Tripods and Monopods: Choosing Support for Photography and Video
A tripod keeps the camera perfectly still, which is essential for long exposures, low light, landscapes, architecture, time-lapses, panoramas and video. Monopods provide lighter support for situations where tripods are too slow or bulky.
Tripods
Choose a tripod by maximum height, folded length, weight and load capacity. A tripod that reaches eye level without extending the centre column is more stable. The load capacity should exceed the weight of your heaviest camera and lens combination with a good margin.
Materials
Aluminium tripods are affordable and durable but heavier. Carbon fibre tripods are lighter and absorb vibration better, which makes them popular for travel and hiking, but they cost more.
Monopods and handheld monopods
Monopods support the camera on one leg, reducing fatigue with heavy lenses and helping stabilise video. They are popular with sports, wildlife and event photographers who need to move quickly. Handheld monopods are compact poles for small cameras and phones.
Tripod heads
- Ball heads: quick, flexible positioning for photography.
- Pan-tilt heads: precise control on separate axes, ideal for architecture and products.
- Fluid heads: smooth pans and tilts for video.
- Gimbal heads: balance large telephoto lenses for wildlife and sports.
Quick release plates and L-brackets
Quick release plates attach the camera to the tripod head quickly. Arca-Swiss is a common standard compatible with many heads. L-brackets allow switching between landscape and portrait orientation while keeping the camera centred over the tripod.
Practical tips
- Extend the thickest leg sections first for stability.
- Hang a bag from the centre column hook in wind.
- Turn off image stabilisation on a tripod.
- Use a remote shutter for long exposures.
A sturdy tripod is one of the best investments for sharper photos and better video.
For travel, compare the folded length with the size of your bag or suitcase; a tripod that stays at home because it is too bulky gives no benefit at all.
Related categories: Camera Accessories, Micro Film, Photo Studio, Background