Choosing a Professional Tripod

Professional Tripod

By Anne Ahira

In the world of photography, there are many experience levels when it comes to your camera, film, tripods and more.

There is amateur, semi-professional and professional level equipment for you to choose from.

If you are looking for a professional tripod for your photography needs there are a few things you may want to consider.

Support

Photography equipment is not cheap, especially when you are talking about the essential piece the digital camera.

The first thing you need to know about a professional tripod is how much weight it can support safely. Each tripod and pan head will be limited to a specific amount of weight and you should compare this to the heaviest camera you plan to use with your professional tripod.

Stability

Another often-overlooked aspect of a professional tripod is the stability. Even if a tripod is rated to handle the weight of your camera, you should still assess the stability of the unit with the legs fully extended.

To do this simply adjust the tripod to an accurate height and then place some pressure on the top, if the legs are wobbly you will want to keep shopping around.

Type of Head

The head of your tripod can be changeable or fixed, some tripods offer you the option of choosing any head you like, however, there are a few that do not.

Each head type, pan and tilt or ball and socket have their pros and cons, if you like to use both depending on the photo opportunity you will want a professional tripod that allows you to change the head type.

Brand Name or Off Brand

Certain brands have established themselves as professionals in the field. Manfrotto, Slik and Sunpak are just a few of the well-known brands you can choose from.

Most of the time you get what you pay for, however that does not mean you cannot find a bargain price on a professional tripod.

Height

Finally, you want to check the available height of any professional tripod. Each unit will have different minimums and maximums for you to choose from.

If you are rather tall and do not plan on taking low to the ground shots you will want to choose a professional tripod that allows you to comfortably shoot all day long.

Products

To find the best deals on a professional tripod, you can check sites like Amazon. They regularly offer many different products from sellers across the country. For instance, you could purchase a Slik 615-315 for about $90 off the suggested retail price.

Features

• Height: 24 2/5 – 74 4/5″
• Weight: 7 lbs
• 3 Position angle adjustable leg locks
• Pan head
• Gearless center column
• Changeable head
• $139 Amazon

Conclusion

There are several things to consider when you are looking for a professional tripod. Durability, reliability, comfort and price are all very important features of any tripod. Do your homework before settling on a particular brand so that you get the best tripod for the money.

Here's Professional Tripod Selections:

Professional PRO 72" Super Strong Tripod With Delu...	Customer Review: Great tripod, good looking, light, sturdy, easy to open and adjust and it looks that is going to last many years.Great buy !!.... Read More	(9)
Ravelli ATD Professional Tripod Dolly for Camera P...	Customer Review: I hate cliches, but what's that old adage that will accurately describe this thing...ah, yes: You get what you pay for. At $35 (from cowboy studios) I suppose I shouldnt be expecting the smoothest ride but I just couldnt get that many smooth, flowing... Read More	(14)
Ravelli AVTP Professional 75mm Video Camera Tripod...	Customer Review: I have an older Hitachi C-1 Camera that I have used with this tripod and it works perfectly. The camera weighs about 20lbs all accessories added on and it handles the weight well. The only thing that I would like to see improved on this model is th... Read More	(16)
Professional 72" Tripod With Deluxe Soft Carrying ...	Customer Review: I haven't tested in the field yet but so far so good, planning to take it to the mountains on the weekend to give it a shot... Read More	(11)
Opteka OPT74T 74-Inch Professional Photo/Video Tri...	Customer Review: Definitely a case of you get what you pay for...Very difficult to lock down the head and probably not recommended for heavier cameras for that reason. Head is NOT smooth, at all.Unless you need the height I'd find something else.... Read More	(8)