Sturdy tripods

Need some strong support for winter shooting? We’ve picked out four of the best sturdy, fullheight tripods on the market

BACK IN THE SUMMER (ISSUE 218) WE BROUGHT YOU OUR CHOICE OF LEADING COMPACT CARBON TRIPODS, IDEAL FOR PACKING INTO SMALL SPACES OR TAKING ON HOLIDAY. THIS TIME WE’RE FOCUSING ON BIG, STURDY TRIPODS TO BEAT THE WINTER SHIVERS.

WE’VE GONE FOR CARBON FIBRE AGAIN, AS THERE’S GENERALLY A 20 PER CENT WEIGHTSAVING COMPARED TO ALUMINIUM MODELS. THAT CAN BE QUITE CONSIDERABLE FOR LARGE, FULL-HEIGHT TRIPODS.

BETTER STILL, FOR ANY GIVEN SIZE OF TRIPOD, CARBON FIBRE TENDS TO ENABLE STIFFER SUPPORT THAT’S LESS PRONE TO FLEXING. CARBON ALSO DOES A BETTER JOB OF ABSORBING AND DAMPING VIBRATIONS. ANOTHER WINTER BONUS IS THAT IT ALSO FEELS LESS COLD TO THE TOUCH.

WE’VE OPTED FOR BALL HEADS AS THEY’RE QUICK AND EASY TO SET UP AND DON’T HAVE PROTRUDING LOCKING LEVERS THAT YOU OFTEN NEED TO REMOVE TO STOW THE TRIPOD IN A BAG. THE LEGS AND HEADS OF THE CONTENDING TRIPODS ARE SOLD SEPARATELY, SO YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH BRANDS AND STYLES. THE GITZO AND NOVO TRIPODS ARE AVAILABLE BOTH AS SEPARATES AND AS COMPLETE KITS.

ALL OF THE TRIPODS IN THE GROUP HAVE FOUR SECTIONS PER LEG. THIS ENABLES A GENEROUS MAXIMUM OPERATING HEIGHT AS WELL AS A REASONABLY COMPACT CARRYING SIZE. THE GITZO AND MANFROTTO LEGS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN THREE-SECTION ALTERNATIVES, WHILE THE BENRO MACH3 SERIES IS AVAILABLE IN FOUR THREE-SECTION SIZES AND THREE FOUR-SECTION SIZES.

BENRO OFFERS ITS ENTIRE RANGE IN ALUMINIUM TOO, WHEREAS MANFROTTO OFFERS AN ALUMINIUM VERSION OF ONLY THE THREE-SECTION 055 SERIES TRIPOD, AND

THE GITZO AND NOVO MODELS ARE CARBONONLY. LET’S SEE HOW THEY ALL PERFORM.