7 types of tripods and monopods: the pros and cons, features

Tripod - mobile support for fixing in position and precision-guided optical devices, cameras, video equipment and lighting equipment. The device can provide filming resistance and optical equipment in any exposure range and to eliminate vibration.

application

Tripod equipment is needed during the following types of pictures:

• night;
• landscape;
• studio;
• panorama;
• Self-portrait;
• macro.

Based on the destination, the holders are divided into the following categories:

• for cameras;
• for video cameras;
• telescope;
• for smartphones.

Today on the photographic equipment market, sold and universal models of mobile towers, which are able to operate simultaneously with several types of equipment.

By the method of attachment are:

• desktop;
• floor.

Tripods for cameras

The main elements of a tripod for photographic equipment are:

• legs;
• photo head tripod.

Legs

The legs are telescopic structure, the number of drawers which ranges from 2 to 5. Fixation sections in the unfolded form is performed by means of threaded clamps or eccentric.

a tripod head

A tripod head - rotary mechanism by which the camera position is changed in space without movement of the holder.

Tripod heads are:

• 2D or DIP;
• 3D;
• ball;
• panoramic.

2D camera head is rotated in two directions - the horizontal and vertical. The bi-based photo head structure is a platform to which is attached a camera. Fixing the camera in one of two positions is carried out by means of special clamps, one of which is designed as a handle.

3D-capable head to fix the camera in three dimensions relative to the holder feet. The design of three-position rotary mechanisms includes three independent, mutually perpendicular rotation axes, which allows to deploy the camera 360⁰And the tilt angle reaches 90⁰.

Fastening three-position heads for professional equipment is often equipped with a worm drive for smooth regulation of photographic situation.

3D head ensures accurate positioning camera. Lack - bulky size and low efficiency.

Ball photo head able to rotate the camera in any direction. Photographic fixed by pressing a single button-lock. Structurally, they represent a metal ball attached to a platform. Advantages of the ball head - efficiency, reliability, compactness. Lack - metallic bowl sensitivity to contamination.

Panoramic heads are designed to create panoramic images. Structure panoramic head consists of vertical and horizontal hinges, each of which is equipped with an individual clamp.

In some models, a tripod is used advanced macro or rail head. The design of the head rail includes a micrometer screw which allows to move the camera in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

Attaching the camera to the holder or tripod head occurs by means of a threaded connection. The market offers a photographic tripod screw mount 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch.

Holders with 1/4 inch are used to work with both digital cameras (compacts), and mirrored photographic objectives. 3/8 inch is designed to work with heavy camera equipment or long lenses.

The design may include a tripod central column which is designed for rapid adjustment of the height and impart additional stability movable support structure.

Home bar - a pipe, one end of which is fixed a platform for mounting the tripod photo head, equipped with a screw, eccentric or collet holder.

What material do tripods for cameras?

The following materials are used for manufacturing a tripod legs:

• wood;
• aluminum;
• metal alloys;
• plastic;
• steel;
• basalt;
• Carbon (CFRP).

Wooden support in addressing vibration has a leading position. Weight wooden a tripod can be attributed both to the merits of the (heavy support stable) and the disadvantages (negative impact on mobility).

Aluminum and plastic are used in the models of the budget price range. The advantage of these materials, in addition to attractive cost, is easy, but the disadvantage - low strength. A tripod made of aluminum alloys, magnesium and titanium are characterized by good stability and durability.

For the manufacture of high-priced professional models use carbon fiber, basalt or steel. Carbon fiber and basalt are similar in their technical characteristics. The benefits include reliability, ability to dampen vibration and light.

A tripod CFRP weigh 30-40% less than aluminum counterparts, and basalt - 20%.

Support legs of the tripod can be made of rubber or plastic. In some models, the supports are made in the form of spikes. Most often there are models with rubber tips. Soft rubber allows you to set the tripod to almost any surface without damaging the coating.

Plastic caps are less common. Their disadvantages - sensitivity to vibrations and temperature changes. Tips-spikes are designed for installation on soft surfaces (snow, wet soil).

tripods for cameras function

Functionality supports for fixing the photographic and video equipment can be enhanced by additional equipment racks assembly:

• removable coupling - allows to change the rotary mechanism;
• a removable platform, which is designed for instant installation and removal of the camera;
• a built-in level, intended to control the horizontal position of the camera on a tripod;
• retractable hook load - not only provides convenience when working with the device (it is possible to hang the bag, jacket, etc.) but also further stabilizes the tripod;
• remote control;
• cover.

Technical specifications

Main Specifications:

• working height;
• Height in folded position;
• carrier weight;
• capacity.

Height folded - characteristic, which is selected by photographer personally. From this parameter depends on the convenience of transport equipment tripod. The height in the folded state depends on the number of sections of support legs. The more sections, the holder is folded compactly.

Tripod weight must meet two requirements: the ability to ensure the stability of the support structure and easy to transport and move the holder.

Weight tripod or workload - a maximum weight of photographic equipment, which is able to withstand a mobile support structure.

monopods

A monopod is a telescopic rod Pillar. This type of tripod is widely used in the reportage and amateur photography. To work with the design of single-point picture requires further abutment, which role can perform ground surface or improvised static objects.

