I've found it brilliant for landscape photography as it's no trouble to carry out into the hills, but I can still shoot at eye level. Its ball head is secure enough to hold even the weightiest DSLRs with a big zoom lens attached, its legs can be detached to use as monopods, and its solid construction means you don't need to worry about it taking a few knocks on the road.
It doesn't come cheap, but photography enthusiasts in any genre are well catered for here. Affordable, lightweight tripods often have a trade off in stability, but not so with Manfrotto's latest Element II tripod. Its twist-locking legs are strong and can be splayed out wide for further stability in strong wind. The ball head had no trouble supporting our Canon 5D MkIV with mm lens -- those of you with even lighter mirrorless cameras will have no trouble here.
Its 3. If you're after a light weight travel tripod with a more wallet-friendly asking price than carbon fiber models then the Element II is worth a look. The exceptionally light weight of Benro's Rhino tripod is immediately noticeable as soon as you pick it up. Made from carbon fiber, it weighs only 2. Such a light weight does mean it's more susceptible to being shaken by the wind, but a built-in hook under the center column allows you to hang a weight off it your kit bag, or a shopping bag full of rocks you've found always works in my experience to add support in particularly blustery conditions.
Despite its light weight, it's more than capable of holding our Canon 5DMk IV and mm lens with absolutely zero movement from the ball head. Despite the legs being almost pencil-thin at their ends, the carbon fiber construction means they're extremely rigid while the burly, rubberised twist-locks keep them solidly locked in place.
With its 3-way pan and tilt head, Manfrotto's BeFree 3-Way Live is an excellent choice for both photographers and budding videographers who don't want to splash out on a dedicated video tripod head. Its fluid head makes getting smooth panning shots very easy while the panning and tilting arms fold away to make it easier to transport.
Its aluminium legs are sturdy and while it's not as light as others on this list, it's perfectly comfortable to carry on a backpack for at least a couple of hours at a time -- and certainly a lot lighter than most dedicated video tripods. My one small complaint is that the knob to tighten the camera plate is very small and can prove quite fiddly, especially if you're wearing gloves. I might be nit-picking here though as the 3-Way Live is a great all-round tripod for anyone wanting to add videography into their workflow.
The Xtra's tall maximum operating height of cm makes it great for wildlife photography or for landscape photographers who want to shoot at eye level, but its sturdy tripod build means it can also work well in a studio. The carbon fiber legs keep the weight to only 3. Speaking of which, I tested the tripod with Manfrotto's MHW three-way head that uses different handles to control pan and tilt.
I didn't love it, though, as it can be difficult to make accurate adjustments -- particularly when you're trying to get your horizon absolutely straight. My advice? She started her career as a photojournalist working in newspapers—shooting film—and was the mobile-imaging editor at DPReview. She is also a professional photographer who has made her living photographing everything from rock stars to humpback whales.
Our pick. Also great. Manfrotto Element Traveller Big Best travel tripod The Element Traveller Big goes from small to tall smoothly and quickly, and it provides sturdy support at a price lower than the rest of our picks. Everything we recommend. Why you should trust us. Who should get a tripod. Experienced photographers tend to use the reciprocal rule to figure out whether they need to use a tripod.
Remote triggers: You can take much better selfies and group photos with the camera on a tripod. Similarly, if you want to turn multiple shots into a panorama stitched together in software , you need a tripod to keep everything evenly placed in the frame. And high dynamic range HDR images, which consist of two or more photos combined, require that those pictures be perfectly aligned.
A tripod lets you take different exposures to get a better range of highlights and shadows while preserving alignment—the resulting pictures will more accurately reflect the scene you wanted to capture.
Telephoto lenses also tend to be bigger and heavier than other lenses, so you might not want to shoot handheld for a long period of time. How we picked. Load capacity: This represents how much weight a tripod is designed to support.
We sought models that could hold a camera-and-lens combination of at least 15 pounds, which is enough to handle even the heaviest camera bodies and lenses we recommend. Leg and center-column angling: We favored tripods that allow you to angle the legs outward for setting the tripod low to the ground, as well as to angle the center column for shooting directly downward or getting the camera closer to subjects for macro photography. The head: A good tripod head lets you position the camera at nearly any angle, and most have a quick-release plate that attaches to the bottom of a camera, allowing it to be quickly mounted on the tripod or removed.
Tripod legs and heads are often sold separately so you can upgrade them independently, although you can also find kits such as our top pick that include both. We recommend a ball head, which allows you to tilt and rotate the camera simultaneously.
All of our picks include a ball head. Foam or rubber grips can keep your fingers happy—and give you a better grip than bare metal. We looked for tripods that either include them or offer them as an optional accessory. If weight is very important to you, our travel tripod pick keeps it to a minimum while still providing solid support for your camera.
How we tested. Flaws but not dealbreakers. Best for travel: Manfrotto Element Traveller Big. The leg angle locks on the Manfrotto Element Traveller Big can be released with one finger. Photo: Rozette Rago. The competition. Standard tripods. Might seem like a pipedream, but this relatively small tripod does a good job, with loads of useful features like its multi-angle centre column, and the bundled VEO MA-1 multi-mount, which allows you to attach other accessories or even another body.
