What to look for in a tripod for Outdoor Photography

[@PhotoTrekr]

Something you or your viewers might want to try using with lightweight tripods is a yoga strap. What is a yoga strap you might ask. A yoga strap is sort of like a belt with a simple d-ring at one end, but longer. Put the strap through the d-ring to form a loop and put the loop around the top of the tripod or attach to the bottom of the top plate on the tripod. Now step on the bottom of the strap causing slight pressure on the tripod legs. Works surprisingly well to steady a lightweight tripod and, unlike most photo accessories, costs relatively little. Btw, I tried hanging my camera bag on a lightweight tripod, but went back to a heavier travel tripod when I saw my tripod raise up on two legs even with the bag hanging on it in a not so stiff wind.

[@Powerstroke98]

Subscribed...check/done, yes, I prefer the twist locks on my Manfrotto tripod, which I've had now for nearly 10 years, still working as it did when I first bought it. Ok Courtney...what's with the 'aluminium' statements (I chuckled when you said it each time) in that I have a sister in law that can't say it at all! :). Clip Locks...best part of that, was the smile you gave us...but I have to say, I truly admire you for the humorous portions of your video's, as I truly understand how injecting some humour can lighten up a topic, and of course get us smiling at our end as well! I wondered too, at some point if you'll ever have the thought of having a workshop? The tips you have on the D750 alone, would be a worthy bit of $ and heck, watching you dance would get the group chuckling for sure! I have both Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop Elements, but find them a little on the 'complex' level, but find Luminar Ai and Luminar Neo (by Skylum) to be wonderful applications, with the ability to do pretty well everything I need! Cheers!

[@frankcatania3461]

A nice concise and useful presentation, Courtney. Given with your inimitable sense of humor.

[@anthonywestwood8489]

Thank you for taking the time and effort to post a video on tripods. I found it incredibly helpful, so much so, that I am now the proud owner of a Vanguard tripod myself!

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

You gave every single detail nice. I have to say it's not recommended to go super lightweight as in wind it will not stay upright. And the flippy legs tend to come loose after time. But each to there own. I have my best two tripod now I have ever used took years

[@julianrobertson3303]

Great video & very informative , amazing photography .

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Thank you for sharing this video Courtney. You were well prepared and presented the information.

[@peterviragphoto]

Great summary of tips Courtney! Very useful pieces of info. Cheers:)

[@maurosegurah]

Love her … she is so funny. Great vid, you helped me make a decision here coz I waa confused about the different tripod flavors from Vanguard.

[@markgoostree6334]

I don't really like the tripod I have. Haven't decided to bite the bullet and shop for the replacement... yet. Good info here and you've given me something to think about.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Great video Courtney. All good tips for getting a tripod. Weight is the number one deal breaker for me. I love my carbon fibre tripod. Has good height too. Well done on putting the video together, top work 👍🙏📸

[@CourtneyVictoria]

Thank you, appreciate it a lot 😊 weight is definitely the most important thing for anyone who travels or carries a tripod for a long period of time. I'm still embarrassed that I used to carry my full sized around until finally accepting I needed to part with some money. 😂 absolutely back breaking!

[@ravenfallsphotography6254]

I use a Manfrotto carbon-fiber tripod with a Vanguard head. Being over 6', height is critical for me. Incidentally, I was interested to hear that it’s still possible to strap your tripod to your camera bag and take it as a carry-on in Europe. Over here in the U.S., it’s unthinkable to allow a tripod in the passenger cabin (I guess because it could be used as a weapon), and you have to either squeeze it into one of your checked bags or get a special padded case for it and check that.

[@andyvan5692]

one thing to look out for, esp. in the twist lock style is that the legs don't twist, aka have a non-round shape, or other way of preventing twisting, as if they do, it is cumbersome to unlock or lock the leg sections (if you don't do it from big to small (top down))- as you can't tighten the locks as easily if the lower section is rotating simultaneously. Another IMPORTANT tip, with twist locks, try and AVOID tripods which have rubber gripper sleives on the locks, as, after a few years, they losten and make moving the locking collar almost impossible, better to get a tripod with a knurled (textured) finish, out of aluminium, etc, that way you can ALWAYS 'get a grip' for the lifetime of the tripod.

[@xander1052]

The thing that most annoys me when using my hand me down tripod is that even had my generally non tree like heigh of 5'10" I generally find when doing outdoor photography I need to extend it to it's max height which is rather awkward when you want to setup fast.

