Avoid These 3 Mistakes When Using A Tripod

By making these mistakes with a tripod you will not only weaken the quality of your images, but also risk damaging your camera.

So pay attention to what you’re doing the next time you mount your camera on a tripod. This article over at Digital Camera World will give you plenty of tips on how to do it correctly!

Common Tripod Mistakes: 1. Flimsy tripod

Not surprisingly many photographers are a little strapped for cash after buying their first serious camera and lens.

It’s only natural therefore, that they are drawn towards the cheaper end of the market when selecting a tripod.

Sadly, this can be a false economy as many bargain tripods lack the stability that’s required to hold a camera steady.

Rather than rushing into buying a flimsy tripod, which need to be replaced when it’s found not to hold the camera still in a light breeze, it’s better to save a little longer and buy a decent tripod.

Buying the right model first time around will save you money in the long run.

Before you buy, think carefully about how you intend to use your camera and the type of tripod that will be most useful.

If you want to shoot lots of macro and still life photography at home, then a large, heavy tripod will serve you well.

If you plan on shooting landscapes that are a long walk from the car, however, you may want something a little smaller and lighter.

Combine lightweight with stability pushes the cost up, but it will pay dividends in the end.

Common Tripod Mistakes: 2. Leaving the tripod behind

It can be tempting to leave your tripod behind when you’re heading out for a day with your camera, it’s bulky and awkward to carry and using it slows you down at every stop.

But if you want to get the best from all those pixels on your camera’s sensor it’s really worth taking one with you.

High pixel-count cameras like the Nikon D800 and Nikon D800E, for example, need to be stock-still and used in mirror lock-up or exposure delay mode to get the benefit of their resolving power if the shutter speed is below around 1/125th second.

If you really hate carrying your tripod, maybe it’s time to invest in a model that’s specifically designed for easy transport.

Or perhaps you need to look for a new bag or strap that makes it easier to carry?

Common Tripod Mistakes: 3. Extending centre column

Most tripods have a centre column that extends to allow higher-level shooting than just using the legs alone.

However, this provides a much less stable platform when it’s extended than when it’s dropped down and should be used with caution.

Where possible, the legs should be used to get the camera to the correct height and any height adjustment should be done via the legs.

The column should only be used once the legs are at maximum extension and even when it’s fully retracted it’s important to ensure that is locked tight to reduce wobble.

Read the full article over at Digital Camera World.

Source: Digital Camera World