- 1). Choose the material from which your tripod will be made. Carbon fiber tripods weigh less than those made of aluminum. If you will be using the tripod in a studio, at home or near where you park your car, weight is not a big consideration. Choosing an aluminum tripod will save money. However, if you will be hiking or walking long distances with the tripod, a carbon fiber tripod will reduce your load.
- 2). Choose a tripod that raises the camera to eye level. A tripod that forces you to stoop to use it will be uncomfortable.
- 3). Measure the collapsed tripod height. The minimum height is crucial if you need to fit it in a suitcase. Tripods with four leg segments typically can collapse into a smaller size than those with three legs.
- 4). Choose the leg's locking mechanism. There are levers and screw-types. The levers are generally faster to set up than the screw types, but there’s the possibility of pinching your fingers.
- 5). Find out whether the tripod has a center column and whether it is removable. If you are planning on shooting subjects that are straight down or low to the ground, a stationary center column will get in the way.
- 6). Choose the tripod head type. Pan/tilt heads allow each axis to be locked separately. Ball heads, which use a ball and socket joint, allow the camera to be moved in any direction and locked in place with one control. Ball heads are often the most stable of the two types and are most likely to remain in place.
- 7). Calculate how much your camera and heaviest lens weigh. Choose a tripod designed to support at least that much weight.
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