A monopod during shooting allows transfer chamber by weight on the support. This reduces the load on the hands of the photographer, the camera shaking is minimized and, as a result, improved image quality.

The advantage of a monopod in front of a tripod is light weight and compact size. In favor of a tripod-legged stands, and the fact that the photographer is free to move, choosing the most favorable shooting angles. The installation of support structure requires less time, which positively affects the dynamics of the shooting process.

Disadvantages monopod:

• Work with monopod requires certain skills;
• monopod eliminates mikroshevelenku, but can not completely stabilize the camera.

Desktop mini tripods

Designed for small-sized light cameras. Often used for macro photography. Edge photographic weight, which is able to withstand a desktop stand is 1 kg.

Miniature tripod fits easily into a backpack, the bag and the inner pocket of his jacket. the device weighs less than 200 g., and the height of the stand pocket varies between 15-30 cm.

mini tripod construction consists of 2-3-sectional strut, the central rod in most offline models. Attaching the camera to the mini-table is performed by a tripod ball head or the pad with a threaded fastening.

Depending on the version desktop mini tripods are divided into:

• tripod - compact holder with three support legs, the central rod structure is not provided (except for some models);
• tripod-clamp - a rigid attachment of the support structure to the work surface is performed by clamping;
• tripod-clothespin - it is designed to work with small-sized camera gear. The role of the fixture to a stationary subject using a spring clip;
• spider-tripod or Gorillapod - table mini tripod, equipped with flexible legs at the joints;
• tripod-sucker - Designed for mounting on a smooth surface. Element holding table mini-holder stands sucker.

Advantages:

• compact size;
• ease;
• mobility;
• availability.

Disadvantage: miniature bearing is not recommended for use in an open space, as sustainability of the mini-tripod in adverse weather conditions is low.

Professional tripods

Professional tripods - a bulky design with reliable and strong supports. The professional models support legs of the holder are made of carbon, steel or titanium, and the fittings - made of composite materials.

Professional telescopic support can withstand heavy photo equipment and is designed for daily operation at constant load.

Design differences

holder design for professional use includes height change not only by expanding the legs, but also by controlling the central rod departure. Central bar in professional tripods removable swivel, the column can be in any position relative to the holder feet.

To give the device rigidity and stability of a tripod professional design provides for a transverse stretch marks that capture the angle of rotation of the racks. Transverse stretching legs connected to the central rod by means of hinges, which allows to fold stretching at the same time with a tripod.

In the market of photographic equipment presents a model professional holders in which the extensions are replaced by a system of independent fixation of feet with the ability to reject supports on a different angle. Independent fixation increases the versatility of the shooting process.

Benefits of professional tripods:

- precise accuracy;

- universality;

- stability;

- Reliability.

Among the main disadvantages are the high cost and large size tripod.

Clamp for the camera

Functional purpose clamp - rigid fixation of photographic equipment. A distinctive feature of this type of tripod - the possibility of camera settings for different types of surfaces (desk, chair, wood, pipe, fence, etc.). Stand-clamp can be used to conduct photo and video in the cockpit, the car, on the deck of the ship.

The clamp is designed to work with small-sized cameras. Edge photographic weight - up to 1 kg.

It consists of the following structural elements:

• tripod head;
• a screw joint;
• folding legs.

Attaching to the surface of the holder is performed by the object between the clamping jaws clamp. The presence of the tripod-clamp two folding legs design enables the use of the device as a tripod. In this case, the legs are the rack and the screw clamp.

Corpus clamp holder provides release button, which is located in the lower part of the structure and is designed for rapid folding folding legs.

Advantages:

- simplicity of design;

- light weight;

- compact dimensions:

- affordable price.

Minus a tripod of this type - due to design features of the holder can not be used in open areas.

Holders for the camera

To a tripod for video cameras, higher demands rather than to the holders for the camera. This is primarily due to the fact that videoshtativ, in addition to image stabilization, should provide pan.

The main structural elements of tripods for video equipment are the support legs and the video head, which directly affects the quality of the pan.

The distinguishing feature of the rotary mechanism - the presence in the structure of the damping element. The damper for smoothing unevenness of the effort, eliminates jerks, which may occur when a panoramic shooting movies.

Depending on the damping element of the head is divided into two types:

- mechanical;

- hydraulic.

The hydraulic heads for video as a damping element protrudes oil.

A characteristic feature of videoshtativa advocates long handle attached to a tripod head and designed for modulating control of camera position in two directions - vertical and horizontal.

Flexible holder for photo and video equipment

Flexible or articulated tripods - movable holders for fixing the photographic and video equipment with the support legs composed of rubberized movable segments interconnected by hinges. Rubberized-elements tripod spider prevents slip on a smooth work surface.

The flexible support legs allow to mount the camera on virtually any surface, and the hinge holder rotation angle is 360 degrees.

Hinged tripods are equipped with two-position or ball heads. In some models, instead of the rotating mechanism is used playground with screw connection.

Take advantage of flexible tripods:

- compact size;

- universality;

- Ease of Use;

- the strength of materials of manufacture.