Using a tripod makes some photography techniques less challenging. For example, long exposure that makes flowing water look smooth and light painting possible requires a tripod to avoid camera shakes. A tripod can provide stability when you are using slower shutter speeds in low-light conditions.
Macro photography, time-lapse, and hyper-lapse are also popular techniques that can be done properly if you have a tripod. Our 10 best tripods for DSLR (from Manfrotto, Vanguard, DIGITEK, and more) will help you choose the best one for your needs. Don't forget to read our buying guide that follows!
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We hope you found what you were looking for. Here is a buying guide to help you understand the major factors involved in choosing the best tripod for your DSLR camera. We discuss the build materials, tripod height and weight, types of tripod heads, and many more.
Suppose the weight of the camera body and lens combined is 2 kg. Is a tripod with a payload capacity of 2kg more than enough? The answer is no. Your safest bet would be to go for a tripod that can hold two or three times the weight of the camera body and your heaviest lens.
This will ensure that you won't have to witness the terrible sight of your tripod collapsing and destroying your camera and lens. In the above scenario, the ideal capacity would be 6 kg.
This will allow you to add accessories such as a flash and a battery grip without worrying about the safety of your equipment. Sometimes you get tired and rest your hands on your equipment or at least apply pressure. This will become acceptable if your tripod has a high payload capacity.
You must stay comfortable while shooting for your creativity to work at its best. Convenience when traveling is equally important. Find out how the height and weight of a tripod matter from the sections below.
Tripods come in a variety of heights. You can buy a mini tripod that is a few centimeters tall (good for macro photography) and also those that go all the way up to six feet. What you need is a tripod with a maximum height that allows you to shoot at eye level.
You may not shoot at eye level all the time, but if the situation arises, you won't have to stoop to look through the viewfinder. The maximum height is when all three legs are fully extended, and the center post is repositioned as high as possible.
Some tripods have legs that can be extended so wide that you won't need a mini tripod to do macro photography. The folded length of a tripod also matters. Go for a short tripod (called compact or travel tripod) if you want one that is easy to carry.
You may be carrying a camera body and several lenses on your backpack. That's heavy enough to tire you while you are traveling. You don't want to add a heavy tripod to the already hefty luggage. Two of the major materials used in modern tripods are aluminum and carbon fiber. Aluminum tripods are lightweight, durable, and provide good value for money.
Carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum and provides good vibration dampening (prevents blurry photos and shaky videos). But carbon fiber is expensive and is not as durable as aluminum. Tripods made of materials like steel, wood, and metal alloys are also available. But they are not as popular as aluminum and carbon fiber.
Generally, there are three types of heads: pan-tilt head, ball head, and fluid head. A pan-tilt head has two handles for panning and tilting, while the same can be done on a ball head by loosening just one handle. Both pan-tilt and ball heads have a separate handle that allows the camera to be positioned for portrait photography.
A fluid head has a fluid chamber inside that dampens camera vibrations and sudden shocks to ensure smooth pan and tilt movements. This type is smoother than pan-tilt and ball heads but doesn't allow the camera to be positioned for portrait photography.
A pan-tilt head is useful for making precise camera movements about a single axis. But it is bulkier and requires spending more time to make adjustments. Ball heads are best for quick adjustments but don't allow precise movements. This type is compact and hence easy to carry. Buy one that suits your needs and fits your budget.
The leg extenders of a tripod come in two forms: twist-lock and flip-lock. A flip-lock mechanism has a lever that clamps to the tripod legs, while the twist-lock has a threaded column that tightens or loosens when you twist it.
You may think that one is easier to operate than the other. It's just a matter of personal preference. On the other hand, a quick-release plate is a must-have feature. Tripods come with a removable plate that you can easily attach to the bottom of your camera or lens and then secured to the tripod head.
On a tripod without a quick-release plate, you will have to spin the camera on the top, which is inconvenient and time-consuming. Quick-release plates are usually made of plastic, but you can find more durable metal plates as well.
With a load capacity of 7kg, the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 can support some of the heaviest modern-day DSLRs with a battery grip and a super-telephoto lens attached. It has a ball head and an adjustable center post that enables shooting at some of the most difficult angles.
You can adjust the tripod legs at three different angles: 25°, 50°, and 80°, and the easy-release buttons will lock them in place quickly. This aluminum tripod comes with two bubble levels to help you determine whether the surface or the camera is even and straight.
Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 also has spiked feet that improve stability on difficult terrains like rock, mud, snow, and ice. We recommend this lightweight tripod to all professional photographers regardless of the genre you belong to.
Vanguard VEO 2X 235CBP is a 5-section carbon fiber tripod that weighs just 1.3 kg and can loads up to 6 kg. It has an extended height of 4.75 feet, and when folded, just 1.3 feet. If you are looking for a travel tripod, we recommend this one.
It has a ball head with a pan handle, which makes pan shots and panoramic photography easier. You can transform one leg of the tripod into a monopod, which gives photographers more convenience while shooting.
This is helpful when you want to reduce the weight of your gear further, too. Vanguard VEO 2X 235CBP comes with quick twist leg locks. You can set the legs at angles 21°, 50°and, 80°for low-angle photography.
Torjim AX60 is a pan-tilt tripod with easy-release leg flip locks and head. We recommend this tripod to beginner photographers and vloggers since the pan-tilt head makes it easy for you to make precise adjustments.
