The Digital Photo Experience

I made the opening picture (an HDR image) for this post with my 17-40mm lens “nested” in my sturdy lightweight tripod. So, it was a tripod that inspired this post.

For many, choosing a tripod is almost as hard, or even harder, than choosing a camera bag. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

I’ll cover camera bags in another post. For now, I’d like to share with you what I look for in a tripod . . . actually tripods, because I have two: one for lightweight shooting (17-40mm lens and 24-105mm lens) and one for heavier duty shooting (70-200mm lens and 100-400mm lens).

Before reading on, keep in mind that I don’t use 500mm and longer lenses. The longest lens I own is my Canon 100-400m ISL lens. I know my buddy Juan has longer lenses and needs a heavier duty tripod.

Here are the key features and benefits that I look for in a tripod:

• Quick-release bracket for fast mounting and dismounting.

• Bubble level to level my shots.

• Ease of opening and closing – with twist locks rather than snap locks.

• Ball-head for quick horizontal and vertical shooting.

• Lightweight and compact.

• Solid as a rock.

• Height adjustment for low-level and high-level shooting.

• Size (for carry-on consideration).

• Weather resistant.

• Padded legs for comfort.

• Carry strap for hand-free shooting.

• Ease of operation.

Before you buy a tripod, check it out personally or talk with others who have used the brand and model you want to purchase. Do a web search for sure.

Good tripods (and ball heads) don’t come cheap. On that note, don’t cheap-out when it comes to a tripod – especially if you are into HDR photography, low-light photography, wildlife photography . . . well, you get the message.

You’ll notice that my cameras are “strapless” in these photos. I removed the straps for beauty sake. When I am shooting in the field, I always use a camera strap and hold onto it when I am carrying my tripod over my shoulder . . . just in case I mess up and don’t tighten the quick release bracket. I saw that happen to another photographer – and saw the smashed results on the ground. :-(

Steady as you shoot,

Rick

P.S. I actually have another tripod: my JOBY mini-tripod.