Just as with lenses, photographers need different types of tripods to suit varying needs. Some will favour a compact travel tripod that folds down really small and can be easily stowed, as well as being fairly lightweight to lessen the load. Others will want a high and mighty tripod that extends to a lofty maximum height and puts the emphasis on top-end stability and rigidity. Either way, ball heads are generally preferred, as they enable quick and easy adjustment over a wide range of movement.
Then there are material gains. Aluminium tripod legs are perfectly serviceable and keep costs to a minimum, which is a key factor for many nowadays. If you can stretch the budget, however, carbon fibre tripods can offer a noticeable saving in weight, especially with larger, full-sized ones. They’re also less cold to the touch in chilly weather and can offer slightly better resistance to vibration. The downside is that they can be prone to shattering if they suffer a sharp knock. Design flourishes typically include legs with multiple locking angles, giving more stability for low-level shooting and making it easier to work on tricky terrain, or around obstacles. In the vast majority of travel tripods, plus one of the full-sized models on test, the legs can also swing vertically upwards, encompassing the head when the centre column is raised. This makes a sizeable saving in the folded height. Let’s take an in-depth look at what the leading contenders have to offer.