Camera Tripods

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Tripods: The Key to Good Photographs and Films?

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You spend some serious money on a great new camera or camcorder but your images still aren't eliciting the rave reviews you would like among family and friends. How can it be?

Obviously, there can be a number of reasons but one common cause is the failure to adequately steady the camera or camcorder resulting in blurry photographs and unsteady and even downright undulating home movies. The solution is simple: use a camera tripod.

Use the expandable Table of Contents below to find things quickly on this page.

Choosing a Tripod

Below are some tips to help you find a quality camera tripod. But remember, if you're on a tight budget and are a very casual user, some lesser models are still better than no tripod at all. Even bottle cap tripods can be useful.

Choosing the Right Tripod: Sturdiness 

Camera tripods with dual-stanchioned legs tend to provide a more stable, strong base for your digital camera or camcorder.

Tripods with rivets tend to be less durable and therefore, those with nuts and bolts are generally preferable.

Choosing the Right Tripod: Ease of Use 

If a tripod is difficult or time consuming to set up, most people will avoid using them, choosing instead to leave them setting in the closet. This of course, renders them completely ineffective!

Thus, it can be important to select a camera tripod that is easy to set up; those which have lever type leg locks versus twist locks tend to be faster and easier to manipulate.

Choosing the Right Tripod: Weight 

In addition to ease of set up and use, the weight of a tripod can be another factor that either encourages or discourages use. Clearly, an overweight camera tripod is not one that users wish to tote everywhere they go and often sits neglected in the corner.

On the other hand of course, strength can be critical. Thus, carbon fiber and titanium are often preferred in the construction of top rated tripods. Aluminum however, can provide adequate strength for the average amateur with a light weight camcorder or digital camera during light to moderate use. Certainly, aluminum also reduces the expense.

Choosing the Right Tripod: Leveling 

Camera tripods with a bubble level can help assure a level shot. Other features that can be useful in this regard are legs that allow independent height/length adjustment or, in the instance of outdoor filming, a spike to deal with uneven terrain.

Choosing the Right Tripod: Movement 

When using a tripod with a camcorder it can be particularly important to assure the tripod offers smooth movement as you may wish to pan horizontally to follow action while filming.

A ball head tends to provide optimal movement on a tripod.

Tripod Tutorial 

Videography Terms & Information : Tripod: Videography Terms

Learn details and information about tripods in this free video clip. Expert: Antar Bio: Antar has been working with video for over half a decade. He currently owns a media production company in the Maryland/DC area. Filmmaker: Antar Hanif

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Brunton Full Size Tubular Aluminum Tripod, with removable head 

Brunton Full Size Tubular Aluminum Tripod, with removable head

Amazon Price: $105.99 (as of 11/27/2009)Buy Now

This mid-range camera tripod is full-sized with a tubular aluminum construction. It provides excellent stability for filming and taking still shots at night. It offers a built-in bubble level to for error free shooting, a removable three-way pan head to assure a smooth and steady shot, as well as individual pushbutton leg angle adjustments for the ultimate flexibility.

This tripod is easy to carry and, with two attached "leg warmers", assures the users comfort. Secure and steady the non-slip rubber feet provide stability even on slippery surfaces. This Bruton tripod adjusts from 28.5 to 70.5 inches and weighs a reasonable 7 pounds. Shoppers can buy with confidence as it is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

More Brunton Tripods 

Click on pictured items for more details or to buy.

Brunton Full Size Tubular Aluminum Tripod, with removable head

Amazon Price: $105.99 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Brunton Lightweight Aluminum Tripod with Removable Pan Head

Amazon Price: $126.68 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Brunton Standard Pan Tripod Head F-TH-MACRO

Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Brunton Quick attachment plate for Tripods

Amazon Price: $20.20 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Brunton Non-Magnetic Tripod

Amazon Price: $122.90 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Gitzo Tripods 

Quality Carbon Fiber Tripods

Click pictured items for more details or to buy.

Gitzo GS5000 3/8-Inch to 1/4-20-Inch Reducer Adapter

Amazon Price: $4.00 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Bogen - Manfrotto Modo Maxi Black Tripod Legs with Hybrid Joystick Ball Head with Manfrotto MBAG Tripod Bag 

Bogen - Manfrotto Modo Maxi Black Tripod Legs with Hybrid Joystick Ball Head with Manfrotto MBAG Tripod Bag

Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)Buy Now

This Bogen cmaera tripod is a high-performance, ultra-compact and lightweight which provides stability, portability and ease of use. It's versatile hybrid head can be used with both a digital camera or video camera. It's quick-release plate makes switching equipment quick and easy. It folds down to a very portable 14 inches while being able to extend to 45 in. With quick flip leg locks this tripod is quick to set up, tear down, and adjust.

This tripod is a great mid-level tripod perfect for avid amateurs.

Other Bogen Tripods 

Click pictured items for more details or to buy.

Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs (Black)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Manfrotto 7302YB M-Y Tripod with Ball - Replaces 725B

Amazon Price: $115.00 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Manfrotto 785 Modo Maxi Photo Video Grip Head Tripod

Amazon Price: $59.90 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Manfrotto 709B Digi Table Top Tripod with Ball Head (Black)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Manfrotto 488RC2 Midi Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System (3157N)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Slik Heavy-Duty Tripod with 3-Way Fluid-Effect Head and Built-In Bubble Level 

Slik Heavy-Duty Tripod with 3-Way Fluid-Effect Head and Built-In Bubble Level

Amazon Price: $44.95 (as of 11/27/2009)Buy Now

This SLIK camera tripod offers exception value. Light weight and compact as it is less than 2 feet long when completely folded and weighs under 3.5 lbs. It extends to a maximum height of 59 inches and possesses a 3-way smooth "Fluid effect" pan head and bubble level. It's geared center column allows users to easily make fine height adjustments while it's large quick release plate makes mounting and removal of the camera or video camera simple. Set up is quick and easy with quick release leg locks while the retractable metal spike and hard rubber padded feet provide stability on any surface.

This tripod is most appropriate for casual users with light to moderate use.

Flexible Tripods 

Click on pictured items for more details or to buy.

Joby GP1-D1EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Grey)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Joby GP1-EBEN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Blue)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Joby GP1-EREN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Red)

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Other Tripods 

Click on pictured items for more details or to buy.

Velbon DF-60 Dual Function Light Weight Tripod

Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

 

Vanguard VT-126 Aluminum Digital Camera Tripod

Amazon Price: $49.00 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Celestron Heavy-Duty Altazimuth Tripod

Amazon Price: $88.61 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Celestron Photo / Video Tripod

Amazon Price: $42.95 (as of 11/27/2009) Buy Now

Quick Pod: Another Non-Traditional Option 

This device gives the user a better ability to include themselves in shots and is great for making YouTube videos.

The Quick Pod in Action 

Quik Pod 2007 info

(www.quikpod.com) Unique camera mount the Quik Pod is at Consumers Electronic Show in Las Vegas.

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Current News in the Tripod World 

Manfrotto ModoPocket Mini-Tripod Review « Photofocus
Manfrotto ModoPocket Mini-Tripod Review. 2009 October 26. tags: ModoPocket. by scottbourne. ModoPocket 1 - 400 (Photo is copyright Rich Legg ? All Rights Reserved). EDITOR'S NOTE: We're proud to offer another guest post by Salt Lake ...

Tripod Reviews 

CNET
Camera tripod reviews from CNET
Bogen and more
Reviews of several Bogen camera tripods and a variety of other brands.
Celestron, Bogen and more
More camera tripod reviews

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