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In photography, a tripod is a three-legged stand for a camera, used to stabilize and elevate the camera.

Contents 1 Necessity and usage 2 Construction 2.1 Screw thread 3 Variations 4 Heads 4.1 Monopod 5 References 6 External links

Tripods are used for both still and motion photography. A tripod of some sort is often necessary for professional photography as well as certain video uses. Tripods are also used to support small to medium-sized telescopes, large firearms, and similar applications.

For maximum strength and stability, most photographic tripods are braced around a center post, with collapsible telescoping legs and a telescoping section at the top that can be raised or lowered. At the top of the tripod is the head, which includes the camera mount (usually a detachable plate with a thumbscrew to hold onto the camera), several joints to allow the camera to pan and tilt, and usually a handle to allow the operator to do so without jostling the camera. Some tripods also feature integrated remote controls to control a camcorder or camera, though these are usually proprietary to the company that built the camera.

The de facto standard threading for the screw that attaches the camera to the tripod is Whitworth 1/4"-20 for small cameras or Whitworth 3/8"-16 for larger cameras. (This otherwise obsolete thread system is similar to the Unified Thread Standard still used in the USA, but with a different thread angle.)

Most cameras and tripods—even those manufactured and used in countries which use the metric system exclusively—are built with Whitworth tripod threading.

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There are several types of tripod. The least expensive, generally made of aluminium tubing and costing less than US$100, is used primarily for consumer still and video cameras; these generally come with an attached head and rubber feet. The head is very basic, and often not entirely suitable for smooth panning of a camcorder. A common feature, mostly designed for still cameras, allows the head to flip sideways 90 degrees to allow the camera to take pictures in portrait format rather than landscape. Often included is a small pin on front of the mounting screw that is used to stabilize camcorders. This is not found on the more expensive photographic tripods.

More expensive tripods are sturdier, stronger, and usually come with no integrated head. The separate heads allow a tripod+head combination to be customised to the photographer's needs and budget. The most expensive of all are wooden tripods designed for use with film-based movie cameras and studio still cameras. There are also expensive carbon fiber tripods, used for applications where the tripod needs to be lightweight, such as hiking to remote locations. Many tripods, even some relatively inexpensive ones, also include levelling indicators for the legs of the tripod and the head.

Many of the more expensive tripods have additional features, such as a reversible center post so that the camera may be mounted between the legs, allowing for shots from low positions, and legs that can open to several different angles.

Small tabletop tripods (sometimes called tablepods) are also available, ranging from relatively flimsy models costing less than US$20, to professional models that can cost up to $800 USD and can support up to 68 kg (150 lb). They are used in situations where a full sized tripod would be too bulky to carry. An alternative is a clamp-pod, which is a ball head attached to a C-clamp.

An apparently new one is also actually made of string. Forming a triangle with the two feet of the photographer and linking to the camera. This negative string tripod, can give up to three stops. ^[1]

The 'head' is the part of the tripod that attaches to the camera and allows it to be aimed. It may be integrated into the tripod, or a separate part. There are generally two different types of head available.

The pan-tilt style has separate controls for tilt and panning, so that the camera may be panned from side to side without risk of tilting movement. These heads usually have two different handles to control each dimension of movement. These handles can be turned to loosen or tighten the head, so as to allow movement in one, both or neither of the dimensions.

A ball head utilises a ball and socket joint to allow movement in different dimensions. The camera is attached to a clamp that comes off the ball, and the socket has a slot in one side to allow the camera to be rotated to the portrait orientation. This style has the disadvantage that only one control is available to allow or prevent movement of the head, and so if the camera is panned, there may be some tilting as well.

Other tripod head types include the fluid head, alt-azimuth, and equatorial heads. Fluid heads move very smoothly, avoiding the jerkiness caused by the stick-slip effect found in other types of tripod head.

Main article: Monopod

In addition, some photographers use a one-legged telescoping stand called a monopod for convenience in setup and breakdown. A monopod requires the photographer to hold the camera in place, but because the photographer no longer has to support the full weight of the camera, it can provide many of the same stabilization advantages as a tripod.

• Tabletop Tripod Comparison page
• Using a tripod for panoramic photography