Tripods suck. OK, there I have said it. I feel better now. I mean, really, using a tripod when shooting your video can put a damper on the creative juices, deflate your storytelling ch’i.
Unfortunately, tripods are a necessity if you’re serious about shooting. As I mention in this episode’s video, it’s as simple as that. We all know they’re big, bulky and a pain in the neck, but if you want to get rid of shaking video, then it's time to find and use a good tripod.
These three-legged creatures support an otherwise unstable marriage between man and machine. A stable tripod creates sharper videos by damping out vibration. In fact, a tripod is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your videos. Period. End of story.
Well not quite the end, because as you see below I have lots more to share about tripods.
What Kind of Tripod to Buy?
The tripod you choose depends on the weight of your camera. Light weight camcorders can use lighter weight tripods, but I would not recommend it. And obviously, as you can guess, heavier video cameras need heavier tripods. Most tripods will be rated by how much weight they can support. The closer your camera is to the top end of a tripod’s rating the more wobble you will have. A good rule to keep in mind is get the stiffest and lightest one possible by choosing one with as few sections as possible, 2 sections is better than 3.
The best tripods are made out of materials that are effective at damping out vibrations. Carbon fiber or wooden tripods are more effective at absorbing vibrations than metal tripods. Carbon fiber tripods are generally 30-40% lighter than their metal counterparts. And much lighter than the wooden ones.
How stable is your tripod when the legs are fully extended and the tripod adjusted to a comfortable height for you? Does it wobble? Does anything seem loose? Remember, after using it over time, parts will get worn. If something is a little loose or wobbly when the tripod is new, it will be lost or broken sooner rather than later. Try to avoid the plastic models. Yes, they’re lightweight and cheap, but do you want to trust it with your camera? A heavy tripod is a stable tripod. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation also says a heavy tripod gets left at home. So be realistic about how much weight you are willing to drag around.
Finally, the head is the part of the tripod that connects the camera to the legs. Heads come in two varieties. Some are a simple flat piece of metal with a bolt poking up in the middle. But most have some sort of mechanism for adjusting the attitude of the camera (tilt up and down, side-to-side, pan in a circle). When you are purchasing take a close look at the tripod’s head assembly. It could be a ball and socket construction, or it could be a more expensive contraption filled with a sort of hydraulic fluid (it is called a fluid head and used to create those smooth professional camera moves.) Unfortunately, many heads are not removable from the leg assembly so you are stuck with whatever is there. As you review the options you may decide to go for a very different solution where you purchase the head separately from the legs. The downside to buying your system as components is it tends to be more expensive.
So once you have chosen a tripod that meets your needs there is one more thing. Use it. Really, just use it. Your videos stand a great chance of going from unwatchable to compelling. OK, perhaps not compelling. But at least you won’t need to hand out Dramamine to the viewers before they watch your show. And that makes a world of difference.
One final note, my kids were mortified when they saw the lamp I picked up from the thrift store for this video segment. It is a beauty, for sure. I think it is a lemon tree and I can’t bring myself to part with it. But after the snide comments I got from my 13 year-old daughter it is now on the market. I am taking offers. Get creative. What do you want to trade?
