How To Repair Vintage Telescoping Tripod Legs
The tripod: a 3-legged camera support. Why is the tripod market so flooded with options when they all look pretty much the same and are designed to do the same exact thing? Isn't ane tripod as adept as any other? Why are some so expensive? Why are others comparatively inexpensive? Do some hold cameras more than steadily than others? And, why in the globe is that one pinkish?
In this article, we volition be emphasizing the use of a tripod for photography. In that location may exist mentions of video features, every bit some parts can overlap in functionality, but truthful video tripod systems tin be vastly dissimilar from their still-photography counterparts.
The master purpose of the tripod is to concur a camera completely steady—zilch movement and vibration; however, the tripod is very, very far from a 1-size-fits-all-photographic accompaniment. And, although they all look about the same—three legs, a office where the camera attaches, etc., in that location are many brands, styles, and variations. Some differences are centered on personal preference such as colour; others are more purpose-driven.
If you know everything in that location is to know most tripods and you lot just want to see some recommendations, delight surf on over to x Recommended Full-Size Tripods or the 12 Recommended Travel Tripods articles or head to the B&H Tripods and Back up page.
However, if you want to learn more about what makes up the modern tripod, and delve deeper into the different feature sets of these supports, continue reading.
The Parts
Virtually all tripods tin be cleaved down into basic components. In the diagram below, we take labeled the unlike parts of the tripod. Most every role comes in different shapes, sizes, and materials. All the parts perform basically the same job, and the overall goal of the tripod is stability for your camera.
Allow'due south take a closer expect at every component, working from the meridian to the lesser ("from the head to the feet," in tripod vernacular) and talk over the possible variations between types of tripods.
The Head
In that location are several basic types of tripod heads. The chief purposes of the tripod head are to provide a fashion to attach your camera to the tripod, allow repositioning of the photographic camera to frame the epitome you wish to capture, and so hold the photographic camera steady while the photo is taken. What follows is a rundown of tripod head options.
3-Fashion / Pan and Tilt Head
The well-nigh traditional blazon of tripod head is the iii-way or pan-and-tilt caput. It is identified past the three control arms extending from the body of the caput. They are used to suit the position of the head one axis at a time—vertical, horizontal, and panning. Moving the head near one of the axes is accomplished by "loosening" 1 of the arms with a twist, repositioning the head, and then re-tightening the arm.
The advantages of the three-way head are: precise movements near one axis and ease of employ. The disadvantage is size—they are generally bulky due to the extending arms. This makes them somewhat unattractive for travel.
Three-way heads are ordinarily used for landscape photography, even so-life studio work, and macro photography. However, they tin certainly be used for capturing all types of images.
The Ball Head
The ball head is a relatively contempo invention, compared to some other types of heads. The design consists of a ball enclosed in a housing with a tightening knob. When the knob is loosened, the ball can be repositioned. When the camera is in the desired position, the knob is tightened and the ball (and camera) remain still.
At that place are some brawl heads that take secondary and tertiary controls, equally well. Some have panning bases with a dissever knob to lock the head in the panning centrality. Others have adjustable friction knobs and controls that allow aligning of the main knob'southward friction for more precise control.
For positioning the camera 90 degrees from horizontal, many ball heads accept i or more cutouts in the housing that allow the ball's stem to swivel down and exist positioned at right angles to vertical.
The advantages of the brawl caput are its compact size (when compared to three-mode heads) and ease of utilize. The simplest ball heads have merely ane adjustment knob for repositioning the camera at nigh any angle. Too, because of their simplicity, repositioning the caput is often a very quick affair. Because of its versatility, the ball head can be used for whatever blazon of photographic application.
Pistol Grip Heads
The pistol grip head is a variation of the ball head. Instead of having a knob to tighten the housing around the brawl, the holding power is provided by a spring-loaded clasp grip. To reposition the head, y'all squeeze a handle. In one case the camera or caput is in position, you release the grip and the caput stays in that position.
Advantages of the pistol grip head are simplicity of use while providing a very fast ways of repositioning the head. Disadvantages are more often than not the lower weight capacity of this fashion of head. With an emphasis on repositioning speed, the pistol grip heads are preferred past some wildlife and sports photographers.
