{"id":2848,"date":"2021-08-01T08:11:26","date_gmt":"2021-08-01T08:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new-blog.artlist.io\/?p=2848"},"modified":"2022-06-09T10:54:34","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T10:54:34","slug":"best-tripods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new-blog.artlist.io\/blog\/best-tripods\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Tripods for Every Type of Video Creator"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a world of amazingly smooth in-built stabilization and state-of-the-art gimbals, you\u2019d be forgiven for thinking that camera tripods are obsolete. Who needs one of\u00a0those<\/em>\u00a0ancient contraptions suited more to medieval times than the 2020s?<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s the thing about tripods. No matter how good your in-house stabilization is and no matter how much money you spent on that fancy new gimbal, you simply cannot beat a good, simple, trusty tripod. They refuse to go away. In fact, now more than ever, I find myself using a tripod in all of my work!<\/p>\n

Of course, as with every other type of filmmaking gear, there are a million different options available to you, covering the whole spectrum from small to big, from cheap to (eye-wateringly) expensive, good to bad. So, what\u2019s the best tripod out there for you? Whether you\u2019re looking for the best travel tripod, the best budget tripod or the best tripod for DSLR users\u2015we\u2019re here to break it all down for you.<\/p>\n

Things to consider<\/h2>\n

Before you make your purchase, there are a few key things to consider when searching for the best tripod. Ensure that you know everything about these factors before you decide to buy.<\/p>\n

Stability and strength<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re going to be putting your rather expensive and sometimes rather heavy camera system on 3 legs, potentially standing up in strong winds or around lots of people, you\u2019d better make sure the thing is stable. You\u2019ll want to consider the materials it\u2019s made up of. Is it strong? Will it bend or even snap easily? Are there places where you can firmly grip it?<\/p>\n

You can find out from the manufacturers (usually just in the product description on a website) the maximum safe payload weight (i.e., how heavy a camera the tripod can carry before losing stability and potentially breaking).<\/p>\n

Size<\/h3>\n

This one comes down to what you need your tripod for. We\u2019ll dive into various scenarios further on. You need to think long and hard about the various scenarios in which you\u2019ll be using your tripod, as well as how big your camera is and what kind of weight and size you\u2019re prepared to carry around. For example, if you\u2019re documenting a one-week hike up to Everest base camp, taking a big and heavy tripod probably isn\u2019t the best of ideas! (By all means, go ahead and try\u2015we\u2019d love to see the vlog.)<\/p>\n

Weight<\/h3>\n

Already mentioned above, but perhaps the most important. You really don\u2019t want your tripod to inconvenience you. You need it to work\u00a0with<\/em>\u00a0you, not against you. The weight of your tripod is the key to that. Analyzing various materials can really help here, as carbon fiber options are obviously a lot lighter than aluminum (but of course, they cost more too).<\/p>\n

The best tripods for…<\/h2>\n

It doesn\u2019t take a rocket scientist (or a filmmaker) to realize that the above factors are all variable depending on what type of filmmaker you are. Below, we\u2019ve given you some examples of the best tripods out there, tailored to what it is you might be doing.<\/p>\n

Going heavy duty<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re working on a documentary of some sort or any other project that requires a bigger, bulkier cinema camera, you\u2019ll need a tripod that can take the heavy payloads\u2015something that\u2019s really sturdy and reliable. Of course, you\u2019ll be sacrificing size and weight factors, but it\u2019s necessary. So, what are our two recommendations for the best tripods when using a cinema camera?<\/p>\n