All this is wrapped up in a tripod with seriously high-quality construction, as you'd expect from Vanguard, and it comes at a pretty competitive price. It's 48cm long when folded and the whole ensemble 2. You still get three lockable leg angles, but the joints enable the legs to swing upwards, so that the feet surround the head for stowage. The overall effect is that the folded height is reduced from 60cm to just 45cm, and the Travel Angel kit is also g lighter, at 2. However, the maximum operating height is also 6cm shorter, although still respectable at cm.
As with the Mach3 kit, this Benro tripod is precision-engineered and beautifully turned out, combining aluminum leg sections with magnesium castings. Again, one of the legs is detachable for use as a monopod, combined with the removable centre column. This kit adds a screw-on wooden knob, so you can use the detached leg as a walking pole. High-quality accessories include a short alternative centre column, interchangeable rubber pads and metal spikes for the feet, and a smart padded soft case.
The ball head for this Benro kit is an upmarket B1 model with independent locking, friction adjustment and pan release knobs.
The aluminum kit tips the scales at a moderate 2. The tripod folds down to just 41cm, thanks to the combination of five-section legs, which swing upwards for stowage. But despite the thinnest leg sections having a diameter of just 15mm, the tripod remains rigid even at its full height of cm, and feels worthy of its hefty load rating.
One of the legs can be removed and used in conjunction with the centre column as a monopod. But on the plus side, you do get a set of interchangeable metal spikes and rubber pads, along with a high-quality padded soft case.
The nicely engineered ball head has independent friction control and a pan-only release. Meanwhile, twist-action leg section clamps are quick to release and tighten — which is just as well, because there are 12 of them in total. Be aware that while it's plentifully available in the US, it's starting to be harder to find in other territories like the UK.
The Leo is no ordinary tripod. It folds down to just 35cm in length, but opens out to offer a maximum height of cm and a huge payload capacity of 30kg. It has a detachable monopod leg which can also be used as a microphone or camera boom, a Tri Mount system for adding accessories and an innovative two-section center column.
You unscrew the regular legs and screw these in to get the toughest, gnarliest table-top mini tripod you've ever seen. The Leo 2 is not the smallest travel tripod you can get, and not the cheapest, but its ratio of folded length to maximum height, combined with its all-round versatility, make it one of the best.
When it comes to folding down small for compact carriage, the Sirui NTX reigns supreme. The result is a generally adequate maximum operating height of cm, and a particularly tiny folded height of 36cm. And despite its aluminium build, the Sirui is only 10g heavier than the Novo carbon kit. Build quality is very good: the Sirui feels solid and robust, despite its lightweight construction.
It remains rigid and steady even at the maximum operating height, with all five leg sections fully extended and both sections of the centre column at full reach. And there are no retractable or interchangeable metal spikes for the feet, but the rubber pads are of good quality.
All adjustments are smooth but lock solidly — although the head lacks an independent friction damper — and the swing-up legs can be locked at three alternative angles. Maximum operating height is a little meagre, but the carrying size is incredibly small.
If ultra-compact carriage is high on your priority list, the Sirui is a very desirable tripod indeed. Sometimes, only the best will do. The Gitzo GTGS is not going to be for every photographer — or even, arguably, for that many photographers.
But it is the best and biggest tripod you can get right now, and if you need the maximum in terms of height, this is your buy. It extends to an absolutely whopping maximum height of cm, which is taller than anyone alive, and can carry a humongous 40kg of camera gear.
The lowest height it can work at is as small as 10cm! When it comes to choosing the right tripod for your camera, photography style and skill level, there are a few key considerations to make. Aside from sturdiness, set up speed is important — not all subjects will wait for you to set up your tripod, so if weather and wildlife are high on your list, choose quick-release grips over rubber twist leg locks. Here's a full list of factors to think about, to help you choose the right option.
Aluminum vs carbon-fiber These are the two most common materials used for tripod legs. Aluminum tripods are cheaper, but weigh more. Carbon-fiber tripods cost more but weigh less, and absorb vibration better. Leg sections Tripod legs may have three, four or five sections. Leg locks These come in two main types: twist locks and flip locks.
Spreaders are another common feature to video tripods that add stability. Spreaders may be in the middle of the tripod or at ground-level for ultimate stability in studio settings or other indoor locations. Finding the right tripod does not have to be a trial and error process. Hopefully our tripod buying guide will point you in the right direction. As a reminder here are some top tips for choosing the best tripod ;. Hopefully this tripod buying guide helps you to understand that tripods are essential for photography, and not just for when the light starts to fade.
Tripods are not just a camera accessory; they give photographers extended creative options and can really help your photography stand out from the crowd. Motion Control Accessories. Camera Slider Accessories. Bases Accessories Extensions Kits. Quick release filter adapters Filters. Pro light reloader roller bag collection. Group Brands. Quick Release Filter Adapters Filters. Picture of life. Photography Studio setup: how to do it professionally How to set up your studio for portrait photography.
Back Sliders Camera Slider Accessories. Back Photographic Filters Quick release filter adapters Filters. Back Professional.
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Tripod Buying Guide. John Robertson. Key Considerations when buying a tripod: Size: Tripods range in size from mini tripods that fit in your pocket, travel tripods that are perfect for a camera backpack and professional studio tripods capable of securely supporting the heaviest professional cameras. Make sure you buy the right size tripod for your needs. If you will be traveling with your tripod consider this: Never buy a bigger tripod than you are willing to carry… But always buy the sturdiest one you are willing to carry.
If you plan to use your tripod in a studio or at home, a larger more solid tripod may be your preferred choice.
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