Geared Heads
The geared head is a variant of the three-manner head, merely, instead of handles that loosen their centrality when twisted, a arrangement of gears moves the head about one particular axis when the handles are twisted. This gearing allows for very fine and precise adjustments—the geared head's biggest advantage. The disadvantages of these heads, when compared to other styles, are weight, complexity, and the relatively tedious speed of repositioning.
Because of the precision built into the geared caput, it is preferred by architectural photographers and anyone who needs super-accurate camera positioning.
Gimbal Heads
The gimbal head is the sectional domain of the large and heavy telephoto lens. Because of the shift in a photographic camera/lens combination'southward heart of gravity when using extremely large lenses, the gimbal head is attached to the lens's tripod attachment point, not to the camera. Information technology is designed to allow rapid movements of the lens to rail fast-moving subjects. When prepare up properly, the camera volition remain steady fifty-fifty when not beingness held by the lensman.
Gimbal heads are large and heavy, only necessary for a sure type of long-lens photography. Likewise, specialized mounting plates are needed for specific lenses. Because of this design, and the systems with which it is designed to work, the gimbal caput is ubiquitous in the world of wildlife and sports photography only not very useful for other full general imaging purposes.
Purchasing Tip: The head is where the tripod becomes most specialized. Carefully consider your photographic needs, as well as portability. The multi-purpose ball head is the nigh versatile tripod caput available. When in uncertainty, cull the brawl caput!
The Chassis (or Spider)
This is the noon of the tripod, where the legs connect. The chassis forms a platform for mounting a head, or it serves to surround the tripod'south center column. Some chassis that allow direct mounting of the tripod caput characteristic interchangeable center plates that allow the add-on of an optional middle column or other types of mounting systems. The chassis is normally made from some sort of metal alloy. Maximum stability is gained with a tripod that does not have a telescoping center column chassis.
Multi-Angle Leg Locks
Most tripod legs are "multi-angle." This means that you tin can adapt the spread of the legs to allow the tripod to be used at different heights or in awkward areas where ane leg or more than legs cannot be at the same bending every bit the others. Some chassis permit the legs to achieve a almost horizontal position, and some, particularly for travel tripods, permit the legs to invert for more meaty storage.
The leg locks are designed to hold the legs at a prescribed angle and come in designs of all types. Some accept pull-out tabs that unlock the leg angle, others accept sliders, some accept friction knobs, and some have jump-loaded mechanisms.
Purchasing Tip: Leg locks come in all shapes and sizes and are notorious for pinching unwary fingers or hands. Pay close attending to the design of the locks and run across if they work for your needs—and exist careful not to get pinched!
Center Cavalcade
The tripod center cavalcade is either mounted to the chassis, or permitted to slide through information technology to extend the tripod's height fifty-fifty farther than the leg/chassis alone. Many center columns are reversible to allow you to mount your camera below the tripod chassis for macro or other low-to-the-ground shots. Nearly centre columns have a friction collar that keeps them in place until they are called to extend. Some take a geared system with which you tin crank a lever to enhance and lower the cavalcade. The crank systems are usually seen on heavier studio tripods because they add considerable weight to the tripod arrangement.
Often, a gear hook can be found at the bottom of the center cavalcade. This allows y'all to add together stabilizing weight to the rig in the form of dedicated weights, or your own camera pocketbook.
Shooting Tip: The general rule is that you should not extend the center cavalcade unless it's necessary to get the shot, since there is a loss in stability and an increase in possible vibrations when the cavalcade is extended. This is peculiarly truthful with multi-section heart columns.
Lateral Arms
The center column may double equally a lateral arm that allows you to clear (or insert) the center column to a horizontal position. This is useful for table-top shooting, macro subjects, and more.
There are also add-on lateral arms that can be added to a tripod or caput when needed.
Shooting Note: When using lateral arms, pay close attention to the center of gravity of your rig and know that most tripod heads are designed to work in parallel with gravity. When working on a lateral arm, all the support will exist perpendicular to gravity and stability may be compromised.
Legs
All tripods have legs. Three, in fact. But, there are variations in how those legs are constructed and how they work.
