Tripods are an underrated piece of equipment that can transform your images from good to great. Photographers are often reluctant to buy a tripod. This is due to no one wanting to lug around unnecessary equipment, especially if you can capture decent images without one. These days most cameras come with great shake reduction features. However, nothing will replace the sturdiness of an excellent tripod. Every photographer, regardless of genre, can benefit from a tripod.
If you’re on the fence about it, carry on reading as we unpack some of the best tripods for your photographic needs.
The Travel Photographer
Travel photographers have one of the most exciting jobs. They get to travel all across the world, photographing iconic landmarks and destinations. Because of the frequent travelling, packing light is essential. The travel tripod is the perfect companion for the photographer always on the move. They’re lightweight and are often the size of a water bottle once you fold them, making them easy to fit into your carry-on bag. Travel tripods are also lightweight as they’re usually made from carbon fibre. The material is superior to aluminium, giving you the strength and sturdiness required to capture blur-free images. However, the trade-off is that their maximum height falls below eye level.
The Vlogger
The saying goes that the best tripod is the one you’re eager to carry. As vloggers, your day-to-day usually involves zapping through town, checking out the latest hot spots, attending brand launches and the like, with a camera in tow. Whether you’re recording as you go or setting up at every stunning location, you want an effortless camera and tripod to move around with. The best tripod for vloggers both on the move and recording from home is the Gorillapod. These tripods are lightweight and can be handheld or set up on every surface. The legs of a Gorillapod make it possible for you to wrap them around poles, trees or even hang them from the ceiling fixtures, allowing you to photograph from new vantage points.
The Studio Photographer
Studio photographers are usually confined to their studio space, creating work within the portraiture, advertising and commercial photography genres. Therefore, studio photographers would benefit from a medium/heavy-duty tripod. These tripods can reach maximum heights of 160cm and support heavy camera bodies with large telephoto lenses. Heavy-duty tripods can be cumbersome but provide photographers with great stability. You can use a studio tripod for more than just studio photography; again, it depends on how far you’re eager to travel with them. You can use them for location portraits, weddings, birding, sports and macro photography.
The Videographer
Videographers require camera gear that is both intuitive and capable of keeping up with the demands of videography. That’s why video tripods are specially designed to provide fluid video footage. The essence of the video tripod is focused on the head of the tripod. These heads are usually fitted with longer mounting plates to support heavy video cameras. Because of this weight, they come with counterbalances and pan and tilt features. These features allow you to record from any angle without your camera tipping over. Fluid tripod heads are standard on video tripods as they allow for fluid, frictionless movement. Motorised tripod heads are also a favourite for videographers recording time-lapses as they can rotate 360 degrees with limited friction.
