The Most Important Features That Your Next Tripod Needs – SlashGear

A new, quality tripod could cost anywhere from $150 to over $1,000. That’s a vast range to choose from, but it’s easier to decide when you know what features are nice or non-negotiable. Cheap tripods might feature lots of plastics, and nothing is more heart-wrenching than seeing your tripod snap while holding your expensive camera. You can get stable, solid, affordable tripods by compromising advanced features, and that’s okay. Decent tripods will help you get better images, and you can use those just fine until you advance your skills and realize that lack of those advanced features is holding your creativity back.

Mid-range tripods seem like good value, with advanced features for a modest increase in cost. The trap here is that mid-range tripods might have more features, but those increase the weight. Nobody wants to lug a heavy tripod around, especially when traveling or hiking. Once you know you’ll be using your tripod often, you can skip the mid-range and go for the higher-end market. With the longevity of quality tripods, your cost of ownership is lower, as you won’t be rebuying anytime soon. Top-of-the-line tripods often feature exotic materials, with carbon fiber being the most common. That material change reduces weight and improves stiffness and stability, but it can break easier than aluminum in some situations.