Compared to our previous two recommendations, this tripod comes with leg braces that prevent extending beyond a certain angle. This could be a drawback since it makes low-angle photography impossible.
But it provides extra stability to the tripod. The center post has a hook that can be used for hanging camera bags or sandbags. Torjim AX6O comes with a smartphone adaptor for smartphone photography enthusiasts. You also get a wireless remote control compatible with Android and iOS for taking selfies.
Fluid heads absorb vibrations and jerks to provide maximum smoothness while panning and tilting. DIGITEK DPTR 880 PRO is a fluid head tripod that can support loads up to 15 kg. That's more than enough to bear the weight of a professional DSLR with battery grip and a super telephoto lens attached.
It has leg braces and anti-skid feet to ensure stability while shooting. For a tripod that can support heavy equipment, it is surprisingly lightweight (weighs only 2.1 kg). The product on the top of our list, Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100, weighs 2.4kg but can only support up to 7kg.
We recommend this tripod to beginners and professionals alike as it is affordable and comes with more than enough features that guarantee efficacy and durability.
Looking for an affordable tripod with a pan-tilt head? We recommend DIGITEK DTR 550LW. It has an extended height of 5.57 feet, which is quite impressive for this price range. The maximum load capacity of 4.5 kg makes this tripod an apt choice for mirrorless camera owners.
It has a pan-tilt/3-way head that allows vertical, horizontal, and panning movements. Apart from the pan handle, the tripod has a separate handle to help you carry the tripod for shooting cinematic videos. The rubberized feet will keep the tripod firm on the ground. If the wind is too strong, just hang some sandbags or your camera bag on the accessory hook.
Viltrox VX-18M is a heavy-duty tripod with a load capacity of 6kg. This tripod weighs 4.90 kg and has non-tubular legs. The bulky and heavy design may turn away some camera owners. But here is what you are missing. A heavy tripod can withstand strong winds, and wider legs stay sturdy even in extreme usage conditions.
An extended center post could nullify some of the stability offered by the tripod, which is why the Viltrox VX-18M doesn't have a center post. The horseshoe feet keep the tripod steady on the ground while the fluid head ensures smooth movement by dampening camera vibrations.
Vanguard Espod CX 203 AGH is an aluminum tripod with a ball head and pistol grip. The popular opinion is that pistol grip heads make shooting action easier. Actually, it varies from one person to another. If you are choosing to buy this tripod, don't judge it from the first use itself. Give it some time.
It comes with a quick-release for easy transition from tripod-mounted shots to handheld shots. Although the maximum height is just 5 feet, the tripod's folded length is almost 2 feet. The maximum load capacity of 3.5 kg is also not that impressive. Vanguard Espod CX 203 AGH is best for mirrorless and micro four-thirds cameras.
Syvo WT 3130 is the most affordable tripod on our list. Weighing just 690 grams, it is also the lightest tripod among our recommendations. The pan-tilt head helps beginners make minute adjustments along a single axis at a time. But it is also time consuming.
The tripod only has an extended height of 4.1 feet, which may be a drawback since you may need to stoop to look through the viewfinder of your camera. It only has a maximum load capacity of 5 kg, so make sure that you don't put too much pressure on it. Overall, it is a great tripod for learning photography and cinematography techniques.
Even though some tripods allow you to position them for macro photography, it can still be an inconvenience. Want a tripod that you can carry in your pocket? We recommend Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod.
Weighing just 190 grams and with a payload capacity of 1 kg, this mini tripod can hold lightweight cameras like compact system, mirrorless, and micro four thirds. This extremely portable mini tripod has a maximum height of 13.5 cm and a closed length of 18.5 cm. The PIXI is designed to be used for taking handheld shots too.
A mini tripod with flexible legs is called a Gorillapod. You can bend and wrap the legs around anything, for example, a branch of a tree, for shooting at angles that are impossible to achieve with a regular tripod. It also makes your job easier on tricky terrains.
Just adjust the kegs to stabilize your camera when you are shooting on uneven surfaces. Adofys Gorillapod tripod has a maximum height of 12 inches and can support loads up to 3 kg. Since you are unlikely to put pressure on the setup, this mini tripod has enough strength to hold heavy DSLR cameras.
This Gorillapod is compatible with smartphones (the pack has a smartphone holder) and action cameras too. You can also use it for taking handheld shots and selfies. We recommend Adofys Gorillapod to travelers and vloggers.
Nothing can be more convenient for shooting sports and recreational activities than an action camera. That's how they are built. Similarly, vlogging cameras come with particular features that make vlogging easier. And entry-level DSLRs come with features that enable quick learning for beginners.
Wanna take a tour of our top 10 recommendations for the best action cameras, vlogging cameras, DSLRs for beginners in India? Click on the links below. We also have a buying guide in every article that explains the major factors to consider.
A tripod makes photography easier. It's always best to choose one that can support twice or thrice the weight of your camera and your heaviest lens combined. This assures that your tripod doesn't collapse and damage your valuable gear.
There are three types of tripod heads available: ball head, pan-tilt head, and fluid head. Each offers varying levels of convenience and stability. Consider the folded height and weight too. A tripod that is compact and lightweight makes traveling with your gear easier.
Author - Arun F Xaviour
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