How to choose the best tripod to fit your personal needs and lifestyle.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT TRIPOD?
At first, choosing the right tripod might seem like a daunting task. We’re going to try and make it simple and easy for you. There are many factors that go into picking a tripod, such as your equipment, shooting style, type of photography, and weight of setup.
Let’s go over the 3 most common types of photographers that we encounter. If this sounds like you, the odds are that our recommendation is the best for you!
THE FREQUENT FLYER OR HIKER
Our first photographer is the frequent flyer or the hiker. If you are constantly traveling or hiking, this might be you. Typically, this photographer is the owner of a smaller DSLR or mirrorless camera system. They also shoot with anything from a wide-angle lens to a 200mm lens. If you travel by air frequently or prefer to have your tripod strapped onto your backpack, you probably want something light, small, and compact. Something that would not be a burden to bring with you when you’re on the go.
Recommended Tripod: Ascend 14
This tripod’s maximum height is just under 5 feet but can collapse all the way down to 18.5”. This gives you enough height to capture all those beautiful angles but is still small enough to stow into a carry-on bag or to strap onto a backpack. And the best part? It only weighs 2.5 lbs. Light enough to bring around during those frequent flights or long hikes.
THE WEEKEND WARRIOR
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The second photographer type is the Weekend Warrior. This is for the photographer who may not travel or shoot as much as the Frequent Flyer but still has a strong passion for photography. Typically, this photographer will own a DLSR or a mirrorless camera. They also own lenses anywhere from a wide angle to a 400mm lens. Do you shoot both indoors and outdoors? Do you travel by car for most of your photography? You probably want something a little bit bigger and has more load capacity than the TFC-14.
Recommended Tripod: TVC-24L
It reaches a maximum height of 5’6” and only weighs 3.69 lbs, which is a great height for such a lightweight tripod. Additionally, the tripod has a load capacity of 70 lbs; more than enough to hold most setups!
THE HEAVY-DUTY PRO
The third and last type is the Heavy-Duty Pro. This is for the photographer who primarily shoots in the studio or on location. Now these photographers will own a bigger, professional, or prosumer-level DSLR, or even a medium format camera. They typically shoot on lenses ranging from a wide angle to 800mm. Do you have a large setup with heavy lenses and lots of equipment? Do you do heavy astrophotography? Do you need to support a video camera or rig?
Recommended Tripods: TVC-33 or TVC-34L
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The TVC-33 has a load capacity of 85 lbs, enough to carry a large photography and video setup. It has a maximum height of 4'9”. The TVC-34L has a load capacity of 80 lbs and can reach a maximum height of 5'7”, giving you all the height you could ever need for any setup!
Do any of these photographers sound like you? You might want to check out our recommendations. If you want to go more into the specs and more technical side of tripods, check out the individual product pages, or if you have any other questions feel free to contact our helpful customer service team!
Article Version: 1.01.09.22