Usage
Tripods are used for both
still and motion photography to prevent camera movement. They are necessary
when slow-speed exposures are being made, or when lenses of extreme focal
length are used, as any camera movement while the shutter is open will produce
a blurred image. In the same vein, they reduce camera shake, and thus are
instrumental in achieving maximum sharpness. A tripod is also helpful in
achieving precise framing of the image, or when more than one image is being
made of the same scene, for example when bracketing the exposure. Use of a
tripod may also allow for a more thoughtful approach to photography. For all of
these reasons a tripod of some sort is often necessary for professional
photography as well as certain video uses. Tripods are also used as an
alternative to C-Stands to photographic accessories.
Variation
More expensive tripods are
sturdier, stronger, and usually come with no integrated head. The separate
heads allow a tripod-head combination to be customized to the photographer's
needs. There are expensive carbon fiber tripods, used for applications where
the tripod needs to be lightweight. Many tripods, even some relatively
inexpensive ones, also include leveling indicators for the legs of the tripod
and the head. There are several types of tripod. The least expensive, generally
made of aluminum tubing and costing less than US$50, is used primarily for
consumer still and video cameras; these generally come with an attached head
and rubber feet. The head is very basic, and often not entirely suitable for
smooth panning of a camcorder. A common feature, mostly designed for still
cameras, allows the head to flip sideways 90 degrees to allow the camera to
take pictures in portrait format rather than landscape. Often included
is a small pin on front of the mounting screw that is used to
stabilize camcorders. This is not found on the more expensive photographic
tripods.
Many of the more expensive
tripods have additional features, such as a reversible center post so that the
camera may be mounted between the legs, allowing for shots from low positions,
and legs that can open to several different angles.
Small tabletop tripods
(sometimes called table pods) are also available; they are used in
situations where a full sized tripod would be too bulky to carry. An
alternative is a clamp-pod, which is a ball head attached
to a C-clamp.
Another technique involves
forming a string triangle held taut around the two feet of the photographer and
linked to the camera. This negative string "tripod"
can stabilize the camera sufficiently to use a shutter speed three stops
slower.
Fixed
tripods
For low-angle
shots particularly in cinematography, short tripods with fixed length
legs and no center column may be used. The lowest of these is called a low
hat, with a slightly higher version referred to as a hi hat.
