What tripod should i buy for slr

The is available in carbon fiber versions providing extra camera stability and maximum transportability, thanks to increased rigidity and reduced weight, or in aluminium, which may be a more logical choice if you do not carry your tripod around many times.

For reference, the carbon version of the 3 section tripod weighs This is for the tripod alone, without the head. The series has some features that make it a versatile companion for your adventures, either in the studio or on location. The center column extends vertically but can also be used horizontally, opening a wide range of framing and shooting possibilities, and of which can be done with the camera attached.

The Quick Power Lock levers responsible for blocking and unblocking each leg section are easy to open and close, even with gloves on. With just one hand, they allow for the fast and precise setting of the individual height of each leg. Furthermore, the allows each leg to be independently and solidly set to any of the preset angles, again allowing considerable positioning freedom.

From close to the ground, all the way up to its full extension, this is a working tool that will never let you down. A rotating bubble level on top and an Easy Link connector, which allows using photo or video accessories on an extending arm or bracket, make this tripod a must have accessory if you are after a versatile support for your gear.

To better support your camera, nothing beats the 3-Way Head added to the This ensures fine framing adjustments can be made with the locking knobs open, only locking everything down once the shot is ready. The is available with 3 and 4 sections, a difference that is worth mentioning.

While many may prefer the 3 section, as it is usually said to be more stable and less prone to mechanical problems, there is one advantage to the 4 section: with the legs folded the tripod has It does not matter how many tripods you have, there will always be a time when a single leg will be all you need. A professional monopod, designed so it supports long lenses, this product is ideal for sports and nature photographers. The XPRO Monopod inherited features of the and collections of tripods and offers the same Quick Power Lock QPL system that strongly locks the lever on the flat face of the tube, reducing unwanted jerky movements.

Paired with a photo monopod head RC on top, it reaches a maximum height of cm, making it one of the best platforms for when you need a fast and versatile support to carry along. If your studio is as far as you go when it comes to photography, then the Manfrotto B is the tripod for you. Built in aluminium, the B is heavy, at g, but that means it offers the ideal stability for the conditions it will be used in. Yet being heavy does not mean it is less agile than the other tripods when it comes to adjusting the legs or the center column.

The geared center column allows safe, precise height adjustment, even under heavy loads up to a maximum of 12 kg, while the legs can be set to a different angle of spread for more flexible, versatile positioning, as well as keeping camera equipment well-balanced over the tripod's center of gravity.

It is time, then, to look at the Manfrotto MVKAM-1 , a traditional 2-stage, aluminium twin-tube video tripod that has professional features, yet is designed to be intuitive, user-friendly option that is suited to lightweight applications. It offers professional features, such as high-performance variable fluidity and a counterbalance setting, designed to match the weight of the most popular cameras and their accessories, such as external monitors, lights or microphones.

Featuring two Easy Link connectors for placement of an external monitor, alongside other equipment, the head has a pre-set counterbalance of 4kg 8. The tripod supporting the head, with the reference of Manfrotto MVTAM, has telescopic aluminium legs for improved compactness and reduced weight; its innovative ellipse-profile tubing with redesigned leg locking collars gives it excellent levels of rigidity and stability.

Featuring a Variable Fluid Drag System on PAN and TILT movements, counterbalance system on TILT movement, a sliding plate for the fastest camera connection and set up and leveling bubble for easy setup, the tripod comes with a rubber strap to ensure easier, safer transport, as well as coming supplied with a padded carrying bag. Finding the right tripod for you and your needs can be a trial and error process but hopefully our guide will begin to point you in the right direction.

As a reminder here are our top tips for choosing a tripod;. Key specs - Max Load: 6kg; Max height: 1. From a maximum extension of 1. The tripod is rock solid and can comfortably accommodate heavy professional DSLRs and long telephoto lenses. The head features a double locking Arca-Swiss plate to keep your camera securely locked down. The twist-lock ball head, meanwhile, makes quick work of accurately framing up your shots. You can avoid this issue by opting for a third party head but you will sacrifice that impressive 39cm closed height.

