Talking Tripods with Ron
Posted by Luis H. Malagon on 6th Jan 2020
Ron Jewel, one of our many experts sales team members, knows everything there is to know about tripods. We sat down with him and asked him some of the most asked questions we get at the store.
"Why do I need a tripod?"
The basic answer is, you need a tripod to hold the camera long enough to not get blur or to keep a shot steady for a long period of time. It's also important to have one when you need to be the one in-front of the camera.
You’ll use a tripod for all kind of shots, like macro shots, long exposure shots, pan and tilts in video, time lapses or stop motion to name a few.
Plus it beats stacking a bunch of cardboard boxes on a chair.
"What kind of tripod to you need?"
Hmmm… so it really depends on what you need it for. If you are a traveler or need to carry it with you, a light-weight compact tripod might be what your looking for. If you need a tripod that is even steadier than that for long exposures or if your facing windy or harsh conditions, a tripod with some more heft and sturdier legs will definitely help.
If you’re strictly doing video you need a true video tripod - no questions.
A video tripod is any tripod that has a fluid pan and tilt video head on it. Most models also have a bowl level adjustment, this will you can level your shot on uneven ground.
"Whats the difference between a video tripod and a photo tripod?"
Video specific tripod have a wide variety of legs, they usually have some more heft, they can sometimes fold and collapse differently and sometimes have a bowl adjustment for leveling. But the real differences come on the tripod's head. Photo tripods typically have a ball head or a 3-axis head. These are meant to stay solid and sturdy once they are locked down. Video heads will give you the option to pan and tilt during filming and will often have a lever to be able to adjust or move your shot.
"What's the difference with all these tripods?"
Ha! - That’s a very common question we get here at the store! There are tripods of all sizes some are smaller and lighter weight than others. They commonly can have a flip lock vs twist lock, which makes a little bit of a difference. Some fold down more quickly and more efficiently than others and some have rubber feet that have a hidden spike on the foot for getting stable shots in the outdoors. Speaking of the outdoors, a few even have strong weather sealing that will protect against water and sand, you can definitely ruin a tripod if it's not ready to handle the elements. You can even go with a 2 in 1 style tripod that has a removable leg to be used as a monopod! . It really comes down to what you are using it for and where you plan to take it, there is something for everyone.
"What about a monopod?"
Monopods are fantastic! They are meant to stabilize a shot and take the weight off of your shoulders, while still being handheld. They allow you to have the mobility of a handheld while still giving you at ton of stability. You can change locations quickly and and easy and can compress them down to a very small size when you're done. It's a great thing to have in your bag.
"Is there a perfect tripod?"
Yes and no.
Tripods are a lot like lenses in the sense that some are really good at a lot of things and some or excellent at specific things. It all comes down to your needs and what you are looking to get out of a tripod.
So if you find a tripod that covers all of your needs then that is the perfect tripod for you.
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