Tripods are one of the pre-requisites for everyone who belongs to the professions e.g., photography, astrology or even more if someone is keen to observe the nature with the help of camera lens. Tripod is the basic requirement for optical equipment. Now the problem is that that for a newcomer in these fields, almost all tripods look very similar, but only the experts know that a minute change in design can cause a huge difference in usability.

Why the professionals always prefer the Tripods?

There are 2 main reasons:

1. Tripods always provide a greater support to handle the weight of large and heavy instruments.
2. Tripods help their users to improve balance and steadiness especially when using very high magnification instruments.

For example: If you’re using a camera tripod, then your chances of taking a well composed photo increase manifold due.

Choose the best According to Your Needs

So many great options are available at Optiks Planet to choose from, it depends upon your needs and choices. Always remember one thing that you will get what you pay for is the rule for buying a good tripod. Here we have superior quality tripods at an affordable price. Moreover a very wide range of styles, technical solutions, sizes and materials is also available. Whatsoever you're a hobbyist, a professional, a seasoned traveler or an extreme adventure-seeker, we are sure that you'll find many a models that suit you very well.

Structure of Tripods

All tripods comprise on two basic parts;

1. Tripod head, performs the function to hold your optical product
2. Tripod leg set, on which it stands.

In most tripods, tripod heads and tripod legs are part & parcel which means both parts are sold together as a unit. There is no need to buy these two parts individually. One thing should also kept in mind that most tripods in minimum price range don’t allow you to remove and switch heads anyway. On the contrary, more expensive tripods usually offer interchangeable legs and heads thus in this regard you may need to buy both pieces to make a complete tripod. While purchasing or selecting a tripod, the size and weight of your equipment must be remembered and your new tripod should always capable of supporting it. For your satisfaction, do read vary carefully the tripod's stated load capacity. If possible you may test your optical equipment on the new tripod to ensure that if it feels right or not. Always keep in mind that more heavy tripod may not always synonym to a stronger one as all depends on its design and material. Some photographers especially those who are only studio bound; always prefer heavier tripods because weight makes them more solidly stuck to the ground and thus cameras are handled more efficiently. If you’re a traveler or you like to enjoy shooting nature photography then lightness and portability should be very important factors in making your choice for a most suitable tripod.

Types of Tripods

a) Shooter's Tripods

A Shooter's Tripods commonly known as a table top tripod is designed to be used on a table or a shooting bench. Depending on the model, its size ranges between 8" to 18" in height. Generally such tripods do not have telescoping legs. Through an extendable center column, many tabletop models can be adjusted but some models lack even this function. However their lighter weight and rather narrow width of leg span, these are the best choice for the places with limited space. On the other hand, same attributes make these table top tripods a very bad choices for heavy and large instruments.

b) Compact Tripods

As compared to a shooter’s tripod, a compact tripod is a bit too large to use very conveniently on a table. It is even more comfortable when someone uses it when sitting in a chair. Survey reports reveal that Compact tripods are very popular among the backpackers and mountain hunters who’re always willing to sacrifice height for portability. Experts are of the view that Compact tripods are ideal Paraphernalia for spotting scopes of 70mm or smaller. Compact tripods are too good for any digital point camera, but are not consider suitable for 80mm and larger spotting scopes or even for SLR cameras with telephoto lenses.

c) Full-Size Tripods

A Full size tripod is designed to facilitate a user of average height to use a spotting scope, binocular or camera while standing. However, a Full size tripod does not necessarily mean a heavy duty. You should always match tripod weight and strength with the size and weight of the spotting scope, binocular, camera or whatever your gadget type is. You should also remember that the more the load on a tripod, the more you have to pay for it. Usually the average full size tripod with head attached, extends from about 26" to 57" (with legs fully extended and center column down). It may extend up to 72" with the center column at its highest.

What is a Tripod Head?

The head you get for your tripod is as important as the legs are. So when focusing on a tripod head, you need to consider that what type of motion it provides and how much weight it will support and rest the features are optional. As far as their movement is concerned; tripod heads fall into three general categories.

1. two way tripod heads
2. three way tripod heads
3. Tripod ball heads.

Remember that you can use a spotting scope on any type of head. Moreover you can also use a camera on any type of head. This is why all tripods heads , all cameras, all spotting scopes and all binocular tripod adapters (that we sell) use the same 1/4x20 thread to attach to the tripod head, so it's universal. You do not need to match a brand of tripod with a brand of spotting scope, camera and etc.

Two Way Tripod Heads

A two way tripod head is known as the very basic tripod head. It also called a video head or camcorder head. A two-way head allows you to move the head in two different directions i.e., vertically means upward and downwards and horizontally means from right to left and vice versa. For pairing with a spotting scope, video camera, giant binocular and many types of camera applications the two way tripod head is the best choice and these are usually the simplest and most stable.

