Tripods are both loved and loathed by photographers. This essential tool makes possible certain situations that would otherwise be impossible to capture. Long exposures, time-lapses, self-portraits, food photography— “the tripod-saves-the-day” list goes on and on.
Now, that being said, tripods can be a handful. A tripod is yet another thing to carry and—let’s be honest—an awkward shape that can’t just be thrown in your bag like an extra memory card. Because a tripod is both an important but potentially frustrating tool, it’s critical to determine the right one for your needs.
The list below includes tripods BPW staff have personally tried and tested and keeps a few things in mind:
Value: Is a $300 tripod really worth more than double the cost of another tripod? For the majority of photographers, no. If you are hiking to the top of the Swiss Alps, perhaps.
Size: We think that for practical reasons most photographers would like a tripod that can fit in standard luggage.
Durability vs weight: Any tool you purchase should be built of good quality. A $20 AmazonBasics tripod made of plastic will not last more than a year. Cheap plastic tripods are poor investments and are often thrown into camera bundles; these aren't tools you want to depend on, so best to avoid. However, there’s no need for an iron-clad tripod that’ll make you strain your back. We’ve picked tripods that are aluminum or carbon fiber, both strong and easy on your joints.
Overall best buy
Magnus TR-13 Travel Tripod, $77
This Magnus tripod has taken the top spot on our list this year as the best overall value for dollar tripod! It has an Arca-type connection plate, which is widely compatible with the majority of tripod connectors out there. The ball head makes it easy to switch your camera’s orientation, the clip legs make it easy to expand and collapse, and the aluminum materials make it lightweight for travel.
We use several of these tripods for our workshops and we love em’. Hands down, best tripod for under $100.
Drawback: No real drawbacks! This tripod is standard, it gets you where you need to go without any frills.
Our favorite upgrade
3 Legged Thing Punks Patti Tripod, $129
Chris's pick! For the last 3 years, BPW-founder Chris Sanchez has used a “Punk” for his commercial photography work and has really enjoyed it.
This versatile tripod is a great balance between light and strong. It can twist, bend, and lower to just about any height you like, making it super travel-friendly. The bubble level feature helps you get that perfect alignment on your favorite shot. Plus the clip at the end of the neck for extra weight will keep your tripod stable in windy conditions and is rated to hold more than the Magnus.
Drawbacks: Pricier—a little more money for a little more refinement (and gorgeous color accents)!
The smallest of the group
Manfrotto Element Carbon Fiber Small Traveler Tripod, $200
The Manfrotto Element Carbon Fiber tripod is our smallest recommendation at 12.6". This tripod is super travel friendly due to its foldable size and light material. This tripod is made of carbon fiber, an extremely lightweight and durable material, making this the perfect pairing for an adventurous photographer.
Drawbacks: The Manfrotto features twist locks to extend the legs, which is a popular style but not preferable for some. Twisting in the wrong direction is commonplace and frustrating, so we prefer clamp locks instead. Just nitpicking, to be honest, but for some a considerable factor. Also, please note that it is graded to hold only up to 8.8 lbs of weight up top.
