Milford Photo's Essential Tips for Tripod Selection

The Milford Photo Tripod Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Tripod

Ball head or Pan and Tilt? Carbon Fiber or Aluminum? Clip or twist leg locks? There are so many things to consider when choosing a tripod - let the experts at Milford Photo make it easier.

Things to Consider

Choosing the right tripod for your specific needs will make a major difference in the ease of your workflow.

Talk with an Expert

Visit us in store to talk with one of our expert associates about which tripod is best for you. Milford Photo carries a wide selection of brands, like Benro, 3 Legged Thing, Peak Design, ProMaster, and more!

Weight of Camera & Accessories

How much does your camera weigh? What about those lenses? Double-check the load capacity of the tripod to be sure it can securely support your gear.

Height - The Tripod's and Photographer's

Some tripods are shorter than others. A tabletop tripod is ideal for vlogging, so you can set it up on your desk and stabilize your camera during recording. On average, tripods between 50 and 60 inches. But like most things - one size doesn't fit all! We also stock tripods up to 85 inches for taller photographers.

Material - Aluminum vs. Carbon Fiber

If you're a studio photographer, weight may not be a huge factor. If you like to bring your tripod on the go, weight might be an important consideration. Tripods come in different materials, like aluminum and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber tripods are lighter in weight and better suited for travel.

Common Tripod Heads

Different tripod heads are designed for different purposes. Choosing the right head for your specific needs will make a major difference in the ease of your workflow.

Ball Head

Ball Head Tripods have a single locking knob control on the ball and socket design. This style allows for multi-directional adjustment in one fluid movement.

Pros:

quick to adjust
smaller
easier to carry than pan and tilt tripod heads

Cons:

sometimes less precise than pan and tilt tripd heads, especially when making small adjustments

Pan and Tilt Head

Pan and Tilt Head Tripods have two separate axes of movement: horizontal pan and vertical tilt, with some models adding a third axis for lateral tilt. They allow for precise control, commonly used for composing images that require straight horizons or deliberate angles.

Pros: