Step by step

Keep it steady

Play all the angles for a firm and secure footing when using lightweight tripods

01 Use the angles

Splay the tripod legs to their widest available angle when you’re shooting from a fairly low operating height but not inverting the centre column. The feet will then cover a much larger ground area, giving a far more secure platform.

02 Extend the centre column

We usually suggest extending the centre column as a last resort. However, with travel tripods that have very thin lower leg sections, extending the column before the bottom leg sections can give more rigidity – but beware of toppling.

03 Portrait orientation

When shooting in portrait orientation, rotate the camera clockwise (viewed from rear) to ensure that it doesn’t work loose on its attachment thread. Also, swivel the camera so that its weight is positioned over the forward-facing leg.