Key specs - Max Load: 9. Buy now from Wex. Travel tripods have a tough brief to fill. On one hand, they have to be small and light enough to fit neatly in, or on, a small camera bag, without weighing down a photographer who might also be carrying a few cameras and a good handful of lenses.

Elevating to a maximum height of 1. Rated to a maximum of 10kg — and therefore probably a bit more for the brave — this is a tripod capable of everything from astrophotography to high-end wildlife and sport. The ball head at the top of the tripod has a single, large twist release, with a friction adjuster on the other side, while the centre column can be loosened, tightened or removed completely with a screw adjuster on the underside of the tripod.

This is a secure, tough-feeling tripod that feels like it should be able to handle more or less whatever you throw at it. However, that ultra-low weight and top-notch build quality also make it one that will do a serious number of miles without weighing you down.

Key specs — Max load: 10kg; Max height: mm; Closed height: mm; Weight: 1. Constructed from a series of interconnected ball and socket joints, the GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit is near-infinitely adaptable. Upright it works great for table-top shooting, and with its legs curved, it can be wrapped around tree branches, lamp posts, fences, railings - whatever is close at hand.

It's also incredibly travel-friendly too as it can be easily formed to fit into whatever space is available in your camera bag.

The 3K Pro Kit is set apart from the rest of the GorillaPod range by its beefed-up construction, featuring anodised aluminium leg sockets rather than plastic and the inclusion of an Arca-Swiss compatible ball head. As hinted at by its name, the 3K can support up to 3kg of camera equipment. This makes it ideal for most mirrorless and modest DSLR setups - although it's worth noting that its sturdiness does depend on the weight of your gear and how you orientate the legs.

Having owned previous versions of the GorillaPod in the past I can say that this new Pro model feels noticeably tougher and reassuringly secure in use.

If you're on a tight budget then the standard 3K 'Pod is still an excellent choice but for my money, the ruggedized Pro model is the one to have. How much will a decent tripod set you back? The short answer is that it varies.

Keep in mind that some tripods are sold as legs only, while others are sold as a kit with a tripod head included. If you don't have a tripod head already, check to see if the tripod you have your eye on has a head with it, and if not you will need to order a head too. The latter uses twist locks for the leg sections, whereas the current tripod range has redesigned Quick Power Lock levers.

Choices include three-section and four-section aluminum legs, with XPro heads of either 3-way or ball design; while carbon fiber alternatives are only available for the Go!

In this latest version, the degree pivot facility is quicker and easier to operate, enabling you to swap to horizontal boom mode in just a few seconds. The four-way, multi-angle leg lock system is also improved, and the new locking levers for the leg sections have an innovative design that enables you to push one side of the lever or pull the other to release them.

The tripod legs remain rigid and sturdy even at their maximum operating height, with the centre column fully extended and the four-section legs help to reduce the carrying size. The real star of the show, however, is the XPro ball head. The incredible 3 Legged Thing Winston 2. It can fold down to about 61cm, making it easy to transport, but it also has the capacity to reach incredible heights.

Put this tripod up to its maximum and you're looking at almost 2m of camera height! Is that more than you need? Possibly, but who's complaining about having too many shooting options? The clever engineering that 3 Legged Thing has made itself known for is present and correct here; this is a highly versatile tripod that's quick to deploy and easy to operate. It provides a truly solid support, resisting flexing and vibrations, and it performs in an exemplary fashion when paired with 3 Legged Thing's AirHed Pro.

The leg and centre-column sections are constructed from 8-layer carbon fibre, which gives them their lightweight solidity. There's no aluminium option available, so no chance of saving a little off the box price with a cheaper version, but all things considered the Winston 2.

The reduced number of leg sections may seem like a backward step, but it's actually to ensure that the leg diameter remains beefy all the way down; this is part of what gives the tripod such superb stability.

It's a hugely impressive achievement, and the fact that it ticks so many boxes for a travel tripod while still being strong enough for professional setups is a big, big tick in our book. The design and build are first class, the angled column works brilliantly and all the controls and adjustments have a smoothness and precision that you would expect to cost a lot more than this.