Three Way Tripod Heads

A three-way tripod head is an advanced form of two-way head and adds an extra motion feature to the basic. In addition to up-down and right-left, this tripod allow you to flip a camera on its side too. A three-way tripod head allows a photographer to change from a horizontal frame picture to a vertical frame picture. Same feature is also helpful to take pictures of objects below the tripod. That’s why this sort of tripod is mostly of interest to a photographer. An additional feature is that that you can use this tripod head with any kind of optical instrument e.g., spotting scopes and binoculars. It is to be noted that you are not forced to use the three way feature if you don't need it.

Tripod Ball Heads

As clear by its name a ball head tripod is a head on top of a ball which allows you to move the head in any direction with single motion. If you want to target an object both from up and off to the side with a two way or three way head, you have to move the head up in one motion and then over in another, separate motion. With a ball-head, you can very easily accomplish this task with a single motion. Ball-heads also come in several varieties. Some ball heads are lock with conventional levers and some lock with a trigger. However, don’t forget that all but the largest and somehow the most expensive ball-head tripods are not as stable and they cannot support as much weight as a good two way head can. Another difference is that ball heads also sit higher on the leg set as compared to two way and three way heads and in a tripod, stability should always come, first.

Sections of Tripod

Most tripod legs telescope in and out so that various heights may accommodate, but there is a limit pertaining the heights a single tripod leg set can handle. There is no such thing as a tripod which can be fold down to the size of a compact tripod, then extend out to the height of a full size tripod. The real issue is the number of leg sections required for this usability- means the more sections used, the less stable the tripod. Theoretically, you could make a standing height tripod with 6 leg sections that would collapse to 12" or so, but such a tripod would not be stable at full height and that defeats the cause for using a tripod. That’s why most full size tripods limit the number of leg sections to three or, at most, four legs. In general, on the basis of their range of extension and usage, tripods can be divided into four categories.

Materials

The tripod legs are mostly made with aluminum and it is always a right choice. Sometime for weight management, carbon fiber legs are also used. The carbon fiber legs make the tripod less prone to vibrations and shakes. Such tripods are a great choice for high magnification photography. However Carbon fiber is much more expensive as compared to aluminum, and the weight savings will one pound or less than the very same model offered in aluminum.

Locks

Tripod legs are always extended and then locked into position with various specific mechanisms. Although the slower but most durable locks are a simple wing nut or a twist collar that must be well-tightened for each tripod leg section. While birding or hunting this may be a bit slow. In this regard, lever locks are much quicker. You have to simply flip a lever and the leg section is fully locked and these locks are quite durable if good material is used. Remember that, lever locks on cheap tripods are notoriously prone to failure.

Braces

Braces are like arms that connect the lower portion of some tripod legs. Braces are made to add support and rigidity to a tripod. Leg braces are suitable for smooth locations and a smooth, level surface. In a photography studio or a living room, lawn and etc., but these tripods are not good option for use around rocks, bushes, and other objects. Another disadvantage of the braces is that they will jam against large objects beneath the tripod and may even restrict you from using your tripod.

Thread Size

1/4x20 thread size is standard on all cameras, whatsoever SLR size, all spotting scopes and all binoculars and binocular tripod adapters. Unless otherwise specified, 1/4x20 is the size of the mounting stud on all of our tripods. Any tripod will thread to any spotting scope, camera up through SLR and binoculars. The only exception to this 1/4x20 standard is the larger 3/8x16 thread size which is used to support some larger format cameras and video or camcorder units, survey equipment or etc.

Quick-Release Plate (QR)

This is a just like a plate that goes between the tripod head and camera, spotting scope or any other optical instrument. A QR plate has ended the requirement to thread and un-thread your optic from the tripod head every time you use the tripod. You simply have to thread the QR plate onto your spotting scope or camera and then leave it there. When it's time to put your spotting scope or camera on the tripod, you just have to slip the QR plate into the head, with ease and speed. Remember that QR plates are not specific to brands, but also to specific models within a brand. QR plates are not universal in their size.

Bubble Level

Bubble level feature mainly is used by a photographer or movie-maker to ensure the level of camera. If the camera level is stable then frame will also accurate, but this function is not always used, even for photography. For spotting scopes or binoculars, it has no essential application.

Center Columns

Almost all full size and compact tripods offer an extendable center column to get more height. Experts believe that height achieved by using the center column is never as stable as height achieved by using the tripod’s legs. Thus center columns are used only as needed and can be elevated by a geared system or pulled up, manually. For field work, a simple pull-up design with a sturdy lock is the best choice.

Tripod Feet

Spiked feet are the most common type of foot used out in the field for the sake of traction. However, they are not suitable to use in a studio or living room, but a rubber foot is much better choice. Some sort of tripods offer a retractable spiked foot, which can be threaded back into the leg.