REVISIT TRIPOD FEATURES

Look closely at your tripod manual for new ways to use a camera support

1 LEG SECTIONS

A common error, even among professionals, is to extend the bottom segments first. While this is may seem intuitive, the lower sections have a lower diameter and offer less stability than the upper portions. Always extend telescopic supports from the top down for maximum strength.

2 CENTRE COLUMN

Check to see if your tripod has a centre column with a swivel function. Once rotated, this will allow the head to be lowered much closer to the ground. This offers a unique perspective, without having to remove the column altogether, offering greater speed of operation.

3 SANDBAG ATTACHMENT

An often underused feature of many tripods, this hook attachment enables a weight to be added to the tripod setup, to provide greater support to heavier payloads. With large cameras, a sandbag lends better balance, while it protects lighter loads against toppling due to wind.

4 INTERCHANGEABLE FEET

Take a look in the box your tripod came in to see if there were any feet replacements bundled, or explore the manufacturer website to source these if not. Adapting feet to terrain enables better stability – you should attach spiked feet in muddy or sandy conditions for example.