A tripod is a piece of photographic equipment designed to prevent camera movement and support the weight of a camera. A tripod consists of 3 legs(compared to a bipod or monopod) which stand on the ground and have a camera mount on top.
FAQ
Questions tagged [tripod]
271 questions
42
votes
2 answers
What is the point of the depressible peg on a quick release plate?
Many tripod quick release plates have a plastic or metal peg near the screw. You can press down on the peg, and then when you release it, it pops back up. I've looked at photos of many camera bottoms, and I haven't seen any camera that has a hole…
pacoverflow
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If raising the center column makes tripods unstable, why can they be raised so high?
My question is about the center column height on tripods. If it is so unstable, as it is described in many websites/forums, then why do manufacturers add it to tripods?
My question may sound naive, but I like learning this kind of details.
Morpho
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What are the benefits/drawbacks to various tripod materials?
I see tripods that are metal, carbon fiber, basalt, and even wood. What are the features and/or drawbacks of each of these? What factors should be considered when choosing what material they want in a new tripod?
ahockley
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What are the reasons for using a tripod during broad daylight?
I like to shoot city and landscapes. I saw that photographers often use tripod even during a day. Why would I need a tripod during a day, if I can get shutter speed like 1/125s even with low ISO? And I'm not going to need multiple shots (eg. for HDR…
Tschareck
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What are the pros and cons of flip lock vs. twist lock on tripods?
I am in search of a tripod. While doing a bit of research myself, I came to know that there are two broad variants of leg locks, viz. flip and twist lock. In many forums, I find people expressing conflicting views preferring each one over the other.…
sherlock
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Is the mounting screw for tripods always directly on the optical axis?
Is the mounting screw on tripods always directly on the optical axis? I have a D5000 here and in this particular case it is. But can I trust that it's always there?
bot47
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Which tripod can handle a lens that weighs more than 2 pounds?
My current tripod (Slik) doesn't do heavy lenses very well.
I am looking for a heavy duty tripod. One that can handle lens that weighs more than 2 pounds (907.18 grams)
Any recommendations?
My budget for a tripod is $100.00.
abhi
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What is this plastic clip on that came on the leg of my tripod?
I recently acquired a Manfrotto tripod and it came with this plastic clip on one of the legs, what is its purpose?
Benjamin Lester
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What tripod leg extensions systems are there?
I'm currently using a Manfrotto tripod that has the typical "screw" system to extend legs, 3 sections in this case. Maybe it is me being clumsy but I find this system to be very impractical. It takes me quite a lot of time setting up the tripod…
Fer
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What is the "round" tripod plate used for?
I have recently purchased a new tripod (Oben AC-1400 AL with BA-00 HEAD) and there is a round plate between the tripod and the head itself. It seems like it is meant to remain where it is but I think the head is more secure without it as it catches…
Jakub Sisak GeoGraphics
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4
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Will moldable play foam work in a camera bean bag?
I'm making my own bean bag and was going to experiment with moldable play foam something like this, as it's very lightweight and holds a shape nicely. I'm wondering if anyone can alert me to any drawbacks. (I also intend to fly internationally with…
Michael H
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What's the difference between "rapid" and non-rapid Feisol tripods?
Currently, I've set my eyes on the Feisol 3442 tripod. But can someone tell me what the difference between the rapid and non-rapid is? The price difference of the two where I live is $100, and I want to know for sure whether I need that feature or…
zentenk
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How can I make it so my tripod's camera holder isn't loose and floppy?
I obtained a tripod awhile ago, but have only recently begun to use it. My problem with it is that the camera top is, as the title says, loose and floppy. The base legs, and such adjustments, work perfectly fine. It's just that I cannot seem to…
Rewan Demontay
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For landscape photography in potentially harsh climates, are traditional twist-action tripod legs preferable to quick-release?
I'm a relatively new landscape photographer and long-time user of a tripod with quick-release plastic clasps on the legs (I've owned this specific tripod base for around 10 years).
On a recent trip, I spent some time at landscape photography…
verandaguy
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The Purpose of the Length of a Tripod Plate
Context
I'm debating on getting a tripod plate for a Nikon 400mm f3.5.
Question
For a teleprime such as mine, is there such as a thing as a right "length?" Kirk lists one that looks shorter than Wimberley, see P-30. There are other "universal" ones…
unsignedzero
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