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- Shortlisted for British Photography Awards 2022, Commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022
Not all cameras are light enough for handheld shooting. And if you add the weight of telephoto lenses, things can get even more difficult. A good tripod provides stability, eliminating camera shakes and helping you capture better images — if you want to get the perfect shot, you’ll need to invest in a tripod. Getting a tripod also expands your camera’s potential by allowing you to shoot in long-exposure modes that you may need for astrophotography and more.
If you’re looking to buy a new tripod today, there are a ton of options. You can get a wide variety of features and capabilities. But that can make sorting through them all confusing, time-consuming and, let’s face it, dull. This is why I’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up some of the best camera tripods on the market right now, whether you shoot landscapes, macro, stills, video or whatever.
I’ve tested all the models on this best camera tripod list and chosen each one as a great example of its category. I took into consideration factors including maximum height, the folded height, load capacity, the ease of using the tripod mount and so much more to ensure that I’m only including the best of the best. I’ll be updating this list over time as new models arrive and manufacturers update their ranges.
The 3 Legged Thing Bucky is a super tripod for almost any photography situation. Its carbon-fiber construction means it’s light enough to comfortably strap to a backpack, it packs down small but its maximum height of over 6.2 feet (191cm) makes it extremely tall too. I’ve found it brilliant for landscape photography as it’s no trouble to carry out into the hills, but I can still shoot at eye level.
Its ball head is secure enough to hold even the weightiest DSLRs with a big zoom lens attached, its legs can be detached to use as monopods, and its solid construction means you don’t need to worry about it taking a few knocks on the road. It doesn’t come cheap, but photography enthusiasts in any genre are well-catered for here.
A great budget travel tripod
Manfrotto Element II
Affordable, lightweight tripods often have a trade off in stability, but not so with Manfrotto’s latest Element II tripod. Its twist-locking legs are strong and can be splayed out wide for further stability in strong wind. The ball head had no trouble supporting our Canon 5D MkIV with 24-105mm lens — those of you with even lighter mirrorless cameras will have no trouble here.
Its 3.5-pound (1.6kg) weight means it’s light enough to comfortably carry on a backpack for a few hours and despite its more affordable price, it has a reassuringly burly feel to it that doesn’t give any cause for concern about its longevity. If you’re after a lightweight travel tripod with a more wallet-friendly asking price than carbon-fiber models, the Element II is worth a look.
Exceptionally lightweight travel tripod
Benro Rhino carbon-fiber tripod with VX20 ball head
The exceptionally light weight of Benro’s Rhino tripod is immediately noticeable as soon as you pick it up. Made from carbon fiber, it weighs only 2.7 pounds (1.2kg), making it the best choice if you’re planning all-day photo hikes and you’re trying to save every ounce you can. Such a light weight does mean it’s more susceptible to being shaken by the wind, but a built-in hook under the center column allows you to hang a weight off it (your kit bag, or a shopping bag full of rocks you’ve found always works in my experience) to add support in particularly blustery conditions.
Despite its light weight, it’s more than capable of holding our Canon 5DMk IV and 24-105mm lens with absolutely zero movements from the ball head. Despite the legs being almost pencil-thin at their ends, the carbon-fiber construction means they’re extremely rigid while the burly, rubberized twist-locks keep them solidly locked in place.