Sections
Except for single-section tripod legs, most tripod legs are telescoping and collapsible for the purposes of acme adjustment and ship. The more sections the legs take, the shorter they can be retracted. However, the more than sections you have, the less stability you will achieve.
Shooting Tip: If possible, avoid extending the smallest section of the tripod all the mode. Leaving the bottom section partially retracted can add overall stability to the rig.
Material
There are 3 basic materials* for the modern tripod leg: aluminum, carbon fiber, and wood. All of them have inherent advantages and disadvantages.
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Wood | ▪ Vibration assimilation ▪ Ecological ▪ Non-conducting ▪ Temperature tolerant ▪ Durable ▪ Corrosion resistant | ▪ Weight ▪ Does not fold to meaty size |
| Aluminum | ▪ Proficient strength-to-weight ratio ▪ Durable ▪ Value | ▪ Cold to touch when cold outside ▪ Hot to touch on in hot environments Corrosion |
| Carbon Fiber | ▪ Expert vibration dampening ▪ Excellent forcefulness-to-weight ratio ▪ Temperature tolerant ▪ No corrosion | ▪ Expensive ▪ Not equally durable to impact |
* There are other materials available, from common ABS plastic to steel to exotic basalt lava, but the Big Three are listed in the table above.
To combat thermal properties, and provide a more comfortable conveying feel, many tripod legs have foam leg protectors, and aftermarket protectors tin can exist purchased to accessorize to your tripod.
Leg Locks
Multi-department tripod legs volition take some sort of locking machinery to prevent the legs from retracting when loaded or from extending further. The 2 virtually common types of leg locks are the flip lock and the twist lock.
The flip lock is a lever that tightens around the next smaller section of the tripod leg. Once the legs are retracted, or at the length you desire, you flip the lock to the closed position and the legs will remain in that position. The twist lock accomplishes the same tightening by turning the lock through approximately one-quarter turn. Twist to loosen, extend or retract the legs, and then twist to tighten.
| Blazon | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Flip Lock | ▪ Quick ▪ Easy | ▪ Not weather condition sealed ▪ Can be jammed by debris ▪ Tin can loosen over time (well-nigh tin be re-tightened) |
| Twist Lock | ▪ Better sealing ▪ Fewer parts | ▪ More than hard to use for some |
The type of lock might likewise determine the shape of the legs. Twist-lock legs will inevitably be round, while the flip-lock legs may exist triangular or have another shape to allow the flip locks to be mounted.
Anxiety
At the finish of each leg at that place is a foot. Depending on the tripod, the foot might exist as uncomplicated as a rubber bumper. Or, the foot can have a retractable fasten below a rubber pad. Some tripods accept interchangeable anxiety and then the photographer can switch out the blazon of foot, depending on the terrain and his or her needs. Options include, spikes, strakes, clawed feet, and various rubber bumpers.
What Else Do Yous Need to Know?
Now that we have taken an in-depth look at the tripod's components, allow's talk over some other of import subjects.
Load Capacity
Load capacity is crucially important to a tripod purchasing decision, nonetheless it is ofttimes a disruptive topic. Here is our attempt to clear upwards the noise in the shadow areas.
Tripod legs and heads have specified load capacities. The stability of the combination of the legs and head is equal to the lower of the two. For instance, if yous have tripod legs with a 40-lb load capacity and a tripod head with a 20-lb load capacity, the effective load chapters of your setup is 20 lb. The aforementioned rule applies in instances where the head has a higher capacity than the legs (rare, just certainly possible). The load chapters is not indicative of the breaking strength of the component, nor does it indicate when the setup will collapse.
This specification shows at what weight the stability of the organization starts to become compromised every bit far as stability is concerned. Therefore, putting a 21-lb load on a tripod with a xx-lb load chapters will not crusade dramatic material failure and tripod explosion. However, the stability of your 21-lb photographic camera and lens will begin to exist compromised—pregnant the unit may not concord the camera as steady as y'all would like. Every bit an example, for those who have overloaded a ball caput, you may have seen very ho-hum and slight movement in the head even as you cranked downward on the tightening knob every bit hard as you lot could. Yes, y'all could break or collapse a tripod with excessive weight, only a quality tripod should be able to support weight far greater than any normal photographic equipment without failing.
