You’ve probably heard a lot about camera tripods, in fact, there are thousands of information on this subject and this can lead the novice photographer to a confusion of information and little efficiency in building his photos.
When it comes to slow shutter speeds, a solid tripod for your DSLR camera is an essential tool to eliminate camera movements and capture sharper photos, but while buying a tripod and using it for more efficient photography seems simple and explicit, most photographers don’t. know how to use a tripod correctly.
- The bottom line of all this is that even if you own the most expensive tripod on the market and know exactly what to do to produce sharp images.
- Your photos will still suffer from bad decisions in setting up your tripod or bad exposures.
- Of these themes you can save your photos from fiasco and promote better results with your work.
To succeed in the world of photography, you need to understand that choosing a camera tripod, the right times to use it, its proper settings and your camera settings directly affect the performance of your photos. Similarly, even with the best camera tripod, your Photographer’s Work is always indispensable and should be done in the best possible way.
So, if you’ve already looked in different locations for the best way to use the digital camera tripod and haven’t found anything useful, rest a safety!In this article, we’ll explore the right techniques for acquiring, configuring, and using tripods in your DSLR Camera for better performance in your photos.
In the end, you’ll find that things related to the camera tripod are much easier than you thought and you’ll be able to get the photos you want with these tips.
The first thing to keep in mind when talking about camera tripod is when choosing this photographic equipment, the principle of most photographers is the same, choosing the simplest and cheapest option to start with, and then, when you can, move on to something more complex and expensive.
You’ve probably heard the previous tips from many experienced photographers on the market. They’ve probably told you something like, “Start with the basics, don’t invest too much, you don’t know if it’s going to work. “Totally wrong, the choice of a bonus is fundamental to the realization of all the aspects mentioned in this text.
In specialty stores, such as eMania? Photo and video, you can find a multitude of camera tripods, at different prices and features, but keep in mind that finding the right tripod can save you hours at work and give you the photos you want right away, without having to suffer much.
It may seem foolish to pay a good sum right away, but believe me, you’ll have to do it at some point, so why not now?Browse the photography forums on the Internet and you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about. , dozens of professionals regret not buying the right tripod at first.
Remember that good tripods often don’t come with a head, so be sure to carefully choose a solid head for the camera tripod. The type of head you choose will depend on what you want to photograph, but the most common type in the current market are the kneecaps, which meet various needs for your photos.
It is important to know when to use a tripod. Taking pictures with the camera directly in hand is easier than using a tripod and mounting the camera on it, which is why many photographers prefer to take pictures without using a tripod.
On the other hand, modern cameras are able to produce excellent results with very low ISO noise levels high and therefore have certainly reduced the need to use tripods, but are still needed in low light situations, especially when you want the highest. quality images with little or no noise in high-resolution cameras.
Because there are so many variables involved, such as camera, shutter speed, ISO performance, sensor size, focal length, image stabilization, sharpness, and lens distance, there is no magic formula for knowing exactly when a tripod should be used or not.
However, there are some considerations when deciding whether or not to use a camera tripod to make your work easier. Here is a list of some things to keep in mind:
Weight: If the camera is too heavy, it is best to use a tripod to repair it, especially when shooting for long periods of time. Holding a very heavy professional DSLR for several hours will quickly tire your hands, even if you think you already have the habit.
Photography genre: Landscape, Macro, Architecture and some other types of photography require the use of a tripod to achieve precision, framing and consistency, even if the lighting conditions are good. You may want to introduce an intentional motion blur, such as capturing waterfalls, clouds, and other movements. In addition, specific techniques such as Panoramic, HDR, Timelapse and Blending A also require the use of a tripod.
Manual technique, reciprocity rule and image stabilization: knowing how to properly hold the camera with your hands is important, but if the shutter speed is too slow, it can capture as little movement as possible and complicate things with your photos. , the reciprocity rule works very well, which basically says that the shutter speed should be at least equal to the focal length.
For example, if you are photographing with a 300 mm photographic lens, the shutter speed must be at least 1/300. For a camera with harvest sensor, be sure to multiply the focal length by the harvest factor. Finally, if you have image stabilization activada. su camera or lens, turn them on, so you can reduce the shutter speed below the reciprocity rule of two or more steps, depending on the effectiveness of image stabilization and its manual technique, of course.
ISO performance and noise: Some of the modern full-format cameras are capable of producing stunning images with high ISO values without introducing noise, but with considerable loss of variety and dynamic colors. However, there is always a thin line between what the camera can do. and your preferences, in terms of what you think is acceptable.
Some photographers don’t mind seeing a lot of noise in their photos, while others resent just mentioning it. Decide what you think is acceptable to your camera and the highest ISO condition, then you will know when using a camera tripod is mandatory.
Print/Output Size: The size you plan to print or display your images is also important. If you need quality for high-resolution poster prints or monitors, you may need to capture at lower ISO levels, resulting in slower shutter speeds.
However, if you are not interested in printing and just want to show your photos on the web, you can enjoy resizing the images, which will greatly reduce blur, noise and other problems in your photos.
Focal distance and camera distance: The longer the focal length of your camera lens, the faster the shutter speed will need to be to produce clear images when shooting with the camera in your hand. The distance between the camera and the object to be photographed is also Important, especially if the object is far from the camera and represents a small part of its framing.
Objectives and resolution: The resolution of your camera should always be memorized and taken into account with manual technique, so keep that in mind.
One of the main traps of tripods is the view of the tunnel to frame and compose, many of us completely stretch the legs of the tripod, install the camera and then start framing and composing our shots.
