In the second part of the series of articles about a tripod I am going to start to talk about different features of a tripod that you should pay attention to.

If you have missed the first article about tripods, where I have talked about why someone should use a tripod in the first place, briefly described tripod parts and discussed the first steps on choosing a tripod, you can find the article here.

Question: How heavy is the camera?

Now that you know (at least approximately) what you are going to use the tripod for, you need to ascertain how heavy your camera is. This is important in order to determine how much weight you can put on the tripod.

Specification: Load capacity / weight load

Different tripods are constructed for different load capacities, from 1kg to 25kg .

How to calculate the weight of your camera system:

1. Weight the camera:
   • If you own a compact camera, weight the camera (or check the weight in its manual) and any other accessory that you might use with it. A small compact camera typically weights around 150g (5.3oz), while a more advanced compact camera typically weights around 500g (17.6oz).
   • If you own a DSLR camera, weight the camera (or check the weight in its manual), the heaviest lens you plan to use and any other accessory (such as flash). For instance, a Nikon D700 weights 1074g (37.9oz), an AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED (4.3x) lens weights 745g (26.3oz), which is together 1819g (64.2oz). Note that if you are using longer lenses, the point of gravity shifts, so make sure to pick up the tripod with higher maximum load capacity.
2. Include the weight of the heaviest tripod head you would (ever) use.
3. Add at least 15% to that figure. You never want to load tripod to its maximum load capacity, at least not for longer times. Overloading can result in shorter life of tripods. They are the most vulnerable at the leg locks and heads.
4. This is the maximum load capacity of the tripod. Match it to the one of a tripod.

One thing to note though is that the tripod manufacturers don’t really use the same criteria of how to calculate the load capacity (there is no standard). Therefore use it only as guideline, and make sure you don’t skip the step 3. when doing the calculations.

Additionally, when using the tripod it will be important that it remains stable not only in the static (balanced) position, but also when you pan and tilt a camera in any direction, when the centre of gravity is changed. It should remain stable all the time. Therefore testing a tripod (and head) before buying is always a very welcomed idea.

Good feature: Tripod needs to be sturdy.

Tripod needs to be sturdy in order to do its job. This is the most important criteria of a tripod for sure! It allows you to get the best performance out from your lenses, taking the sharpest images that you have always wanted. To achieve that (the only way really) is to have your camera completely steady, without ANY camera movements.

What we often like to forget is that not only a tripod itself should stand stable on the ground, but it should also be strong enough and stand stable while carrying the weight of the camera and the lens:

As well as retain any pressures – either from your hands or any natural pressures, like the wind:

So what affect a tripod sturdiness?

• leg locks;
• material and design,
• number of sections of legs,
• leg tips.

Whatever you do, don’t judge by the looks. It may look sturdy, maybe it is, but it just might not be! The most reliable way to know is simply to test it: extend the tripod to its maximum height, mount the camera and press with your fingers at the top of the camera. Does it move?

How to improve sturdiness of a tripod

First, don’t extend the centre column.

Second, use spiked tripod feet (I talk about tripod feet in greater detail further on in this article – just keep reading!).

Most often you will want to increase tripod’s stability against the wind, especially if using a lighter tripod. What are your options?

Tripod hook

Firstly, you can hang an additional weight on a tripod hook.

A (usually) retractable hook attached to the bottom of a tripod’s centre column is a built-in accessory  found in some tripods.

Its main purpose is to hang different kinds of counterweights for additional stability of a tripod:

• in windy conditions,
• when you use longer and heavier lenses (that shift your gravity point),
• when you use a centre column at different angles.

To use it, retract a hook and hang a bag filled with stones, rocks, sand or even water. Don’t carry the weight around with your: fill it up at the location with the material available at the sight. A bag can be:

• a specially designed bag for such purpose, usually called a weight or stone bag;
• a plastic bag;
• a cloth bag;
• a mesh bag (usually used when selling potatoes, onions, lemons, oranges..);
• or even your camera bag!

If you don’t want to use a bag, you have another possibility:

Thrust another hook or a tent stake in the ground and connect it firmly to a tripod hook with a cord. Make sure the cord is strained!

Tripod hook can be used for other purposes as well (remaining completely to your imagination):

• If you have an additional camera, hang it there to have it always available at hand.
• If the ground is wet or muddy, hang your camera bag to not get dirty.
• Use it as a drying hanger to dry wet clothes.
• You got the picture by now, right?

Tripod Apron

Similar to hooks, some companies sell aprons that are attached to tripod feet and can be filled with stones, rocks or sand to add more stability for a tripod.

Of course you can store other objects inside an apron as well: other cameras, flash cards, filters, lenses, hoods, batteries, anything really that you might want to have at hand while shooting.

Usually made from nylon.

Bean bag

Thirdly, you can use a bean bag. I have talked about beanbags in detail in the article about support accessories, so I won’t go into detail about it here.

If you have a tripod and a beanbag, you can additionally stabilize a tripod (if needed) by placing a beanbag over a lens. This can be especially useful when using longer lenses.

Support tripod legs with sandbags or rocks

Fourthly, it can also help to stabilize tripod feet by either supporting it with rocks or sandbags.

Tripod feet

Tripod stands on tripod feet. In order the tripod to be steady, they need to be made from quality material and be able to hold a tripod on different types of ground (for example, if you are shooting outdoors, the ground is likely to be uneven, even wet and muddy) without slipping and without damaging it as well (when shooting indoors).

There are different types of feet available, depending where you are going to shoot – the surface the tripod is going to stand on:

Neoprene / rubber feet

Most tripods have pads made from rubber (of different qualities!). They are suitable for inside use and studio shooting where the surface is hard.

They also prefer much better than other types of feet on concrete floors.

For the best grip, the rubber should be rugged and shouldn’t skid.

With extensive use, they can get loosened (= lost) and can get harder (= more slippery).

It is best they are of removable type in order to replace them with another type of feet when needed.

Spiked feet

If rubber feet are removable, you can replace them with a spiked feet (usually by screwing them on tripod feet).

Whenever you are shooting outdoors, when the surface is uneven and soft (i.e. muddy, wet, grassy or sandy), the best is to use feet with spikes.

They are also very good on ice, but not on fresh snow (unless they are long).

They are made from stainless steel, metal, also from aluminium and some from titanium.

Never use them on soft surfaces, like wood, or indoors. They can damage the floor!

The disadvantage of spikes is that they are made from metal and can therefore start to rust if they are exposed to water (especially sea water). Always clean and dry them after exposure.

Rubber feet and spiked feet combined

Often times, the rubber feet and the metal spike feet are combined. They are referred to as retractable spiked foot or reversible rubber/metal spiked feet or just reversible feet.

Spikes are built into the foot, hidden underneath the rubber pad and can be brought out when needed by rotating/spinning a rubber cap.

When you are using a rubber pad, make sure the spike is all the way inside. It is very easy to damage the sensitive surfaces with it!

Snow / sand shoes

If you are shoot on soft ground, i.e. snow, sand or mud, get snow shoes. They are covering wider surface and therefore spread the weight of the tripod over a larger area, increasing stability.

Usually they are made from rubber.

They have different names: disc feet, suction cups, big foot adapters for soft ground, suction cup feet, retract feet, etc.

They don’t come with the tripod – you need to buy them separately. Make sure the tripod feet are removable.

It is also possible to make them yourself from a tennis ball by cutting it in half and installing it on the foot.

To be continued

I hope you have found this article interesting.

In my next article about tripods I take a closer look at tripod’s portability.

Read the « previous article or the next article »