It's the first tripod Peak Design has made, and the carbon fiber version we looked at costs more than practically any of its rivals except a Gitzo, so it had better be good. The Peak Design Travel Tripod isn't just useful for travel.

It packs down to just 39cm in length, so it's easy to carry on outings and when hiking across country, but it also extends high enough to work as a regular everyday tripod, and it has all the rigidity of a regular tripod too. The low-profile ball head is simple but brilliant, there's a phone holder hidden inside the center column.

It's certainly no bargain, even the aluminium version, but for its combination of design finesse, compactness and rigidity, the Peak Design Travel Tripod is out on its own. Read more: Peak Design Travel Tripod review. The Vanguard Veo 3 Go models are the latest versions of Vanguard's travel tripod designs, but the Veo 3 Go HCB model offers extra height the 'H' in the name and a detachable monopod. This makes it very effective as a lightweight everyday general purpose tripod too.

If you don't need either of those things there's a shorter CB and a lighter payload but same size CB. What we like about the Vanguard Veo 3 Go HCB is its light weight, neat design, simple operation and a really good combination of folded size 41cm and maximum height. You do need to raise the center column for chest-level shooting, but that's an acceptable compromise in tripod that packs down as small as this one does.

There's a removable monopod leg, spikes are included and a short center column for low angle shots. It's a really nice, neat tripod for the money and easily handles DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Might seem like a pipedream, but this relatively small tripod does a good job, with loads of useful features like its multi-angle centre column, and the bundled VEO MA-1 multi-mount, which allows you to attach other accessories or even another body.

All this is wrapped up in a tripod with seriously high-quality construction, as you'd expect from Vanguard, and it comes at a pretty competitive price. It's 48cm long when folded and the whole ensemble 2. You still get three lockable leg angles, but the joints enable the legs to swing upwards, so that the feet surround the head for stowage.

The overall effect is that the folded height is reduced from 60cm to just 45cm, and the Travel Angel kit is also g lighter, at 2. However, the maximum operating height is also 6cm shorter, although still respectable at cm. As with the Mach3 kit, this Benro tripod is precision-engineered and beautifully turned out, combining aluminum leg sections with magnesium castings.

Again, one of the legs is detachable for use as a monopod, combined with the removable centre column. This kit adds a screw-on wooden knob, so you can use the detached leg as a walking pole. High-quality accessories include a short alternative centre column, interchangeable rubber pads and metal spikes for the feet, and a smart padded soft case. The ball head for this Benro kit is an upmarket B1 model with independent locking, friction adjustment and pan release knobs.

The aluminum kit tips the scales at a moderate 2. The tripod folds down to just 41cm, thanks to the combination of five-section legs, which swing upwards for stowage. But despite the thinnest leg sections having a diameter of just 15mm, the tripod remains rigid even at its full height of cm, and feels worthy of its hefty load rating.

One of the legs can be removed and used in conjunction with the centre column as a monopod. But on the plus side, you do get a set of interchangeable metal spikes and rubber pads, along with a high-quality padded soft case.

The nicely engineered ball head has independent friction control and a pan-only release. Meanwhile, twist-action leg section clamps are quick to release and tighten — which is just as well, because there are 12 of them in total.

Be aware that while it's plentifully available in the US, it's starting to be harder to find in other territories like the UK. The Leo is no ordinary tripod. It folds down to just 35cm in length, but opens out to offer a maximum height of cm and a huge payload capacity of 30kg. It has a detachable monopod leg which can also be used as a microphone or camera boom, a Tri Mount system for adding accessories and an innovative two-section center column.

You unscrew the regular legs and screw these in to get the toughest, gnarliest table-top mini tripod you've ever seen. The Leo 2 is not the smallest travel tripod you can get, and not the cheapest, but its ratio of folded length to maximum height, combined with its all-round versatility, make it one of the best.

When it comes to folding down small for compact carriage, the Sirui NTX reigns supreme. The result is a generally adequate maximum operating height of cm, and a particularly tiny folded height of 36cm. And despite its aluminium build, the Sirui is only 10g heavier than the Novo carbon kit.