In plenty of posts, I have talked about the importance of having a sturdy tripod. There are so many options and brands out there it can be hard to decide which one is the best for you. The first thing you need to decided is what size of tripod you want and what size will suit your needs best. You can break down the groups of tripods as:

Tabletop/Mini: Very compact and the amount of weight they can support will vary. However, they are great to keep in the glove compartment of your car or in your bag for those times when you need a bit of stability. The Joby Gorillapod is a flexible mini tripod that is very easy to use in almost any situation.

Travel Compact: The ideal solution for a photographer on the go; lightweight, compact, and able to support heavier cameras. A travel tripod will fold up smaller than a full size tripod to make carrying the tripod or packing it in your luggage much easier. The weight of the tripod depends on the overall size and construction. An identical model in Aluminum and Carbon fibre will weigh close to the same. However, pound for pound, the carbon fibre is much stronger and can support more weight.

Full Size: A full size tripod will weigh more and larger in physical size, but the stability they provide is unparalleled by the smaller tripods. A full sized tripod will be able to support heavier camera equipment and are more effectively compatible with a larger variety of tripod heads.

You can purchase tripods of all sizes in kits with the legs and tripod head, or you can buy the tripod legs and tripod head separately to customize your setup to suit your needs. There are a variety of tripod head styles to choose from, the most common being:

Ball Head: This style of head is a great “all-purpose” head. It is quick to make adjustments to and is easy to use. It is harder to make precise adjustments with ball heads but they are reliable and quick to use making them ideal in a large variety of situations.

3-Way Head: With three handles for each axis of movement (Horizontal, Vertical, and Pan), this style of head will allow you to make more precise adjustments to your camera’s positioning. When using a heavier camera, this will make it easier to make smaller adjustments.

Fluid/Video Head: As the name gives away, this is the head you want to use if you are shooting movies. A video head focuses on smoother movement of the camera as required when creating videos. A video head will have a long handle for moving the vertical and horizontal panning of the camera. This feature makes the movement fluid and smooth.

I have only touched on the most common styles of tripods and heads. There are many more styles and variations of tripods and tripod heads available making the combination of possibilities almost limitless. With the large variety of options available, it can be easy to find a tripod that will suit your needs. If you do your research and invest in a good quality tripod, it will be an investment that pays off and will last you for years to come. It is important to make sure that your tripod will support the weight of your camera and lenses. Drop by any of our stores to test our selection of tripods and ask our staff any questions you may have about purchasing a tripod.

Travel Compact Tripods are the ideal solution for a photographer on the go; lightweight, compact, and able to support heavier cameras.