Best of the Rest

If you are looking to purchase a tripod in the Best Value category, you will want a combination of low weight, usually from aluminum-type materials, and a small folded height. These types of tripods can be a little more challenging when you want to carry them on your back or pack them into a suitcase, as they tend to be a bit more bulky than the Best of the Best tripods. However, a tripod is the most important accessory you will use to help you take better photographs. It’s worth it to bring it along most everywhere you go!

Before you purchase your first tripod or upgrade to a new one, there are three things you need to consider, magic minutes, tripod height and weight, and the quick release feature. Having the best tripod for you will help you to achieve the greatest impact with your photographs. A tripod will also help slow down your photography by allowing you to think. If you want to have the opportunity to take the best quality photographs in low light (think around sunrise or around sunset), then a tripod is required for stability. The time around sunrise and sunset is called the magic minutes. You will also need to figure out a tripod for your needs that has the best combination of size and weight.

The great thing about a dependable tripod is that as long as you take care of it (i.e. keep it in a padded tripod bag), it can last for 10 years or even longer. I have a Gitzo G-1228 MkII carbon fiber tripod and this type of tripod has been reported to last well beyond 20 years! Most of the tripods in the Best Value category have quick release head (for rapid attachment), have an independent leg spread and have a maximum height over 61 inches. I like the Slik Able 300 DX for the Best Value tripod. If you want a stronger tripod (and one that supports the same amount of weight on top), then consider the Slik Pro 500DX. In fact, Slik dominates the tripods in the best value category.