban photographer. I know from personal experience that carrying a tripod around with you all day can be a real pain. However there would be many shots I just couldn't take if I didn't have it with me, even though I use a lens with built in stabilization. If you use a lightweight compact camera the problem of camera shake may not be so pronounced but for the SLR user with a heavy or long lens, a tripod can be the only answer in some situations. Low light conditions, long exposures and slow shutter speeds will always require a tripod to be used, even if you do use a lightweight camera. It is just impossible to hand hold a camera steady enough for the duration of the exposure. Types of Camera Support Camera tripods come in many different guises and each are designed to be used with different cameras, situations or sometimes just the photographer's personal preference. The main types are: Heavy Duty Tripods - These are strong, sometimes heavy and designed to be used in situations where a heavy camera is being used in conditions that require a very [...]

The answer is simple.  Buy the best tripod you can afford. Yes, you also need to look at tripod reviews and decide your primary use for the camera tripod.  If you will be backpacking or taking long day hikes, weight and size become big factors.  If you normally only photograph within a mile or two of the car then you can look at heavier camera tripods.  A good head on the tripod is also very important.  Many people may disagree with me but for most purposes a solid 3-way pan-and-tilt head is fine for waterfall photography, like AK-324 from BILDPRO. I recently upgraded to a carbon fiber tripod with a precise ball head, BILDPRO PB-868C.  Let me just say, I love this tripod.  For me it was a great compromise between price and features, although I didn't have to give up much on the features. Other Tripod Benefits Using a tripod forces you to slow down.  This is good.  In fact you need to take your time.  Compose the picture, don't just snap it.  Look for the right composition.  Try different zoom levels.  Switch from landscape to portrait.  Bracket the shutter speeds.  Apply the Rule of Thirds if appropriate.  The tripod helps [...]

Not everyone wants to use a tripod and to be honest, I have used several different solid objects on which to rest my camera in really low light! Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work, as often there isn’t a convenient pillar on which to rest your camera, or indeed a small child to use, so a tripod is a really handy prop for keen photographers. It doesn’t need to be large, or heavy, or even particularly tall, but if you take lots of photographs then stooping can be a real no for the back, so go for the taller versions. There are lots of different ways a tripod can help a photograph. Stopping camera shake is probably the most obvious; that’s when the entire photo is out of focus and not just an error in focusing on the subject. Macro photography is another area where a tripod can be invaluable. Make sure you buy one with a centre column that inverts, as this gets your camera closer to the ground and makes for fantastic micro photography. Also look out for independent locking legs, as this means that you can set up on most un-even surfaces making it easier to get a level [...]