Camera tripods can be a wise investmentA tripod for you digital camera will give you a professional edge with your image and your images. Okay I admit I have had two tripods for over ten years and I only use them 10% of the time. I prefer to hand-hold my camera especially when photographing babies and children. I find a tripod to be cumbersome, bulky and a bit in the way of my creativity. However,there are times I wouldn't think of not using one. A tripod comes in handy for the following situations:
If you do not use a tripod with a slow shutter speed (1/30 sec or less)your image will most likely be blurry due to camera shake. A camera or lens with image stabilization can help a little with shutter speeds in the 1/15 or 1/30 sec. range but anything less than that will be blurry. Choosing a slow shutter speed may be the result of low light during dusk or dawn, or to achieve an effect, such as a milky waterfall. You may also choose a slow shutter speed when shooting a landscape that requires you to have maximum depth of field (f-22 or f-27). Dragging the shutter (using a slow shutter speed) lets in more of the ambient light and can result on a more colorful and striking image. I always use a tripod when photographing a group, because I need to shoot at a small aperture (f-11 or f-16) for the depth of field that is required to have all rows of people in focus. It also looks a lot more professional as well. Along with the tripod, you should purchase a remote control for your shutter or a cable for the shutter release. This will further insure a crisper and sharper image. Tripods come in all price ranges from $75 - $600+. I recommend that you purchase the sturdiest one you can afford. A slight wind can topple over one in an instant and there goes your camera, lens and flash along with it. Yes it has happened to me several times. Professional tripods have two parts, the legs and the head. There are two types of heads; pan and tilt heads and ball and socket heads. The ball and socket heads are more fluid and are easier and faster to manipulate for vertical shots. I always recommend going to a camera store to check out the different types of tripods. Bring your camera and gear and test it. Pictured below on the left is a ball and socket head and on the right is the pan and tilt head
Tripods are generally made out of carbon fiber, a very lightweight and durable material. They are generally black but some are silver. A tripod will add to your accumulation of gear, but once you use one, you will see how much it can improve your photography.
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