Group Test
Matthew Richards searches out the best models for delivering premium performance at a reasonable cost
Value-added tripods! Where does price and value meet?
Tripod kits that comprise a set of legs and a head range in price from around £10/$15 for a flimsy, often unbranded option, to about £1,250/ $1,500 for a top-of-the-range option. But how much do you need to spend to get a good one?
With an eye on stability, load bearing capacity, features and performance, we’ve selected eight sturdy yet sensibly priced tripods, costing around the £200/$300 mark – a little less in some cases. But while the prices are fairly close, there are some fundamental differences in design.
All of the tripods in this round-up weigh between 1.4kg and 2.6kg, so they’re lightweight enough to be easily carried. Each comes with a ball head, apart from the Benro Mach3, which bucks the trend with a three-way head. They also all have a maximum load rating of at least 5kg; some are rated at twice that or even more. Let’s take a closer look and find out which kit will best suit your needs.