The common conservative rule of thumb is to use a tripod and caput that have at least two to three times the load capacity of your heaviest camera/lens combination (don't forget accessories such as a wink or microphone).
Height
Tripods come up in different heights. One thing that gets sometime quickly is setting up your photographic camera on a tripod and spending minutes bent over at the waist looking through the viewfinder. Practise the math and add the height of the legs and the height of the head together to observe out at what distance your viewfinder will be. At present, how tall are you lot? If the viewfinder is going to be higher than your optics, perfect! All yous need to exercise is non extend the lowest leg sections all the way and you are done. If the total height comes upwardly short, get ready to bend downward to see through your camera or look at the LCD screen.
Quick-Release Plates
In the olden days, photographers would accept to spin their cameras or lenses onto the standard ¼"-20 tripod screw at the top of the head or chassis. This was time-consuming and a pain in the cervix when you were moving locations between shots. Quick-release systems were invented to speed this process greatly. A plate attaches to the camera and then is locked into a compatible caput.
Some manufacturers have proprietary plate designs and yous'll have to pay attention to compatibility when mixing and matching brands. The Arca-type-compatible plate is probably the nearly universal of the bunch, with many brands offering compatible systems. Additionally, at that place are numerous brackets and plates that you lot tin attach to your camera that have integral compatibility with tripod head quick-release systems. Again, the Arca-type uniform is the almost numerous of these.
Chimera Levels
Once a rare option on tripod heads, the bubble level is becoming a much more mutual feature. For those doing architectural photography, or simply trying to keep the horizon level, the bubble level is a great tool to accept at your disposal, and having it permanently featured on the tripod or head keeps you lot from having to carry a separate accessory around. Heads usually either feature one or more bull'southward-eye levels or two standard levels—1 for each centrality.
Bags and Straps
The tripod and tripod head are tools and they should be used as such. The more than they are used, the more scratches, nicks, and dents they will suffer. But, you can protect your tripod and help extend its life (or at least its youthful good looks) by transporting it in a protective pocketbook. Some companies sell their tripods with a bag, and yous tin can e'er add one afterwards. And, in that location are bags just for tripod heads. Also, to help in carrying, many tripods have attachment points for carrying straps.
Tabletop Tripods
A sub-genre of the tripod is the mini or tabletop tripod. These diminutive tripods can support a off-white amount of weight and live in your camera bag for the times you don't want to tote a full-sized tripod around with yous.
It'due south all Nearly Stability… and Tradeoffs
The task of the tripod is to stabilize your photographic camera and lens. Simple, right? Nosotros mentioned vibration and stability in the commodity. Where does vibration come from? You can imagine a completely stationary tripod and camera, but now visualize a wind blowing across your gear, or a subway rumbling beneath the street. Or, are ii or more than tripod legs in a running stream or in the surf at the beach? Vibration happens, and the goal of the tripod is to provide stability and absorb those vibrations and then that they are not translated to the camera.
So, what type of tripod exercise you buy? Things start to get murky when we realize that we must paw-carry the tripod with us to a distant location or pack it into our carry-on luggage! Larger tripods have more stability, just they are heavier. Smaller tripods are more portable and easy to carry, simply accept less stability. 4-department tripods can collapse smaller than iii-section tripods, but are slightly less stable. Tripod legs without a center column are more than stable than those with a center cavalcade, but less versatile.
Suddenly, the tripod purchasing decision becomes an practise in compromise.
I final notation: A tripod (and head) is an investment that tin can last you your entire photographic life. If yous commencement off ownership a deal tripod, you lot will probable feel the demand to upgrade to a better one in the futurity. If that one is a value-priced tripod, y'all volition, equally your photography experience and gear grows, likely desire to upgrade that ane, also. In that location are few things in photography as frustrating as working with a sub-par tripod and not getting the stability you need. Soon you may find you have spent more than on your first several tripods than you could take on one high-quality, more expensive one right out of the gate. If you are serious about photography, be serious near your tripod.
Now you lot can surf over to thex Recommended Full-Size Tripods, 12 Recommended Travel Tripod articles, or to the Tripods and Support page at B&H and become the tripod of your dreams!
Please let us know if you have whatever questions about tripods or if we missed some details that need further caption!
Source: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/tripod-explained
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