How many times have you seen photographers stacked, capturing the same scene from the same angle?Before installing your tripod, go through the area, find the right angles and work on the composition with your camera in hand.
Experiment with less obvious angles, lower the camera for smaller perspectives, move higher, and assign a different look to your photos. After planning the look of your photos, open your tripod and install your camera on it, get into the habit of following these tips and always do it that way. Don’t let your tripod interfere with your creativity and dictate your framing and composition!
Now that you’ve molded and composed your photo, let’s talk about how to use the tripod correctly with your camera. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Tripod Location and Update: Before you start installing the tripod, identify where it will be placed. More stable, flat locations make it easy to install a tripod, but other locations can be complicated and require a perfect fit of equipment to store your camera. stable at the right level.
Be sure to keep the tripod base level, use a bubble leveler on the feet of the tripod for the most appropriate fit. Spread all the load in the center of the tripod evenly over the three feet, after all, the last thing you want is accidents with your equipment, right?
In addition, leave your tripod and camera only on firm surfaces, ice and sand can be potentially dangerous to your equipment, causing drastic falls when moving the ground.
Thicker legs: almost all camera tripods have a similar shape, have thicker legs and thinner legs. Logically, firmer, more consistent legs have a stiffer appearance and should be the first to touch the ground when mounting your tripod and setting up the camera.
Separate your legs: all tripods will have stopping points, where the legs will no longer open. Make sure your camera tripod feet are wide open because you don’t want your heavy photographic equipment to move abruptly during photos, which not only causes problems with your images, but especially with your camera.
Paw Location: Try to leave a space between the two hind legs so you can stay there when taking your pictures with the camera tripod. Maintaining a suitable and comfortable place for you allows you to create great images and avoids any accidental impact on your computer during photos.
Central column as a last resort: The center columns of the camera tripod always destabilize the equipment, it is a single connection point against three, if you use the center speaker always level the base of the tripod, so that your computer does not fall off the heavier side Basically, it is a balancing rule, so be sure to do it several times before you start shooting.
Protect your camera and lens safely: To avoid possible accidents, firmly place your camera on the tripod and be sure to check that the lens and other accessories are properly placed on your computer. After adjusting them, force lightly with your hands to make sure they are firm again.
L-mount for camera: When mounting the camera on the tripod head, it is always a good idea to use an L-mount instead of a single plate at the bottom of the camera. With a normal plate, your camera will be heavier on one side, which may not be safe. An L-shaped stand can be expensive because they are made specifically for each camera, but it’s worth the long-term investment.
Heavy Lens Mounting: If you are wearing a heavy lens, always be sure to mount it using the tripod collar, instead of mounting your camera and leaving your lens out of the frame. This will not only protect your camera, but also end up with a much more stable setup.
Tripod Head Locks: Tripod plates are nice and practical, but you should always make sure they are the right size for the camera tripod head. This is particularly important for Arca Swiss panels, which can vary in size by country and manufacturer.
Tripod Hook: Camera tripods with a hook at the bottom, or perhaps in the center column, are effective for hanging the camera bag or sandbag for additional stability. However, your bag may not be effective if you are in a windy place, in this case, a sandbag or with heavier objects will adapt better.
Once the tripod and camera are fully configured, it’s time to use additional techniques to prevent camera movements and get better performance in your photos. As a result, here are some additional tips and techniques to improve the use of the camera tripod in your professional photographer. Work.
Camera tapes: Camera tapes are convenient to have on your camera when you want to photograph with them in your hands, but once mounted on a tripod, they can cause the camera to move in wind situations. That said, keep these accessories in your bag, as it won’t help you with your tripod photos.
Turn off automatic ISO: Most cameras have the lowest noise and highest dynamic range in their basic ISO, usually between 64 and 200, so use the lowest settings and be sure to turn off automatic ISO.
Remote Shooting: Pressing the shutter with your fingers will surely make the camera move, so it’s a good idea to use a remote control to shoot the camera shutter remotely.
Timer: Adding one or two seconds of delay with a timer is a good idea, especially if you don’t have a remote control version for your camera. This ensures that the image is captured some time after pressing the shutter, reducing the chances of movement in your photos.
Exposure time: Some cameras have exposure time. For those who don’t have a remote shutter, exposure time can help effectively eliminate camera movement. With exposure time, the camera mirror will be mounted, then the camera will wait a specific time. Before taking a photo On some cameras, you can specify the timeout, others allow you to use an automatic timer in combination with the exposure time.
Electronic shutter on the front curtain: A number of new DSLRs (such as the Nikon D810 camera) and mirrorless cameras have the electronic shutter feature on the front curtain. With this function enabled, the camera will not operate its sealing mechanism at the start of exposure, responsible for the complete removal of any type of vibration. Although this feature is usually disabled by default, it is highly recommended to activate and use it actively in your photos.
Turn off image stabilization: Unless your lens has a specific image stabilization mode for use on tripods, you should always turn it off. When your computer is in a stable configuration, you don’t want image stabilization to try to compensate for movement that doesn’t exist and end up ruining the camera tripod settings.
Keep in mind that the camera tripod, as well as several factors, can greatly influence the performance of your photos. Consider all these tips to improve your performance and get multiple photos with the best possible quality.
On the other hand, the use of the camera tripod is one of those things that most relates to the experience and taste of each photographer, but ensuring its proper use can be amazing to improve your images and ensure a good result.
If you have any tips for using the tripod, or a justification for doing so, leave your comment below, take the opportunity to say what you think of this article at any time, it’s interesting to know what you think.