[@alexyoung6779]

Hi Courtney, in recent videos i think you sometimes use a Vanguard VEO 3T+ 264CB tripod, but you also use another tripod without the articulating centre pole. Is this because the 264CB doesn't meet all your needs, or for another reason? Thanks very much for your videos, great work.

[@IceManCold77]

Hey, have you ever tried 3 legged thing tripods? Would be curious how it would compare to your Vanguard tripod. Ty!

[@glenclarke1294]

Thanks for a great video 😊

[@genehilmu8189]

Excellent

[@cattaraugustonawanda4426]

Only one tripod? I prefer three, one heavy tripod like a Bogen 3046 with a 3047 head that the winter wind won't blow over, another light weight similar to yours, and a Bogen Studio Salon for indoor. The lightweight tripod needs a bag to hold rock for some conditions.

[@DimusTech]

I'm actually thinking of upgrading my tripod, I do have a lightweight Manfrotto tripod which is also Carbon fiber and weights about 1.1KG or so and when it's closed it's compact, about 43~ cm and when fully opened it's 155cm (Me and you are the same height BTW :-) ) Sounds like I shouldn't have a reason to switch but.... It lacks of a hook which I need sometimes and also I got a 90 degree pole in order to do over the table product shots, when I put it on and the camera on it, my tripods legs seem like they are about to break! and it scares me. One of the tripods I was thinking about is the one you've got (I think the same model)... Could you maybe do me a favour and try to measure the thickness of the leg on the final section (the most thin one) I'm pretty sure that if it's thicker than mine it will be good for me. (and if it is I hope the link you left is an affiliated link ;-) )

[@CourtneyVictoria]

Hi! Haha height twins! No problem, the final leg section is 5cm in circumference/thickness if that helps. The leg width for that part is about 1.5cm. I think I have left a UK amazon link in the description box ha! My older tripod doesn't have a hook and I never really thought I would use one much until I got a tripod that has the option there!

[@DimusTech]

@@CourtneyVictoria haha I wonder what else we might have in common. I wonder if that thickness will be enough for my need, damn can't be sure before buying lol. I noticed that when I'm shooting outside, a lot of time I find myself in somewhat muddy place or something that you wouldn't want to put your bag on the floor, so such a hook would be awesome

[@andyvan5692]

good video courtney, ps the word is said phonetically, so: AL-LOO-min-i-umm ; just for reference.

[@Philb68888]

Think I need to change from Aluminiuminumiumminium to carbon fibre.

[@carltanner9065]

Great video, very concise and with lots of good information and advice. Just as funny, too😊 You'd be great to go out on a photo walk, with😊 Doing astropics, I need a good solid tripod and most CF tripods, especially the travel ones, just don't cut the mustard. You need some heft in the build to be stable when taking your shots. Especially when you have a tracking mount attached. But, for everything else, light weight and strength are a must. I also like a tripod that has good extension, since I'm 5'9". Hate having to stoop to look through a viewfinder or bend at weird angles to do so. I don't bend as well as I used to!!!

[@philmartin5689]

Why a ball head? I find them OK for getting the general composition but a pain if you want to make fine adjustments. Forvthat reason I prefer a head like the Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W X-Pro 3-Way Head. It's compact when folded down but has greater flexibility and control in use. Have you any thoughts on this?

[@alangeorgebarstow]

Ball-heads are so unstable and are an accident waiting to happen. I've invested in a reasonably priced Andoer gimbal head for my Manfrotto 055 tripod and the equilibrium it provides (not to mention the peace of mind that it will never topple over) is incalculable. I use a Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-500 telephoto zoom and I have never looked back. Gimbal heads are the gold standard for wildlife photography since you can pan-and-tilt smoothly to follow, for example, birds in flight.

[@philmartin5689]

@@alangeorgebarstow yes but I have absolutely no interest in bird photography. A ball and socket is perfectly fine for cameras with modestly sized lenses but I can see the possible issues with supersized telephoto lenses however my concern was with general landscape photography. Which is why I recommend the above tripod head.

[@alangeorgebarstow]

@@philmartin5689 Yes, that's a fair comment. I do, though, retain a personal mistrust for the ball-head. It would only take one moment of inattention (and we're all prone to that at times) for a costly mishap to occur, no matter the camera and lens combination. Best wishes for your landscape photography with your top-notch Manfrotto kit.👍🏻

[@ragadrop]

I just found your videos and I am big fan! also you are so tiny and cute lol

[@RIPMMD]

You should try pronouncing aluminum like us Americans - a-LU-min-um 😊

[@colnagocowboy]

LoL being 6'2" I have trouble finding tripods. Unless I use a waistlevel viewfinder.