Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Tripod with 3 Sections and Flip-Lever Quick-Power Locks Manfrotto 3-way Head with Q2 Quick Release

Whether you’re looking for an upgrade from your present tripod, or you’re shopping for your first tripod, there are a few simple dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind. The don’ts aren’t hard and fast, but they will alert you to what’s probably best for your interests – today and in the future. For some birders, tripods are a necessary evil; for others, they are a godsend. Either way, most birders buy one or more tripods during the course of your birding lives.

What does a tripod do?

A tripod is used by birders to hold and stabilize spotting scopes and cameras with telephoto or zoom lenses, to eliminate wind and body movements that are magnified by high-power spotting scopes and camera lenses. You need a tripod that will be stable enough to hold your spotting scope or camera-lens combo in place safely!

Everyone has their own opinion, but keep the following guidelines in mind when assessing or comparing tripods for birding, including bird photography:

Two Primary Tripod Parts

A tripod is made up of the legs, and the head. The tripods are often sold separately so you can mix and match, or have more options to choose the elements you prefer. Then too, if your present tripod legs are adequate you may wish to keep them and add a better tripod head. Or if you have flimsy legs on your current tripod, you can upgrade by buying different legs and keep your tripod head if you prefer. You can also buy a tripod kit that includes the head and legs as one product.

Sturdy Legs are a Must!

The legs may be the most important element of a tripod. Make sure any tripod’s legs are thick and sturdy, especially closest to the ground or floor. If a tripod has thin spindly legs, it is nearly useless, especially in wind or uneven terrain. All the weight of your spotting scope or camera-lens combination are held up by the tripod legs – make sure they are sturdy and safe.

Twist or Lever Leg Extender Locks

These leg lock options are more of a personal preference, but lever locks may be more popular.

Three-section or Four-section Legs

Most people prefer fewer sections for quicker set-up and break-down.

Full-sized or Compact?

Definitely full-sized; anything else is a compromise.

Light-weight?

Sounds good, but it’s not a good bet. A light-weight tripod will be a compromise to a full-sized tripod, especially from a balance and stability standpoint. How does a light-weight tripod stand up to a strong wind? You need a tripod that will be stable enough to hold your spotting scope or camera in place safely!

Tripod vs. Monopod

No comparison – tripods are best by a mile (many miles). Monopods don’t do the very basic job of providing stability and reducing movements or vibrations. You must always hold a monopod or lay it down, which is rarely an option considering the valuable equipment attached to it. Yes, a monopod would provide better stability than nothing at all, but that’s not the option – a good tripod will serve you best under any conditions.

Tripod Heads

Choose a tripod head that has a fluid movement, a locking element for when you’re not panning, simple operation, and dependable “brakes” that provide trustworthy safety for your spotting scope and/or camera-lens combo. Some models have a built-in bubble level, which is helpful, especially for photography.

Quick-release Option Tripod Head

Quick-release seems to be the preferred option for attaching and dismantling your tripod to your camera or optics. Some heads have built-in quick-release plates, or you can add a quick-release adaptor.

Where to Start

Manfrotto, Gizo and Slik specialize in tripods, while many optics companies offer tripods too. As you begin your search for the ultimate product and price, we suggest starting at our go-to website for a variety of options and price ranges at https://www.optics4birding.com/manfrotto-tripods.html where you can check out a variety of tripod kits, heads, legs and accessories. Enjoy!