Owned by the Vinten Group (who also own Manfrotto), Gitzo is synonymous with ultimate performance and durability when it comes to tripods, and the Mountaineer Series 1 is no exception. No, it's not the cheapest tripod in this round-up by far, but buy Gitzo's Series 1 model and you'll likely never need to buy a tripod again. We've picked out the 8 best options to suit a range of budgets and needs. The type of tripod you pick will depend on your specific needs, from a simple table-top option you can sling in your bag to large, heavy-duty supports. This can be unscrewed from the spider and attached to the removable center column, to serve as a monopod. To add yet more versatility, an increasing number of tripods feature a removable leg. ![]() The center column can often be removed and inverted for ultra-low level shooting, while some tripods come with a low-angle adapter that replaces the center column. Low-level shooting might also be required, so most modern tripods feature legs that can be locked at multiple angles. This typically cuts about 20cm off the folded height. Another crafty trick adopted by some modern tripods is that the legs swing completely upwards for stowage, with the feet encircling the head. To help them stand tall, but fold down small, some tripods have four or five telescopic sections in each leg, rather than the more traditional three. Three-way heads are relatively cumbersome, but enable more precise, individual adjustments in each of the three planes of movement independently. Many recent designs are very sophisticated, with an adjustable friction damper to suit a wide range of camera and lens weights, along with an independent pan-only release. Ball heads are quicker and far easier to set up, and are more streamlined for stowing away while hiking. Up on top, the main choice for stills photography is between a ball head and a three-way head. ![]() ![]() Indeed, make-for-make and size-for-size, carbon tripods can be as much as twice the price of aluminum models. The only drawbacks are that if your tripod takes a hefty knock, carbon fibre is prone to shattering, and it’s relatively expensive to manufacture., so if it shatters or cracks, I'm afraid it's kaput. Carbon fibre also tends to be slightly better at absorbing unwanted vibrations and isn’t so cold to the touch when the temperature drops.
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